With myself, it is being aware of the possibility of past lives being real and learning, realizing, exact and correct spiritual truths or knowledge. I reached a point gradiently where a certain type question can be asked or I read a truth and this triggers an image in the mind where all of our past experiences are stored. Usually these are bleeps or part of the whole picture. You cannot see the whole lifetime, but can see a pic or image and know a little about it. I saw my past life and a couple of previous lifetimes from long ago in the above manner. It does not occur each time I read or hear a truth, but it can and has happened...It's kinda like an OBE or moving far aware from the human body and seeing things through your own spiritual perceptions. You are aware of and know the difference between these and a dream or imagination. A spiritual being (you and me) have the native ability to simply know things.