"WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DEATH"
At Carol Rae's 2024 09 22 Women's Corp's Urantia Monthly Study Meeting Discourse on Jonah Ruth Balyesiima asked the Question at the end of the meeting "WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DEATH"
What happens after I die? Is this the END? If not, what’s next?
If you, or others, have ever asked these questions, this shows a sincere quest to know more about ALL of what is being offered to each one of us.
Quick answer to the middle question:
NO, it is not the end! For those who choose eternal life.
Think of this life as primary school – where we are just beginning to practise what is intended for us to learn: plus reading, writing and arithmetic, we are also learning to socialize with others, think about God and our personal relationship with him, as well as to seek to do his will. All of which is part of growing that inner “identity”, which will determine if we survive, and will bring us over to the other side = our soul. Therefore are we in total control of what happens to us before and after death. Your Free Will reigns!
[On being brought out of our sleep of death] “...the return of the Adjuster signalizes the awakening of the human soul, and this is the re-personalization of the dead...” (49:6.9)
In fact! This lesson might be called: “Life After Life Here!”
Interested in knowing more on how to ensure your survival, and not just end up in the dirt of the planet, never to progress towards the Paradise Father? Consider this:
“Every decision you make either impedes or facilitates the function of the Adjuster [in your mind];... numbers of decisions, frequent repetitions, persistent repetitions, are also essential to the habit-forming certainty of such reactions.” (110:6.6)
Definition: Impedes: delays or prevents (someone or something) by obstructing them Facilitates: makes easy or easier; helps; assists
This is very clear...easier said than done, but very clear!
Take the time to pause before each thought, word or action (not always simple!), to determine if your decision to perform each, will make it easier for you and your Father Fragment to work together. This requires monitoring your thoughts – that is, how you think in different situations. All working towards soul-building, your potential to survive this earthly life. And have faith, that each time you choose the highest possible moral choice in the face of any potential alternative, it becomes easier to do. Practise does make perfect!
This means to choose Eternal Life, here and now!
(Jesus) “The children of this world fight for the establishment and enlargement of the kingdoms of this world, but my disciples shall enter the kingdom of heaven by their moral decisions and by their spirit victories; and when they once enter therein, they shall find joy, righteousness, and eternal life.” (137:8.7)
“It is a fact that God loves you, his sons[and daughters]. By faith in my word this fact becomes an eternal and living truth in your hearts. When, by living faith, you become divinely God-conscious, you are then born of the spirit as children of light and life, even the eternal life wherewith you shall ascend the universe of universes and attain the experience of finding God the Father on Paradise.” (193:0.3)
Said John the Baptist while in prison: “He who believes in the Son [Jesus] has eternal life.” (135:11.2) We have been gifted with the personal presence of God who lives within our mind and helps us to believe. It is this indwelling Father Fragment who IS our “ticket” to eternal life as he is OF God...we simply must persist in choosing his Way/his Will!
Do I go straight to Heaven if I survive my physical death?
“Death added nothing to the intellectual possession or to the spiritual endowment, but it did add to the experiential status the consciousness of survival.” (48:7.25)
This means, NO, we do not go straight to the presence of our Paradise Father: that is, our intellectual status or how much we had progressed spiritually was not improved by dying...we did not suddenly become perfect! Think back to the opening comparison of being in primary school, learning just the basics here of being a faithson/daughter of God. Would we send a child who completed elementary grades directly on to college/university? Would that same childlike mind be able to contend with the depth of knowledge after being thrust into such an environment? Of course not. Therefore, if we are awakened, we are exactly where we left off intellectually and spiritually upon our earthly departure.
We must be spiritually prepared to “see” the Universal Father!
It is so exciting to learn that, when Jesus announced during his sojourn on earth, how “in his Father’s house there are many mansions”, that these mansions truly exist as worlds where we will be corrected and educated to become “perfect even as the Father in Heaven is”. This will take each of us a VERY long period of “time” for us to develop into our perfect self.
“On the mansion worlds, after your vision range is extended and you are freed from the fetters of material comparisons, you can begin to comprehend the meaning of those realities which “eye cannot see nor ear hear, and which have never entered the concept of human minds,” even those things which “God has prepared for those who love such eternal verities.” You are not always to be so limited in the range of your vision and spiritual comprehension.” (24:6.2)
Know that the whole of our Universe is arrayed with celestial personalities who are poised and positioned to assist us at the mere hint of our request for help along our way!
So, how does Karma fit into life?
Definition:
Karma: (in Hinduism and Buddhism) the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences. (informal) destiny or fate, following as effect from cause.
“The Supreme Rulers are merciful and patient, but the law of deliberately nourished evil is universally and unerringly executed. “The wages of sin is death”—eternal obliteration.” (46:8.4)
Yes! Our actions do have consequences, here and now, and in the beyond. This cannot be avoided. And you know this is true from watching how your daily acts and deeds unfold in your own life – with your family, friends and even strangers – some positive, some not! But instead of coming back to
re-live an imperfect life here in order to improve our “karmic/cosmic lot”, we get to continue forward(not backward!) to do so, which includes our advanced celestial helpers who know exactly what we need to progress!
I love my pet! Will I see her again?
Since we know that our beloved animal friends, who share the Universe Mother’s first 5 adjutant mind spirits that we do - intuition, understanding, courage, knowledge and counsel – can never attain the Father in their experiences, not being indwelt by the Father’s Fragment. In other words, they do not have the capacity to initiate and develop soul-growth, and they “do not visualize survival after death” (68:3.2). However! Because we also know that nothing that is true, beautiful and good is EVER lost in eternity, that warm, loving relationship you have with your pet IS everlasting in the presence of the Universe Mother Spirit. “Said your great teacher of the insignificant sparrow, ‘One of them shall not fall to the ground without my Father’s knowledge...’ (3:3.1) All creatures are beloved.
Living in Faith, Hope and Love is our new religion!
Questions to discuss:
1. Which part of this lesson gives you new hope and why?
2. How do you now face making your decisions each day knowing that they are of survival value? Taking more time to consider each?