7 This Life and Hereafter

Transcription

1 7 This Life and Hereafter Over 99.99% people on earth have heard the term this life and hereafter from either religious scholars and/or their parents while growing up. Most religious scholars define this life as the life we live before our physical death and hereafter as the life after physical death following judgment. Some have tried to define this life as material life and hereafter as spiritual life. These definitions along with the events are pretty much same across Abrahamic religions and non Abrahamic religions except Santana Dharma. In Sanatan Dharma, stories are kind of a mix between these philosophies of hell and heaven, and others such as, Moksha or Liberation from reincarnation. Leaving the variations at the detail level, generalization of the events at a higher level give us the the below sequences. We are born in this world We are given free will because of Adam or some other entities Many of us practice religions as we grow old and turn to either believers or disbelievers. Others are termed as atheists. We die physically We are resurrected by God after unknown time from grave Day of Judgment begins with God being the judge and the witness Religion specific Prophets or Sages identify their followers and perform roles as intermediary or lawyer Judgment is issued - Hell or Heaven is assigned Eternal afterlife begins Organized Religions view of This Life and Hereafter 1

2 This generalized view has quite a bit of variations at the detail level in each of the believe system. Let s take a look at some of the specifics. In Islam, some sects believe, hereafter will begin with a series of questions by angels in the grave shortly after the burial. Failure to answer the right question triggers awful punishment till the day of resurrection. On the Day of Judgment, Muhammad will intercede with God s decision and will allow Muslims to heaven. Many Muslims believe Mohammed will not go to heaven leaving a single Muslim in Hell. In Christianity, the outcome in the Day of Judgment is pretty much the same with the exception of the grave ordeal and Jesus will play Muhammad s role. In Santana Dharma, Gurus will play the role of Jesus or Muhammad s to take their devotees to heaven or Krishnaloka. In Judaism, Jews believe they are the chosen people and promise land is granted to the exclusion of all other people lead by the promised Messiah yet to come. Jews believe Moses is the best prophet. Christians believe Jesus is the son of God and died for their sins. Muslims believe Muhammad is the best prophet and God created the universe for him. So, if we consider all these roles to be true and their functions on the Day of Judgment, it s highly unlikely that anyone is going to hell irrespective of their believes. But according to the followers and their scholars, except them, all others are destined to hell for eternity. The generalized view of these events and religion specific variations are derived from three major sources; scriptures, other religious books, and interpretations by scholars. Looking at the universe and the planet we live, such different outcomes are not feasible though they are the cornerstones of any scripture. These events in my view aren t literal but a realization at a very individual level. Key Abrahamic scriptural paradigms surrounding these events, Adam and prophets, destinies in Quran are: Torah spreads from Adam to Moses and a part of Old Testament. It was given to Moses and Aaron Gospel or New Testament covers Adam to Jesus which was given to Jesus Quran covers Adam to Muhammad and was given Muhammad This life and hereafter Resurrection and Judgment day Hell and paradise Rewards in paradise without the presence of 72 women Cruel Punishments in hell Allegorical aspects of paradise and hell We may have questioned many times the validity of This life as the life we live in before physical death and hereafter as the eternal hell or heaven when compared with the magnificence of the universe and the life on this planet. Can a creator of this magnitude eternally punish anyone for disbelieving in him who has not done any major crime in his lifetime? Does it make sense for a creator of unimaginable intelligence is waiting in heaven for our death then commit to hell? If the answers are No then shall we interpret these unexplainable physical events without ignoring allegorical nature of those verses to bring back these events to life? 2

