The Metaphysical View of Death and Life After Death Part 1

Humanity throughout the ages have seen death asafterlife such as the "Happy Hunting Grounds"
something loathsome and gruesome; something"Olympus" and the "Elysian Fields." The spiritual
dreadful, something preferable to avoid at allinstincts of early and modern man have always
cost--that is, if a choice were given--but without anyrebelled against the idea of death, and rightly so, for
other option, are forced to succumb for lack of anydeath in reality is non-existent, but the average
power over its occurrence. Anticipating theperson is normally unaware and ignorant of this truth,
termination of life at an unexpected moment and theor he chooses to ignore it for some unknown reason.
possible prospect of annihilation of self-identity,Death should not be looked upon as an ultimate
humanity views death as a state or condition to bechapter or conclusion of one's life, for death is simply
feared. This fear is sustained when all around, mosta change, a passing, a transition to a different plane
of the dying are seen to seemingly suffer in anguishof consciousness, a different dimensional activity.
and in agony in the death process. The fear of deathOrthodox, or conservative scientists in conformity
is actually man's fear of the unknown, and it indicateswith Einstein's equation, "E=mc2," tell us that nothing
man's bondage to his ignorance which ultimatelyin the universe can be destroyed, that there can only
grows into superstitious expressions. Because of thebe a transformation, a change or conversion of the
underlying fear, man attempts laboriously topatterns of energy-fields; this is the economy of life
postpone death through medicine and other means;which is acknowledged as a law of the Cosmos; and
medical science has, however, not yet found a wayyet, although furnished with this scientific theorem
to prolong life indefinitely--or to ease one's fears, toand understanding, these same scientists are
offer solace, or to answer profound questionsskeptical concerning the survival of the personal
regarding this ancient mystery. Knowing the trueconsciousness or "awareness-principle," as Tibetan
nature of death releases man from his bondage toBuddhists designate it. Mainstream science, although
his fears and to the clinging of his varied superstitionsfaced with many positive data concerning the survival
pertaining to it. Such knowledge based upon personalof the consciousness acquired by researchers in the
experience may be acquired--beliefs to the contraryparanormal and related fields, still express incredulity
places an illusory boundary upon the unfolding soul.as to its reality. Why is it that the life-force, soul, and
Alice Bailey, writing for the Tibetan in "A Treatise onconsciousness are not seen by these scientists as
White Magic," refers to man's fears regardingenergy-fields, just as all objects down to their
death:"The mind of man is so little developed thatminuscule component, the electrons, protons and
fear of the unknown, terrors of the unfamiliar, andneutrons are known to be such? More succinctly,
attachment to form have brought a situation wherewhy do scientists not recognize the soul? Is it,
one of the most beneficent occurrences in the lifeperhaps, because of the unconscious opposition and
cycle of an incarnating Son of God is looked upon asantagonism towards Religion that has long persecuted
something to be avoided and postponed for as longScience in the centuries past? From the occult point
a time as possible." (1972:494)We can see from herof view, group minds form living entities or currents
statement that one of the factors that causes manof energy with certain qualities in accord with the
to struggle against death, is the attachment to form.thoughts and feelings generated by the originators or
The identification of the Self with the physical formindividuals of the same group-mind. This is called an
misleads one into thinking that the dissolution of theegregore. Such egregores may have an indefinite life
physical body results in the annihilation of the Self. Srispan, living for centuries, and influencing all that
Sankaracharya, the eminent exponent of Advaitacomes within its mental and emotional force fields. It
Vedanta, taught that the deluded mind with its beliefsis through these egregores that an individual, a
in the reality of form causes bondage to Maya, orscientist, for instance, living in the distant past may
Cosmic Illusion. Philosophically speaking, this is theinfluence a scientist living in the present. Prejudicial
state of duality, and unless man perceives the Onefeelings toward Religion and its tenets, such as its
Reality underlying the dualistic worlds, and as his truedeclaration of the living soul that survives the
nature, he lives in fear and in a state of slavery.dissolution of the physical body, may therefore, be
What is Real cannot be destroyed, what is unrealcarried from the past to the present. As can be
does not exist apart from our false perception andunderstood from the above, the antagonism of
understanding. This is avidya, or ignorance. Toscientists may not be truly directed to the concept
apprehend the true state of things is to be trulyof the afterlife, or soul-survival, but towards religion
liberated from death. One's consciousness isas a whole, and this discord is an unconscious
expanded and raised to a divine estate when Realityfeeling--the result of centuries of maltreatment in the
is known and death seen for what it really is. Whathands of Religion--executed in the name of the
Bailey does not mention is that the soul-process ofAlmighty.Investigators and exponents of mainstream
"death" may be experienced in the meditative state.science, however, have not proved in their
Mystics call this "dying while living," and advancedlaboratories the cessation of life, and the non-survival
mystics have reached a state where they mayof consciousness after death. On the contrary, they
