Penumbra
Traveler
Once upon a time when I had a fairly strong belief in an afterlife, I was careful not to make concrete claims that I couldn't support but had a number of beliefs or assumptions about what eternity would be like.
My view in summation was that when we die, we continue to exist in some form, and continue to grow as conscious beings. We exist for a long time, for a number of ever-improving forms, achieving ever higher levels of bliss, wisdom, and insight, and then finally I figured we probably unite with God and loose our individuality in the "one consciousness" beyond space or time, like a river returning to the ocean. It was a rather Hindu-like or New-Age belief, and very vague. I no longer have belief in an afterlife, or really a need for one.
One thing that interests me is the dichotomy between western and eastern views of the afterlife. In the western religious view of the afterlife, it is typically believed that individuals go to some sort of materialistic paradise and that is the final result. Some believe they stay in bodily form as well, literally for trillions of eons into eternity. What strikes me as particularly fascinating is that many of these religions teach that material possessions are unimportant, that one should ignore them and focus on the afterlife, and then the afterlife is described in materialistic terms with crowns and streets paved of gold.
The Dharmic religions of Asia take a different view. They generally believe that we reincarnate, and if we accumulate positive Karma, we achieve higher and higher levels of life in heavenly realms, much like a western paradise or heaven. But that is viewed as temporary and ultimately unfulfilling in the long run. Dharmic religions differ in this regard, but some believe the final result is to unify with God, while others believe it is to partially unify with God but retain at least some individuality, while others like Buddhists don't include a creator deity and focus on escaping the cycle of death and rebirth and achieve some sort of cosmic consciousness or bliss.
I think it's best to just focus on the present. Of course it's important to plan for the future, but if someone is always looking ahead for a better life instead of attempting to enjoy the present moment, then their search is likely futile.
I view consciousness basically as a stream of "selves" in the present moment, and we can only experience one at a time. Our past selves that we onced experienced are only memories, and memories are fragile and impermanent. Our future selves are merely in our imagination. The "self" of me 20 years from now is a very different person than me, and my "self" as an 8 year old is also very different. I see little point in an eternal soul, as the soul at one point will be very different from the soul eons later. They're basically different souls at that point.
-Lyn
My view in summation was that when we die, we continue to exist in some form, and continue to grow as conscious beings. We exist for a long time, for a number of ever-improving forms, achieving ever higher levels of bliss, wisdom, and insight, and then finally I figured we probably unite with God and loose our individuality in the "one consciousness" beyond space or time, like a river returning to the ocean. It was a rather Hindu-like or New-Age belief, and very vague. I no longer have belief in an afterlife, or really a need for one.
One thing that interests me is the dichotomy between western and eastern views of the afterlife. In the western religious view of the afterlife, it is typically believed that individuals go to some sort of materialistic paradise and that is the final result. Some believe they stay in bodily form as well, literally for trillions of eons into eternity. What strikes me as particularly fascinating is that many of these religions teach that material possessions are unimportant, that one should ignore them and focus on the afterlife, and then the afterlife is described in materialistic terms with crowns and streets paved of gold.
The Dharmic religions of Asia take a different view. They generally believe that we reincarnate, and if we accumulate positive Karma, we achieve higher and higher levels of life in heavenly realms, much like a western paradise or heaven. But that is viewed as temporary and ultimately unfulfilling in the long run. Dharmic religions differ in this regard, but some believe the final result is to unify with God, while others believe it is to partially unify with God but retain at least some individuality, while others like Buddhists don't include a creator deity and focus on escaping the cycle of death and rebirth and achieve some sort of cosmic consciousness or bliss.
I think it's best to just focus on the present. Of course it's important to plan for the future, but if someone is always looking ahead for a better life instead of attempting to enjoy the present moment, then their search is likely futile.
I view consciousness basically as a stream of "selves" in the present moment, and we can only experience one at a time. Our past selves that we onced experienced are only memories, and memories are fragile and impermanent. Our future selves are merely in our imagination. The "self" of me 20 years from now is a very different person than me, and my "self" as an 8 year old is also very different. I see little point in an eternal soul, as the soul at one point will be very different from the soul eons later. They're basically different souls at that point.
One thing that I used to think about in theorizing about an afterlife is about work. If work needs to be done, then heaven is incomplete or imperfect. What work would exist to be done? If everything is perfect and no work needs to be done, then will humans exist without purpose? It's kind of a catch 22 in my mind. The only professions I can imagine existing in a heavenly world are those of artists- making music or art, simply exsting for the sake of expressing creativity, yet there are only so many combinations to be done.
Worshiping God Day and night with the angel,doing the work of God.
-Lyn
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