| Humanity throughout the ages have seen death | | | | beliefs in the afterlife such as the "Happy |
| as something loathsome and gruesome; | | | | Hunting Grounds" "Olympus" and the "Elysian |
| something dreadful, something preferable to | | | | Fields." The spiritual instincts of early and |
| avoid at all cost--that is, if a choice were | | | | modern man have always rebelled against the |
| given--but without any other option, are | | | | idea of death, and rightly so, for death in |
| forced to succumb for lack of any power over | | | | reality is non-existent, but the average |
| its occurrence. Anticipating the termination | | | | person is normally unaware and ignorant of |
| of life at an unexpected moment and the | | | | this truth, or he chooses to ignore it for |
| possible prospect of annihilation of | | | | some unknown reason. Death should not be |
| self-identity, humanity views death as a | | | | looked upon as an ultimate chapter or |
| state or condition to be feared. This fear is | | | | conclusion of one's life, for death is simply |
| sustained when all around, most of the dying | | | | a change, a passing, a transition to a |
| are seen to seemingly suffer in anguish and | | | | different plane of consciousness, a different |
| in agony in the death process. The fear of | | | | dimensional activity. Orthodox, or |
| death is actually man's fear of the unknown, | | | | conservative scientists in conformity with |
| and it indicates man's bondage to his | | | | Einstein's equation, "E=mc2," tell us that |
| ignorance which ultimately grows into | | | | nothing in the universe can be destroyed, |
| superstitious expressions. Because of the | | | | that there can only be a transformation, a |
| underlying fear, man attempts laboriously to | | | | change or conversion of the patterns of |
| postpone death through medicine and other | | | | energy-fields; this is the economy of life |
| means; medical science has, however, not yet | | | | which is acknowledged as a law of the Cosmos; |
| found a way to prolong life indefinitely--or | | | | and yet, although furnished with this |
| to ease one's fears, to offer solace, or to | | | | scientific theorem and understanding, these |
| answer profound questions regarding this | | | | same scientists are skeptical concerning the |
| ancient mystery. Knowing the true nature of | | | | survival of the personal consciousness or |
| death releases man from his bondage to his | | | | "awareness-principle," as Tibetan Buddhists |
| fears and to the clinging of his varied | | | | designate it. Mainstream science, although |
| superstitions pertaining to it. Such | | | | faced with many positive data concerning the |
| knowledge based upon personal experience may | | | | survival of the consciousness acquired by |
| be acquired--beliefs to the contrary places | | | | researchers in the paranormal and related |
| an illusory boundary upon the unfolding soul. | | | | fields, still express incredulity as to its |
| Alice Bailey, writing for the Tibetan in "A | | | | reality. Why is it that the life-force, soul, |
| Treatise on White Magic," refers to man's | | | | and consciousness are not seen by these |
| fears regarding death:"The mind of man is so | | | | scientists as energy-fields, just as all |
| little developed that fear of the unknown, | | | | objects down to their minuscule component, |
| terrors of the unfamiliar, and attachment | | | | the electrons, protons and neutrons are known |
| to form have brought a situation where one | | | | to be such? More succinctly, why do |
| of the most beneficent occurrences in the | | | | scientists not recognize the soul? Is it, |
| life cycle of an incarnating Son of God is | | | | perhaps, because of the unconscious |
| looked upon as something to be avoided and | | | | opposition and antagonism towards Religion |
| postponed for as long a time as possible." | | | | that has long persecuted Science in the |
| (1972:494)We can see from her statement that | | | | centuries past? From the occult point of |
| one of the factors that causes man to | | | | view, group minds form living entities or |
| struggle against death, is the attachment to | | | | currents of energy with certain qualities in |
| form. The identification of the Self with the | | | | accord with the thoughts and feelings |
| physical form misleads one into thinking that | | | | generated by the originators or individuals |
| the dissolution of the physical body results | | | | of the same group-mind. This is called an |
| in the annihilation of the Self. Sri | | | | egregore. Such egregores may have an |
| Sankaracharya, the eminent exponent of | | | | indefinite life span, living for centuries, |
| Advaita Vedanta, taught that the deluded mind | | | | and influencing all that comes within its |
| with its beliefs in the reality of form | | | | mental and emotional force fields. It is |
| causes bondage to Maya, or Cosmic Illusion. | | | | through these egregores that an individual, a |
| Philosophically speaking, this is the state | | | | scientist, for instance, living in the |
| of duality, and unless man perceives the One | | | | distant past may influence a scientist living |
| Reality underlying the dualistic worlds, and | | | | in the present. Prejudicial feelings toward |