predetermine and trigger the time and process ofare very close to discovering and proving its reality
their physical and mystical deaths--these areand validity. It would seem that the Veil of Isis is
executed with divine permission. Mystical deathsthinning; nevertheless, the question of the survival of
offers one the opportunity to acquire the beautificconsciousness, we feel, can only be satisfactorily and
vision called Marifatullah by Islamic gnostics. We willadequately answered to us by personal
not dwell on this mystical aspect in this paper butexperience--through phenomena such as NDEs (Near
focus more on the physical side of death andDeath Experience) and the projection of one's
dying.Before continuing further, let us first provide aconsciousness and subtle bodies. Without personal
definition of the branch of study dealing with death.experience there would be an element of doubt, the
The study is properly termed, "Thanatology" (fromtruth would elude our comprehension, and the false
Greek thanatos, "death"). The Encyclopedia Britannicadelude our understanding. Knowledge pertaining to
explains it thus:". . . the description or study of deaththe the truth of death eliminates fear, pain and
and dying and the psychological mechanisms ofsorrow. When one understands the nature and
dealing with them. Thanatology is concerned with themechanism of life and death, one begins to lead a
notion of death as popularly perceived and especiallyphilosophical and mystical life, open to spiritual verities
with the reactions of the dying, from whom it is feltand impressions. One commences to live in harmony
much can be learned about dealing with death'swith the forces and laws of Nature, in accord with
approach . . . Generally, psychologists have agreedthe purposes of the Divine Plan. Scientists would
that there are two overall concepts concerning deathhave to become philosophers and mystics in order to
that help in understanding the simultaneous processesbreak through any bias constraining their minds from
of living and dying. The "my death versus yourthe truth of life after death.It is a fallacy to think
death" concept emphasizes the irrational belief thatthat the nature of death and the afterlife state
while "your death" is a certainty, an exemption maycannot be known while one is embodied and
be made in "my case." The second concept, "partialfunctioning in the three-dimensional sphere. Religious
deaths versus total extinction" stresses the belieffundamentalism, in general, would have us believe this.
that by experiencing the bereavement following theMan dies temporarily every night during the
deaths of friends and relatives, a person is broughtsleep-state, and he calls his activities during such a
as close as possible to realizing "partial death." Thesestate as "dreams." Man practices death every time
experiences colour the individual's attitude towardhe enters the delta-theta state. Poor recollection of
greater personal losses, culminating with the ultimateone's nocturnal activities results in an inadequate
loss, life itself."Thanatology also examines attitudescomprehension of the nature and relationship
toward death, the meaning and behaviours ofbetween sleep and death. Spiritual development
bereavement and grief, and the moral and ethicalimproves the recollection of astral activities and the
questions of euthanasia, organ transplants, and lifeawareness of the "no-dream" state. Refinement of
support."Thanatology deals with death from variousthe soul disperses the etheric web at the crown
perspectives, from the cultural and anthropologicalchakra and forms a link between the brain and higher
standpoint, the clinical, biological, religious,mind allowing for free movement of the
metaphysical, etc. Death itself is defined in dictionariespersonal-consciousness to higher dimensions without
as "an extinction of life," the "ceasing to be."Ordinarily,a break in awareness. Fundamentally, the only
the average person would avoid talking or thinkingdifference between death and the sleep-state is that
about death. When chosen as a topic for discussion,death is the permanent evacuation of the
for instance, the subject is frequently and promptlyawareness-principle from the physical body, whereas
relegated to the background of life's many "evil"in sleep it is merely a temporary condition. In death
necessities and often spoken in hushed tones. Deaththe sutratma, or silver cord, snaps, and the
has always been a taboo subject in unenlightenedpersonal-consciousness leaves the physical body to
social circles. Man's present negative attitude anddisintegrate and return to the ground from whence it
understanding of the nature of death may causecame. In the sleep state, this cord which connects
self-inflicted suffering, torment, and pain. Man's lack ofthe physical body to the subtle bodies is maintained.
understanding of the truth of death is mainly theEssentially, death is an illusion. Death is actually an
result of a deficiency in the knowledge of spiritualinterval between two states or planes of
verities, and in an absence of spiritual awareness.consciousness. It eventuates in the return of every
Religious doctrines and materialistically-orientedcomponent of the microcosm to its proper place.
educational systems have inadvertently encouragedThis truth is embodied in the poetic verse of
man's negative attitude towards death. They paintOvid:"Four things of man there are: spirit, soul, ghost,
horrible conditions of the after-death state, rangingflesh;"These four, four places keep and do
from eternal punishment and torture in fashionspossess,"The earth covers flesh, the ghost hovers
exceeding the cruelties and atrocities of theo'er the grave,"Orcus has the soul, stars do the spirit
Inquisition, to the materialistic view of nihilism andcrave."Man has the divine ability to be aware of his
annihilation. Religion and the academic institutions offerbeing as existing independently of the physical vehicle.
