| To conclude this section may we just add that | | | | is the complaint of all mystics concerning |
| Newton's subjects emphasize strongly that God | | | | the sons of men. In the Old Testament we |
| is never once seen in the higher realms, | | | | read,"Man lies down and never rises. They |
| although a strong feeling of a Supreme Power | | | | rouse not from their sleep." (Job 14:12)From |
| is felt ruling the ongoings of devachan, or | | | | what we have said so far, it may be surmised |
| "heaven," and the kinetic motion of magnetic | | | | that there are various forms of death, and |
| streams of energy flowing in the atmosphere | | | | this is true. St. Paul hints of this when he |
| and environment. This truth denounces certain | | | | declared, "I die daily" (I Cor 15:31). We |
| religious beliefs that in heaven one would | | | | tabulate the forms of death in the |
| finally see God face to face--for while on | | | | following:1) Death to higher realities and |
| earth one may not see God's face and live, | | | | verities2) Death to a higher awareness of |
| one would surely behold God's countenance in | | | | divinity3) Death of one's slumber in matter4) |
| heaven. This principle has been | | | | Death of the false ego and its carnal, |
| vmisunderstood and misinterpreted for the | | | | self-centered desires5) Death of sleep6) |
| past two thousand years; it should actually | | | | Death of the physical and etheric bodies7) |
| be understood in a mystical rather than in a | | | | Death of the astral body8) Death of the |
| literal manner. It reminds us of Gautama | | | | mental formWe will briefly describe each one: |
| Buddha's silence when questioned about | | | | death to higher realities and verities, and |
| God--the implication of his subtle answer | | | | the death to higher awareness of divinity are |
| revealing a profound truth to the | | | | related. This is in fact the involutionary |
| initiated.Summarizing the scientific | | | | path of the soul as it descends for the first |
| viewpoint on death and the afterlife--based | | | | time in a new cycle of manifestation, or |
| on years of careful psychical, | | | | "manvantara." In involution the soul loses a |
| parapsychological research--the following | | | | certain awareness only to regain it with an |
| conclusions have been reached:1) That humans | | | | enhancement during the Path of Return. Most |
| are essentially immaterial in nature and that | | | | souls prolong this period of ignorance and |
| the human essence, or self-awareness, | | | | awareness of higher multidimensional truths |
| survives physical death.2) That human | | | | by their own free-will.Death of one's slumber |
| soul-units exist at differentiated levels of | | | | in matter is the awakening of the soul's |
| awareness in dimensions beyond the physical | | | | aspiration to spiritual |
| light-spectrum, beyond the reach of physical | | | | possibilities--paradoxically, it could also |
| sensory perception.3) That contact with | | | | mean being spiritually unconscious; this is |
| departed souls is a possible feat under | | | | followed by the death, or transcendence of |
| certain conditions and circumstances.4) That | | | | the false ego and its expressions in the |
| all human soul-units periodically re-embody | | | | movement within the evolutionary spiral. The |
| or reincarnate to continue their evolution.5) | | | | death of sleep occurs every night as the soul |
| That all re-embody according to the law of | | | | takes flight to subtle worlds. Death of the |
| causation, or karma; or soul | | | | physical and etheric bodies occur when one |
| desire.DISCUSSIONSAs we have seen in the | | | | leaves the present incarnation for the astral |
| previous chapter, death according to the | | | | world. This is followed by the deaths of the |
| various traditions, metaphysical experiences | | | | astral and mental forms as the soul rises |
| and modern scientific discoveries, does not | | | | higher and higher to rest for a period in the |
| annihilate the human soul; and relationships | | | | causal body before preparing to |
| formed on the physical plane do not cease at | | | | reincarnate.Knowledge of the nature of death |
| the termination of one's incarnation, as is | | | | and the other worlds are important subjects |
| normally believed; also, one's aspirations, | | | | for every metaphysician. As said earlier in |
| goals and ambitions, though simply and | | | | this paper, in the course of one's |
| seemingly cut-short prematurely at a stroke | | | | metaphysical ministry, one would often |
| of the scythe by the grim reaper called | | | | encounter individuals in bereavement |
| death, is actually brought over to the | | | | requiring comfort and solace. Equipped with a |
| Otherside for a further strategic development | | | | higher understanding of the nature of death |
