Life after Death
What happens after we die? While the conventional wisdom says that
this is something we can never know, observing that no one has ever
come back from the grave to tell about the great beyond, some caveats
may be in order. First of all, literally thousands of people have
undergone "near death" experiences and the commonality of their
experiences has been extraordinary. Many of these people report
seeing their bodies from the vantage point of outside observers, going
through a tunnel towards a light and reviewing their lives with this
light-being. While this certainly does not inform us of the totality
of the death experience, it certainly is a striking phenomenon.
Second and more importantly, in Jewish tradition we do have a
description of what happens after we die. This tradition, reported
in kabbala, the Jewish mystical teachings, traces itself back
ultimately to the Biblical prophets. Their teachings describe what
takes place in near death experiences -- and beyond. Herewith is an
outline of some of those teachings. (In future postings we will,
with G-d's help, delve into these matters more deeply.)
The 30 Days Before
Thirty days before his or her passing away, a person's death is
announced in the upper realms and each night the person's soul goes up
to see its place. During this period, the person is denied any true
prophetic insight in their dreams. Associated with this period is
also a dimming of the person's life force. Truly spiritually sensitive
people can be aware of the dimming of their life force.
The Flickering Flame
Prior to a person's passing away, and this is especially visible with
the terminally ill, a sick person who is very weak may get a sudden
burst of strength, giving his loved ones hope that he is recovering,
only to pass away shortly afterward. This is the flickering flame.
Just as a candle's flame may flicker upward before it is extinguished,
so may a person's life force do the same.
The Passing of the Soul into the Next Realm - Accompanied
On the cusp of passing away, a person may see those dear ones who will
be accompanying him into the next world. If he does not see them at
that time, he will see them as he enters the next world. If the soul
is a worthy soul, these dear ones come toward him with shining faces,
but if he is not deemed a worthy soul, they come towards him saddened
and crying.
The Cave
As the soul goes from this world to the next, it travels through a
tunnel-like reality called the cave of Machpela.
Adam
When the soul goes from this world to the next, it first meets with
the great soul of Adam. Shining, loving, supportive, possessing an
attraction so great that it is unlike anything on earth, Adam's soul
may review with the departed one its actions on earth.
The All-Mighty
While a soul can still return to its body after seeing Adam, once
contact with the All-Mighty has been made, this is impossible. The
power of exposure to G-d's being far surpasses the Adam experience,
and the soul is drawn to the All-Mighty. All souls, whether evil or
good have this initial contact with G-d and this sunders their
connection to this world.
At this point, the soul's adaptation to the spiritual world begins. The
degree to which the soul will be comfortable in its new setting depends on
the spiritual level it has achieved in its earthly existence. A soul that
has forsaken elevating itself on earth will be caught in a difficult
bind - it will retain its attraction to the things it left behind on earth
but will be unable to do anything about it. At the same time, this
forelorn soul will also be frustrated at its inability to relate fully to
the spiritual bliss offered by being in G-d's presence. The truly
righteous, on the other hand feel totally at home in this new reality and
bind to the All-Mighty's throne. The Zohar explains, "if a man merits it,
his soul cleaves to the throne, if he does not merit it, his soul mourns
the loss of the body".
The Sling Shot
If the soul has not merited immediate connection with the All-Mighty
it must go through a purging process known as the Kaf HaKela or Sling
Shot. This is indeed a very difficult process. The soul is haunted
by its misdeeds which literally come alive as destroying angels
chasing it from one end of the spiritual world to the other. At this
point one of two things may occur: the soul may complete the kaf
hakela process, be purged of its impurities and go on to ultimately
stand before the Shekina (G-d's presence) or it may be reincarnated.
Reincarnation
Oftentimes the soul does not accomplish its purpose here on earth.
When that happens it is almost a neccessity that the soul return back
from the next world to this earthly realm to improve itself.
Sometimes a soul may return to earth, however, not because it has any
need for improvement but because of a desire to help others. Most
souls, however, are in need of this "second chance" and the kaf hakela
process leads to these souls return to this world. It is said most
people alive today possess old souls.
Shekina
If the soul merits it, it will ultimately obtain the great,
indescribable and incomprehensibly great pleasure of being before the
Shekina. (Again, more on this and the previous pieces in upcoming
posts.)