| as his true nature, he lives in fear and in a | | | | Religion and its tenets, such as its |
| state of slavery. What is Real cannot be | | | | declaration of the living soul that survives |
| destroyed, what is unreal does not exist | | | | the dissolution of the physical body, may |
| apart from our false perception and | | | | therefore, be carried from the past to the |
| understanding. This is avidya, or ignorance. | | | | present. As can be understood from the above, |
| To apprehend the true state of things is to | | | | the antagonism of scientists may not be truly |
| be truly liberated from death. One's | | | | directed to the concept of the afterlife, or |
| consciousness is expanded and raised to a | | | | soul-survival, but towards religion as a |
| divine estate when Reality is known and death | | | | whole, and this discord is an unconscious |
| seen for what it really is. What Bailey does | | | | feeling--the result of centuries of |
| not mention is that the soul-process of | | | | maltreatment in the hands of |
| "death" may be experienced in the meditative | | | | Religion--executed in the name of the |
| state. Mystics call this "dying while | | | | Almighty.Investigators and exponents of |
| living," and advanced mystics have reached a | | | | mainstream science, however, have not proved |
| state where they may predetermine and trigger | | | | in their laboratories the cessation of life, |
| the time and process of their physical and | | | | and the non-survival of consciousness after |
| mystical deaths--these are executed with | | | | death. On the contrary, they are very close |
| divine permission. Mystical deaths offers one | | | | to discovering and proving its reality and |
| the opportunity to acquire the beautific | | | | validity. It would seem that the Veil of Isis |
| vision called Marifatullah by Islamic | | | | is thinning; nevertheless, the question of |
| gnostics. We will not dwell on this mystical | | | | the survival of consciousness, we feel, can |
| aspect in this paper but focus more on the | | | | only be satisfactorily and adequately |
| physical side of death and dying.Before | | | | answered to us by personal |
| continuing further, let us first provide a | | | | experience--through phenomena such as NDEs |
| definition of the branch of study dealing | | | | (Near Death Experience) and the projection of |
| with death. The study is properly termed, | | | | one's consciousness and subtle bodies. |
| "Thanatology" (from Greek thanatos, "death"). | | | | Without personal experience there would be an |
| The Encyclopedia Britannica explains it | | | | element of doubt, the truth would elude our |
| thus:". . . the description or study of death | | | | comprehension, and the false delude our |
| and dying and the psychological mechanisms of | | | | understanding. Knowledge pertaining to the |
| dealing with them. Thanatology is concerned | | | | the truth of death eliminates fear, pain and |
| with the notion of death as popularly | | | | sorrow. When one understands the nature and |
| perceived and especially with the reactions | | | | mechanism of life and death, one begins to |
| of the dying, from whom it is felt much can | | | | lead a philosophical and mystical life, open |
| be learned about dealing with death's | | | | to spiritual verities and impressions. One |
| approach . . . Generally, psychologists have | | | | commences to live in harmony with the forces |
| agreed that there are two overall concepts | | | | and laws of Nature, in accord with the |
| concerning death that help in understanding | | | | purposes of the Divine Plan. Scientists would |
| the simultaneous processes of living and | | | | have to become philosophers and mystics in |
| dying. The "my death versus your death" | | | | order to break through any bias constraining |
| concept emphasizes the irrational belief that | | | | their minds from the truth of life after |
| while "your death" is a certainty, an | | | | death.It is a fallacy to think that the |
| exemption may be made in "my case." The | | | | nature of death and the afterlife state |
| second concept, "partial deaths versus total | | | | cannot be known while one is embodied and |
| extinction" stresses the belief that by | | | | functioning in the three-dimensional sphere. |
| experiencing the bereavement following the | | | | Religious fundamentalism, in general, would |
| deaths of friends and relatives, a person is | | | | have us believe this. Man dies temporarily |
| brought as close as possible to realizing | | | | every night during the sleep-state, and he |
| "partial death." These experiences colour the | | | | calls his activities during such a state as |
| individual's attitude toward greater personal | | | | "dreams." Man practices death every time he |
| losses, culminating with the ultimate loss, | | | | enters the delta-theta state. Poor |
| life itself."Thanatology also examines | | | | recollection of one's nocturnal activities |
| attitudes toward death, the meaning and | | | | results in an inadequate comprehension of the |
| behaviours of bereavement and grief, and the | | | | nature and relationship between sleep and |
| moral and ethical questions of euthanasia, | | | | death. Spiritual development improves the |