| that would bloom in a later incarnation. We | | | | and the purpose of life, metaphysicians are |
| have also seen that the nature of death and | | | | in a better position to enlighten humanity, |
| the afterlife can be known to those who are | | | | and to fulfill one of their functions as |
| willing to develop the necessary sensory | | | | ministers. To Catholics, administering the |
| faculties of the astral form and its ability | | | | "Extreme Unction," or the last sacrament to |
| of soul-flight. Additionally, we have dealt | | | | the dying may be considered vital. But to the |
| somewhat of the nature of heaven and hell, | | | | metaphysician, much more is required to guide |
| including the Judgment, from the various | | | | the soul through the dying process. With the |
| metaphysical, religious and scientific | | | | appropriate knowledge and occult ability, the |
| perspectives. We have described and hinted of | | | | metaphysician may assist souls in making a |
| some of the ways and means of avoiding those | | | | more meaningful transition. Deathbed-rites of |
| undesired experiences, states and conditions | | | | an occult formula and design, taking the |
| to be found in the bardo, and even in the | | | | bardo into consideration, are needed by those |
| lower astral. Non-attachment to the physical | | | | engaged in the metaphysical field.The |
| form and earthly life is helpful in the | | | | importance and purpose of life should be |
| process of a peaceful and easy transition, | | | | appended and stressed in those rites as a |
| and in a smooth journey through the | | | | lesson not only for the departed, but for |
| bardo--this ought to be kept in mind. And | | | | those who are left behind. An experience of a |
| lastly, with the descriptions by subjects of | | | | loss of a beloved one through the portals of |
| NDEs and communications from the beyond | | | | death on the part of grieving and confused |
| concerning the death process, we can be | | | | individuals should be looked upon by |
| assured that dying does not have to entail | | | | metaphysicians as opportunities for the |
| any mental, emotional or physical agony; on | | | | sowing of the seeds of truth into their |
| the contrary, it may result in one of the | | | | receptive consciousness. Metaphysicians as |
| most joyful states that average souls may | | | | farmers in the vineyard of truth should play |
| experience at its present evolutionary level. | | | | their part perfectly. By offering various |
| It provides a certain pre-taste of what the | | | | truths concerning the nature of death-truths |
| nirvanic state is like when once the soul is | | | | that are rational, logical, helpful and |
| liberated and fully aware of its divine unity | | | | spiritually stimulating--we improve the whole |
| with All That Is.Humans may fear death, but | | | | image of the metaphysical ministry in the |
| "being dead" is actually the present state of | | | | minds of the public. The more metaphysicians |
| awareness of most people. To be unaware of | | | | have to offer to the public as to occult and |
| one's higher microcosmic principles is simply | | | | esoteric knowledge and as to the expressions |
| a consciousness of death. What separates the | | | | of their high psychism, the more will the |
| seen from the unseen is the level of one's | | | | public's awareness be stirred and lifted to a |
| waking consciousness, and the psychological | | | | higher plane of consciousness. Metaphysics as |
| impurities within one's subconscious mind. | | | | a synthesis of religious, spiritual, |
| There are several components in the microcosm | | | | philosophical, and scientific truths has the |
| making up what we call the divine, human | | | | capacity to offer what traditional forms of |
| being. The more components we are aware and | | | | religion, science and modern philosophies are |
| conscious of, the more alive we become in the | | | | incapable of offering--that is, real |
| spiritual sense. Non-experience of the higher | | | | help.SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONSIn the |
| principles and realities do not mean that | | | | Introduction of this paper we presented the |
| they do not exist, it is just that the | | | | purpose and the need of why this subject had |
| faculty for higher perception has not yet | | | | to be written and discussed--of the |
| been developed. Fear is what closes the veil | | | | importance of its place in the metaphysical |
| to spiritual knowing. When we fear, we | | | | ministry as well as its influence upon the |
| circumscribe our consciousness. Fear of the | | | | individual and society as a whole. This |
| unknown, is the ignorance of the source of | | | | purpose was again stressed in the previous |
| our fear. Identification with mortal | | | | chapter. In order to organize our thoughts |
