Understanding Life After Death - GREAT book

[skygazer]

exactly, mogenblue. That is my experience, also.

@wolfgaze, my intention was to communicate that there is inner work, beyond reading, that one has to do to grow their awareness.

[wolfgaze]

Originally Posted by skygazer

@wolfgaze, my intention was to communicate that there is inner work, beyond reading, thatt one has to do to grow their awareness.

Alright... Your post just seemed a bit out of place (to me) because I didn't observe anyone claiming this text contained all of the answers or that inner-work was made unnecessary by reading certain books. It initially also sounded like you were suggesting that one shouldn't bother reading books on this subject matter - or at least being dismissive of any potential value that they held.

It should be noted that reading books and inner-work are not mutually exclusive and can be causally connected. When a person exposes himself/herself to new ideas and information that he/she finds to be very intriguing and which stimulates his/her current state of awareness, this can importantly serve to facilitate the act of contemplation and the questioning (challenging) of existing beliefs and perceptions about the nature of reality (which may be rather limiting). Deep contemplation and critical-questioning are integral elements of the process of inner-work and awareness expansion. I know that for me, my reading/research into thanatology/NDE's many years ago had this type of effect on me - influencing me to engage in extensive questioning and significant awareness-altering contemplation over the years that followed.

So with this in mind, reading books about this subject matter absolutely can be beneficial for an individual and help contribute to the process of internal growth (via awareness expansion) if the content is such that it speaks to the reader on a level that promotes serious contemplation & questioning.

[Tobi]

Yes of course personal experience is highly valuable, and may be all some people need.
But reading books can certainly be helpful for some.
It's a question of letting people find their unique way I suppose. And it's great that there ARE some well-written books out there. The thoughts of a good writer can create a spark which leads to many new things.

[metal68]

I haven't had nor expect to have a personal experience, unlike my sister who has seen spirit animals, seen an apparition, sensed presences of our parents & grandparents and had the full NDE. She obv has an ability I don't have (or she's bloody bonkers!) For people like me, books are VERY important

[mogenblue]

A good book can lay foundations for your inner soul. But you don't get anything for free. You still have to do it all yourself.
That's what I have read. And I feel comfortable with that.

[Tobi]

Originally Posted by metal68

I haven't had nor expect to have a personal experience, unlike my sister who has seen spirit animals, seen an apparition, sensed presences of our parents & grandparents and had the full NDE. She obv has an ability I don't have (or she's bloody bonkers!) For people like me, books are VERY important

Haha! That made me smile metal68! I often wonder if that is how my brother views me! LOL!

For "personal experience" one has to really -seriously -still the mind. To enter into the void and the silence, expecting nothing. To lay the chatter and questions of the mind aside.
Yes, not easy I know. I discovered that from my own experience of silent devastation. Some of us -probably me (?) need to be knocked to the ground before we become still. And then we learn and listen, and hear.
There are gentler ways to still the mind and enter into the silent sacred space.

[Charmony]

Thanks for the recommendation!
I will definitely be reading it.
There is a sceptic in me too and I would love to see more scientific basis for an afterlife.

[mogenblue]

Originally Posted by Charmony

There is a sceptic in me too and I would love to see more scientific basis for an afterlife.

I would like to see that too. But I think that hasn't happened yet.
I did receive my own personal proof in the past though.
I learned to communicate with spirits from the afterlife. This started after I had left my parental home. That was in my early 20's.

I was very suspicious about it because it was so unknown to me. So over time they gave me information of things that would happen in my life. And those things did turn out to happen.
It wasn't easy to go on after that. I then wanted to know everything what would happen to me. But they are not your information system. You have to live your life yourself.

They had managed to convince me of their existence. That was what needed to happen. But there was still so much I wanted to learn about the afterlife and the other great questions of life like
why are we here
what are we doing here
where do we go from here
why does God allow so much misery to happen
stuff like that

Fortunately I did find the books that helped me answering those questions.
Which was in my mid 30's.

[wolfgaze]

Still reading... About 60-65% through it. The author writes well... I skipped over some sections/portions only because I was already familiar with the content being discussed and didn't care to continue reading about it...

[mogenblue]

Originally Posted by Tobi

Haha! That made me smile metal68! I often wonder if that is how my brother views me! LOL!

Maybe it's time to lay off our masks Tobi.
Maybe it's time to be honest.....