Afterlife Adventures

by William Fergus Martin

  Some of the ceremonies in the Afterlife are deliberately timed to coincide with important spiritual events on Earth such as Christmas, Easter, Diwali, Vesak, Ramadan, Hanukah, and so on. This is so that the upwelling from the people in the Afterlife can merge with the upwelling from those on the Earth. This means that the corresponding dispensation of blessings downward, in response, is increased too as it flows thorough the Afterlife and into the Earth.

  My Religion is Better than Yours

  One of the big questions about the Afterlife is: which religions better prepares us for when we pass over?

  In order to answer this question properly, we have to get some things out of the way. Some religious people harbor a smug sense of superiority over those of other religions. They have a self-satisfied sense of ‘I am going to heaven and you are not!’ Is anyone who thinks so smugly worthy of a place in their particular heaven? Do they deserve to go to ‘heaven’ while not caring that many millions of other people are destined (as they wrongly believe) to suffer for eternity? Would any right thinking person be happy in heaven and callously not care that others were supposedly suffering in some kind of fiery Hell? Perhaps these self-satisfied ones will not be so self-congratulatory when they find themselves in a part of the Afterlife populated with equally smug and self-satisfied people - with a similar lack of care or concern for their fellow human beings.

  “Not only is [the idea of everlasting hell] utterly unjust and unjustifiable, not only is it utterly illogical, but its perpetuation would stamp the God Head as a tyrant and a despot for all times… it is utterly repugnant even to man’s sense of justice, leave alone that vastly finer conception of the Creators. You have but to momentarily consider it in its bearings on God’s greatest attribute - that of a loving Father - to reject it in its entirety as wholly man’s work, one of the many baseless fabrications of the church on earth, part and parcel of the mysterious wrappings wherewith God’s real nature has been obscured from the world.” — Children of Evolution

  Some religions have softened their views recently and are more tolerant of those of other religions, though it took them a few thousand years to do so. They only changed because people were leaving such churches in droves as any fair-mined person can see the unfairness and bizarreness of beliefs that generate religious intolerance.

  Primitive minds like the idea that there is somewhere nasty and unpleasant where people with different beliefs from them can be consigned – for an eternity of punishment, no less. This is a vital issue. It shows that people of a certain type of mind can exhibit a callous disregard towards their fellow human beings and still consider themselves as being ‘good’ members of their religion for doing so.

  Much of the blame for this sorry state of affairs is with the religious leaders for perpetrating such bizarre ideas. People are told that unless they ‘believe’ in this nonsense that they would be among the ones who would go to hell. Few would be brave enough to not at least pay lip service to such ideas, especially when all around them go along with it – just in case.

  Religious materialists mistake form and the structure for the true spirit of religion. The true spirit of religion is love, not a self-congratulatory ’I know better than you’, and a superior attitude of ‘my religion is better than yours’. It’s extraordinary that religions have been perverted towards causing divisions between people, when if anything, they ought to be uniting people. Not a unity through sameness, but a unity based on tolerance of differences and an underlying love.

  True religion is the purification by the fire of love, which we allow to consume anything within us that is not of love. Anything which smacks of ‘us and them’, or any kind of looking down on others, has to go into the fire sooner or later. This fire does not punish; it sets us free and relieves us of the suffering that comes from a sense of separation from humanity and abandonment by God. It leads to deep happiness and fulfillment.

  Can there be any true religion that does not cause us to want to truly learn to love and serve our fellow human beings? For example, Afterlifers say that the teachings of Jesus are wonderful preparations for the Afterlife, but only when we use them to learn to care about others; not when we use them to create some kind of exclusive religious ‘club’. That is the opposite of what Jesus taught.

  Jesus Christ

  I need to repeat what was said earlier, that the material I have come across about the Afterlife has mostly a Western and Christian bias. That was the cultural and religious background of the majority of the Afterlifers who were communicating. In focusing so much on the founder of Christianity I am not attempting to assert that any religions is superior to others, only to focus on what I have the most information about and what I am most familiar with. As I understand it, Afterlifers recognize and respect any and all spiritual teachers to the extent that they exemplify the Law of Love.

  Also it is doubtful that what Jesus is said to represent in the Afterlife could be called ‘Christianity’, as it is seems to be striped of all dogma that would create separation or divisions between people. It is Jesus’ followers who distorted his teachings into a message of separation and division; whereas his message was always one of unity and love.

  “To follow His example, to make each one’s own life a blessing to others; this is the religion He tried to establish, and which He hopes will at last become the religion of the world.” — Life Here and Hereafter

  Going by the experiences of those who have ‘gone over`, it is difficult to imagine a way of life which can better prepare a person for a happy and fulfilling Afterlife than the message which Jesus Christ offered. His teaching about love and forgiveness are the best possible attitudes, not only for a decent life on Earth, but also a happy Hereafter too. However, on Earth much of the simple message of Jesus is clouded over by the pomp and doctrines of the church.

