| FINDINGS | | | | give up its resentments, hatreds, and other negative |
| In this chapter we will consider the four perspectives in | | | | feelings. Not all souls sojourn in hell or purgatory. Lofty, |
| greater detail. We will look into the dying process and | | | | pure souls bypass the lower worlds to head straight |
| the nature of life in the higher planes, as seen through | | | | for their place in the heavenly regions. Every soul goes |
| the eyes of Western and Eastern occultism. Analysis | | | | to the plane most appropriate for its nature. This |
| of the religious concepts anent death, dying and the | | | | process or procedure is not directed arbitrarily by any |
| after-death state will offer us a clearer picture of what | | | | being, there is no one to coerce and force us to be in |
| is commonly believed by the average person. We will | | | | any realm. This is all executed according to the Law of |
| deal with religious concepts not from the perspective | | | | Correspondence. Man's spiritual attainment or lack of it |
| of any particular religion, but from an overall, general | | | | determines where he would go. It is a matter of |
| view. The findings of modern researchers of the | | | | frequencies. One's personal frequency attunes one into |
| paranormal will greatly enhance our comprehension of | | | | the appropriate dimension vibrating at the |
| nature's laws, while Tibetan teachings concerning | | | | corresponding wavelength. Imagine if you will, a wicked |
| death will offer us a better insight into the purposes of | | | | sinner obtaining forgiveness at the last hour and goes |
| life and the liberating nature of the death process. We | | | | to the heavenly worlds. The very presence of the |
| will discuss these various perspectives with a | | | | sinner would transform heaven into hell, for his innate |
| metaphysical understanding. | | | | wickedness, his negative character, would pollute the |
| The metaphysician is a seeker of empirical and | | | | surrounding environment. Death does not transmute |
| pragmatic truths--truths and laws that are applicable | | | | our character. We carry our same personality, |
| and relevant to one's life. The metaphysician, as a | | | | character, minds and emotions wherever we go. If we |
| healer of man's souls, is a searcher for not merely | | | | are in constant discord with our environment, with our |
| theoretical, but practical, factual, and experiential | | | | many relationships here on this earth plane, we would |
| knowledge. Such knowledge, as an accumulation of | | | | express no differently in the subtle worlds. The |
| relevant data, offers the material required to gain | | | | presence of negativity causes the soul, the |
| wisdom, insight and understanding of God's plan, and | | | | astro-mental bodies, to assume a certain density in its |
| the privilege of participating in the creative work of the | | | | energy-structures and fields, a certain atomic weight |
| universe. Knowledge of the death process and the | | | | which binds it to the lower regions of hell or purgatory. |
| purposes of life offers us a certain power to | | | | Heaven is thus protected from trouble-makers. |
| pre-determine our fate in the higher worlds and in | | | | Whether in hell or purgatory, the soul suffers all of its |
| subsequent incarnations with the exercise of our | | | | misqualified and misspent energies alone. The length of |
| God-given gift of free-choice and the divine-will of our | | | | time that one sojourns in hell or purgatory is dependent |
| Higher Self. | | | | upon one's self, upon one's own inner desire to |
| Religious Beliefs | | | | improve one's character, upon one's desire to be free, |
| Followers of religions have viewed death, or the | | | | the desire to forgive self and others--to request |
| passing over to a new dimension, in contradictory | | | | forgiveness from those wronged, and the desire to |
| terms. On one hand, there is a lively anticipation and | | | | serve others. |
| hope for a glorious future-state in a heavenly paradise, | | | | Concerning heaven, Christians have long visualized it to |
| and on the other, a pronounced fear of eternal | | | | be a magnificent city with streets paved in gold and |
| damnation and torture in an everlasting burning hell. The | | | | ornamented with precious stones. The book of |
| concepts of heaven and hell are common to most | | | | Revelations has done much to mould Christian beliefs |
| religions, and from the occult point of view, there is a | | | | regarding this matter. What is not known to the |
| basis for these ideas; however, heaven and hell as | | | | average Christian is that the apocalypse in Revelations |
| understood by the masses and unenlightened | | | | is symbolical and that it is a work written by great |
| clergymen are a distortion of the reality underlying | | | | initiates for lesser initiates studying the mysteries of |
| those states. | | | | God, and that to interpret it literally is to deceive and |
| Hell, according to religious ideas, is a place in the | | | | mislead oneself. It takes a great deal of familiarity with |
| afterlife for the punishment of wicked, immoral and | | | | the occult, the Qaballah, and the initiatory teachings of |