3 7.1 This life in Quran Q [6:29] They say,"we live only this life; we will not be resurrected." This life and world both are used to indicate the span and the realization or experience in each of us. This is the duration from our birth to physical death or from our birth to our physiological death. Verse [6:29] is aimed at the disbelievers in unawakened state indicating living as circular. I didn t find any support of a single life which started with Adam as believed. This life and world are closely related. As discussed before, world is the psychological adaptation of culture, superiority, boosting of material ownership, women, children, power, and experiences. It s not the earth, the cosmos or the material ownership required for living rather the psychological boosting and superiority derived from these material ownership. God characterizes this worldly life as a temporary illusion. Q [3:14] Adorned for the people are the worldly pleasures, such as the women, having children, piles upon piles of gold and silver, trained horses, livestock, and crops. These are the materials of this world. A far better abode is reserved at GOD. Q [57:20] Know that this worldly life is no more than play and games, and boasting among you, and hoarding of money and children. It is like abundant rain that produces plants and pleases the disbelievers. But then the plants turn into useless hay, and are blown away by the wind. In the Hereafter there is either severe retribution, or forgiveness from GOD and approval. This worldly life is no more than a temporary illusion Life and Death in Quran Q [2:28] How can you disbelieve in GOD when you were dead and He gave you life, then He puts you to death, then He brings you back to life, then to Him you ultimately return? Q [14:10] Their messengers said, "Do you have doubts about GOD; the Initiator of the heavens and the earth? He invites you only to forgive your sins, and to give you another chance to redeem yourselves." They said, "You are no more than humans like us, who want to repel us from the way our parents used to worship. Show us some profound authority." Above verses confirm the cyclic nature of living and physical death which in line with Sanatana Dharma. Verse 2:28 confirms from dead to life not created to life and verse 14:10 refers to this life as another chance indicating a realization SELF and the body. These verses refer to our physical nature of existence. You can run a simple reflection within to validate, especially, if you re above 40. You haven t grown old but your bodies have. You can see the wrinkles in your face but you, the person, never grew old. Remember, when you are with our friends, you go back many moons and able to laugh and cherish those moments of joy and happiness. Note, just the other day you graduated from college and now years have passed in a blink of any eye! 3

4 Cyclical physical living Above diagram of living and physical death is missing the resurrection and the Day of Judgment. To overlay these events, first, we need to examine how the world is created in unawakened state and destroyed in awakened state Superiority and World For world, we have to look into our psychology and how it s being developed from our childhood and cherished all through this life till the day of awakening. Our world begins as a clean slate as we are born without any distinction. As we grow, jealousy becomes the first sign to manifest as the building block of the world. I am sure, we all can recall events in our childhood or we can see the same phenomena in your kids or the kids around 2 to 6 years or so. Kids of young age will play with kids of different color, race, social background, religions, genders and others which separate us. It is a time of fun and joy without any difference bothering anyone. At this stage, the world hasn t been created yet, and the heaven and earth haven t been separated. As we grow old, our psychology begins to take shape towards individual identity. It begins with we are better than our bodies and later, we bring everything we were endowed in our birth along with our achievements as a differentiator with others. As we begin our journey in this living, the world is wide open and we are like fluids. We can go anywhere and socialize with anyone. As we grow old our identities mature. The world, which was wide open once, becomes narrow due to family, social, national, economic, religion and other identifications. Every differentiator that we embodied ourselves makes our mind smaller and smaller. As we approach the age of forty and beyond, this world gets so congested that we live a restless live while trying to reshape my identity every time I am better than He. This boxed life is full of misery and sufferings though we prize ourselves as liberated or most exalted based on our achievements. If you ponder over it, irrespective of our social outreach, we become the loneliest person on the face of the earth. Moreover, the greatness of our psychological world depends on praise of my intelligence and material holdings from others individuals making SELF the miserable persons living. A question to ask to SELF, If my life and happiness depends on others, do I have a life? 4

5 The world at the beginning The world at the end In scriptural paradigm, other psychological aspect that sustains this world is our belief of being an angel, a king and endowed with an eternal life. Life of eternity is synonymous to Amrit, a drink of immorality, drank by Devas or gods, which is us, in Mahabharata. These three aspects are within each of us and being whispered by us which is the devil or Iblish in us. 5

