| Conclusion of this paper. Summary of the scientific | | | | that there are various forms of death, and this is |
| view. Various forms of death. Bibliography. To | | | | true. St. Paul hints of this when he declared, "I die |
| conclude this section may we just add that Newton's | | | | daily" (I Cor 15:31). We tabulate the forms of death in |
| subjects emphasize strongly that God is never once | | | | the following: |
| seen in the higher realms, although a strong feeling of | | | | 1) Death to higher realities and verities |
| a Supreme Power is felt ruling the ongoings of | | | | 2) Death to a higher awareness of divinity |
| devachan, or "heaven," and the kinetic motion of | | | | 3) Death of one's slumber in matter |
| magnetic streams of energy flowing in the | | | | 4) Death of the false ego and its carnal, |
| atmosphere and environment. This truth denounces | | | | self-centered desires |
| certain religious beliefs that in heaven one would | | | | 5) Death of sleep |
| finally see God face to face--for while on earth one | | | | 6) Death of the physical and etheric bodies |
| may not see God's face and live, one would surely | | | | 7) Death of the astral body |
| behold God's countenance in heaven. This principle has | | | | 8) Death of the mental form |
| been vmisunderstood and misinterpreted for the past | | | | We will briefly describe each one: death to higher |
| two thousand years; it should actually be understood | | | | realities and verities, and the death to higher |
| in a mystical rather than in a literal manner. It reminds | | | | awareness of divinity are related. This is in fact the |
| us of Gautama Buddha's silence when questioned | | | | involutionary path of the soul as it descends for the |
| about God--the implication of his subtle answer | | | | first time in a new cycle of manifestation, or |
| revealing a profound truth to the initiated. | | | | "manvantara." In involution the soul loses a certain |
| Summarizing the scientific viewpoint on death and the | | | | awareness only to regain it with an enhancement |
| afterlife--based on years of careful psychical, | | | | during the Path of Return. Most souls prolong this |
| parapsychological research--the following conclusions | | | | period of ignorance and awareness of higher |
| have been reached: | | | | multidimensional truths by their own free-will. |
| 1) That humans are essentially immaterial in nature | | | | Death of one's slumber in matter is the awakening of |
| and that the human essence, or self-awareness, | | | | the soul's aspiration to spiritual |
| survives physical death. | | | | possibilities--paradoxically, it could also mean being |
| 2) That human soul-units exist at differentiated levels | | | | spiritually unconscious; this is followed by the death, |
| of awareness in dimensions beyond the physical | | | | or transcendence of the false ego and its |
| light-spectrum, beyond the reach of physical sensory | | | | expressions in the movement within the evolutionary |
| perception. | | | | spiral. The death of sleep occurs every night as the |
| 3) That contact with departed souls is a possible feat | | | | soul takes flight to subtle worlds. Death of the |
| under certain conditions and circumstances. | | | | physical and etheric bodies occur when one leaves |
| 4) That all human soul-units periodically re-embody or | | | | the present incarnation for the astral world. This is |
| reincarnate to continue their evolution. | | | | followed by the deaths of the astral and mental |
| 5) That all re-embody according to the law of | | | | forms as the soul rises higher and higher to rest for a |
| causation, or karma; or soul desire. | | | | period in the causal body before preparing to |
| DISCUSSIONS | | | | reincarnate. |
| As we have seen in the previous chapter, death | | | | Knowledge of the nature of death and the other |
| according to the various traditions, metaphysical | | | | worlds are important subjects for every |
| experiences and modern scientific discoveries, does | | | | metaphysician. As said earlier in this paper, in the |
| not annihilate the human soul; and relationships | | | | course of one's metaphysical ministry, one would |
| formed on the physical plane do not cease at the | | | | often encounter individuals in bereavement requiring |
| termination of one's incarnation, as is normally | | | | comfort and solace. Equipped with a higher |
| believed; also, one's aspirations, goals and ambitions, | | | | understanding of the nature of death and the |
| though simply and seemingly cut-short prematurely at | | | | purpose of life, metaphysicians are in a better |
