I think that's just his way of saying that things we like to do or don't like to do in this incarnation are informed by events from previous incarnations.
That makes sense if you believe in reincarnation.
That makes sense if you believe in reincarnation.
Apparently, others parsed it as "(past life) patterns and inclinations", which does sound like an unsubstantiated claim about reincarnation.
Thank you for helping me understand the skepticism expressed in this branch of the comment tree.