  “It is true that the sayings of Jesus are still the foundation of my belief and, I hope, guide my conduct. I do not know any better teaching than is contained in his traditional words... I believe in the structure and order of Christianity as it developed subsequently to the life on earth of him whom I still call my Lord…. Majestic services in great cathedrals add to the efficacy of attempts to commune with the Great Power, and afford perhaps the best means of raising the ordinary man's thought to a height seldom reached in his private devotions… That is what I meant when I told you I was still a Christian, but I am well aware that a Christianity which confines itself to the attempt to follow in practice the actual sayings of Jesus and reject all that goes with the idea of a Church can be equally efficacious and more suitable to other types of mind. In any case, I would not have you think that in following the instructions of this writing, you are justified in neglecting the gospels.” – As One Ghost to Another

  As we know, Jesus’ core messages were ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself’ and ‘Love thy Lord thy God with all thy might.’ These are perfect preparation for the Afterlife. The two combined mean you then have a loving relationship with yourself, a loving relationship with your fellow human beings, and a loving relationship with God. Love is the highest energy and the more a person feels love, the higher a level they experience in the Afterlife.

  “If I could come back and speak in the ears of the children of men, I think I should wish to say nothing but this - Love! Love is the fulfilling of the law, love is the seeing of the face of God. Love is God, God is love.” — After Death: Letters from Julia

  Why is love so important? It is important because it is the closest thing we can comprehend to the nature of the Fundamental Law of the Universe. It is the creating, nurturing and expanding force that holds everything together. No doubt it can be challenging to learn to love while amongst the difficulties of life on Earth. Yet, that is also the opportunity. The need for love on the Earth is great, so the more we can be a channel for that, then the more we are aligned with the Fundamental Law of the Universe and the needs of the people around us.

  It is fascinating to see the rever
ence in which Afterlifers treat the topic of Jesus and His role in the Afterlife. Yet, his Presence there is an invitation not a command. There is every sign that Afterlifers are as diverse as we are in their views and that although some actively follow Jesus’ example; others don’t. Yet, even those who don’t may well accept being instructed and assisted by one of Jesus’ helpers.

  “Jesus of Nazareth is never idle. He is constantly travelling through the Spheres, with no distinguished entourage but His old earth companions; He does not go about in state, no pomp or show attend His movements, but moves about as a plain humble man; He is constantly being consulted on matters of High import by the Higher Intelligences who control the Spirit Realms, and His advice and counsel is sought on every hand.

  Yet for all that, He is easily accessible to the lowliest spirit. But do not let us mislead you. We do not mean by this statement that every one of the countless millions on the astral plane can see the Elder Brother at will. The Elder Brother is accessible to each one of them, but this is not the same thing as saying that each one can see Him. Let us remind you again: the astral plane is a world of thought where only moral qualities count for progress. The Elder Brother is accessible to all who can see Him, but how few, alas, on our side have progressed so far as to be able to see Him, you would be deeply surprised to learn. The Elder Brother passes through the Spheres every day, but only the pure of heart can see Him. Between Him and the countless millions who would gladly surrender their every spiritual possession for a glimpse of Him there is a materialistic barrier which their feeble vision cannot penetrate. You will now be better able to understand His saying, whilst on the earth plane: ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.’” – Children of Evolution

  The Christ

  What is referred to as The Christ, in the Christian perspective, is known by other names by those of other faiths. Here I touch on how that particular embodiment of the Divine, which Christians call The Christ, and which is expressed through Jesus, is relevant to the Afterlife. I assume that the same principle is at work, by whatever names it is known, and by whatever religious ideas it is given expression, wherever and whenever the Law of Love is truly taught and embodied.

  “Christ opened up the spirit-world to those on earth. But since His time, that veil has been gradually restored, until now Death is as palpable a separation as it was in the pagan day.” — After Death: Letters from Julia

  One of the reasons why Jesus Christ has such an important role in the Afterlife comes from the term “Christ”, which means “anointed one”. Jesus’ role is to demonstrate that the spirit of the Christ can be expressed and experienced directly, even while on the Earth. The Christ is an aspect of God and some say it is the aspect of God that oversees the evolution of humanity. The Christ leads humanity all the way through its evolutionary process to counter-balance our descent into matter. The role of the Christ is to lead us back out of matter, and our identification with matter, to reclaim our true identity as spiritual beings.

  “We look to Christ as the most perfect example of God’s love and wisdom that ever lived on earth.” — Life Here and Hereafter

  What is The Christ?

  I tend to think of The Christ as that aspect of the Divine that reaches down to us. It particularly responds by reaching down to us when we attempt to reach up. The Christ responds to our current needs by modifying the Divine flow so that we are able to assimilate it. The Christ is, therefore, the Divine equivalent of a helping hand that matches the different evolutionary needs of different aspects of humanity at different times.