6 Q [7:20] The devil whispered to them, in order to reveal their bodies, which were invisible to them. He said, "Your Lord did not forbid you from this tree, except to prevent you from becoming angels, and from attaining eternal existence. Q [20:120] But the devil whispered to him, saying, "O Adam, let me show you the tree of eternity and unending kingship." Q [3:14] Adorned for the people are the worldly pleasures, such as the women, having children, piles upon piles of gold and silver, trained horses, livestock, and crops. These are the materials of this world. A far better abode is reserved at GOD. 7.2 Resurrection in Quran To understand the resurrection, let s analyze the definition of physical death, psychological death, and grave in Quran. Physical death is the departure from earth to physical grave for next cycle as a human verse [102:2]. Psychological grave is the unawakened state of SELF when we go on with the living without paying attention to the guidance and nourishment of the psychological world. Resurrection is coming back to life from psychological grave. Q [60:13] O you who believe, do not befriend people with whom GOD is angry, and who are hopelessly stuck in disbelief; they are just as hopeless as the disbelievers who are already in the graves. Q [35:22] Nor are the living and the dead; GOD causes whomever He wills to hear. You cannot make hearers out of those in the graves. Q [102:2] Until you go to the graves. There are two outcomes of the resurrection. Guilty will rush out from their psychological graves while looking upward for God with horrified minds about death and punishment. Believing in God up in heaven, psychophysical sufferings of unimaginable proportions, and fear of death and punishment thereafter puts us in the wrong group. Individuals who uphold the teachings of their preachers or gurus will always assume the event after physical death. Scriptural guidance is the sole source of righteous and gives life to the dead. You can t be physically dead and listen at the same time verse 6:36. You can t point to God in the sky when he is closer to you than your heart verse 8:24. Q [82:4] The graves are opened. Q [14:43] As they rush, their faces will be looking upward, their eyes will not even blink, and their minds will be horrified. Q [36:51] The horn will be blown, whereupon they will rise from the grave and go to their Lord. 6

7 Q [79:10] They will say, "We have been recreated from the grave! [8:24] O you who believe, you shall respond to GOD and to the messenger when he invites you to what gives you life. You should know that GOD is closer to you than your heart, and that before Him you will be summoned. [6:36] The only ones to respond are those who listen. GOD resurrects the dead; they ultimately return to Him. Q [38:27] We did not create the heaven and the earth, and everything between them, in vain. Such is the thinking of those who disbelieve. Therefore, woe to those who disbelieve; they will suffer in Hell. Believers, on the other hand, will be happily busy in paradise while inheriting the earth. Traits of the believers are the realization of God everywhere and within, absence of fear of death, enjoyment of new life in awakened state where peace as the adobe. They look around with awe and praise the creation that is beyond appreciation with human language rather realized with enormous gratitude. Resurrection or the awakening can only be visualized by the knowledgeable who has reached certainty. [36:55] The dwellers of Paradise will be, on that day, happily busy. [30:56] Those who are blessed with knowledge and faith will say, "You have lasted, according to GOD's decree, until the Day of Resurrection. Now, this is the Day of Resurrection, but you failed to recognize it." [50:34] Enter it in peace; this is the Day of Eternity. 7.3 Hereafter in Quran Hereafter is the period following the removal of World crafted by our minds and our upbringings. One life, physical death and resurrection are not supported by Quran. As mentioned above, resurrection is the awakening thus breaking the cyclic nature of life and death to Moksha (Liberation). Dissolution of world towards righteousness enriches SELF with immense pleasure. On the other hand, dissolution of world due to psychophysical trauma causes enormous suffering which leads to reincarnation or next cycle. A new creation will initiate following the awakening or resurrection and the existing earth will be substituted with a new earth verse 29.20/14:48. The creation applies to our psychophysical being for inner peace. The new earth, the creatures, and the heavens are the discoveries. This earth is not to be created at a dimension or places in the galaxy but indicates a psychological shift. This formation is the beginning of realization and the first verse of Old Testament which starts with - Now the earth was formless and empty, 7

