Life Beyond Death

The purpose of death
The nature of life after death
How we can prepare for death
How we can assist the dying

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Over the years, many people have written to me about the information on this web site. Below are some of the more frequent questions and answers.

Index

Where do you get your information about death and dying?

The information on this site is a revealed body of knowledge from the Spiritual Plane. Although there is no proof of it's validity, it is supported by scriptural and philosophical texts from several world traditions, by many reports of near death experiences and by spiritual masters I have known. If this material resonates with your own inner guidance, please take it and use it on your spiritual journey. Otherwise, it's not for you.

By way of background, I've had a strong desire to know about death since I was very young. When I was 6 years old, my grandfather died and during the days that followed, I realized that one day, I too was going to die. This was a shocking revelation which had a profound impact on my mind and world view. When I tried to talk about it with others, I was told, "Don't be silly. You're not going to die for a long time." But the fact that death was a future event didn't satisfy me. Some day, sooner or later, death would come, and I would have to face it. But I didn't know how, or even what that meant.

From that point on, I had a burning desire to know what happens after death and how to prepare for it. For me, these were such obvious and vital questions. Whatever one might believe about death, it's an experience that we're all going to have. How is it possible to be alive and not want to know more about it? Later in life, I had a spiritual opening in which a complete body of knowledge about death was conveyed to me, all at once, in a single block. Initially, the information was raw and very abstract. It took several months to organize it into a concise and easy to read booklet. In order to accomplish this, a great deal of information had to be condensed or omitted altogether. Also, the late spiritual master Barry Long provided certain concepts and metaphors which were helpful in my efforts to put this knowledge into meaningful language.

Lord Jesus said, "seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." From my own experience, I believe this is true. If we are persistent, our deeply held questions will eventually lead to the answers we seek.

Does everyone go through the same stages of death?

Each person's life is completely unique. Nevertheless, there are certain stages of life that we all go through, such as childhood, adolescence, adult hood and old age. In the same way, each death is unique. Yet there are definite stages after death that almost everyone goes through. In this web site, I've tried to explain the most common stages of experience after death. According to my guidance, this description is accurate as a general overview.

Aside from what you suggest in your web site, how can I prepare for death?

Live your life in simplicity and honesty. Try your best not to harm others. Keep in mind that our similarities far outweigh our apparent differences. As we do to others, we do to ourselves. This spiritual law is as practical as the laws of physics.

Find a spiritual practice and teaching that helps you feel connected to the Divine and resonates with your soul. Practice it every day.

Your life is a commitment that you made long ago. Keep in mind that simply fulfilling that commitment to the end is a great accomplishment.

Cultivate love, kindness and generosity in your dealings with others. Love is the underlying current that runs through the entire cosmic creation.

Do these simple things and know that it will all be good in the end. When you pass over, you'll be met by your guides and taken to the next stage of your spiritual journey.

Our beloved dog just passed away. What happens to animals after death?

All conscious intelligence survives death. But animals are different from humans in the sense that members of each species share a group oversoul. After death, animals awaken on the astral planes for some time and then merge directly with their group oversoul. Some animals share a very close relationship with humans, which is likely to result in "rebirth" into human form when the time is right. This would include many of the more advanced mammals, such as dogs, cats, cows and horses, to name a few.

My mother has a terminal illness and has decided to stop eating. Should we try to make her eat? Do you have any advice or are there any special prayers I can offer?

During a terminal illness, the body eventually stops processing food and there's no longer any desire for it. At that point, it's natural to stop eating. This is not widely understood in western society. But people who are more attuned to their bodies and the rhythms of life, are naturally drawn to this practice. (see Terminal Illness)

If you feel inclined to pray, then pray for her quick transition...that she will make a clean break from the Earth plane and move on to reach her highest spiritual potential.

After 14 years of clinical depression and bad luck, I don't have any reason to live and want it all to end.

