Life After Physical Life

All who make the transition from physical to the non-physical life do not encounter the same experience. Evidence of this exists today in the earth as recorded from medical interviews and accounts from those who for a short period of time entered the experience of "physical death." Many were reluctant to return to the stresses of the physical body, while some encountered the experience of the damned. I (Granger) could present a variety of experiences from those who have made the transition on a permanent basis. Not all who are in this group (The Starters) found the experience pleasant, while others encountered an experience of great exuberance and ecstasy, long to be remembered after life in this state became that of accepted reality. Why the difference in experience?

East wind may be a pleasant or an unpleasant experience, depending on where you stand in the earth. Rain may be a blessing of showers or a devastating deluge on your wedding day. Cold to one may be pleasant to another. Some are terrified by heights while others are ecstatic at the panoramic view. How do these experiences relate to that reality one may encounter upon leaving the physical life to enter the reality beyond? In the crossing over, in the transition out of the physical body, what one may encounter may be deeply influenced by that which, in the deep inner mind, one expected to encounter. The inner mind, believe me, has the capacity to create its own heaven or hell.

Now we must be up on our toes, alert and aware! We are not leading into the pseudo-concept that life on this side is simply that which one's mind and will chooses to make it. That would be a misleading concept. Life here is real. The experience one encounters, what one does with the reality, how one enters into that reality, the benefit or lack of benefit resulting from that encounter with a given reality will depend extensively on the attitude, the beliefs, the state of mind in which the encounter is made. There are many ways in which reality and life may be clothed in concepts of personal beliefs. Some ways are better than others, of course, but the essential ingredient in a set of beliefs is that they provide channels through which the personality of that individual may grow and develop. All travellers do not aspire to the same mountaintop.

Let us assume that some set of beliefs, some philosophy of life, some points of view, are essential to healthy growth and development in any active life. Now to some extent these concepts ...beliefs, let us call them, form patterns that have something in common with other beliefs and points of view. Obviously virtues are the same in all the patterns of belief unless we exist in a universe of insanity and despair. There is no reason to believe that love can be an ideal of one person's beliefs and that hate can be the ideal motivation in another life while both are equally right. Gravity cannot pull toward the centre of the earth and, at the same time, reject mass objects while being consistent with nature's laws. Laws of spirit expressed through the mind, laws of nature expressed through instinct, laws of cosmic consciousness expressed through other minds, all must be in harmony, consistent with a centralized community of will and purpose.

Therefore, we need to seek out those patterns of motivation and desire which are in harmony with what we may agree to refer to as the central mind of being. Call this mind nature or spirit, call it God or call it Allah, call it force and intelligence, if you desire, but let us recognize that some central core of intelligent awareness resides in the inner chambers of being.

From our somewhat escalated position on this side of physical death, we observe vast evidence of that which directs the order and pattern of all being in regions far beyond those comprehended and accepted as reality in the minds of the physical earth. Do we see evidence of a set of concepts inherent in these regions sufficient to implement and control the directions of life? Is there a Philosophy of Concepts that form the patterns of reality? Should men and women of purpose seek out a pattern of life to be desired above others? Is there sufficient reason for a basis of religion in earth life? And should some religious concepts be established, to be followed in preference to alternatives in life? The answer to all these questions may be a simple yes. A more adequate answer, however, requires somewhat of greater explanation with guidelines by which each may choose and seek out the corridors of his or her own philosophy of life.

Several points of view are brought into sharper focus through the experience of physical death. First of all, realization that survival of physical death is a reality does, in itself, present a very different and vital change in viewpoint. One feels fresh and reassured that the ultimate experience has been overcome and passed through and that all is well. We have written about this experience several times, however, let us look at it now from the point of view of developing a religious outlook.

Obviously, to know that one has, in very fact, survived the test-bed of physical death is great reassurance that the very nature of life is of significance beyond that of the physical. One begins to wander about and desires to seek out the deeper purposes of life in the atmosphere of spiritual reality. Comprehension of the very realistic nature of spiritual life motivates the transition to be made from the position in physical life, with one foot in the grave and the other in the helter-skelter of daily living. From the physical world, I know it is difficult indeed to imagine life in terms of a reality that does not require corn flakes for breakfast, two cars in the driveway, and a need to transport one's body constantly and in a hurry to some other location. Suddenly all such effort ceases to be necessary, or to have any real meaning. I could say that some seem to continue for some time with subconscious desires such as to house a physical body -- that no longer exists in living reality. Strangely enough, the living person usually retains little interest in his or her physical body once it has been well disposed of.

