Depending on your religious beliefs, death may mean something different to you than it does to someone else. As we progress throughout life, it’s inevitable that our loved ones will eventually die, and many of us will face death ourselves as well—whether it be by natural causes or otherwise. It’s important to understand the concept of death, whether you believe in an afterlife or not, so you can make the most of your life while you’re still here on Earth.


Different spiritual/religious viewpoints
The Bhagavad Gita says that when the physical body is destroyed, then I am not. The dead are not living until they reach heaven and live in a spiritual form. There are even some ideas of a purgatory where people can go to atone for their sins and hopefully move on. Hindus believe that after death, they spend time on earth with their family before attaining Moksha, the ultimate release from the cycle of karma.
Certain Buddhist sects believe that the deceased are not living because they have left this world and only exist in a sort of limbo for 49 days. They hope for reincarnation into a higher form as soon as possible so they can finally leave this world behind.
The Quakers do not know what happens after death, but there is no afterlife for them; instead, everything is about God being everywhere at all times. Some Christians believe that those who die are not living anymore because we become one with God when we die; S/He takes our souls back to Heaven or Hell, depending on whether we have lived good lives. Karma dictates that if you do bad things, you will also experience bad things in the future.
What happens at death
Death is the permanent cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. When a person dies, all chemicals that operate the physical body die, which causes decomposition and leaves behind an empty shell. The deceased’s consciousness lives on as they transcend this world and move to another plane of existence. Karma may play a part in determining what dimension they will enter next. For example, karma dictates whether they will go to heaven or hell and where they are reborn when reincarnated. The deceased has not ceased to exist but only moved onto another form of existence. There are many other dimensions that make up reality. Across African ancestral traditions, the departed remain part of the community; as explored in the study of epigenetics and ancestral memory, the wisdom of those who came before us is literally woven into who we are.
The life review
You probably know how a review of your life will play out. You can either live it and feel the pain, joy, and terror you felt. Or you can replay it with all the awareness that you’ve gained. Either way is memorable, and long enough to learn something new about yourself or the world. Most people come away with a better sense of their purpose in life when they find out why they are here on Earth. They also gain a greater understanding of themselves and other people because they see the choices they make while living.
The best thing about having your life reviewed is seeing how you may have caused harm to others or hurt yourself through the decisions you made, as well as the good things you did for others and yourself. Death gives us time to see our lives as if we were looking at them outside ourselves.
Are there spirits around us?
The common belief is that after death, spirits roam the earth in a transparent form. They are visible to people who have had encounters with them, but other people may not notice them at all. Spirits will often gravitate towards places or objects that were closely connected to their life when they were alive, such as family members and favorite possessions. Some believe these spirits have unfinished business and linger on Earth until they complete it. Others believe that souls reincarnate into new lives upon death and that it is up to each person’s karmic debt whether they return as another human being. When someone dies, do you ever hear from them again? Or is it Till death do us part?
Do souls exist?
Many people believe in an afterlife. Some religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, do not teach about the existence of souls at all. Hindus are more inclined to believe that the soul leaves the body after death and reincarnates into a new form, continuing its progression towards the ultimate goal of perfection. Buddhists, on the other hand, believe that life is merely one stage in a continuous cycle of death and rebirth, which continues until enlightenment is achieved. Whether or not you think there is an afterlife, it’s important to remember your loved ones who have passed with honor and dignity! Celebrate their lives while they’re still alive by telling them how much you love them and spending quality time with them whenever possible.
Where do our souls go after we die?
Many people believe that when a person dies, their soul either goes to heaven or is reincarnated on Earth. And some believe that death does not even exist. Other people believe that when we die, our souls travel to the astral plane, where they are categorized and then sent back to earth or elsewhere. What do you believe? I would like to hear your comments about death. –MM
https://www.hinduwebsite.com/buddhism/karma-hinduism-buddhism.asp
https://ubuntuvillageusa.org/2022/05/19/from-a-soul-level-the-bigger-picture
Community is the medicine.
In Ubuntu philosophy, we are never truly gone as long as we are remembered. Ubuntu Village honors that continuity — holding space for grief, for ancestors, and for the living who carry them forward.
DonateMichele Mitchell is the Founder, President & CEO of Ubuntu Village Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit rooted in East Harlem, New York, with programs in Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria. A writer, advocate, and community strategist working at the intersection of ancestral wisdom, public health, and community power, Michele leads Ubuntu Village’s work to center communities as the protagonists of their own healing. She writes from the conviction that science and spirit are complementary, that healing is relational, and that community is the medicine.
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