In Buddhist tradition, the ability to recall past lives is one of the psychic powers (abhijñās) attained through advanced meditation practice. According to Buddhist teachings, Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as Buddha, achieved enlightenment and became a fully awakened being. As part of this awakening, it is believed that he gained the ability to perceive his own past lives and the past lives of others.
In the context of Buddhism, this is not considered a delusion. Delusions, as mentioned earlier, are false beliefs that persist despite evidence to the contrary and are often associated with certain mental health conditions. In contrast, the ability to see past lives, as described in Buddhist scriptures, is regarded as a special form of insight or knowledge gained through spiritual development.
Buddhist tradition places a strong emphasis on the development of wisdom, compassion, and understanding the nature of reality. Seeing past lives is viewed as one of the many insights that arise from a deep understanding of the workings of karma (the law of cause and effect) and the interconnectedness of all beings.
It's important to understand that religious and spiritual beliefs can be subjective and vary across different cultures and traditions. For Buddhists, the belief in past lives and the ability to perceive them is an integral part of their faith and understanding of the world. However, for individuals who do not share these beliefs, such experiences might be interpreted differently.