8 darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters Genesis 1.2. Spirit of God over water is synonymous to initiation of creation within or brining life to the dead and the discovery of our existence that follows. Q [29:64] This worldly life is no more than vanity and play, while the abode of the Hereafter is the real life, if they only knew. Q [30:7] They care only about things of this world that are visible to them, while being totally oblivious to the Hereafter. Q [29:20] Say, "Roam the earth and find out the origin of life." For GOD will thus initiate the creation in the Hereafter. GOD is Omnipotent. Q [14:48] The day will come when this earth will be substituted with a new earth, and also the heavens, and everyone will be brought before GOD, the One, the Supreme. [21:30] Do the unbelievers not realize that the heaven and the earth used to be one solid mass that we exploded into existence? And from water we made all living things. Would they believe? While leaving in psycho-superior world, beauty and magnificence of earth doesn t register in our eyes. At this phase we devise numerous theories to explain the awesomeness of creation which just doesn t add up. We just don t get it! Truthfully, we don t really care about it. Promise of all organized religions for a life after death with unending amenities causes the beauty of our existence, earth and heavens or cosmos meaningless. No wonder why we pollute our existence to unsustainable level. Once we realize the wonders that surround us, earth and cosmos will appear very different - pristine and awesome. We will do everything to preserve it. If we plot the awakening in the cycle of birth and death chart, it will show as a bump upwards from the downward turn of psychophysiology. This psychological transformation will initiate the physiological transformation within using scriptural commandment and religious rites, such as, Salat/Yoga, Ramadan/Fasting, and Zakat/charity. These will transform our realization and at that 8

9 moment we will submit to God and his creation individuality will cease to exist. Health and happiness will be our true companion, Gardens of Eden (psychophysical body) or our home will be restored and fear of death will disappear. And all that together will restore the kingdom of God the Biblical paradigm. Once awakened, nothing can take away the flame of God. This is the Nirvana in Buddhism. Only SELF will know the change within and will preach to others. This change can t be manifested for others for faith or believe. Each individual must take this awesome journey to promise land by the grace of God. [32:17] You have no idea how much joy and happiness are waiting for you as a reward for your works. [52:22] We will supply them with fruits and meats that they love. [56:21] Meat of birds that they desire. [41:31] "We are your allies in this life, and in the Hereafter. You will have in it anything you wish for; you will have anything you want. [2:256] There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in GOD has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient. 7.4 Bible s new earth and heavens Isaiah, son of Amos, is often thought of as the greatest of the writing prophets. His name means "Yahweh saves." Book of Isaiah unveils the full dimensions of God's judgment and salvation. It mentions two outcomes following the judgment. The creation of a new earth and heavens by God of truth (EL) where sufferings of the first life won t be remembered and the righteous will dwell in paradise. On the other hand, Jerusalem will be created for unrighteous individuals by Yahweh. Jerusalem is not a physical land but a metaphoric description of peace in psychological paradigm. Jerusalem literally means adobe of peace in Hebrew and it s the place where Jesus was crucified. So, it s not the true adobe of peace rather a mirage of peace that hides the truth leading to reincarnation. 65:16 "Because he who is blessed in the earth Will be blessed by the God of truth (EL); And he who swears in the earth Will swear by the God of truth (EL); Because the former troubles are forgotten, And because they are hidden from My sight! 65:17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. 65:18 "But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing And her people for gladness. 9

10 7.5 This life, reincarnation and resurrection in Sanatan Dharma These three phases of life cycle continuum are supported fully by Sanatana Dharma scriptures. World was already defined in chapter 4 which is sustained by sleeping Vishnu. This world or this life is an illusion is caused by superiority, material vanity, greed, money and power without any end. This illusion of future happiness with material ownership gives raise to a life experience of pain and sufferings and depicted by snakes. This portrayal of first life is no different than that of Abrahamic religions. Though, a majority of Sanatana Dharma teachers or Gurus explain this world to be material ownership and names it as a material world which has no support from Vedas, Vedantas and other scriptures such as Quran. We need materials in this world to survive and be happy which has no contradiction with the scriptures but the psychological pride derived from ownership and superiority is the scriptural world, and the sole cause of destruction of human psychophysiology. Sleeping Vishnu with Laxmi or Wealth at his feet The desire that is nourished as a future happiness has many names in Sanatan Dharma scriptures, Nandini, Kamadhenu, Goloka, Cow, etc. Cow is a symbol used in all scriptures to identify the desire as the source of happiness derived from ownership of material vanities, such as, women, children, Gold, silver, etc. In Old Testament, this desire is represented by the worship of the golden calf by Israelites which lead them to dwell 40 years in the desert. In Ramayana, Rama, the proud self, was in Goloka embodied himself with material vanities and is represented by cows and flute. This dwelling in Goloka is the sole cause of pain and sufferings which makes him blue at the end. This urge of material vanities makes us restless, greedy and eager for more 10

