Basic Buddhist View: Proving that Past and Future lives exist

Conclusive reasons
Firstly, think about what you want to prove. We want to prove that past and future lives exist.
What is it that would prove that future lives exist? if we can prove the existence of future lives,
we have implicitly proved the existence of past lives because they are in the same continuum.
There are two types of reason to prove the existence of future lives:
1. reasons related to the nature of mind and the relationship with the self
2. reasons related to the nature of Buddha as a valid Teacher
1. Reasons related to the nature of the mind and the relationship with the self
For future lives to exist, the continuum of future selves would have to be endless, so we can
state:
Future lives exist because the continuum of selves is endless.
The subject is 'future lives', the predicate is 'exist', so the probandum is 'future lives exist'
The reason is 'because the continuum of selves is endless'
The reason is a property of the subject, because future lives are characterised by future selves
(nature reason) no self, no life! The forward pervasion holds because the reason is pervaded
by the predicate where there is the continuum of self, there is existence. The reverse
pervasion applies too because if the predicate does not apply, neither does the reason - if
there was no existence there would be no continuum of self. (the very meaning of 'ceasing to
exist' is for there to be no self in the future)
We can investigate the three modes further with the following reasons:
The continuum of self is endless because self is imputed on the continuum of mind (which is
endless)
The continuum of mind is endless because it is not produced from physical causes.
The mind is not produced from physical causes because it lacks physical characteristics
The mind lacks physical characteristics because it has no shape, no size, no colour or weight
and it is not obstructed by matter or by time.
The mind is a different nature from the body because it does not share the same
characteristics as the body.
We can therefore also say:
Future lives exist because the mind does not cease with the death of the body.
The mind does not cease with the body because it is a different continuum from the body
The mind is a different continuum from the body because it is not produced from physical
causes like the body is.

2. Reasons related to the nature of Buddha as a valid Teacher

Past and future lives exist because Buddha, who is a valid Teacher, taught them.
Buddha is a valid Teacher because he understands perfectly what is to abandoned and how to
abandon it, and what is to practised, and how to practise it, and he reveals all this with the
motivation of compassion.
Buddha is a supremely valid Teacher because he is by nature free from error.
Buddha is by nature free from error because he has abandoned all faults.
Buddha has abandoned all faults because he is free from the two obstructions.
Buddha is free from the two obstructions because he has completed the path to
enlightenment.
Everything that Buddha teaches is therefore completely reliable, including the
existence of past and future lives.

Consequences
The Madhyamika Prasangikas also believe the consequences can induce a valid cognizer in the
minds of their debate opponents. We can also think of some consequences which would be
observed if the mind or the self was produced only from the causes of this life, ie, your parents'
body and mind. If these consequences are not found, we must assume the opposite of what
they would prove, ie, that past lives exist and therefore also future lives.
If we were produced only from the causes of this life:
Mind would be produced from physical causes it could be produced from the four elements
and new beings would be coming into existence all the time
Mind would possess physical characteristics and would therefore not function as we know it
Mind would have to share the same limitations as our body
There would be no point in distinguishing between mind and body because they would be the
same nature
Mind couldn't know anything in the same way that form can't know anything
Also:
We would be like a stone
Everyone would be identical
Even if it were supposed that a mind produced from the causes of this life could function in the
way that we understand it to, the following consequences would be incurred:
We would have the memories of our parents
We would have the same likes/dislikes and beliefs as our parents
We would have the same skills as our parents, and we wouldn't have to be taught them
We would know everything that our parents know
We would see everything the same way as our parents no difference of view/opinions
There would be no way to explain the different experiences that people have

Can you think of any more reasons or consequences?