====== The Inner Life ====== == THE HERALD OF THE NEW AGE | SEPTEMBER 1937 == ---- ==== WHAT IS DEATH? ==== ABOUT a year ago I had an accident, supposedly a fall on the ice, but actually something in me “separated,” which I remember trying to adjust, unsuccessfully—apparently—since the fall followed. During the time of unconsciousness, which lasted several hours, I found myself on the other side (you will appreciate the difficulty of expressing certain things) in the Great Reality—bodiless—formless—and alone. Oh, such aloneness is unimaginable—no one, no thing, anywhere, not anywhere in all the universe. Illimitable space! Above, at the back of me was Light, which I understood was coming through a small opening from a “higher” place. Surrounding me was an “ocean” of Love and Knowledge—illimitable also. Something, almost like cords, seemed to be holding me—in a sense pulling me down. As I became fully aware of all this I realized that it was “death.” Oh, I was frightened—an agony of fear—a fear as vast as was everything else about me. No one—nothing—anywhere; truly it was awful—and wonderful. I offer no apology for being frightened, though never before had I had any fear of death. As I came to a full realization of all this, and in the midst of my terror, I was asked (I believe it was Myself asking myself), “Is your faith real? Was Christ right?” At once all of me began to “think,” and after a while I replied, “My faith, yes, I think it is real—weak, often; but yes, it is real” (It was like a struggle to be quite accurate. Lying was impossible). “Then my mind went to the next question, and immediately, “Oh, yes, yes, Christ was right. Yes, yes, yes!” Not the slightest hesitancy there. Then, at once I was filled with Peace, Joy, Love, Beauty, Justice—a magnificent, perfect harmony of glorious, loving, living Beauty. Inexpressible. All sign of fear had gone. There was nothing but this wondrous beauty. . . . Then, “Will you go, or will you stay?” Ah, so wonderfully beautiful it was that I longed to stay, and yet—was there anything I had not done that I could do if I “went back”? Ought I to go? I did not know. I wanted to do what was right, but I did not know. Then—just like casting a burden from me—I said, “As you will.” That was all. When I recovered consciousness the memory of this came to me with great vividness. I mean it had happened and I was remembering—it was not a sick imagination. I felt I had known God and that, somehow, God and myself were one; the questions about my faith and about Christ, to prove that there was no fear where there was perfect faith, and to encourage me by showing me that He knew my faith was real though weak. The last question was a test—my answer proved that I would rather do His will than anything else. Strangest of all to me was the understanding that had I failed on this final question I should have become extinct, gone into nothingness. I did not know that that was possible. Does it mean that I would have proven myself incapable of further evolution and thus, therefore, would automatically become nothing? I was brought back to health, although about everything that could happen to prevent it did happen! But I knew that nothing could hinder, if I kept faith. After a time I was advised from the Within to seek a teacher to show me the way of the law of which I was completely ignorant, and that I must get knowledge. I followed guidance, step by step, and gratefully do I acknowledge the help of those who, each in turn, showed me the way. And then, one day, a fellow student presented me with “The Impersonal Life.” ---- {{ thesecretofregeneration193709-984.jpg |}} ---- {{ thesecretofregeneration193709-985.jpg |}} ---- //← [[a_world_message|previous]] // | [[:the_inner_life_vol._5|The Inner Life 1937]] | // [[preparation|next]] → //