What Happens When You Die & After Death? | Ask Gurudev Anything

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar23 minutes read

Death is a mysterious process intertwined with the eternal nature of life, involving the evolution of the soul through different realms and realms beyond the physical. Various rituals and beliefs surrounding death, including the importance of soul evolution, impressions carrying over between lifetimes, and choosing the time of death based on mental state, impact the soul's journey and afterlife.

Insights

  • The soul's journey after death is influenced by the individual's mental state and impressions carried from past lives, impacting the afterlife based on lifelong practices and beliefs.
  • Various spiritual practices and rituals, such as meditation, last rites, and cremation, are seen as ways to facilitate the soul's transition and evolution, emphasizing the interconnectedness of life, death, and spiritual growth.

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Recent questions

  • What happens after death?

    After death, the soul embarks on a journey influenced by its state of mind and actions in life. Different realms exist beyond the physical, with human perception limited to specific bandwidths. The last moments before death reflect one's strongest impressions, shaping the afterlife based on lifelong practices and beliefs. The soul can leave the body through various means, impacting the next life based on individual karma and intentions. Understanding death is intertwined with life, revealing the eternal nature of existence.

  • How does meditation work?

    Meditation involves clearing the mind and maintaining a state of emptiness, leading to a meditative state. By focusing on breath, a mantra, or a specific object, individuals can achieve a deep state of relaxation and heightened awareness. This practice helps calm the mind, reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being. Through meditation, one can cultivate mindfulness, improve concentration, and explore inner peace and spiritual growth.

  • What is the significance of last rites rituals?

    Last rites rituals, such as tying toes, pouring water, and placing rice, hold symbolic importance in balancing Nadis, elements, and facilitating the body's return to nature. These rituals are believed to help the soul transition smoothly from the physical realm to the afterlife. By honoring the departed with these ceremonies, loved ones convey gratitude and positive vibrations, aiding the soul's journey beyond death. Last rites rituals also serve as a way to acknowledge the impermanence of life and offer closure to the living.

  • How do different spiritual figures influence death?

    Various spiritual figures like Lord Krishna, Adi Shankara, and Maharishi Patanjali chose specific places to leave their bodies for liberation. These locations, such as Kashi and other sacred sites, symbolize spiritual significance and energetic power. By departing from these places, these figures demonstrate a connection to higher realms and transcendence beyond physical limitations. Their actions inspire followers to seek spiritual enlightenment and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

  • Why is human birth crucial for soul evolution?

    Human birth is essential for soul evolution as impressions and karmic imprints carry over between lifetimes. Through the human experience, the soul has the opportunity to learn, grow, and evolve spiritually. Each lifetime offers lessons and challenges that contribute to the soul's progression towards higher states of consciousness. By experiencing human birth, the soul gains valuable insights, refines its attributes, and moves closer to realizing its true nature and purpose in the universe.

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Summary

00:00

Unveiling the Mysteries of Life and Death

  • Death is one of the five great secrets, prompting questions about what happens after life and the experience during death.
  • Understanding life and death is interconnected; knowing one helps comprehend the other, indicating life's eternal nature.
  • The soul is a consciousness with attributes like desire, happiness, and consciousness, evolving through different realms.
  • Various realms exist beyond the physical, with human perception limited to specific bandwidths.
  • Human birth is crucial for soul evolution, as impressions carry over between lifetimes.
  • The soul can leave the body through different ways, impacting the next life based on the individual's state of mind.
  • Breathing patterns during death reflect the soul's journey, with different nostrils signifying varying intentions and emotions.
  • Yogis can choose their time of death based on their mental state, affecting the next life through karma.
  • Shraadh rituals are not for the reborn soul but for the living, conveying gratitude and positive vibrations to the departed.
  • The last moments before death reflect one's strongest impressions, influencing the afterlife based on lifelong practices and beliefs.

19:48

Spiritual beliefs and practices in death and afterlife.

  • Meditation involves clearing the mind and keeping it empty, leading to a meditative state.
  • Kashi symbolizes the third eye place where the Sushumna Nadi is active, not just a physical location.
  • Various places like Prayagraj, Haridwar, Himachal Pradesh, and Nepal are believed to offer liberation upon death.
  • Different spiritual figures like Lord Krishna, Adi Shankara, and Maharishi Patanjali chose specific places to leave their bodies for liberation.
  • Souls are believed to be drawn to specific families based on Sanskaras and Karmas, rather than choosing them consciously.
  • Suicide is viewed as a misguided attempt to escape suffering, leading to prolonged regret for the soul.
  • Last rites rituals like tying toes, pouring water, and placing rice symbolize balancing Nadis, elements, and facilitating the body's return to nature.
  • Cremation is seen as an environmentally friendly practice that allows the body to merge back into the elements.
  • Near-death experiences are attributed to karma, with souls often finding peace in the transition from life to death.
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