Chapter 1: What happens after we die? - Motivation for enquiry

This question is for me by far the greatest motivation for philosophical and spiritual enquiry. Setting aside problems about what 'we' are, let us consider the implications of such a question.

The question implies that before we 'die', we are 'alive'; that there is some change of circumstances. So, what is 'being alive'? Let us take the answer: it is a state of consciousness. Then I define, for the time being, death to be that event when consciousness ceases.

Everybody knows they will die, but is there life afterwards? I cannot prove anything on paper; all I can do is to suggest that one opens up completely in mind, heart and body - the answer should be revealed, if at all, more easily this way. My answer is: yes. There is immense literature on this, but I stress again that words can only point in the direction of the true answer. However, one question which springs to mind, which indicates the affirmative to many including myself, is:

"If not, then what is the purpose of life?"
Thus, I assume that there is some life after death.

Is this life and all possible further existences of an everlasting period or does there come a time when we really do 'kick the bucket' for good? Suppose the latter, i.e. the sum total of our lives is finite. Then I would regard these lives as just one life, broken up by a number of interruptions (deaths). I ask a second time, "What is the purpose of such a life?"

Henceforth, I assert that there is always life after death. What then is the nature of life after death? Before I respond to this, I need to indicate my approach ...


Chapter 2 | Contents Page

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