| organ transplants, and life | | | | recollection of astral activities and the |
| support."Thanatology deals with death from | | | | awareness of the "no-dream" state. Refinement |
| various perspectives, from the cultural and | | | | of the soul disperses the etheric web at the |
| anthropological standpoint, the clinical, | | | | crown chakra and forms a link between the |
| biological, religious, metaphysical, etc. | | | | brain and higher mind allowing for free |
| Death itself is defined in dictionaries as | | | | movement of the personal-consciousness to |
| "an extinction of life," the "ceasing to | | | | higher dimensions without a break in |
| be."Ordinarily, the average person would | | | | awareness. Fundamentally, the only difference |
| avoid talking or thinking about death. When | | | | between death and the sleep-state is that |
| chosen as a topic for discussion, for | | | | death is the permanent evacuation of the |
| instance, the subject is frequently and | | | | awareness-principle from the physical body, |
| promptly relegated to the background of | | | | whereas in sleep it is merely a temporary |
| life's many "evil" necessities and often | | | | condition. In death the sutratma, or silver |
| spoken in hushed tones. Death has always been | | | | cord, snaps, and the personal-consciousness |
| a taboo subject in unenlightened social | | | | leaves the physical body to disintegrate and |
| circles. Man's present negative attitude and | | | | return to the ground from whence it came. In |
| understanding of the nature of death may | | | | the sleep state, this cord which connects the |
| cause self-inflicted suffering, torment, and | | | | physical body to the subtle bodies is |
| pain. Man's lack of understanding of the | | | | maintained. Essentially, death is an |
| truth of death is mainly the result of a | | | | illusion. Death is actually an interval |
| deficiency in the knowledge of spiritual | | | | between two states or planes of |
| verities, and in an absence of spiritual | | | | consciousness. It eventuates in the return of |
| awareness. Religious doctrines and | | | | every component of the microcosm to its |
| materialistically-oriented educational | | | | proper place. This truth is embodied in the |
| systems have inadvertently encouraged man's | | | | poetic verse of Ovid:"Four things of man |
| negative attitude towards death. They paint | | | | there are: spirit, soul, ghost, flesh;"These |
| horrible conditions of the after-death state, | | | | four, four places keep and do possess,"The |
| ranging from eternal punishment and torture | | | | earth covers flesh, the ghost hovers o'er the |
| in fashions exceeding the cruelties and | | | | grave,"Orcus has the soul, stars do the |
| atrocities of the Inquisition, to the | | | | spirit crave."Man has the divine ability to |
| materialistic view of nihilism and | | | | be aware of his being as existing |
| annihilation. Religion and the academic | | | | independently of the physical vehicle. This |
| institutions offer no real comfort or solace | | | | is accomplished in what has come to be called |
| to those whose loved ones have faced the | | | | lucid dreaming and astral projection, or |
| great change. The only recourse for | | | | "OBE" (out-of-the-body experience) as a |
| individuals seeking a greater understanding | | | | modern designation for the phenomenon. Like |
| of death is by acquiring metaphysical | | | | St. Paul, it is possible for all of us to say |
| knowledge concerning its nature and by | | | | that we "knew a man who went to the third |
| developing a greater awareness of | | | | heaven," and hear of things not suitable for |
| multi-dimensional life; for life simply is, | | | | the non-initiate. Death is a change of focus |
| it cannot cease to be. Life is Real and | | | | of our consciousness, from one plane to |
| eternal for it is not compounded. Forms are | | | | another. This is also accomplished through |
| compounded, therefore, they are evanescent. | | | | the above means. Astral projection is an |
| Clinging and being attached to what is | | | | ability that all metaphysicians should seek |
| temporal, and from the point of view of the | | | | to acquire--for it is educational and it |
| Absolute as "illusory," makes one often feel | | | | opens-up avenues of services that one may |
| threatened to life's varied circumstances.In | | | | render. Most, if not all mystical traditions |
| order to be relieved from suffering in the | | | | teach of this occult ability. The |
| form of bereavement and anguish, humanity as | | | | practitioner of Taoist Yoga, for instance, |
| a whole would have to be re-educated as to | | | | learns in the course of his studies how to |
| the true nature of death, its value, its | | | | separate the soul and spirit from the |
| process, and regarding the state of life | | | | physical body. Advance mystics and occultists |
| after the great transition. One's frame of | | | | are all able to function in full awareness in |
| reference for personal existence has to be | | | | the physical, astral and mental worlds. Such |
| expanded to include multi-dimensional worlds, | | | | individuals are not concerned with the |
