Spiritual Science Research Foundation Life after Death Dr Zubin Nalladaru Most humans are so busy with their everyday they fail to address a very important question ‘What happens after one sheds this physical body?’ Scriptures and traditions have something to say. They prescribe rituals or prayers for departed family members. For example, Parsees offer prayers for their ancestors for a fortnight in the month of August and Catholics celebrate All Souls Day when they pray for their departed loved ones. But the inquiring and doubting mind requires proof of the type of existence after death. If one contemplates the issue, one realizes the way one lives today, determines one’s tomorrow. If we are good students, we will most probably have good careers; if we are good to people they will likely be good to us. The Divine created the laws of nature which operate irrespective of our faith in them. We are part of nature and nature’s laws also apply to us. However what baffles the mind is when doing good leads to bad consequences, which is when good people suffer. The only answer is there are accounts from previous lives that have to be settled. That is why we see good people suffering in this life. SUBTLE BODY AND REGIONS OF EXISTENCE Members of the Spiritual Science Research Foundation who have an activated sixth sense have found when a person dies, only the physical body ceases to exist. However, the rest of his existence or consciousness continues. The existence of the person minus the physical body is known as the subtle body (linga deha) and comprises of the mental, causal (intellect) and supra-causal (subtle ego) bodies. (These bodies are similar to the layers of an onion.) After death, this subtle body goes to one of 13 subtle planes of existence, other than the Earth plane, and depending on the deeds and desires of the individual during their lifetime. There are seven negative planes and seven positive planes. The Earth plane is the only physical plane of existence and also the first plane in the hierarchy of positive planes. The subtle bodies of individuals who have done righteous deeds and engaged in spiritual practice for God-realisation go to one of the positive planes of existence. On the other hand individuals who’ve indulged in unrighteous acts or spiritual practice for the control or detriment of others, go to one of the seven negative planes of existence. Subtle bodies that go to any of the negative become ghosts. The importance of the Earth plane of existence Earth is the only plane where we can make rapid spiritual growth and settle our give-and-take account of previous births, because having a physical body enhances our spiritual growth. WHAT DECIDES WHERE WE GO AFTER DEATH? At the time of death the physical body becomes inactive and the vital energy used for the functioning of the physical body is liberated into the Universe. This vital energy at the time of death propels the subtle body away from the Earth. Just as the weight of a projectile decides how far a rocket will propel it, similarly the weight of the subtle body decides which plane of existence it goes 42 to after death. The following characteristics add to our weight and increase the probability of our going to one of the lower regions of existence: • Excessive attachment to worldly things and selfishness • Abundance of unfulfilled desires • Feelings of revenge • Too many personality defects such as anger, greed, fear, etc. • A large ego wherein a person identifies himself with his body, mind and intellect as opposed to the soul within. These characteristics can be reduced with sustained spiritual practice according to six basic laws of spiritual practice. Psychological improvements with self-help books or trying to be nice are temporary. Acts to attain positive planes of existence are those done with the objective of God-realisation. They are acts done: • Without doer-ship, i.e. doing activities in life with belief that God Himself is getting it done for me and hence I cannot claim any credit. • Without expectation of appreciation. • Without expectation of results. • More than the acts themselves, it is the attitude or outlook behind the acts that count. • The mental state at the time of death If a person is actually doing spiritual practice such as chanting the name of God at the time of death, then the influence of desires, attachments, ghosts, etc. are minimal compared to his state when not chanting. This makes his subtle body lighter. Hence, if he passes away while chanting, he attains a higher plane of existence. Also, if at the time of death the person is in a state of surrender to God’s will, then he attains higher plane of existence. This is because the person who is in a state of surrender on earth is less likely to increase his ego after death. Also, the responsibility of his well-being in his life after death is undertaken by his spiritual guide or Guru. Due to lack of spiritual practice, most people in the current era go to either the Nether world or one of the lower planes of existence after death because the proportion of demerits (incurred due to wrong doings on Earth) is approximately 30%. Demerits typically include malice towards others and an over abundance of desires. Hence following a path shown by an evolved spiritual guide removes or reduces suffering in this life and ensures we go to a plane conducive to continuing spiritual practice until we reach the final goal of merging with our Creator. As we go further into the current Era of Strife (Kaliyug), there is less likelihood of people going to the higher planes of existence. Once we go to the lower planes, we stay there and experience severe unhappiness for centuries until we completely pay for our demerits and get a chance to be reincarnated on Earth. Dr Zubin is a member of the Spiritual Science Research Foundation, a non-profit organisation in the US and Australia which aims to educate society on the spiritual dimension and how it affects our lives. dr.zubin@spiritualresearchfoundation.org/ www.SpiritualResearchFoundation.org
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