| a stroke of the scythe by the grim reaper called | | | | position to enlighten humanity, and to fulfill one of |
| death, is actually brought over to the Otherside for a | | | | their functions as ministers. To Catholics, administering |
| further strategic development that would bloom in a | | | | the "Extreme Unction," or the last sacrament to the |
| later incarnation. We have also seen that the nature | | | | dying may be considered vital. But to the |
| of death and the afterlife can be known to those | | | | metaphysician, much more is required to guide the |
| who are willing to develop the necessary sensory | | | | soul through the dying process. With the appropriate |
| faculties of the astral form and its ability of soul-flight. | | | | knowledge and occult ability, the metaphysician may |
| Additionally, we have dealt somewhat of the nature | | | | assist souls in making a more meaningful transition. |
| of heaven and hell, including the Judgment, from the | | | | Deathbed-rites of an occult formula and design, |
| various metaphysical, religious and scientific | | | | taking the bardo into consideration, are needed by |
| perspectives. We have described and hinted of some | | | | those engaged in the metaphysical field. |
| of the ways and means of avoiding those undesired | | | | The importance and purpose of life should be |
| experiences, states and conditions to be found in the | | | | appended and stressed in those rites as a lesson not |
| bardo, and even in the lower astral. Non-attachment | | | | only for the departed, but for those who are left |
| to the physical form and earthly life is helpful in the | | | | behind. An experience of a loss of a beloved one |
| process of a peaceful and easy transition, and in a | | | | through the portals of death on the part of grieving |
| smooth journey through the bardo--this ought to be | | | | and confused individuals should be looked upon by |
| kept in mind. And lastly, with the descriptions by | | | | metaphysicians as opportunities for the sowing of |
| subjects of NDEs and communications from the | | | | the seeds of truth into their receptive consciousness. |
| beyond concerning the death process, we can be | | | | Metaphysicians as farmers in the vineyard of truth |
| assured that dying does not have to entail any | | | | should play their part perfectly. By offering various |
| mental, emotional or physical agony; on the contrary, | | | | truths concerning the nature of death-truths that are |
| it may result in one of the most joyful states that | | | | rational, logical, helpful and spiritually stimulating--we |
| average souls may experience at its present | | | | improve the whole image of the metaphysical |
| evolutionary level. It provides a certain pre-taste of | | | | ministry in the minds of the public. The more |
| what the nirvanic state is like when once the soul is | | | | metaphysicians have to offer to the public as to |
| liberated and fully aware of its divine unity with All | | | | occult and esoteric knowledge and as to the |
| That Is. | | | | expressions of their high psychism, the more will the |
| Humans may fear death, but "being dead" is actually | | | | public's awareness be stirred and lifted to a higher |
| the present state of awareness of most people. To | | | | plane of consciousness. Metaphysics as a synthesis of |
| be unaware of one's higher microcosmic principles is | | | | religious, spiritual, philosophical, and scientific truths has |
| simply a consciousness of death. What separates the | | | | the capacity to offer what traditional forms of |
| seen from the unseen is the level of one's waking | | | | religion, science and modern philosophies are incapable |
| consciousness, and the psychological impurities within | | | | of offering--that is, real help. |
| one's subconscious mind. There are several | | | | SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS |
| components in the microcosm making up what we | | | | In the Introduction of this paper we presented the |
| call the divine, human being. The more components | | | | purpose and the need of why this subject had to be |
| we are aware and conscious of, the more alive we | | | | written and discussed--of the importance of its place |
| become in the spiritual sense. Non-experience of the | | | | in the metaphysical ministry as well as its influence |
| higher principles and realities do not mean that they | | | | upon the individual and society as a whole. This |
| do not exist, it is just that the faculty for higher | | | | purpose was again stressed in the previous chapter. |
| perception has not yet been developed. Fear is what | | | | In order to organize our thoughts regarding the |