| principles simply perpetuates (or | | | | regarding the subject, we formulated several |
| perpetrates?) one's mortal existence as a | | | | themes that would be the basis for the |
| normal human being--and it also maintains | | | | structure of our paper. Our fundamental |
| one's fears. We are meant to be perfect--as | | | | themes consisted of the following:1) The |
| advised by the Piscean Master--perfect in | | | | survival of personal consciousness2) The |
| consciousness, in knowledge, and in | | | | process of transition3) The nature of life |
| awareness. Attaining immortality, or | | | | after so-called deathThe structure of our |
| awareness of such, requires the shedding of | | | | findings and of this paper, was based upon |
| mortal concepts, beliefs, attitudes and | | | | four perspectives:1) Religion/mythology2) The |
| feelings. With such spiritual labour we | | | | occult tradition3) Tibetan Buddhism4) |
| gradually build the link between the lower | | | | ParapsychologyFrom each perspective, we |
| and higher principles and ensure the | | | | initially dealt with the basic themes from a |
| continuity of consciousness, and the | | | | certain point of view, but ended up with the |
| awareness of the illusory nature of death. | | | | same findings, the same conclusions, and the |
| With each extermination of a false concept we | | | | same cosmic truths; nevertheless, among the |
| become more alive in a spiritual sense. | | | | above perspectives, there is still much to be |
| Death, "the last enemy," as declared in | | | | said about religion as a whole that has |
| scriptures, though inevitable, will be | | | | somewhat misrepresented the spiritual truths |
| swallowed up in victory when once its | | | | as taught by their founders. We are certain, |
| maya-nature is understood and the continuity | | | | though, that every metaphysician would |
| of consciousness acquired. Death will then | | | | research into this subject sooner or later as |
| lose its sting. Death ends when once the | | | | it is mentally and spiritually rewarding. In |
| multidimensionality of one's being is | | | | years to come "death" will be a time of |
| realized, and when once one's liberation from | | | | celebration and not a time of mourning as it |
| the wheel of reincarnation is attained. What | | | | is now.Finally, in the fifth chapter, we |
| we call death is an illusion. This is echoed | | | | discussed on humanity's basic psychological |
| in the words of the Taoist poet, Chuang | | | | problem--that of senseless fear. We have seen |
| Tzu:"Birth is not a beginning, death is not | | | | how this fear robs man of his or her true |
| an end."Fear simply robs individuals of their | | | | life as a divine son or daughter of God |
| physical, emotional, mental and spiritual | | | | living an abundant life in the here and now. |
| energies--energies which could be used for | | | | We have also briefly discussed how the |
| more constructive and creative purposes. When | | | | elimination of the fear of death would |
| enlightened of the nature of death, like | | | | transform the individual and society as a |
| Socrates, we will not fear it; and this | | | | whole.To sublimate and transcend this fear |
| knowledge, understanding, and enlightenment | | | | condition that overwhelms society we suggest |
| would greatly help humanity to live an | | | | that additional research be conducted into |
| abundant life, as promised by Master Jesus. | | | | along the lines of soul-investigation, and |
| Like a chain effect, the awareness of the | | | | into the many other principles of the bardo |
| non-existence of death and the truth of man's | | | | process not discussed or discovered by |
| purpose for being would improve the quality, | | | | Tibetan Lamas. Ways of researching into this |
| nature, and service of every governmental | | | | should be conducted in a scientific and |
| department and institution, affecting | | | | intuitive manner, though this may not always |
| society's consciousness, development and | | | | be through conventional methods. Researchers |
| welfare. But to return to the emotion of fear | | | | should not fear probing into the invisible, |
| ingrained in Man, there are several | | | | into the immaterial, or into the abstract. |
| principles that assist one to "die" without | | | | Through research within a single avenue, |
| fear:1) Non-attachment to physical form, | | | | other possibilities will present themselves. |
| earthly possessions, and relationships.2) | | | | An answer to a single question begets many |
| Understanding that death is natural and that | | | | more questions, ad infinity; thus humanity |
| it does not end one's aspirations.3) | | | | progresses.BibliographyAgrippa, Henry |
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