| to one's immortal aspect, and not | | | | arguments of materialists--arguments stating |
| circumscribed to physical matter. Concomitant | | | | the non-survival of self, for every mystic |
| to this cleansing process of the mind of its | | | | knows the truth of the matter through |
| false beliefs and notions concerning | | | | personal experience.Dying, to the initiate, |
| death--both the result of social conditioning | | | | is a science and an art. The technique of |
| and brainwashing--there should also be a | | | | death is known to the inter-dimensional |
| search, an investigation into the true | | | | consciousness-traveller. The psychonaut is |
| purpose of life. For to pass through | | | | familiar with the many phases of the bardo |
| transition not knowing the purpose of one's | | | | that leads to one of the "six realms," or to |
| personal existence is to have lived in vain. | | | | liberation from the cycle of reincarnation. |
| It is said that to die well we must first | | | | It is the reality of reincarnation that |
| learn to live well, and this is true, for our | | | | proves to us that we are no stranger to |
| negative karma and our wrong attitudes and | | | | death. We incarnate and pass through the |
| apprehension of death causally leads us to | | | | change of death repeatedly until we |
| pain and suffering in the bardo, the death | | | | emancipate ourselves from the wheel of birth |
| process--of which we will deal in later | | | | and rebirth. We have all met the angel of |
| chapters. For this reason it is incumbent | | | | death countless times and shall meet that |
| upon us all to embark upon the study of | | | | specter once again in the future. All |
| thanatology--the science of death, as | | | | religions refer to this life-death cycle, |
| understood by metaphysics, to live a | | | | though some metaphorically.Every |
| worthwhile life, to relieve the sense of | | | | metaphysician should be familiar with the |
| suffering, and to efface our misgivings | | | | subject of death, as understood in the |
| regarding death and the after-death state. | | | | esoteric sense, and as to its occult process. |
| Death is simply a transformation, a process | | | | In the course of one's metaphysical ministry, |
| analogous to a caterpillar-turned-butterfly | | | | one would often meet individuals suffering |
| through metamorphosis.Our "fate" and | | | | from anguish and bereavement. The |
| experiences in the afterlife and in the death | | | | metaphysician should be able to offer the |
| process are both determined largely by our | | | | kind of solace that goes beyond the service |
| karma, beliefs, knowledge (or lack of it), | | | | of the burial ceremony and the pronouncement |
| purity, righteousness, and understanding of | | | | of the words, "ashes to ashes, dust to dust . |
| the mission and purpose of our sojourn in the | | | | . ." To the dying, and those newly passed-on, |
| physical plane. Life in this physical | | | | the advanced metaphysician should act as a |
| dimension should be seen as an opportunity to | | | | guide to the inner levels of being. He should |
| mature and to liberate oneself from all | | | | play the role of Anubis, guiding the departed |
| mortal restrictions even though functioning | | | | soul to its proper place. This should be an |
| through an organic vessel. Some people | | | | integral part to any last rites or sacraments |
| experiencing the vicissitudes and hardships | | | | given. There is much superstition, fear and |
| of life often complain that it was not their | | | | ignorance regarding the nature of death among |
| wish to be born, implying that it was not | | | | the masses. It, therefore, behooves the |
| their wish to live or to be here in this | | | | metaphysical counselor to play his or her |
| physical world, and yet, in this they | | | | part in enlightening society; and this |
| contradict themselves by expressing a fear of | | | | ministration would benefit humanity as a |
| death, saying that they do not wish to | | | | whole. We feel that this paper should be |
| die--implying that they wish to live. Such | | | | written to remind metaphysicians of the |
| inconsistencies reflect the state of | | | | importance of conveying the truths to the |
| non-awareness of spiritual realities and | | | | masses regarding the continuity of life, |
| verities. Death should be perceived as an | | | | personal identity, and consciousness. One's |
| initiation into the higher mysteries of | | | | professional image is enhanced when |
| Nature. It is thus one of the most important | | | | well-equipped with the requisite knowledge. |
| events in one's spiritual journey. Mastery of | | | | Even though much has been written on the |
| one's life, of one's lower self, and service | | | | subject of death, with much invaluable |
| to the Higher Intelligences, is the wise | | | | information given, we take this opportunity |
| preparation for this great initiatory | | | | to add some of our own insights and |
| experience.In ancient cultures, the existence | | | | experiences to enrich the existing literature |
| of the afterlife was taken for granted. In | | | | and the storehouse of humanity's learning. |
| former eras there have been concepts or | | | | |