| The last time I looked, personal transformation was | | | | They believe that what they do in this lifetime will |
| not on America's top ten list of achievements. | | | | greatly affect their next existence which they now |
| Success, family, happiness, friends, wealth, respect, | | | | have no doubt is real, and although they attempted |
| health, religious beliefs or spirituality, satisfying work -- | | | | to be good and generous before their traumatic |
| these took priority. Our spiritual institutions follow suit | | | | events occurred, it was all playacting and not coming |
| with the most successful and prestigious requiring | | | | directly from their hearts, for the heart is where the |
| little of their flock as far as personal introspection is | | | | bank account is. Now they find that their bank |
| concerned. The prevailing ambiance is one of levity, | | | | accounts are no longer in a vault, but in a much more |
| music and celebration -- seldom one of self-inquiry. | | | | secure place. |
| Permanent, positive transformations are not | | | | If the natural compassion and generosity we express |
| common; and usually result from flukes or untoward | | | | during our lifetime, without coercion or premeditation, |
| events of some kind; for example, serious illnesses, | | | | affects the quality of our afterlife, what can we do |
| near death experiences, trauma, or accidents. These | | | | to instill within ourselves a thirst to affect a continual |
| are about the only things we can count on these | | | | personal transformation toward these virtues? How |
| days to mystically alter our personalities. We try to | | | | can we resist continuing blindly down roads of worldly |
| be good, but it just doesn't work. For some reason, | | | | accumulations and aspirations that are so subject to |
| humanity has always had to be dragged, kicking and | | | | loss? Any personal transformation would indeed be a |
| screaming, into a true spiritual life. | | | | radical change for us, and probably the reason why |
| The positive aspect of these shocks and disasters | | | | few make the transition. Without the help of a |
| that transform lives is that our previous fear and | | | | harrowing event, that is. |
| obsession driven existences are replaced by feelings | | | | What's at stake is not only our contentment and |
| of fearlessness and ease; a fearlessness, for some | | | | happiness presently, but possibly later as well, after |
| odd reason, that rarely involves dominance over | | | | moving on from this earth. Much is written on this |
| others. Our new personality, having had its brush with | | | | subject, some saying there are many mansions in |
| death, now experiences a new bravery that | | | | heaven, and some saying that there are many realms |
| courageously and easily accepts and handles | | | | to be reborn in. Either way, eternity is a long time -- |
| whatever situation it finds itself in. We have been at | | | | we might find ourselves in a mansion surrounded by |
| the threshold of annihilation, and it was okay. Actually, | | | | our relatives for eternity! That could be interesting, |
| it was extremely peaceful, and now, with the fear of | | | | especially if we can barely stand them during a |
| death no longer hanging over our heads, we not only | | | | three-day holiday! But kidding aside, we might want |
| no longer fear death -- we don't fear anything! | | | | to end, once and for all, the common suffering and |
| The fearful ones, those afraid to face death or even | | | | conflict we undoubtedly experience on earth. |
| the loss of material things, are the ones who | | | | So the questions come down to these: Although the |
| overreact with violence. We seldom find the brave | | | | security of things and relationships keeps us happy, |
| seriously indulging in selfishness; actually, we usually | | | | how long can we count on it to continue to do so? |
| find them helping others in whatever capacity they | | | | Things change, when we least expect them to |
| can. They have simply stopped worrying about | | | | change, and there are many dangers in the world. |
| themselves in their newfound freedom, and as a | | | | Then, we might ask ourselves, "Is there something |
| result, have gained a greater capacity to see the | | | | greater, and if there is, how can we get in touch |
| needs of others. | | | | with that something greater without waiting for a |
| Those who have had these near death experiences | | | | traumatic event to occur in our life? Is there |
| or spiritual occurrences will tell you that although they | | | | something we can do proactively in order to come |
| can't express or explain what happened, they now | | | | face-to-face with that . . . something, while still living |
| find that the world has little to offer compared to | | | | on this earth?" Yes there is. It's called meditation. |
| that which they have been mysteriously exposed to. | | | | And if we were successful in creating a personal |
| If we can believe what these people say, and they | | | | transformation in ourselves, will it spread wide enough |
| are very credible as well as consistent, we might | | | | to transform our religious differences, and then, |
| conclude that there is more to life than meets the | | | | might this spread further to help change the world? |
| logical eye. | | | | If we don't change the world in this fashion, we will |
| These transformed individuals have acquired a certain | | | | change it with atomic weapons, and once they begin |
| wisdom, a positive understanding that is perhaps not | | | | to fall, all our dreams and goals are over for |
| spoken of but ingrained into their new personalities. | | | | ourselves and for our families . . . for this lifetime. |