| sinful men and women. It is described to be a place of | | | | the ancients to properly interpret the real significance |
| eternal torture, a place filled with fire and brimstone, a | | | | of its spiritual contents. |
| place of horror and terror, a locality where one suffers | | | | Heaven, generally, is believed to be a place of |
| pain and misery indefinitely. Judaism refers to this hell | | | | rewards, of eternal rest. Ancient Greeks called heaven |
| as Sheol and Gehenna, while the ancient Greeks called | | | | the Elysian Fields or Olympus. Followers of Zoroaster |
| it Hades and Tartarus. In Buddhism, the hell-state is | | | | describe it as the House of Suns, and the abode of |
| known as Avitchi. Hell has been described in literature | | | | the best thought--a place where the sun never ceases |
| as the Inferno, the Abyss, the Pit, the Darkness, Limbo | | | | to shine--no doubt alluding to the luminous nature of the |
| etc. In Paradise Lost, Milton called the capital of Hell, | | | | plane. To Hindus, heaven is Surga, and it lies in the |
| Pandemonium, which figuratively, refers to a state of | | | | higher lokas. Theosophists call heaven "Devachan." |
| chaos, lawlessness and anarchy. In the Gospel stories | | | | Ancient Egyptians referred to it as Sekhet-hetepet. To |
| the Piscean Master referred to a pit outside the walls | | | | Scandinavians it is Asgard; and spiritualists call it |
| of Jerusalem--a pit utilized as a garbage incinerator. | | | | Summerland. Heaven as an abode of peace, |
| This burning pit was used as an illustration, in a | | | | happiness, and abundance is a fundamental religious |
| metaphorical and symbolical manner, of the nature of | | | | belief in every culture, ancient and modern. As hell is |
| Gehenna. Not understanding the symbolism, followers | | | | believed to be a place of punishment, so heaven is |
| of Christ have accepted the Master's explanation in a | | | | believed to be a realm of rewards due to the virtuous, |
| literal sense. It should also be noted that ancient | | | | the "poor in spirit" and to those who serve God |
| mystics considered this earth plane to be one of the | | | | faithfully. |
| hell regions. | | | | Like hell, followers of religion have likewise |
| In the scriptures we are told that God is a consuming | | | | misunderstood and misconceived the nature of |
| fire. This fire is synonymous with the fires and flames | | | | heaven. In their theology, most religions lay too much |
| of hell; to the soul, higher vibrations are always fiery in | | | | stress on externals without considering the mystical |
| nature. What do the flames of God consume? They | | | | nature of their teachings; this applies most specifically |
| consume temporarily the manifestation of the false | | | | to such concepts as heaven and hell. The Bahá'i |
| ego with its expressions of pride, hatred and cruelty. | | | | faith, as an exception, believes heaven and hell to be |
| They cleanse the subtle bodies of psychic dross. In the | | | | spiritual conditions, and not mere places. In their |
| alchemical tradition, fire has been a symbol of the | | | | theological teachings, heaven is defined as the |
| processes of transmutation and purification. In the | | | | proximity of the consciousness to the throne of God, |
| same esoteric sense, the fiery stimulus of hell causes | | | | and hell as a remoteness from the heavenly Godhead. |
| a purification and transmutation of the soul which | | | | This is in accord with the words of the Nazarene that |
| results in soul-awakening. Once the soul realizes its | | | | the kingdom of God is within. Eventhough the concept |
| mortal errors and repents, it rises from the fires of hell | | | | of paradise among Christians has a different meaning |
| and enters into the planes of "purgatory" for the next | | | | from the kingdom of God as enunciated by the |
| phase of the purification process. From another | | | | Master--the former believing it to be a place--it could |
| perspective, the flames of hell may symbolize a soul's | | | | indeed be considered as such, as a place or places |
| lust for the physical world--its ungratified consuming | | | | reflecting the inner state of the soul, just like |
| desire, and rage or resentment towards all that | | | | hell--eventhough we apparently contradict our previous |
| opposes its egoistic will. Freedom from such a hell is a | | | | statement concerning Christian emphasis upon |
| simple matter of extinguishing lowly desires and the | | | | externals. As mentioned before, heaven and hell as |
| acquisition of humility. Sufferings one experience in hell, | | | | places have been substantiated by the discoveries |
| aside from the above conditions could also be the | | | | and experiences of mystics and psychics. However, |
| result of remorseful feelings for one's past negative | | | | we have to realize that the external protean reality is |
| deeds, one's "sins" of omission and commission; or the | | | | but a reflection of the inner state or condition of the |
| result of one's anger and displeasure for not | | | | mind. We have considered this before, but it is |
| possessing the ability to resume the life-style one had | | | | necessary to reiterate because of its importance. |
