Afterlife: how does one know it exists?

[iamthat]

Originally Posted by Journeyman

...I at times think, just as a painting is just pigment, are humans, just flesh and blood just a sum of our biological functions? ... but is there any path one can recommend I could embark on, or a vision quest to help me realize that there is something beyond our physical life? A simple leap of faith is not doing it for me.

A painting may be just pigments but you seem to be overlooking the fact that there was an artist who combined those pigments with intelligence and purpose according to a vision or plan.

Saying that a human being is just flesh and blood, a random combination of elements and chemical reactions which somehow produces biological functions seems similar to claiming that the pigments just randomly combined on the canvas to produce the Mona Lisa.

I question the value of anyone recommending any particular path or vision quest to help you realise there is anything beyond our physical life. We are all different, we have different interests and histories. I could recommend that you dive deeply into the philosophy and practice of Yoga, but your interests may lie elsewhere.

And what kind of evidence and experience would satisfy you that there is anything beyond our physical life? And would you be willing to do whatever might be required - maybe going alone into the wilderness and fasting for 21 days?

There are hundreds of books describing people's experiences beyond the physical life. Yes, these are not your direct experience, these are all anecdotal, but they cannot all be making it up. They provide useful signposts as to what is possible, but if we ever want to get beyond faith then we have to take some kind of action. So what really interests you?

Peace

[Native spirit]

Please keep quotes to a minimum 2or 3 sentences only


Namaste

[Journeyman]

Originally Posted by iamthat

And what kind of evidence and experience would satisfy you that there is anything beyond our physical life? And would you be willing to do whatever might be required - maybe going alone into the wilderness and fasting for 21 days?
you?

Peace

What you describe sounds like a vision quest which I have thought about. It is my understanding it is only for three days. Fasting for 21 days sounds dangerous though, and fasting could put one in a weakened physical condition if one comes in contact with dangerous wildlife, though I assume if one is in a cabin it would be safer.

[iamthat]

Originally Posted by Journeyman

What you describe sounds like a vision quest which I have thought about. It is my understanding it is only for three days. Fasting for 21 days sounds dangerous though, and fasting could put one in a weakened physical condition if one comes in contact with dangerous wildlife, though I assume if one is in a cabin it would be safer.

It might be better to go on an organised vision quest under the guidance of someone with experience.

A very quick search finds an example at https://www.soulschoolonline.com/too...vision-quests/

From the site: There are many organizations that will organize vision quests that are in keeping with tribal traditions. In addition, there are practitioners who will guide individuals through a type of quest, depending on the needs of the individual.

I plucked the figure of 21 days at random, but the actual length of these vision quests does vary. By all accounts a vision quest can be very challenging but also life-changing.

But I have never done one myself - my interests lie elsewhere.

Peace

[Starman]

Originally Posted by kris

Why would just flesh and blood want to know if there is something beyond flesh and blood?

That would make sense if we were just flesh and blood, but in my opinion we are much more then just flesh and blood. We also have a very curious mind, and the mind wants to know what the heart already knows.

[Starman]

Kris, my apologies, thank you for the correction.

[Journeyman]

Originally Posted by iamthat

It might be better to go on an organised vision quest under the guidance of someone with experience.

A very quick search finds an example at https://www.soulschoolonline.com/too...vision-quests/

Thank you.

[Native spirit]

If a question is asked in these forums anyone can answer no need to Apologise Starman


Namaste

[lostsoul13]

I suppose with the self I reincarnate over and over again because the death is just of my body not soul, I would need something to kill my soul for a definite death..

But I don’t see any afterlife until a good 500 reincarnations.. mostly made up of my own world and place of rest…

I know it’s there for the self to take stock.. and to rest from all the pain it’s motivating me to carry on - so while the afterlife light burns so will my hope and will to carry on?? :S

[Rah nam]

As far as I know, 26 incarnations is the shortest to get through the incarnation cycle. I see the incarnation cycle as the path from third density to fourth or fifth density. It is possible to skip fourth density yet rare.
If you like to make it to 500 incarnations, great.

Something that could be viewed or seen as an afterlife, would be the astral realm. But you can go there after every incarnation.

This is a fourth density non-physical realm.