Various religious scriptures contain descriptions of regions beyond this world. Since each one of us will journey to these spiritual realms after death and reside there for a much longer time than in our temporary earthly residence, it behooves us to explore what awaits us. Some may say, "Well, I am going to go there anyway no matter what I do, so it does not matter if I spend time thinking about it now.
Why take time from this fascinating life and its pleasures to worry about what will happen after death?" However, people who report near-death experiences confirm that deeds in this life are counted in the afterlife. The pain we cause others comes back to us, and the joy we cause others returns to us. The inner spiritual regions are vast and filled with numerous types of experiences. We can decide the kind of after-life we wish to have in the beyond — one of joy and bliss for our good deeds, or one of pain for our misdeeds.
Many who had near-death experiences (NDE's) had a glimpse into the importance of one's deeds in life. Some saw heavens, and some saw places of suffering. Many bore out that souls go through a review and are sent back to earth for further lessons.
Accounts of near-death experiences confirm what the great spiritual Masters through the centuries have taught. We are souls, drops of the Creator. In the divine plan, numerous regions were created, and souls were sent to inhabit these worlds. They were sent out by the Creator and will return to the Lord. What was meant to be a brief sojourn in the various regions became extended because souls were attracted to the temptations offered in the lower worlds. They forgot their Creator and their true identity as souls. The forgetfulness has become so great that some deny the existence of God. Even those who believe in God are often too wrapped up in their lives to remember God or to live life according to God's laws.
In creating this universe, a system was established. Those who had NDE's were shown this guiding principle of the universe: the law of love. If we hurt others, we will experience pain. If we love others, we will experience love. That law is so simple even a child could comprehend it. It does not require a college degree or years of scientific research to understand. In the East, this system is called the law of karma. The law of karma is similar to one of the laws of physics: "For every action, there is a reaction." The Bible calls it, "As you sow, so shall you reap."
To prepare for the lands beyond, we need to pay close attention to this law of love every day to establish a better quality of life for the rest of eternity. If we think that this life of seventy or a hundred years does not matter, we should consider the accounts of people who have gone beyond. They learned that we will reap the effects of their actions far beyond the time allotted to this life. What we do in this life does matter.
There is a story illustrating how easy it is to hurt others by a sharp word, being thoughtless, or ignoring other's needs. A man was passing through his neighborhood when he saw a man in front of his house, hoeing his garden slowly. The passing man, quick to judge, called out, "You must be a lazy man to hoe your garden at such a slow speed." As the passing man neared the fence to more clearly see the man in the garden, he received a shock. Over the white picket fence he could see that the other man was sitting in a wheelchair. Far from being lazy, the man was instead full of strength and fortitude to overcome his handicap. The first man regretted his words, spoken in haste and ego, and realized how he had hurt the other man's feelings.
There is another anecdote along these lines. A woman had her dairy products delivered daily by a local farmer. He had a good reputation for his fine food and promptness in making deliveries. One day she was having a get-together with a large number of guests. The farmer failed to show up. She was enraged that he could do this to her on such an important day. The next time he showed up, she yelled at him and criticized him harshly for his irresponsibility. Finally, when she completed her angry outburst, he quietly said "I am sorry if I have inconvenienced you, but that day my mother died, and I had to bury her." The woman, deeply ashamed of her cruel words, vowed never to speak harshly to anyone again. She realized that one never knows the circumstances of others.
Sometimes we learn the effects of our actions immediately, while at other times we do not. However, when we leave this earth and face the records of all our thoughts, words and deeds in life, we will realize even more how frequently we inadvertently may have hurt someone. Thus, its is important to walk softly in life, being careful not to hurt the feelings of others. The law governing the regions beyond is this: A life of love matters in eternity.
Through meditation on the inner Light and Sound we can explore the inner spiritual regions of Light and love. By developing loving qualities and being of service to others we become fit to enter God's realm. God is forgiving. If we start afresh, and begin to live today onwards in love, the kingdom will open for us. What we have done in the past we must leave behind and start anew. God's gates are open to all. Meditation is open to all. Light and Sound is for all. To proceed higher, start from today, and inculcate love for all. In this way, we can glimpse the regions of Light and soar to the highest region to merge in the Creator.