There is no death. The Son of God is free. – Lesson 163.
Have you ever wondered about life after death? This often comes to mind more often as we age. Yet the answer never seems to be any clearer. When we pass over, the body and soul separates, but does this symbolize a rebirth? If death removes the body, but the soul continues, how does this impact opinion on suicide? Let’s talk about it!
Are The Body And Soul Separate From One Another?
“The Body is not real; it is a mind projection. As long as the mind believes in separation from God, it will believe in bodies.” This insight from ‘A Course in Miracles’ suggests that the body and soul are interconnected facets of our being, intrinsically linked manifestations of our consciousness.
According to Eckhart Tolle, a contemporary spiritual teacher, and author, “You are not your body; you are the awareness that perceives the body and the world.”¹ This notion implies our inherent, eternal nature. Death may end the body, but it does not quench the light of our soul, our essence. And so, with this being said, the soul must ‘go on’ once the flesh is gone. For some people, this is considered life after death, where the spirit roams the earth. For others, it could be reincarnation.
Life After Death – Is This Only Heaven Or Hell?
As we’ve just mentioned, life after death, when the body and soul separate, is down to your own opinion and spiritual inclination.
Many traditional beliefs conceive life after death as a binary: heaven or hell. However, through the lens of ‘A Course in Miracles,’ such dualistic perspectives seem reductive.
Dr. Sam Parnia, an expert in the field of consciousness during clinical death, posits that consciousness persists beyond physical death.² If our bodies are projections of our minds, then our state of mind, our belief systems, and perceptions are the true determinants of our post-death experiences.
The notion of heaven or hell, in this view, is less about physical places and more about states of consciousness. It emphasizes the continuous journey of the soul towards unity with the divine source through cycles of death and rebirth until we achieve the state of Atonement (at-one-ment). However, this is only a handful of theories on what happens to the soul when it leaves the body. This remains to be one of life’s true mysteries.
Diverse Perspectives on The Purpose Of Life
The purpose of life, from the viewpoint of ‘A Course in Miracles‘, is to transcend illusions of separation and achieve unity with the divine source. We are to release our fears and embrace unconditional love, leading to our inner salvation.
Dalai Lama, a world-renowned spiritual leader, beautifully encapsulates this idea: “The purpose of our lives is to be happy.”³ His Holiness advocates for inner peace, love, compassion, and forgiveness as the cornerstones of a fulfilled life.
Professor Jordan Peterson, a renowned psychologist, also shares valuable insight on this subject. He suggests that the purpose of life is about ‘bearing responsibility’ and striving for meaning over immediate happiness.⁴ This idea echoes the message of ‘A Course in Miracles’, where external gratifications like money, power, or romance are seen as distractions on our path to divine unity.
Although again, this is down to personal opinion. You may find a ‘purpose’ in caring for a relative or loved one. Someone else may find ‘purpose’ in building a legacy that lives on far beyond their own death.
Morality & Suicide
If the body is merely a projection of the mind, what happens when we remove the body through death? When the body and soul are separated through suicide?
This idea may help some people to find a fleeting sense of relief from the emotional burden and pain. However, according to the teachings of A Course in Miracles, the notion of death and its implications warrant deeper exploration.
The key lies in understanding the state of the mind.
- Does a body and soul separation automatically lead to a healed mind?
- Does the mind still exist beyond death?
These questions highlight that the presence or absence of a physical body is inconsequential from the perspective of A Course in Miracles.
Life After Death by Suicide?
Suicide is ultimately an ego-driven act that upholds the belief in death as the sole relief from our pain. However, the attempt to eliminate the body cannot eradicate the mind, its unhealed thoughts, and beliefs in separation, suffering, and death. In fact, it perpetuates the cycle of darkness and despair. The true path out of the pain of human existence lies in choosing love over fear and accepting the peace that comes with embracing unconditional love.
Expanding upon this concept, substituting any other worldly pursuit like sex, drugs, money, power, or romance would yield the same result. None of these external endeavors can alleviate our suffering, pain, or eventual mortality.
True healing comes through embracing and practicing unconditional love, beginning with self-love and forgiveness.
When The Body and Soul Are At Peace
Understanding the illusory nature of the body and the importance of the mind’s state, we recognize that suicide and other external pursuits cannot truly alleviate our pain or provide lasting fulfillment.
The path to liberation lies in choosing love over fear, embracing unconditional love, and nurturing our relationship with our divine source. Through this inner transformation, we can navigate the complexities of life, death, and the purpose of our existence with clarity, compassion, and profound spiritual growth.
5 Ways to Surrender and to
Create the Whole Version of Yourself
References:
- https://www.eckharttolle.com/power-of-now-excerpt/
- https://www.harpercollins.com/products/erasing-death-sam-parnia
- https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/159030/the-art-of-happiness-10th-anniversary-edition-by-the-dalai-lama-and-howard-c-cutler/
- https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/546781/12-rules-for-life-by-jordan-b-peterson/9780345816023
