Is There Life After Death?

A topic of discussion at a recent gathering. A logical approach would be in understanding what Life and Death really are, right?

We all know there’s nothing called darkness. It’s just an absence of light. One only needs to understand light - to know both - light and darkness. So the point is to know what Life really is - to get a sense of both.

One definition of life as we know is - we are born (become alive) - we grow old and then die. We know this as we see it happening to people around us and at some point - we all will die. What happens after death? I don’t know - I won’t be there to know! I’ve just been burnt - or buried🙂. So why bother?

Another perspective is, all that I know about life is based on my waking state. And when I’m asleep and dreaming - I may be in a completely different situation and it’s unique to me. I’m good as dead to my “waking world”. Then there’s deep sleep with no dream. I don’t know when I’m there- but when I wake up - there is a realization that I had a good sleep. What knows that? There too I’m good as dead to my “waking world”.

There is a place in me - where there is awareness of these 3 states - Waking, Dream and Deep Sleep. I become alive when I wake up and die when I sleep. From that place - “waking and sleeping” or “living and dying” to this “world” are “observed”. There - I am beyond Life and Death. So the question of “Life after Death” becomes a moot point - Life and Death are phenomenon appearing in me. They don’t apply to me! Not the "me body that will age and die" - but a deeper place from where all this is observed. This understanding is also “defined” as self realization. Where you "discover" the real you.

“To know the truth - You only need to remove false ideas and concepts we believe” - paraphrased from the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi

Love,

Chaithanya