| previously known. This often cause what is called an | | | | Although heaven is as beautiful and glorious as |
| "earth-bound spirit." | | | | described by religions, it is not a place of eternal rest. A |
| The concept of purgatory was first formulated by | | | | heaven of ease and idleness is a static state. Inertia |
| Pope Gregory I, who lived in the sixth century AD. | | | | does not exist in the universe. All is in motion and in a |
| Although turned into a dogma in some Christian sects, | | | | continuous flux. The Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, said |
| this particular doctrine is based on reality, as it is | | | | that "everything is becoming." All Sparks, or creatures |
| validated by the experiences of psychics and mystics. | | | | of God are forever evolving. Everything is in a |
| Purgatory is an intermediate plane between heaven | | | | dynamic state moving towards a higher expression |
| and hell; however, in actuality, all planes are purgatorial | | | | and manifestation. Heaven as experienced and |
| in nature. Purgatory, in a specific sense, is a plane of | | | | understood by mystics, is a state of intense activity. |
| consciousness, a dimension where souls sojourn | | | | Heaven is not a place where one sings hymns and |
| temporarily to cast off material and carnal habits, | | | | play on the harp all day long (unless that is what gives |
| attitudes and feelings. It is a realm of purification of | | | | us pleasure), it is a place of continued education for the |
| one's thoughts, emotions and desires. Purgatory is | | | | evolving soul, where the mysteries of the universe, and |
| where one also commences the assimilation of | | | | Cosmic laws are studied. In the higher worlds one |
| experiences of one's incarnated life. Once this | | | | learns to exercise one's creativity in myriads of ways. |
| purification has taken place, the soul goes to one of | | | | One also spends one's time in heaven serving the |
| the heavenly regions appropriate for its expression. | | | | whole of creation in various capacities, in accord with |
| This occurs automatically without any authoritarian | | | | one's innate abilities and talents. In the heavenly regions, |
| decree or overseeing. | | | | there are no angels ornated with wings and halos, as |
| To believe that a loving, kind and merciful God would | | | | represented by painters in their artwork. In heaven, |
| banish and exile wayward souls to eternal | | | | angelic beings are adorned with their purity, love and |
| condemnation and punishment is a sacrilegious attitude | | | | other positive virtues. What are supposed to be wings |
| and feeling, and an injustice towards our Creator. The | | | | are simply magnetic radiations streaming from their |
| loving Omniversal Mind of the Cosmos would never | | | | persons. |
| have conceived of such an idea. God does not punish. | | | | One of the salient features of religious beliefs is that |
| The many hell regions were not created by God but | | | | during transition, before one passes over to heaven or |
| by man's guilty conscience, by man's evil tendencies | | | | hell, one has to undergo a judgment. The Ancient |
| and propensities, by man's willful disobedience and | | | | Egyptians, Tibetans, Christians, Muslims and many |
| violation of the Cosmic Law of Harmony. This is not to | | | | others all have and had their judgment scenes in their |
| say that hell and its tortures do not exist. They do | | | | theological concepts. This is ingrained in the |
| exist, but as an illusion of maya. They are tangible but | | | | eschatology of religion and has, as a matter of fact, a |
| are phantasmagorias. Hell is an inner state of darkness | | | | basis of truth which we shall see later as we consider |
| within the consciousness projected and objectified | | | | the bardos. It will suffice here to describe certain |
| onto astral substances. Hell is a state of mind and | | | | aspects of the Judgment scene. |
| consciousness externalized and reflected in one's | | | | The Judgment scene of almost every religion consists |
| astral, or even physical environment. Sojourners of hell | | | | of a judge, a weigher of the scales, a scribe, and of |
| unconsciously build, share, and experience a collective | | | | course, the soul being judged. To Ancient Egyptians, |
| thoughtform. | | | | Osiris was the judge of the soul, Anubis the weigher of |
| Religion in the collective sense, paints hell in frightful | | | | the scales, while Thoth was the scribe. The human |
| forms and images. In actuality though, most of the | | | | soul was often depicted as hawk-headed. In |
| devils and demons torturing souls in hell are mere | | | | Zoroastrianism, Mithras or sometimes Zoroaster sits |
| phantasms arising from the psyche. The wrathful | | | | on the judgment seat, with Rashnu acting as weigher |
| deities, creatures and demons found in hell, such as | | | | and Sraosha as recorder. Tibetans called their |
| Satan, Beelzebub, Ashtaroth, Mara, the Raksasas, the | | | | magistrate Dharmaraja and their scribe Shinje--the |
| Furies, the Harpies, the Erinyes, Chimaeras, Cerburus | | | | monkey-headed one. Christians believe that Jesus |
