Beyond Life

The question of life after death is one that continues to intrigue and mystify. The theories of existence beyond life on the material plane are many and varied. Some believe there is nothing beyond the physical life, while others believe that we continue to survive as a spiritual beings. Most of us have been taught to believe that the way we live our lives on earth will determine whether we will live blissfully in heaven or suffer eternal damnation in hell. Yet we continue in our quest to determine whether life continues beyond the physical realm. There are those who believe that the answer lies in belief itself. Knowledge that life exists beyond this plane of existence would alleviate the fear of death and comfort those suffering the loss of a loved one.

So the search continues for some sort of tangible evidence of life after death. Most people agree that some part of an individual's being does survive bodily death, namely the soul. But what constitutes the soul? The spirit or soul is thought to be perception, thoughts and feelings that make up the individual. Down through the ages, people have sought to prove the existence of life after death and to communicate with those on the other side. They have enlisted the help of psychic mediums and tried a variety of techniques to make contact with the spirit world. Some of the methods and psychics seem to be valid while others have proved to be no more than parlor tricks performed by skilled deceivers.

Those who have had near death experiences do not seem to need any further confirmation of survival beyond death. The experiences all have similar details with the individual describing a tunnel, the bright light, meeting a figure that is interpreted by the experiencer as God, usually encountering a relative and being told to go back because their time on earth is not yet done. Those who have had near death experiences also have no further fear of dying. They come back with a more positive outlook on life, a greater knowledge of their purpose and a reassurance that life does not end with bodily death.

Reincarnation is another possibility of life after death that suggests that we are reborn many times. Through the process of reincarnation we are thought to live many lives until we reach a certain level of attainment. Death has been described as the sum of all we are and have been and is only a transition, more of an altered state of consciousness. Death might be thought of as a progressive climb up the spiritual ladder of attainment. Some experiencers of near death have reported similarities to a dream state. One element that lends credence to the theory that fragments of the mind survive death is that material surroundings are created by mere thought, indicating that some sort of imaginative process is at work.

The same beliefs a person had in life seem to be present in the afterlife. It has been speculated that what we believe to be life is only an illusion created by the human mind to make our experiences more understandable. We have to wonder if this could be true. It has also been said that what we perceive to be as living is actually a type of sleep and that at the moment of death we awaken from our sleep-like state to the true experience of life. Is death merely an extension of the physical life? Does death reveal the true inner self as the physical garment is shed? The outer layers of matter and materialism may need to be stripped away before the inner self can truly be realized and eventually progress to its fullness. Then why the need for life in the physical plane? Existence on the physical plane would be necessary to learn through experience in order to evolve. Perhaps death is nothing more than a revelation of the true self and, in dying, the real journey begins.

Darlene Zagata is a freelance writer and columnist for the print publication Moon Shadows Magazine. She is also the author of "Aftertaste: A Collection of Poems" and "The Choosing." Her work has been published extensively both online and in print. For more information visit her website at http://darlenezagata.tripod.com or contact Darlene at darzagata@yahoo.com

---

There is Power in Believing

I once read a story about a Catholic priest who... Read More

The Final Chapter

Several months ago, I read an... Read More

Thinking Out Loud (Questions) Part one of a two part Series

(Channeled)Roy-when does the end of physical life come? Is it... Read More

Communion - The Key to Experiencing the Abundant Life of God

Now, we all know that we shouldn't be lead by... Read More

I Am Not An Island or What Does God Have to Do With Animals?

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the... Read More

What is the Evil Eye?

The Evil Eye has been around since the beginning of... Read More

You Can Influence Your Fortunes In Life

Natural laws exist that serve to maintain order in the... Read More

Be Abundant...Set a New Mental Equivalent

Limiting beliefs, just like positive, empowering thoughts, provide a foundation... Read More

How To Solve Any Problem

Contrary to popular beliefs, we are not our mind, our... Read More

Angelic Art - Alternative & Spiritual Healing Therapy

As more and more alternative and spiritual healings are being... Read More

Introduction to the Five Powers of Spirit

You are a dual being. Part eternal spirit and part... Read More

Penthouse or Basement? The Spiritual Realm is Topsy-Turvy

Am I dreaming? The sign outside the skyscraper reads: "Spiritual... Read More

Dancing with the Devil

"If you can't dance with the devil You will never... Read More

The Great Battleground

Being a Christian does not exempt us from having to... Read More

Getting to Spiritual Enlightenment

The expression "Spiritual Enlightenment" has been used often in reference... Read More

The Trust We Must Have to Manifest What We Truly Desire

Some of my greatest teachers have taught me that faith... Read More

Life After Life - Death Is Merely a Changing Room

Since I awoke from my three month coma in August... Read More

The Centre of Our Existence!

Most of us have heard talk or have read something... Read More

The Psychical Research Foundation

Karen was the name of the reception person, who sat... Read More

Oceans of People

Oceans... There's water in 'em! :-)It may seem a bit... Read More

What Does It Mean To Hear Gods Voice?

Excerpt from The Journey That Never Was: a guide to... Read More

Christian Religious Addiction in Hawaii?

Surveys show that religion and spirituality play a central role... Read More

In Search of a Teacher of Spirit: Eleven Conscious Considerations

Many of us are on an inward or outward path-to... Read More

5 Ways To Learn More About The Orisha

The Orisha are the Messengers of Oludumare, the God/dess of... Read More

What is Prayer?

Prayer from a child's simple bedtime prayer, to the prayers... Read More

Universal Meaning of Celtic Knotwork

In the spring of 2003, I spent three weeks in... Read More

Spirituality: Blues for Buddha

Being critical of Buddhism isn't easy.Buddhism is the most likable... Read More

Religion or Spirituality

There is a natural tendency to asociate spirituality with religion,... Read More

A Walk With A King

I seemed to have lost my heart. Now this is... Read More

Do You Have Hot Buttons?

You may ask, "What are hot buttons anyway?"Hot buttons are... Read More

Standing in the Gap

I'm weary of saying No to my children. Not just... Read More

Shamanism

Is it really possible that Don Juan could command the... Read More

Esoteric & Occult Secrets

To understand the nature of esoteric and occult secrets it... Read More