If you believe in an afterlife, what do you think? How important are our actions on earth in regards to this? Just curious as to how people think, karma and all that.

Nero, I know that many of us believe in an afterlife.  I'd like to think there is one but I can't say for sure either way.  In my opinion, since this could turn out to be the only life we get, we should make the most of it.  And that includes loving, sharing, and caring.  For that is what makes a life rich beyond measure.

You see, common wisdom has always been that you'd better be good to get to heaven.  I think it far wiser to not live in guilt but to live in love to begin with. Enjoy this life as if you were in heaven.  Taste the sweetness and accept the love it has to offer now.

Cindi

I do believe in an 'afterlife'; I kind of have to given that I remember portions of it. An if I am to trust myself at ANYTHING than I know that I certainly did not just suddenly come into existence for this little life.


As for our actions on this earth and the thought of Karma and all, from what I understand of the subject we basically weave our way though lives gaining understanding of ourselves. What 'we' are is far more advanced than you would think looking outside your window at the IDIOCY of humanity, but such is as schools go. To learn, we experience. The saying that experience is the best teacher has quite a lot of truth in it. From what I know of the subject we play both aggressor and prey in our lives; Bad and Good. Dastardly and Saintly... there are TONNES of experiences in this (and other) lives.

So, with this view I would suppose one could say out actions in this life are rather important, but what is MOST important is to accomplish what you set out to do this life; To understand why you are here, be that to learn something, to experience something, or simply hang about and take in what happens, 'vacation' so to speak.


So all in all, life is experience, and experiences are of importance and value. But, it is not like 'we' will be judged on this life alone so ^*shrug* I'd say view each life as a class in school, as that is the closest approximation to what is that I have found.

The accuracy of what I KNOW, is, of course, both subjective and unprovable. So take what I've said with a grain or two of salt if you prefer.

Blessed Be...

what afterlife?  once you're gone, you're gone.  finito!  no more!
the belief in life after death is due to man's inability to accept death as final. no god, no devil, no heaven, no hell. i know this may sound bleak and make life seem pointless but what evidence is there for anything else. please don't mention the bible or koran they were both written by human beings with no divine help and a lot of people are gullible enough or desperate enough to accept them. most religions rely on blind faith and if that suits or fulfills your needs, fine.

Quote from: Nero on May 18, 2007, 08:53:22 AM
If you believe in an afterlife, what do you think?

Katia,
The question was if you believe in an afterlife, what do you think? Meaning, I'm asking for the opinion of those who do believe in an afterlife, so I don't see the point of your reply?
Hypothetically - say there was an afterlife - Would our actions on earth matter in it? What do you think?

I believe there is more to us than just what we see, and once our bodies have expired, we go on. As what I don't know, and I really don't know that we come back. One of my best friends has told me she believes we are here to deal with certain things and if we don't deal with them in this life we will have to face them in the next. Obviously she was referring to me being TS and to get on with it and get it over with. This friend happens to be my office manager. I do love her and I respect her opinion and it was her that prompted me to deal with this issue again and face it full on to its finality.

I do believe we are here to handle certain tasks....people refer to them in a more general way calling it "Fate". I have experience De ja Vu so many times I feel they are checkpoints in life you have reached. From one de ja vu checkpoint to the next is you living out your pre-mapped life. Fighting that path or trying to redirect it is what causes strife, pain, dependence on other substances and general misery. Staying the course I believe will help you lead a less stressful life and things will work out in the end. How? I have no idea because I FEEL its impossible to see just how things will work out changing genders, but I know that I must. So I will trust to fate and take that blind leap forward and let things lay where they fall. It is going to be an incredible year for me. But its already been worked out for me and I am just along for the ride.

It would be nice to see people be good because of a sense of satisfaction they could get from doing the most kind and loving thing. Taking the high road for it's own sake without needing the threat of karma there to keep them in line. So I guess this question makes me wonder if people thought their were no reprocussions then would be OK to do what ever you want without regard of how it might effect someone else? Why do you want to know if you are free of karma anyway? There are always consequences to our actions in this life and I'll bet the next too.

Quote from: Cindi Jones on May 18, 2007, 11:12:00 AM
You see, common wisdom has always been that you'd better be good to get to heaven.  I think it far wiser to not live in guilt but to live in love to begin with. Enjoy this life as if you were in heaven.  Taste the sweetnes and accept the love it has to offer now.

Exactly how I feel too.

Life is to be savoured and devoured, getting your hands and feet dirty in all life has to offer.

The christian-style heaven may indeed exist, I don't know. But I DO know I'm not part of that war though, and try and steer clear of it. I want no part of it, and it wants nothing to do with me.

But as for an "afterlife," I do believe I exist outside of death. Here and elsewhere too. I don't think of things in linear ways, I don't think I was born, live, then die. I think I already did all those things, and AM doing those things.... it's all at once. And the more you relax and let things unfold, and just WATCH, the more you see and feel that. You're the writer, actor and producer of this show... and many others. It's all a Grand Game of giving yourself amnesia so you can wander the world and see if you can find your way back again, picking up little clues and hints you've left yourself along the way.