| and Hydras, are all negative thoughts and feelings | | | | would be the one to judge the "quick and the dead," |
| within one's soul externalized in an illusory, hallucinatory | | | | with angelic personnel acting as his amanuensis. |
| sense to torment oneself for one's past misqualification | | | | In the Judgment scene, as conceived by the ancient |
| of soul-energies. Aside from hell, these gruesome and | | | | Egyptians, the Ab, or heart of the soul is weighed |
| grotesque images are also seen and experienced at a | | | | against Maat, or Truth, symbolised by a feather. The |
| certain phase of the bardo. These terrifying demons | | | | deceased makes a long confession, affirming his or |
| are mere symbols of negative human behaviour. The | | | | her goodly works. The negative works of the soul |
| guilty conscience of men and women evilly-inclined | | | | goes unstated and unproclaimed--the soul hoping that |
| erupts from the unconscious to manifest as horrible | | | | its past sinful deeds are overlooked and not revealed. |
| illusions. Simply put, a bad conscience and | | | | But then comes the weighing of the scales, where the |
| temperament creates the experience of hell. Cornelius | | | | statements of the soul are gauged of its truth. When |
| Agrippa, the eminent occultist of the 16th century, | | | | found not to measure up to its honesty, the soul is led |
| referring to the illusory nature of hell as experienced by | | | | to hell to be tormented by Typhon, who is one of the |
| hell-sojourners says that souls, | | | | presiding demons; otherwise, it is shown the way to |
| ". . . are most cruelly tortured in the irascible faculty with | | | | paradise. The Judgment scene of all religions follows |
| the hatred of an imaginary evil, into the perturbations | | | | more or less along similar lines. |
| whereof, as also false suspicions, and most horrible | | | | According to some religious and cultural beliefs, prior to |
| phantasms they then fall, and they are represented to | | | | the Judgment or the entry into the underworld, the soul |
| them sad representations; sometimes of the heaven | | | | had to cross a river or rivers, before passing on to its |
| falling upon their head, sometimes of being swallowed | | | | destination. The soul is usually led across the river in a |
| up into the earth . . . and sometimes of being taken, | | | | boat or by using certain bridges. Ancient people used |
| and tormented by devils." (1995:596) | | | | these symbols to signify the processes of transition. |
| In the Gathas, one of the holy scriptures of | | | | Muslims call the bridge "Sirat," while followers of |
| Zoroastrianism, hell is described as the place of the | | | | Zoroaster call it "Chivat." Ancient Greeks called the |
| worst thought, and as the House of Lies. The people | | | | underworld rivers Styx, Acheron, Cocytus, and |
| of Ahura Mazda believed and still believe that in hell | | | | Phlegethon. These named rivers correspond to the |
| one is tormented by the daena, or conscience; | | | | four streams of the Garden of Eden: Pison, Gihon, |
| however, they do not propose this to be construed | | | | Hiddekel, and Phrath. Occultly, they probably refer to |
| and considered as a permanent state--a concept | | | | the four etheric planes. Scandinavians also believe in a |
| expounded by theologians of many other living faiths. | | | | river that souls in the cthonian world had to cross. |
| Eternal punishment is illogical, senseless, and without | | | | They call this "Wimur." Ancient Babylonians believed |
| purpose, and goes against all spiritual principles and | | | | that the soul had to cross the Huber river prior to |
| values. It would be more realistic to view a merciful | | | | reaching the "mountain of justice," or the Judgment |
| God ending soul-identity and consciousness rather than | | | | scene. |
| to picture the Almighty banishing and gloating at the | | | | Psychologically, rivers, oceans, pools, and lakes all refer |
| sufferings and miseries of wayward souls. Hence, the | | | | to the subconscious element within man. In the depth |
| purpose of hell is not that of punishment but to | | | | of the Freudian "id," lurk various monsters--phobias, |
| awaken the soul of its spiritual poverty, of its need to | | | | psychosis, neurosis, and repressions. In an occult sense, |
| turn towards the Divine Light. Here we emphasize the | | | | these monsters of the psyche are known collectively |
| concept of hell from the perspective of Zorastrianism | | | | as the Dweller on the Threshold. Crossing rivers in the |
| for it has greatly influenced the Semitic religions which | | | | context of its symbolism, entails encountering these |
| somehow distorted the transmission of esoteric | | | | monsters, these repressed images in the death |
| knowledge. | | | | process; and indeed, according to Tibetan thanatology, |
| Hell should not be seen as an eternal state. It exists for | | | | this is exactly what occurs in the bardo. All religious |
| the soul only for as long as the soul refuses to | | | | doctrines teach of the danger that the soul may have |
| acknowledge and face the Light of God, of Truth, and | | | | to face in the intermediate state. |