A question on life after death

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 31 Aug 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Kismet	31 Aug 2002
I had a thought the other day and wished to ask if someone would know the answer to this, and as always, I'm open to suggestions :) As a Christian, I've been taught when we die, we are judged by our good and bad deeds as well as made to feel the emotions, love, pain, etc, we have caused others. My question is if we are made to feel these things, do we only feel the emotions we directly caused while living? Or would a spirit/soul also feel the emotions we feel after they pass? Would they know when we laugh at good memories we relive? Do hey know the suffering we go through when we grieve? Thanks in advance, as the question has really started to be a main thought of late. Love and light, Kismet

Laurel	31 Aug 2002
Very profound question, Kismet. Ultimately, the answer is I don't think we will know until it comes to that time and place because of several factors and that is the way it should be. I have been thinking a lot lately about consciousness and death. Recently, I have been exposed to the idea that the isolated intelligence ~can~ exist after death in god form and in some limited form interact with the living world. Before then, I had always believed that the best we could hope for was to merge our consciousness fully with God and become part of divinity, adding to the love and life that energizes the world. The evidence that God as I had understood him being a nonconscious, non sentient entity is slowly mounting in my mind. I do not believe we are judged by God or that sinners and saints are separated into literal hell and heaven. That's a projection of human social dynamics upon the ineffable divine in my mind. However, I do believe that for true spiritual ascension both RHP (merging with God) and LHP (becoming a God) there is a time of judgement where one must be able to look at ones actions and motives fearlessly and withstand the tumult of judgement by one's own deepest standards and that most of us cannot accept that challenge. Our fear will trap us in both life and death. Laurel

truthsayer	31 Aug 2002
for me, the most important thing is to keep my mind open to all possibilities. if we believe something too strongly, we can get trapped in that belief in both life and death. i don't need a prescription of rules set up by a Higher Power to have a conscience and live the best life i can. however, some ppl need that extra structure and guidance which is fine as long as it is a positive and growing force in their life. i do believe if they so choose, those who have passed on can become aware of us and even communicate. however, again we can't prove anything. so my advise is to keep your mind open and try to be the best person you know how to be and look for opportunities or ideas that encourage spiritual growth in your life. the more secure you feel in your personal beliefs, the easier it will be to face your own death or that of loved ones.

Violet Gargoyle	03 Sep 2002
I pretty much remind myself that energy cannot be created nor destroyed, its ever swirling. Since I think that emotion emits a certain energy, then it should be possible to carry that onto- wherever we move on to. But I think that the emotional connection is there, just alot harder to understand outside of the human mind's conditioned perceptions.

Niall	04 Sep 2002
I liked Violets impression, as it mirrors my own. Energy is neither created nor destroyed. It simply changes form. The life force that sustains us while in this corporeal existence is energy. A part of the Universal creation. It is said, and I believe, that we choose our own time of departure from this life. A time when we feel that we have learned what we came here to learn, or are unlikely to be able to learn, and so depart to attempt advancement elsewhere and elsewhen. Kismet said: As a Christian, I've been taught when we die, we are judged by our good and bad deeds as well as made to feel the emotions, love, pain, etc, we have caused others. I don't know about 'feeling the pain' or being judged, but I'm certain that on the path to ultimate spiritual attainment we pause after each lesson to review what we learned, and what we didn't learn that perhaps we wanted to or planned to. After such reflection, I believe we continue on the path by returning to another existence, be it corporeal or otherwise, to learn more. Yes, I'm a firm believer in reincarnation or rebirth. There is much more to our existence than a mere 3 score & 10. We have a purpose far beyond our understanding in this existence. Some have said that we often return to assist others we may be close to or have known. Others who may not be as advanced on their path as we are on our own, or those who, for reasons unknown to them, are unable to advance because of obstacles they cannot recognise. I think, as Carl Jung postulated, we may well be a collective consciousness made up of individuals, all seeking the ultimate goal.

Scorpion	04 Sep 2002
Hi, Kismet - good to see you again! There have been some very good, thoughtful points made already. Quote: Originally posted by Kismet I had a thought the other day and wished to ask if someone would know the answer to this.... My question is if we are made to feel these things, do we only feel the emotions we directly caused while living? Or would a spirit/soul also feel the emotions we feel after they pass? Would they know when we laugh at good memories we relive? Do hey know the suffering we go through when we grieve? Firstly, what I would say is that while I know how I would answer that for myself because I feel I have had enough proof, I can't answer it for you - you have to come to your own conclusions. It will only work for you if you feel it to be true. I take it that this is not what you were taught and you are now having to confront the idea for yourself. Secondly, my belief is not that we are exactly made to feel everything in the traditional sense but that it is a natural function of karma and that we only do it when we are ready - and use it to progress, rather than to suffer.

The A question on life after death thread was originally posted on 31 Aug 2002 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.