11 possessions only to find our life is about to end. You may have seen statue or pictures of blue Rama which is the painting of painful SELF. Golden Calf worshipped by Israelites Rama with flute and cow Rama in blue 11

12 Nandini or Kamadhenu (Desire Rainbow) Reincarnation and Moksha (Liberation) are the cornerstones of Sanatana Dharma. The debate between Abrahamic scriptures and Santana Dharma scriptures mainly boils down to reincarnation verse resurrection. In my view, there is no debate between the scriptures as it was caused by our misalignment of terminologies and misunderstanding of the concepts. Resurrection is the same as Moksha (liberation) which is the understanding of SELF, the creator and the creation. Reincarnation is the rebirth cycle of unawakened individuals failed to liberate him from the continuum of life and death. People who experience the resurrection or attain Moksha are the ones who see the scriptures within themselves and submit to the will of the creator. People who attain Moksha are termed as Janmajaya or triumphant from birth. Q [44:56] They do not taste death therein - beyond the first death - and He has spared them the retribution of Hell. [30:56] Those who are blessed with knowledge and faith will say, "You have lasted, according to GOD's decree, until the Day of Resurrection. Now, this is the Day of Resurrection, but you failed to recognize it." 12

13 7.6 Alignment and Sequence Q [49:13] O people, we created you from the same male and female, and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes, that you may recognize one another. The best among you in the sight of GOD is the most righteous. GOD is Omniscient, Cognizant. Q [56:58-59] Have you noted the semen that you produce? Did you create it, or did we? Awakened and unawakened SELF dwells in both This Life and Hereafter while we breathe. Based on the definition and meaning of life phases, we can sequence them as below based on our life experiences as prophesized in the scripture: 1. Psychological World / This life - is created by our superiority or fire, Jinn or Bishma or aka devil or serpent, from our childhood to youth, and youth to adult and adult to maturity which is the age of This world is a very lonely place with hatred, anger, superiority, blindness which thrives on material vanity. It gets narrower as we age resulting more suffering and misery. As we grow old, our bodies will fell apart, we fail to appreciate the beauty and awesomeness in the creation as we are glued to our physical well being. 3. If this world is sustained with our ignorance or psychological darkness, beauty of the creation will never surface and we will roll into next cycle for another chance for redemption. 4. If this world is broken by sincere analysis using intellect and life is crafted around the wisdom with God s prescribed path, a new earth will be realized along with new heavens. We will be brought before God and the marvels in paradise. 5. In both scenarios, time will be eternal in psychological aspect. 6. In Quran, Adam was redeemed when he received words from God. These words are the revelation of the scripture to bless all Adams, all of us, irrespective of gender, color, race and others with wisdom in paradise. These words can only be revealed through question, reflection, realization, and use of intellect. 7. Believe is the not the beginning but the end. This intellect or wisdom is the light of Shiva, the destroyer of World in Sanatan Dharma that reveals the creator, Brahma, to opens up the paradise and restores Vrindhavhan, clusters of flowers, or gardens of Eden. 8. Individuals will see enormous changes once aligned with the scripture - recreation to initiate within mind and body. 9. Calm, peace and happiness will be constant companions 13

14 10. Social interactions will be based on individual humans identity without prejudice of race, color, gender, nationality or any other differentiator. 11. Realization of the truth none owns any part of the creation, we all are riding on the creations in paradise. 14