Questions about OOBEs

[Alexander]

So craving causes us to reincarnate as human. How does a spirit avoid this in the post-death state?

[Jhanananda]

So craving causes us to reincarnate as human. How does a spirit avoid this in the post-death state?

We avoid reincarnation by overcoming craving. We overcome craving by following the Noble Eightfold Path, not a 7 fold path, nor a 5 fold path.

[Jhanananda]

by overcoming craving for the material plane.

[Alexander]

Thank you

What have you learned about animals? Do they also reincarnate over many lives? Do they become more “conscious” and “promote” to a human birth? Are we the incarnations of former animals?

[Jhanananda]

I don't really hold onto the concept of humans being the crown of creation, because I have recalled many lifetimes as animals. In fact one of my most common lucid dreams as a child was me recalling a previous lifetime as a fish. In fact at the time I could not be sure if I was a human child dreaming I was a fish, or a fish dreaming I was a human child.

[Alexander]

Interesting

1 Have you discerned anything about the origins of souls? Where does a “self” originate?

2 So based on your schema would it be safe to say most of humanity is doomed to reincarnate? What about individuals like Socrates, who lived a life of detachment (though without meditation)? Or Bob Monroe (OOBEs without jhana)?

[Jhanananda]

Interesting

1 Have you discerned anything about the origins of souls? Where does a “self” originate?

I have not observed an origin point for my soul or anyone else so I have conclude there is no beginning point.

2 So based on your schema would it be safe to say most of humanity is doomed to reincarnate? What about individuals like Socrates, who lived a life of detachment (though without meditation)? Or Bob Monroe (OOBEs without jhana)?

Reincarnation is driven by craving, so when craving is over, then reincarnation is over, with the exception of enlightened souls returning for the benefit of others.

[Alexander]

Thank you

1 I’ve read NDE accounts of people going through a kind of “spiritual cleansing” in the afterlife (shortly after dying), refreshing themselves after the oftentimes very traumatic and intense suffering of a human life. Have you encountered this?

2 Similarly, is it reasonable to expect a joyful reunion with loved ones in the afterlife?

3 Would it be reasonable to say we have many “forgotten friends” from prior lives? Are we able to remember these and reunite with them?

4 In regard to the pre-birth state, I’ve read we often have a draft of a “life plan” before reincarnating. Have you encountered this?

[Jhanananda]

Thank you

1 I’ve read NDE accounts of people going through a kind of “spiritual cleansing” in the afterlife (shortly after dying), refreshing themselves after the oftentimes very traumatic and intense suffering of a human life. Have you encountered this?

While I have been traveling Out-of-Body most of my life, and I had numerous NDEs in the first 4 months after my COPD diagnosis I cannot say I had any experience that would provide information for a “spiritual cleansing” after death. What I have observed is most people who are dead don't know that they are dead, and reincarnate quickly afterwards due to craving and covetousness for the material world.

2 Similarly, is it reasonable to expect a joyful reunion with loved ones in the afterlife?

One could have a "joyful reunion with loved ones in the afterlife" and we should include a joyful religious experience for those who have learned to meditate deeply.

3 Would it be reasonable to say we have many “forgotten friends” from prior lives? Are we able to remember these and reunite with them?

It depends upon one's level of awareness. Since most people do not meditate deeply, then the afterlife is just a dream for most.

4 In regard to the pre-birth state, I’ve read we often have a draft of a “life plan” before reincarnating. Have you encountered this?
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I could see that one could have a "life-plan" upon birth, reviewed like seeing one's life pass before one as one dies.

[Alexander]

While I have been traveling Out-of-Body most of my life, and I had numerous NDEs in the first 4 months after my COPD diagnosis I cannot say I had any experience that would provide information for a “spiritual cleansing” after death. What I have observed is most people who are dead don't know that they are dead, and reincarnate quickly afterwards due to craving and covetousness for the material world.

Interesting so when you say they “don’t know they are dead” do you mean that in the literal sense (ie they are delusional), or do you mean they experience death like a dream—-ie they lack self-awareness in the post-death state?

[Jhanananda]

Interesting so when you say they “don’t know they are dead” do you mean that in the literal sense (ie they are delusional), or do you mean they experience death like a dream—-ie they lack self-awareness in the post-death state?

In my experience of encountering people while Out-of-Body most of these people do not know that they are dead and persist in a dream-like domain.

[Alexander]

That sounds dreadful. So most people don’t have much of an afterlife at all?

[Jhanananda]

That sounds dreadful. So most people don’t have much of an afterlife at all?

Correct, when people do not learn to meditate deeply they never develop lucidity at depth, so death for them is not unlike their dream state, which for them will be fogy, with little self-awareness.

[Alexander]

That’s awful. It reminds me of Greek or Jewish religion, where the afterlife is that of gloomy shades. Is it possible to assist these souls? Or are they unreachable?

[Jhanananda]

That’s awful. It reminds me of Greek or Jewish religion, where the afterlife is that of gloomy shades. Is it possible to assist these souls? Or are they unreachable?

This is a good question. Basically there is not much that can be done for them, other than to inspire people to take up a fruitful contemplative life when in a physical body.