| closes the veil to spiritual knowing. When we fear, | | | | subject, we formulated several themes that would |
| we circumscribe our consciousness. Fear of the | | | | be the basis for the structure of our paper. Our |
| unknown, is the ignorance of the source of our fear. | | | | fundamental themes consisted of the following: |
| Identification with mortal principles simply perpetuates | | | | 1) The survival of personal consciousness |
| (or perpetrates?) one's mortal existence as a normal | | | | 2) The process of transition |
| human being--and it also maintains one's fears. We | | | | 3) The nature of life after so-called death |
| are meant to be perfect--as advised by the Piscean | | | | The structure of our findings and of this paper, was |
| Master--perfect in consciousness, in knowledge, and | | | | based upon four perspectives: |
| in awareness. Attaining immortality, or awareness of | | | | 1) Religion/mythology |
| such, requires the shedding of mortal concepts, | | | | 2) The occult tradition |
| beliefs, attitudes and feelings. With such spiritual | | | | 3) Tibetan Buddhism |
| labour we gradually build the link between the lower | | | | 4) Parapsychology |
| and higher principles and ensure the continuity of | | | | From each perspective, we initially dealt with the |
| consciousness, and the awareness of the illusory | | | | basic themes from a certain point of view, but ended |
| nature of death. With each extermination of a false | | | | up with the same findings, the same conclusions, and |
| concept we become more alive in a spiritual sense. | | | | the same cosmic truths; nevertheless, among the |
| Death, "the last enemy," as declared in scriptures, | | | | above perspectives, there is still much to be said |
| though inevitable, will be swallowed up in victory | | | | about religion as a whole that has somewhat |
| when once its maya-nature is understood and the | | | | misrepresented the spiritual truths as taught by their |
| continuity of consciousness acquired. Death will then | | | | founders. We are certain, though, that every |
| lose its sting. Death ends when once the | | | | metaphysician would research into this subject |
| multidimensionality of one's being is realized, and when | | | | sooner or later as it is mentally and spiritually |
| once one's liberation from the wheel of reincarnation | | | | rewarding. In years to come "death" will be a time of |
| is attained. What we call death is an illusion. This is | | | | celebration and not a time of mourning as it is now. |
| echoed in the words of the Taoist poet, Chuang Tzu: | | | | Finally, in the fifth chapter, we discussed on |
| "Birth is not a beginning, death is not an end." | | | | humanity's basic psychological problem--that of |
| Fear simply robs individuals of their physical, | | | | senseless fear. We have seen how this fear robs |
| emotional, mental and spiritual energies--energies | | | | man of his or her true life as a divine son or daughter |
| which could be used for more constructive and | | | | of God living an abundant life in the here and now. |
| creative purposes. When enlightened of the nature of | | | | We have also briefly discussed how the elimination of |
| death, like Socrates, we will not fear it; and this | | | | the fear of death would transform the individual and |
| knowledge, understanding, and enlightenment would | | | | society as a whole. |
| greatly help humanity to live an abundant life, as | | | | To sublimate and transcend this fear condition that |
| promised by Master Jesus. Like a chain effect, the | | | | overwhelms society we suggest that additional |
| awareness of the non-existence of death and the | | | | research be conducted into along the lines of |
| truth of man's purpose for being would improve the | | | | soul-investigation, and into the many other principles |
| quality, nature, and service of every governmental | | | | of the bardo process not discussed or discovered by |
| department and institution, affecting society's | | | | Tibetan Lamas. Ways of researching into this should |
| consciousness, development and welfare. But to | | | | be conducted in a scientific and intuitive manner, |
| return to the emotion of fear ingrained in Man, there | | | | though this may not always be through conventional |
| are several principles that assist one to "die" without | | | | methods. Researchers should not fear probing into |
| fear: | | | | the invisible, into the immaterial, or into the abstract. |
| 1) Non-attachment to physical form, earthly | | | | Through research within a single avenue, other |
| possessions, and relationships. | | | | possibilities will present themselves. An answer to a |