  One of the ways that The Christ is technically, and literally, our ‘savior’ is in the way that He saves us from suffering. He saves us from the suffering that arises when we identify ourselves too much with experiences that limit and constrain us. Identifying too much with matter, and with the body, causes suffering. Yet, becoming isolated from the body we inhabit, and becoming too distant from it, also causes suffering. This is especially true if we come to regard the body as somehow inherently ‘bad’ or ‘sinful’ in some way. Although our true identity is not ‘of the body’ it is not ‘of the mind’ that is limited to the body either. Getting stuck in bodily passions limits us; but getting stuck in our heads - especially one that is dissociated with bodily life - limits us too. Our true identity is of the Soul that expresses itself through our whole Self; through the spirit alive in us as mind, heart and body all increasingly aligned to the same purpose – serving the whole of life.

  Jesus demonstrates and exemplifies the Christ presence and so influences us and reminds us that things are not what they seem and that there is a deeper purpose unfolding in the world and in human hearts. Jesus, by being an embodiment of Love, helps us to awaken to the Christ within ourselves. Therefore, Jesus in not only a man; Jesus as the ‘Anointed One’ is a primary embodiment of the Christ presence who is ‘Teacher of Angels and Men’.

  The example of Christ’s life is to us the perfection of religious teaching. And one following it is safe; safe from any harm of doctrine.” — Life Here and Hereafter

  The Christ leads us to rediscover our true identity as spiritual beings. As some have said, we are spiritual beings having a material experience; not material beings having an occasional spiritual experience.

  It is in awakening to The Christ that we are transformed for we are then no longer limited to what we can achieve by ourselves. We are then connected to the Divine, in the form of the Christ. Just like we need water to come out of a tap rather than a high-pressure water mains pipe to meet our needs, The Christ moderates Divine Energy and intercedes on our behalf. The Christ adapts the Divine to the needs of human evolution as we change and grow as a race, and become more conscious and more open to becoming aware of our true inheritance. In a sense, The Christ steps down pure Divinity and presents it to us in the highest form that we are able to understand and assimilate at any given phase of our evolution. He will do so, “Till the last weary pilgrim comes home.”

  “He wishes his example of peace and loving service to be followed, and it is our joy to follow his example here. But he is not afar off on some throne of glory. He is more like an elder brother, more like a bright and shining example for us to follow.” — Life Here and Hereafter

  Jesus in the Afterlife

  For many in the Afterlife Jesus, as an embodiment of The Christ, is still an essential part of their path towards God and in deepening their connection with the Divine. He acts as an inspiration and an example, as an ‘elder brother’ to inspire them on to continue their journey onwards. He helps them access the Divine in ways which they can relate to and assimilate, as they are in line with the needs they have at the time and matched to their current level of consciousness.

  However, there is no imposition of Jesus and his teaching. It also seems to be the case that even with Christians, Jesus focuses on the essence of his teaching such as “Love thy Lord thy God with all thy Might and thy Neighbor as thyself” rather than anything which would be regarded as doctrine or dogma. Even non-Christians often come to recognize Jesus Christ as having a special and significant role after they pass over. Yet, despite this Christians are never encouraged to think of themselves as special or superior to people of other faiths. Indeed, it is more a matter of letting go of earthly faiths and learning to embody the love that underlies all faiths as that is what The Christ represents and manifests.

  Jesus’s role in the Afterlife, as I understand it, is a spiritual one that transcends any particular religion. Jesus is seen by those in the upper levels of the Afterlife as the highest expression of the Divine which has yet been achieved on Earth. Much of what he “teaches” in the Afterlife is by His presence and by the Oneness With the Father than He embodies.

  Since the Afterlife is a more spiritual state than the Earth life then the “spirit” of things is more important there than the form. Therefore much of the structure of our spirituality, expressed in the shapes of particular forms of worship on Earth,
is not needed in the Afterlife. However, we have better and more profound opportunities to express our spiritual yearnings to become close to God in the Afterlife than we did on Earth - as we don’t have the distractions of a physical body. Jesus, who can act as an example of that closeness, becomes even dearer to us - and a real and living person.

  I imagine that those of other religions have a personage who acts as a representative of the Divine in a somewhat similar way to that which Jesus does for Christians. This may even be Jesus Christ in another guise more suitable and acceptable to those people. It does seem that Jesus is universally revered in the Afterlife by all except some of those on the lower levels where religions divisions are still an influence on the character of some of the inhabitants. As they move up to higher levels they increasingly gain an understating and comprehension of the nature of Jesus and His life and work.

  While wanting to recognize what is good in all religions we ought to not lose sight of the essential principles that are good and right in any religion. The focus on Love and Forgiveness, which is inherent within the true teachings of Jesus, will obviously be more helpful on our path than any religion that omits these Principles. It is the development of a kind and compassionate character that is the key to spiritual unfoldment. It is character and our attitude to our fellow beings (human or animal) that is important not the belief in particular doctrines. It is the emphasis given to such qualities by Jesus that establishes Him as such a high embodiment of the Divine.

  The person recording most of the following quotes, Drayton Thomas, (from his book, Life Beyond Death ) noted that the communications about Jesus took on a different and much more reverential tone than the rest of what he received, and were delivered “with the utmost reverence and impressiveness”. He commented that the messages about Jesus were different from the ones he received on other topics as they “touched so high a level of intensity and spiritual joy”.