Life
in the Higher Astral Heavens
Books also say that the Astral Cosmos is much larger than the physical
Cosmos, and infinitely more beautiful. It is teeming with Astral beings
who have arrived from the physical world. The environment there is
extremely beautiful, and pleasant. There are beautiful fiowers, streams,
waterfalls etc. The fruit trees bear extremely delicious fruits. There
are no snakes and insects but birds and butterfiies are present. The
climate is always a very comfortable spring time with no extremes
of temperature.
The Astral inhabitants are not born from the wombs of a woman, but
they automatically arrive in the youthful form and are welcomed into
a household occupied by persons who have similar spirituai and mental
tendencies. As such there are no differences of opinion of asetious
nature and therefore there is always peace and harmony in the household
and the community. Friends of previous lives in the physical world
recognise each other in the Astral world. One can meet several fathers,
mothers, sisters, brothers, wives, husbands and other relatives of
previous lives. As such, it is difficult to decide whom to love in
particular as all have been connected at sometime or other. That is
why all religious teachers advise us to love everybody equally. Communication
among all astral world residents is by telepathy or thought transference.
Astral persons can sometimes observe human activities but certain
human beings who are spiritually developed can view the Astral world
- e.g. Swami Yogananda was able to see the spirit of the mother of
one tf his devotees after she died of breast cancer. She was being
escorted by astral helpers to her new residence in the Astral world.
Her cancer was fully cured. There is extremely melodies 'heavenly
music' compared by famous musicians Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Kabirdas,
Mirabhai who are now living in the Astral heavens. They are entertaining
vast Astral audien·ces. Most of us living in the physical world
are able to contact our dead relatives living in the Astral world.
When we are in deep sleep, our Astral body detaches from the physical
body and goes to the Astral planes. When we wake up we are not able
to recollect, but the Astral beings know this and therefore they do
not miss us so much.
The Causal or Brahma Worlds
Astral inhabitants can reincarnate into the physical or causal worlds.
Their life span is about 1500 to 2000 years. Our being is composed
of three parts. 1) Physical body 2) Astral body 3) Causal body.
These three bodies are joined together due to the force of unfulfilled
desires. The 'causal body is composed of mind and ideas and is represented
by a spark of light.' In Buddhism, the beings in the Brahma lokas
are of two types. Those with a body (Rupa) and those with mind only
(Nama). Beings of the Physical world can go direct to the Brahma
worlds if they have developed their minds in meditation to a very
high level. The beings in the causal world are only one step away
from total liberation or Nirvana. They have only to apply themselves
to get rid of the remaining traces of desires to achieve liberation.
People who accumulate good or wholesome Karma by performing Dana,
Seela, Bhavana (Charity, Morality, Meditation) need not unduly fear
death, as they will be able to be happy in the life beyond. Others
who accumulate bad or unwholesome Karma will have to improve themselves
sooner than later, to avoid the consequences in this very life,
and in the life beyond.
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