Discussion Afterlife question - how to ensure one gets to the next level after ctb?

[ManWithNoName]

A belief in the afterlife is a must in order to participate in this thread.

I find there is alot of anecdotal evidence of an afterlife, and have spoken with those who experience paranormal phenomena.

A common afterlife speculation are those 'lost souls' who roam the Earth as if they are still alive. I saw a documentary on a team of ghost chasers who used infrared cameras on a very famous locale in the USA where a major battle of the civil war took place. There was video captured of what looked like a foot soldier still aimlessly wandering around.

This is assuming that that presentation was not faked.

I find this both fascinating and a little disconcerting. That said, how does one avoid ending up aimlessly wandering around? Are those soldiers souls aware that they are dead? Or are they trapped on that dimension? And how can one ensure not to end up wandering around / trapped after ctb?

 

[All Things Must Pass]

Mother of all copes.

 

[Bootleg Astolfo]

Getting hit by a small japanese truck usually ensure you're reborn in another world to start a new world, from zero. Usually a generic medival fantasy world, and it's a 50/50 chance you end up an op protagonist with a harem, or a useless idiot with a harem of equally useless people.

 

[GenesAndEnvironment]

Not being too attached to anything in this world might be the key, idk. My own guess on the afterlife (worth jack shit) is simulation theory combined with Buddhism. Could be some beings running a simulation in order to obtain information, or just God gaming. I don't place much faith in my guess, though, I think it's a lot more likely that whatever actually goes on is completely beyond my comprehension. Or just straight up materialism and everything was an unhappy accident.

 

[ven]

If you assume there is an afterlife and follow one of the larger religions, most religions do not seem to suggest favorable outcomes for people who die by suicide. It's usually seen as an affront to God(s) or contradicts nonviolence beliefs.

For a good chunk of time, I was strictly atheistic and materialistic for a chunk of time, so I didn't bother to consider the afterlife. After practicing insight meditation, I hit a point in practice where I started feeling enveloped in a soft warmth and at peace. Like you're apart of it all, the lines separating you and your material environment blur. Usually when I'm fumbling through life reacting to the environmental stimulus, I'm too distracted to feel that connection. The feeling is ephemeral and once it blips out of my mind and body, I'm usually immediately thrust back into my normal state of despair.

I don't put too much stock in attempting to specifically figure out the experience in detail, but do acknowledge that the human experience is limited and our environment is beyond anyone's ability to really understand or know. We have a vague approximation of what is based on our human interpretation and we tie this together with other human experiences to create a hopefully more accurate representation of what is. We know there is a slew of stuff around us that isn't detectable by human sense organs, so we build equipment in an attempt to gauge it for us and develop greater understanding. We're a bunch of idiots pretending like we have the faintest of clues.

I keep an open mind to the afterlife and will never form a robust, solidified assumption about it.

EDIT: To directly answer your question, unless you believe in a religion and that specific religion turns out to be true, I do not believe there is a way to ensure ascension to the next level. Personally, I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[ManWithNoName]

Not being too attached to anything in this world might be the key,

Was thinking the same thing. A dedicated soldier in the civil war would be very attached to his cause. I'm not attached to anything here, but in the afterlife would like to be in a parallel dimension where the important things go my way. This also brings the question as to whether or not we can "will" what our Afterlife can be.

 

[everydayiloveyou]

It would depend on your religious beliefs. Do you believe in a heaven? Do you believe in reincarination or ghosts?

I don't believe in ghosts, just heaven. I think anyone can go to heaven but you need to be a good person. So don't do stuff like do crimes for selfish reasons, and repent when you sin.

If ghosts do exist, my personal belief is that any ghost still roaming earth is doing so by their own choice, not because they can't "move on" or whatever.

 

[ManWithNoName]

I don't believe in ghosts, just heaven. I think anyone can go to heaven but you need to be a good person. So don't do stuff like do crimes for selfish reasons, and repent when you sin.

Therein lies the trouble with Abrahamic faiths—despite that I am a Christian. Nobody is really good because it would seem the faith has this built in guilt mechanism where one is guilty simply for existing.
If such a World exists in the afterlife my argument would be if I knew then what I know now (just before ctb) I would do things differently. If the Bible is correct, then God made us with all of our faults which governs our emotions and decisions in life.

 

[All Things Must Pass]

Buddhism.

If the Bible is correct

It isn't.

 

[ManWithNoName]

View attachment 73845

It isn't.

Well said :)

 

[StevieNixs]

A belief in the afterlife is a must in order to participate in this thread.

I find there is alot of anecdotal evidence of an afterlife, and have spoken with those who experience paranormal phenomena.

A common afterlife speculation are those 'lost souls' who roam the Earth as if they are still alive. I saw a documentary on a team of ghost chasers who used infrared cameras on a very famous locale in the USA where a major battle of the civil war took place. There was video captured of what looked like a foot soldier still aimlessly wandering around.

This is assuming that that presentation was not faked.

I find this both fascinating and a little disconcerting. That said, how does one avoid ending up aimlessly wandering around? Are those soldiers souls aware that they are dead? Or are they trapped on that dimension? And how can one ensure not to end up wandering around / trapped after ctb?

Have you heard of Swedenborg? I found out about him via this site and then contacted the Swedenborg foundation after some paranormal activity following the death of my sister. They confirmed that what was happening were not the collective imaginings of myself, my mother and my niece.
I found this video fascinating.

 

[ManWithNoName]

I found this video fascinating.

I enjoyed it, some good insights, though I would not want a life review because I look back on my life and shudder in regret about how I could have been a much better person. It would be like reviewing a really bad school report card.

 

[FTL.Wanderer]

though I would not want a life review because I look back on my life and shudder in regret about how I could have been a much better person. It would be like reviewing a really bad school report card.

Agreed!

 

[Makko]

View attachment 73845

Nothing strange about it. You're supposed to desire enlightenment before you reach it.