Past life memories: what is the purpose of those memories?

The reason why you remember that is because it is a very strong memory.

You should feel lucky to be able to remember something about your past life, even though it is a very unpleasant memory. Many people take up materialistic/nihilistic views just because they have no memory of their past lives. They waste their whole life thinking up materialistic theories and sinking deep into ignorance to justify the belief that it's all over at death.

Like other answerers have mentioned, there's no purpose to anything in life. You are not supposed to do anything. But you can certainly use this memory to your advantage to cultivate your mind so that you do not have to experience such horrors ever again.

So I have thought to give some reasonable and rational answer to your issue. I will not push you to mystery or darkness with my answer. First of all our (human) brain include 100 billion neuron cells and trillions of electro-chemical activities called "functional brain or stream of mind" create lot of illusions and dilutions we totally failed to understand and interpret. Our mind is a the great creator of everything. When I state everything it include our mind. So this is a one whole system. I have similar(small compare to yours) paranormal experience and I have realized it as distorted brain function. Your paranormal experience is so strong. When you come to mind it create illusion of me,mine,I and lead to lots of trouble. I suggest to you engage with meditation suitable to you like Zen or any other. Try to live and stay in present. Don't try to live in past. Try to convince mind using same mind what you recall is past event and that's an illusion. conquer the mind and become a great conqueror. you have to confront a grate battle with mind and it require lots of courage.If you require further explanations please do not hesitate to communicate. hope my suggestions will help you. Thanks and metta!

There is no purpose to anything (other than purposeful acts, by definition). My teacher specifically emphasized this point as very important. Until we realize there is no purpose to life we can't accept spontaneous suchness.

There are bits and pieces of information floating in this ocean of energy that manifests as existence and life. This information is no one's. It is not me and not you, but it is what sustains notions of "me" and "you". Some of the information gets recycled in various ways and becomes material for building new forms of existence (new lives).

Identifying with this information is one of the most fundamental delusions that causes suffering and new karma that leads to suffering. Identification leads to taking sides, or to feelings of guilt etc.

Instead, Buddha's advice is to consider nothing as "me" or "mine". By letting go of self-identification we let go of suffering.

At the same time, any circumstances we are given at birth are a blessing. Whatever we have, a talent or a handicap or some difficult life situation, is always something that connects us with our life's mission - whether we want it or not! So in this sense, your memories are "meant" to be used as a starting point for your life's journey - absolutely and without a doubt.

Depending on your age it may not be the time for you to know this clearly yet, which exact way it connects, but one day you'll know. I can't give away the answer to puzzle that is your life, because it is only yours to assemble.

The only piece of advice I can give is to never compromise with your sense of belonging, always go after what you want most (in the high sense, not savage stuff, you know what I mean), and never tolerate a lukewarm existence just out of fear of change. Step by step this will form into the path that you're meant to have.

The purpose of recollecting past lives is described in the Khajjaniya Sutta:

"Monks, any brahmans or contemplatives who recollect their manifold past lives all recollect the five clinging-aggregates, or one among them. Which five? When recollecting, 'I was one with such a form in the past,' one is recollecting just form. Or when recollecting, 'I was one with such a feeling in the past,' one is recollecting just feeling. Or when recollecting, 'I was one with such a perception in the past,' one is recollecting just perception. Or when recollecting, 'I was one with such mental fabrications in the past,' one is recollecting just mental fabrications. Or when recollecting, 'I was one with such a consciousness in the past,' one is recollecting just consciousness.

"And why do you call it 'form'? Because it is afflicted, thus it is called 'form.' Afflicted with what? With cold & heat & hunger & thirst, with the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, & reptiles. Because it is afflicted, it is called form.

"And why do you call it 'feeling'? Because it feels, thus it is called 'feeling.' What does it feel? It feels pleasure, it feels pain, it feels neither-pleasure-nor-pain. Because it feels, it is called feeling.

"And why do you call it 'perception'? Because it perceives, thus it is called 'perception.' What does it perceive? It perceives blue, it perceives yellow, it perceives red, it perceives white. Because it perceives, it is called perception.

"And why do you call them 'fabrications'? Because they fabricate fabricated things, thus they are called 'fabrications.' What do they fabricate as a fabricated thing? For the sake of form-ness, they fabricate form as a fabricated thing. For the sake of feeling-ness, they fabricate feeling as a fabricated thing. For the sake of perception-hood... For the sake of fabrication-hood... For the sake of consciousness-hood, they fabricate consciousness as a fabricated thing. Because they fabricate fabricated things, they are called fabrications.

"And why do you call it 'consciousness'? Because it cognizes, thus it is called consciousness. What does it cognize? It cognizes what is sour, bitter, pungent, sweet, alkaline, non-alkaline, salty, & unsalty. Because it cognizes, it is called consciousness.

"Thus an instructed disciple of the noble ones reflects in this way: 'I am now being chewed up by form. But in the past I was also chewed up by form in the same way I am now being chewed up by present form. And if I delight in future form, then in the future I will be chewed up by form in the same way I am now being chewed up by present form.' Having reflected in this way, he becomes indifferent to past form, does not delight in future form, and is practicing for the sake of disenchantment, dispassion, and cessation with regard to present form.

"[He reflects:] ''I am now being chewed up by feeling... perception... fabrications... consciousness. But in the past I was also chewed up by consciousness in the same way I am now being chewed up by present consciousness. And if I delight in future consciousness, then in the future I will be chewed up by consciousness in the same way I am now being chewed up by present consciousness.' Having reflected in this way, he becomes indifferent to past consciousness, does not delight in future consciousness, and is practicing for the sake of disenchantment, dispassion, and cessation with regard to present consciousness.

I think in this case the purpose is for you to have a readymade insight in dukkha and rebirth. With your knowledge niw you know that if you dont strive for enlightenment you are now bound for another birth again suffering. You insight should help you go deep into meditation. Realise the insight of impermenance.

You are not meant to relieve any thing from past, what you are meant is to realise annata i.e. there is no self to be found anywhere. And hence get relieved from suffering once and for all.