Please trust me when I tell you that your conscious experience will not end with the death of your body. You will gain nothing by committing suicide and will gain everything by completing your life on Earth. During human life, it's difficult to see the bigger picture. Your remaining natural life span is just a blink of an eye in terms of your total soul experience. You may never be able to change your painful or difficult circumstances during this life. But I do know that after your natural death, you will be very pleased if you stayed the course.

The idea that suicide will solve anything is an illusion. If you cut your life short, the pain you experience now will be waiting for you on the other side, further compounded by the pain of having murdered your human body.

I suggest that you do some research and read the testimonies of people who attempted suicide and had experiences on the other side. And feel free to call me if you need to talk.

My son was in an accident and died the next day from traumatic brain injuries. Can you tell me if he suffered any pain?

There's no way to know for sure what your son experienced. But usually, when an accident occurs like the one you describe, the subtle body leaves the physical body just before impact. The conscious intelligence sees what's happening and decides to push the "eject" button. It's like when you're having a bad dream and you make the decision, "enough" and wake yourself up. Like that, the subtle body "pops" out and hovers over the scene for a while. I doubt that your son experienced any pain at all.

A few days before my mother passed away, she told me she saw her grandmother at the foot of her bed. When I asked her why she had come, she said, in a very matter of fact way, "to tell me I'm in good hands". My mother was not on any medications and was in a very clear and alert state of mind. Do you think this is possible?

This is not only possible, it's very common. People often experience visitations from a deceased relative or friend, shortly before their final passing. These visions usually appear a week or so before death. It can happen on their deathbed or even during war, where soldiers have reported such visions prior to their death in battle. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story.

If a person is suffering advanced dementia, how does this affect his or her experiences after death?

Dementia is a brain disorder and does not affect the experience after death, any more than a broken leg or disease of the physical organs. There is no carryover from physical disorders. The experiences after death are based primarily on the psychic impressions (positive and negative) which have accumulated from the life just lived.

Is there a hell? And if so, what is it?

Hell is a state of consciousness on the mental plane of experience as a result of negative psychic impressions that are not easily resolved. These impressions create vivid and painful experiences, being the reflection of guilt from past actions. Ultimately, these are self-limiting experiences. But in some cases, they may seem like an eternity.

After death, the sense of separateness dissolves and we experience the interconnectedness of all life. Naturally, the memory of any pain we've caused others is felt sharply, with deep regret. So, the only punishment of "hell" is the acute awareness of the pain we caused others, and the regret that we didn't choose differently. No matter how heavy these impressions are, in time they get resolved and the conscious intelligence is purified and allowed to continue its spiritual journey. No one is damned or condemned.

There is no one alive who has not committed wrong action. Life is not about being perfect. But when we see that we've made a mistake, it's very important to apologize to the ones we've hurt and try to make amends in whatever way we can. This is not esoteric teaching. It's something any child understands. This is why we feel guilty when we've committed wrong action. It's our soul saying to us, "You can do better."

My mother recently became ill and died. I feel terrible because I was planning to spend more time with her and tell her how much I loved her. But before I could return, she suddenly passed away. What can I do for her now, if anything?

When our loved ones pass on, it's natural to wonder what we should have done or could have done differently. But this was her natural time, just as you will have your time some day.

The best thing you can do for your mother now is to feel your love for her and ask the Divine for her favorable passage. Some pain and grieving is natural at first. But as best you can, try to turn your thoughts to the positive. For some time, your mother will be able to feel the thoughts and emotions of those who were close to her. If there is a lot of grieving, she may feel sadness for you and others. It's best to remember the love and good times and to feel your gratitude for having such a fine mother in this life. Above all, don't think of her as dead. She is very much alive on the inner planes and your positive feelings will reach her there and speed her progress.

If you still feel that you want to do something, you can arrange a formal spiritual ceremony to assist in your mother's favorable passage through the stages of death. Your priest or imam can help to arrange such a ceremony for her.