It's great fun, and I can't seem to get enough of it, lol...

~Kate~

Quote from: Jonie on May 21, 2007, 08:39:17 AMWhy do you want to know if you are free of karma anyway? There are always consequences to our actions in this life and I'll bet the next too.

Honestly? Because I can't count the mistakes I have made in this life, and according to a lot of Christians, I am condemned to hell.

Quote from: Nero on May 21, 2007, 12:48:39 PM
Honestly? Because I can't count the mistakes I have made in this life, and according to a lot of Christians, I am condemned to hell.

From what some of my christian friends have told me, good or bad deeds don't dictate your fate; as long as you truly repent, and you're faith in Jesus is true... you're going to heaven

I THINK so anyway, I'm not christian... but that's what I've been told.

~Kate~

If there is an afterlife, would it not be some sort of continuation of this life?  Would not the experiences we have now build the foundation for that life to come?

I look at it like school.  You go to college, you can get a better job.  Whether I believe in an afterlife or not really is not key in understanding my perspective.  Good works and love in this life prepare us to have a better life in the here and now.  If anything follows, we're so much better off for having a better "course of study".

So Nero, you're worried about going to hell from what others tell you?  Don't.  You know what you need to do to improve your life based on the standards you have for yourself. Work on that. Do it because it is a good thing. Don't do it because you feel threatened by what other people think.  Do it because it is good.  Don't do it out of fear.

Cindi

I completely believe in Karma and afterlife. I think its all individual as far as what you get , I keep in mind what I do will come back around then I may make some better choices. I think even if you are aware of karma (for those who believe) that you are making, thinking about your decisions and making better ones. Do I believe I'm perfect and have always made good decisions, heck no! But on the big things (murder, excepting others for who they are and so on..)I do my best. I am not sure I believe you take it with you into the next life I believe you take the lessons you've learned with you but no "Karma carryover". If that makes sense.
On a side note my kids now believe in Karma so the other day one asked me when they were going to see someone on the side of the rode that had been struck by lightening! I had to laugh because when I see someone do something totaly uncalled for I say well "If we see them laying on the side of the road after being struck by lightning we know why".
Myles

In my belief system, it's not your actions directly, it is more your intent and state of mind.

How you perceive those actions affects your afterlife.

If You do all the right things, for all the wrong reasons (greed, apathy, etc...) even though they are the right actions and worked out well, your reason for doing them (your motive) was incorrect or flawed.

If You try and be a good person, your fine, even if the results of your actions don't aways work out for the best.

It is the answer to the philosophical problem, do you steal the medicine to save your friend.
Stealing is wrong, but the intent of your action is to save a life.

From a legal aspect, you are in the wrong.

From a karmic aspect, all the actions and interactions don't matter at all, it is your state of mind, and the fact that you did your best to be a good person that matters.

That's my belief anyway.

In other words, throw out all of the actions, interactions, repercussions, and hypotheticals, take life day by day, and try and be the best person you can be in every situation you encounter.

I think any holy book or belief systems can be summed up, very simply as, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" aka the golden rule.

Jessica

Jessica that is great much better than I was able to say it. Very well said!
Myles

Quote from: Nero on May 21, 2007, 12:48:39 PM

Quote from: Jonie on May 21, 2007, 08:39:17 AMWhy do you want to know if you are free of karma anyway? There are always consequences to our actions in this life and I'll bet the next too.

Honestly? Because I can't count the mistakes I have made in this life, and according to a lot of Christians, I am condemned to hell.

You fear going to hell, fear cripples you. Your actions do have consequences so I would advise to always consider our options seriously and carefully. Your Judgement I think will be geared towards teaching you to live in harmony with your neighbors, not in making you suffer.

Quote from: Katia on May 20, 2007, 07:12:43 AM
what afterlife?  once you're gone, you're gone.  finito!  no more!
...
what evidence is there for anything else.

What *evidence* is there for any of this stuff? Give me a fricken break.

Quote
I am condemned to hell.

Let me give you a preview. Ever been to Northern Kentucky? Or say Branson, Missouri? A whole lot like that.

i think it determines your current life.

I've never met anyone from an afterlife   

Our body decays. Our soul sleeps. We are awaken on the day of Judgement. Our eternal destiny will be heaven or hell based on our life choices. We determine our own eternal life...do not blame God. He gives us all ample time and choices.

I'm not religious but I do believe there's something after death. My thinking is this, after living say 80/90 years or even less. After that time of growing and learning and then to die and there be nothing seems a waste to me. That's why I think there must be something else out there.

My family are spiritualists but I wasn't brought up in that belief so I know little about it but they believe in the spirit lving on, heaven, hell, good and bad actions,  etc etc.

Einstein himself was said to say that since electricity cannot be destroyed then what happens to all the electrical impulses that the brain generates. Where does it go?

I'm in the middle of researching my family tree and I think to myself all these people who came before me are now just dates on paper and pictures from films. One day I'll be the same, it just amazes me to think that at one time they were here and now they are all gone.