| 2) Understanding that death is natural and that it | | | | single question begets many more questions, ad |
| does not end one's aspirations. | | | | infinity; thus humanity progresses. |
| 3) Understanding and being aware of one's true | | | | Bibliography |
| nature as divine and immortal. | | | | Agrippa, Henry Cornelius 1995 Three Books of Occult |
| 3) Preparation through spiritual practices such as | | | | Philosophy. Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, MN. |
| meditation, purification, and the acquisition of merit | | | | Bailey, Alice 1972 A Treatise on White Magic. Lucis |
| through service. | | | | Publishing Company, London. |
| 4) The unfoldment of love and compassion. | | | | Barrie, Donald C. 1991 You Need Not Age Nor Die! |
| From a higher perspective, death is no enemy. It is a | | | | Finbarr International, Folkestone, England. |
| merciful friend that grants us rest at a time when we | | | | Budge, E.A. Wallis (Trans) 1953 Book of the Dead, |
| need it. It provides a moment's respite until we | | | | The. Routledge & Kegan Paul, Ltd. London. |
| re-engage ourselves in the battle of life through | | | | Chaney, Earlyne 1989 Mystery of Death and Dying, |
| another incarnation with new--or old, unlearned | | | | The. Samuel Weiser, York Beach, Maine. |
| experiences. What is important is the assimilation of | | | | Currie, Ian 1995 You Cannot Die. Element Books Ltd, |
| experience, for if it does not take place, it will have | | | | Dorset, England. |
| to be undergone again and again until the lesson | | | | Drolma, Delog Dawa 1995 Delog: Journey to Realms |
| inherent in each one is learnt by the soul; this can | | | | Beyond Death. Padma Publishing, Junction City, CA. |
| sometimes prove to be wearisome. Life on earth | | | | Evans-Wentz, W.Y. (ed) 1975 Tibetan Book of the |
| should not be seen as a chance happening, as a | | | | Dead, The. Oxford University Press, England. |
| biological occurrence in time and space, or as a | | | | Lauf, Detlief Ingo 1989Secret Doctrines of the |
| chemical formation spawned by chaotic forces. Life is | | | | Tibetan Books of the Dead. Shambhala Publications, |
| Real, is the only Reality and has a definite purpose. | | | | Inc., Dorset, England. |
| Knowing that life was formed on the earth plane for | | | | Liverziani, Filipo 1991 Life, Death & Consciousness. |
| a purpose encourages the soul to discover that | | | | Prism Press, Dorset, England. |
| purpose. Soul-objective is known to the | | | | Lodo, Lama 1987Bardo Teachings: The Way of Death |
| awareness-principle at deeper levels of consciousness | | | | and Rebirth, Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca, New |
| and at the conscious level prior to incarnation. The | | | | York. |
| purpose or intent of the Spirit, however, is normally | | | | Ma`sumian, Farnaz 1995 Life After Death. Oneworld |
| forgotten once the "waters of Lethe" is drunk during | | | | Publications, Oxford, England. |
| the process of birthing. | | | | Newton, Michael 1995 Journey of Souls. Llewellyn |
| Our main task set by evolution is to be aware or | | | | Publications, Minnesota. |
| more conscious of the "unconscious" levels of the | | | | Poe. Lori M. 1995 Journeys to Worlds Beyond. The |
| mind; thus transcending the state of mediocrity or | | | | Place of Light Publisher, Cincinatti, Ohio. |
| mortality. Mortal beings are not courageous enough | | | | Ramacharaka, Yogi (Year not given) Life Beyond |
| to think, contemplate or face the conditions of | | | | Death, The. Yogi Publication Society, Chicago, ILL. |
| death, they thus miss the true opportunities that life | | | | Rinpoche, Bokar 1993 Death and the Art of Dying, |
| affords. When one fears death, one has not yet | | | | Clearpoint Press, San Francisco, CA. |
| begun to live. "Death" to average individuals, is always | | | | Rinpoche, Chokyi Nyima 1991 Bardo Guidebook, The. |
| thought of in connection with other people and never | | | | Ranjung Yeshe Publications, Hong Kong. |
| their own. This refusal to be spiritually-aware bind | | | | Saraydarian, Torkom 1993 Science of Meditation, The. |
| souls to an unproductie life in the cosmic scheme. | | | | Aquarian Educational Group, Sedona, Arizona. |
| This is the complaint of all mystics concerning the | | | | -- 1983 Cosmos in Man. Aquarian Educational Group, |
| sons of men. In the Old Testament we read, | | | | Sedona, Arizona |
| "Man lies down and never rises. They rouse not from | | | | Swedenborg, Emanuel 1958 Heaven and its Wonders |
| their sleep." (Job 14:12) | | | | and Hell. The Swedenborg Society, London. |
| From what we have said so far, it may be surmised | | | | |