Death: What Does It Really Mean?

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 get rid of their sins and hopefully be able to move on. Hindus believe that after death, they spend time on earth with their family before going to Moksha, the final release from life’s 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. 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.

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 by the decisions you made, but also the good things you did for others and for 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 themselves into new lives upon death and that it’s up to each person’s karmic debt whether they return as another human being.  When someone dies, do you ever hear anything from them? 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 to continue its progression towards the ultimate goal of perfection. Buddhists, on the other hand, feel that life is just one stage in a continuous cycle of death and rebirth until enlightenment is achieved. Whether or not you believe 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 time with them when 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 go to the astral plane and are sorted by category before being sent back to earth or somewhere else. What do you believe?  I would like to hear your comments about death. –MM