Holding the experiences of physical life in perspective, we now observe the nature of being in somewhat different concepts than those we held while in the physical earth. Do not think, however, that we have become idealistic angels, having no doubts about the deeper meanings and purposes of our present state. We are making effort: we struggle to achieve, we desire to learn, we seek out and explore. Yet we are not privileged to examine the ultimate of being any more than those who make comparable efforts in the earth life. However, as you climb the hillside the meaningful relationships of a greater order of things come into view. Let us take a somewhat more personal route to arrive at our objective this morning. We will come to the same intended conclusions but we believe we may be able to present the ideas in a more personal way that, hopefully, will have greater relevancy and meaning for many others who may read this material one day.

Since our last session, two weeks ago, your own mother passed away [My mother died December 12, 1979] and you have just recently returned from the funeral services and ceremony so well established when such an occurrence happens. We were with you on that occasion and we understand well the concerns you have for the well being of your mother. Let us, however, use this personal experience to develop some of the concepts we need to present here.

At the time of your mother's death from the physical body on Wednesday morning, we observed the events from this side. There was little reason here for any grief or even for sorrow. Here this delightful lady in her eighty-seventh year of life in the physical body found release from pain, and walked away from an old and weary body. You are quite right in your personal belief that she was in the process of making the transition for several weeks before the time of her official death. Not everyone dies all at one time, in one single shot at the angel of death. Many follow the process of gradually transposing the personal energy from the personality into this plane of life prior to the final exit. There was a certain effort on her part, in this particular situation, to prepare everyone for her final departure.

In the beginning of life in this plane, following the transition from the physical life, many little adjustments need to be made. This is a spiritual dimension that in many ways is similar to the physical life yet requires orientation to a new and somewhat strange dimension. Certainly there is no undue difficulty however. Your own mother is well adjusted and quite pleased within her own mind and spirit. She would send you the reassurance that she is well and happy. She is quite aware of all that has been left behind, but is looking around with keen anticipation of that which is presented to her here. There is little difficulty to be encountered. She has a keen mind and a sharp and witty personality that will stand her well here. Your own father has prepared for her transition in many ways. And he understands the adjustments necessary to minimize the beginning of life in this plane. We have a rich personal inheritance available to each one to the extent of our personal willingness to open the mind of the spirit and accept the realities of life as we experience it here.

Many are deprived of the rich resources of life available here because they become so oriented to earth-life that they cannot make a successful transition. One must learn to let go the grip on physical reality to learn to swim in the beautiful high seas in this reality in which we reside. This life is as real, as vital, as energizing as any you would experience in the physical earth. The limitations in life are those found within one's own mind. There are no other boundaries or limits to life anywhere. You become what your beliefs develop you into becoming.

I, Granger, can think of no better personal message to you than that of the experience of your mother and father. Throughout their lifetimes in the earth they gave much to many; they gave in bad times as well as in good times. There was no possibility of reward or recognition in their giving in physical terms. Yet here, just now, at this moment, they are surrounded by the rich resources of that very giving. Nothing can be given out of a free mind and an open spirit without receiving the everlasting blessing deserved. This is a universal and irrefutable law of reality; nothing can change or alter it. Many persons spend too much time debating the issue of what is the good deed as versus the need to perform the task at hand. The wisdom contained in the inherent act of life by your own parents was that they did that thing, they performed that task, they fed that person that was present and in need of attention without any question as to its being the good or right thing to do.

Let that which is presented to you in your own life be enriched by your mind so that others who follow may find your footprints across the spans of life, leading them easily by way of the oasis of spiritual awareness from which they may be refreshed and enlightened. Sensitivity to the best in each moment of your life will ensure your own enrichment on arrival in this plane of awareness from which we extend to you our desires for your well being and refreshment from deep wells of blessing.