no real comfort or solace to those whose loved onesThis is accomplished in what has come to be called
have faced the great change. The only recourse forlucid dreaming and astral projection, or "OBE"
individuals seeking a greater understanding of death is(out-of-the-body experience) as a modern
by acquiring metaphysical knowledge concerning itsdesignation for the phenomenon. Like St. Paul, it is
nature and by developing a greater awareness ofpossible for all of us to say that we "knew a man
multi-dimensional life; for life simply is, it cannot ceasewho went to the third heaven," and hear of things
to be. Life is Real and eternal for it is notnot suitable for the non-initiate. Death is a change of
compounded. Forms are compounded, therefore,focus of our consciousness, from one plane to
they are evanescent. Clinging and being attached toanother. This is also accomplished through the above
what is temporal, and from the point of view of themeans. Astral projection is an ability that all
Absolute as "illusory," makes one often feelmetaphysicians should seek to acquire--for it is
threatened to life's varied circumstances.In order toeducational and it opens-up avenues of services that
be relieved from suffering in the form ofone may render. Most, if not all mystical traditions
bereavement and anguish, humanity as a wholeteach of this occult ability. The practitioner of Taoist
would have to be re-educated as to the true natureYoga, for instance, learns in the course of his studies
of death, its value, its process, and regarding thehow to separate the soul and spirit from the physical
state of life after the great transition. One's frame ofbody. Advance mystics and occultists are all able to
reference for personal existence has to be expandedfunction in full awareness in the physical, astral and
to include multi-dimensional worlds, to one's immortalmental worlds. Such individuals are not concerned
aspect, and not circumscribed to physical matter.with the arguments of materialists--arguments stating
Concomitant to this cleansing process of the mind ofthe non-survival of self, for every mystic knows the
its false beliefs and notions concerning death--bothtruth of the matter through personal
the result of social conditioning andexperience.Dying, to the initiate, is a science and an
brainwashing--there should also be a search, anart. The technique of death is known to the
investigation into the true purpose of life. For to passinter-dimensional consciousness-traveller. The
through transition not knowing the purpose of one'spsychonaut is familiar with the many phases of the
personal existence is to have lived in vain. It is saidbardo that leads to one of the "six realms," or to
that to die well we must first learn to live well, andliberation from the cycle of reincarnation. It is the
this is true, for our negative karma and our wrongreality of reincarnation that proves to us that we are
attitudes and apprehension of death causally leads usno stranger to death. We incarnate and pass through
to pain and suffering in the bardo, the deaththe change of death repeatedly until we emancipate
process--of which we will deal in later chapters. Forourselves from the wheel of birth and rebirth. We
this reason it is incumbent upon us all to embark uponhave all met the angel of death countless times and
the study of thanatology--the science of death, asshall meet that specter once again in the future. All
understood by metaphysics, to live a worthwhile life,religions refer to this life-death cycle, though some
to relieve the sense of suffering, and to efface ourmetaphorically.Every metaphysician should be familiar
misgivings regarding death and the after-death state.with the subject of death, as understood in the
Death is simply a transformation, a process analogousesoteric sense, and as to its occult process. In the
to a caterpillar-turned-butterfly throughcourse of one's metaphysical ministry, one would
metamorphosis.Our "fate" and experiences in theoften meet individuals suffering from anguish and
afterlife and in the death process are bothbereavement. The metaphysician should be able to
determined largely by our karma, beliefs, knowledgeoffer the kind of solace that goes beyond the
(or lack of it), purity, righteousness, andservice of the burial ceremony and the
understanding of the mission and purpose of ourpronouncement of the words, "ashes to ashes, dust
sojourn in the physical plane. Life in this physicalto dust . . ." To the dying, and those newly
dimension should be seen as an opportunity topassed-on, the advanced metaphysician should act as
mature and to liberate oneself from all mortala guide to the inner levels of being. He should play
restrictions even though functioning through anthe role of Anubis, guiding the departed soul to its
organic vessel. Some people experiencing theproper place. This should be an integral part to any
vicissitudes and hardships of life often complain that itlast rites or sacraments given. There is much
was not their wish to be born, implying that it wassuperstition, fear and ignorance regarding the nature
not their wish to live or to be here in this physicalof death among the masses. It, therefore, behooves
world, and yet, in this they contradict themselves bythe metaphysical counselor to play his or her part in
expressing a fear of death, saying that they do notenlightening society; and this ministration would
wish to die--implying that they wish to live. Suchbenefit humanity as a whole. We feel that this paper
inconsistencies reflect the state of non-awareness ofshould be written to remind metaphysicians of the
spiritual realities and verities. Death should beimportance of conveying the truths to the masses
perceived as an initiation into the higher mysteries ofregarding the continuity of life, personal identity, and
Nature. It is thus one of the most important eventsconsciousness. One's professional image is enhanced
in one's spiritual journey. Mastery of one's life, ofwhen well-equipped with the requisite knowledge.
one's lower self, and service to the HigherEven though much has been written on the subject
Intelligences, is the wise preparation for this greatof death, with much invaluable information given, we
initiatory experience.In ancient cultures, the existencetake this opportunity to add some of our own
of the afterlife was taken for granted. In formerinsights and experiences to enrich the existing
eras there have been concepts or beliefs in theliterature and the storehouse of humanity's learning.