This is from
Geoffrey Barborka's Secret Doctrine Questions and Answers book. I find
Barborka's writings to be clear, concise and accurate, with an accessible
pedagogical exposition, a recommended writer (Technical note: Devachan
corresponds to the various 'heavens' in many religions. Kama Loka corresponds
to the various 'purgatories'):
The After-Death States (part 1)
Question. Has anything been written about the significance of the dying man's last uppermost desire?
Question. Has anything been written about the significance of the dying man's last uppermost desire?
Answer. Although not finding anything in The
Secret Doctrine to reply to this question, it is an important one to
consider. As a reference to this was made in The Mahatma Letters to A.P.
Sinnett, the following passage is supplied. It is from Letter No. XXIII-B
and was written in reply to Mr. Sinnett's comment - which was made in this
manner:
"You say: -
'Remember we create ourselves, our Devachan, and our Avitchi and mostly during
the latter days and even moments of our sentient lives.'" (p. 147; p. 143
3rd ed.) The response follows:
"It is a widely
spread belief among all the Hindus that a person's future prenatal state and
birth are moulded by the last desire he may have at the time of death. But this
last desire, they say, necessarily hinges on to the shape which the person may
have given to his desires, passions, etc., during his past life. It is for this
very reason, viz. - that our last desire may not be unfavourable to our
future progress - that we have to watch our actions and control our passions
and desires throughout our whole earthly career." (p. 170; p. 167 3rd ed.)
- Vol. 54, No. 3
Question. Is it possible to be aware on several planes at the moment of
death? If so, under what circumstances?
Answer. Since "the moment of death" is specified, the answer is
directed to that specific event alone. Inasmuch as what takes place at the
moment of death is stated to be involuntary it would not be possible to be aware
"on several planes" at the moment of death, implying by the word
"aware" that one is able to direct one's consciousness on more than
one plane. Here is a citation regarding the moment of death from The Mahatma
Letters to A.P. Sinnett:
"The experience
of dying men - by drowning and other accidents - brought back to life, has
corroborated our doctrine in almost every case. Such thoughts are involuntary
and we have no more control over them than we would over the eye's retina
to prevent it perceiving that colour which affects it most. At the last moment,
thewhole life is reflected in our memory and emerges from all the forgotten
nooks and corners picture after picture, one event after the other. The dying
brain dislodges memory with a strong supreme impulse, and memory restores
faithfully every impression entrusted to it during the period of the brain's
activity." (p.170; p.167 3rd ed.)
The proper manner of
regarding the situation posed in the question is to consider it in connection
with states of consciousness rather than planes because, after all, the
physical body is stationed upon the seventh cosmic plane (regarded as the
lowest plane) and cannot leave that plane. When the moment of death occurs, the
consciousness of the individual is no longer functioning in the Jagrat state of
consciousness - the ordinary every-day "waking state"; this has been
transcended. For that matter so has the svapna - the dreaming state of
consciousness. It is functioning in the Sushupti; therefore it is able to have
the panoramic vision which was described in the quotation. - Vol. 49, No. 6
Question. What determines the entity's state of Devachan?
Answer. Just as the entity's stay in Kamaloka is determined by the life that
is lived on Earth, so too the state of Devachan is also so determined. To quote
The Mahatma Letters again:
"The Devachan
State can be as little described or explained, by giving a however minute and
graphic description of the state of one ego taken at random, as all the human
lives collectively could be described by the 'Life of Napoleon' or that of any
other man. There are millions of various states of happiness and misery,
emotional states having their source in the physical as well as the spiritual
faculties and senses, and only the latter surviving. An honest labourer will
feel differently from an honest millionaire. Miss Nightingale's state will
differ considerably from that of a young bride who dies before the consummation
of what she regards as happiness. The two former love their families; the
philanthropist - humanity; the girl centres the whole world in her future
husband; the melomanic knows of no higher state of bliss and happiness than
music - the most divine and spiritual of arts. The devachan merges from its
highest into its lowest degree - by insensible gradations." (ibid., pp.
187-8; p 185 3rd ed.) - Vol. 57, No. 5
Part 4
Part 4
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