Do We Lose Individuality After Death?

[VaughnB]

Me, Myself, You, Us..Together and Separate.

I've often felt alone, separate, apart from...is this my individuality?

Do I have free will? Choice? Now and after I die?

How does one grow and learn if our choices are made for us? Am I just traveling in an enormous circle trying to return to Source?

When I die do I ponder, think, review my past life experiences, then select the situation for my return?

I do not hazard to guess on any of these weighty questions...it is my desire to be apart of something larger than myself, to feel that love, that light of omnipresence, all knowing but for now I must satisfy myself with what I feel and sense in my heart as I journey through this life, sometimes sadness, sometimes great joy. Such is our duality, our struggle.

Thank you for being.

[Flash]

No we do not lose individuality, we gain unity within individual consciousness, so i have been told.

[Tony]

The Buddha and Christ kept their individuality: so will you.

[Lord Sidious]

Who told you we die?
Does the caterpillar die to become the butterfly?

[Dawn]

Who told you we die?
Does the caterpillar die to become the butterfly?

Good one Lord Sidius!

There is lots of speculation, and I've read a lot on this. However, I'll have to admit, at the end of the day I am not sure. I have 'remembered' many of my lives in other bodies, with their own personalities. I used to think they were all 'mine', however I have opened to the possibility that I am simply reading 'records' in consciousness of other lives... not necessarily 'mine'.

I know lots of people who see a tunnel and light at the other end. I have actually died a few times in this life. I didn't personally see a tunnel, but I did go into the vast living void.

I also go into the void all the time while meditating. There is nothing there except infinite possibility. At one time everything in this reality seemed unreal and see-through to me. This lasted 9 lonely years. Why lonely? Because there was nothing here to interact with... it all seemed to be a phony reality created in an attempt for the ONE to play with others who were really ITSELF. The only thing actually here was ME and I was all alone (not the little me... but the ONE that is all there is)

All the belief we have that we continue after death may be created in our own mind. I'm really not sure. It took a lot of water under the bridge in this life for me to be OK with knowing that I do not know..... despite all the literature and beliefs out there. If you find a way to know for sure please let us all in on it.

[NancyV]

You always have free will and as Lord Sid says, "who told you we die"? LOL...

After hundreds of out of body travels, merging with other souls, merging with the Source and one near death experience, I never lost my individuality or free will. I only became more of who I am up to becoming everything. There can be only One... and there is only one.... ME (or YOU).

The first time I left my body consciously I had a quick and complete life review. It was wonderful and everything became clear about everything I had ever done or would do. It was humorous, compassionate and filled with love. But the game continues and there are many places to play and beings to play with. Some experiences can be scary until you overcome all lingering fears. Once you merge with the Source you are the Creator and you also come into the Creation. We are everything all at once but we like to play games where we change our perspective and pretend that we are less than we are. Maybe we do this so we won't get bored and for sure...it's not boring!

[Carolin]

Many years ago I read Dr Michael Newton's book "Life Between Lives" where he regressed individuals to their "death" state. It's a great book and should answer many of your questions. What I took from it was summed up by Flash.


No we do not lose individuality, we gain unity within individual consciousness, so i have been told.

[percival tyro]

Hi. If it is above, so it is below, then all my journeys have been to destination and back home again in my vehicle.

[ktlight]

We experience individualism in this reality, outside of ourself, on the stage. I think there would not be a need to hold on the individuality when the body has finished its job, out there.

But, in truth, no-one has ever come back to explain what happens, so I feel how it will be is what we trust at the time.

[Lettherebelight]

You are eternally you....and there's only one you!
And you are part of the big, beautiful Whole.

[Lefty Dave]

Greetings friends and neighbors...

From this souls' perspective...I find no indication that we relinquish individuated consciousness until we merge with First Source.

I do hope we have a choice...as I have no desire to continue this charade again...and if we truly have free will...then Creator will leave the decision to us.

Yes, earth is a beautiful creation, of superb design and magnificence...however my part in this play has not been all that pleasant for much of my (this) life...granted, some wonderful moments have come my way...near perfect marriage of 40 years, two great children, and much love shared; but those times have been few and far between...madness, mayhem and misery. For the past ten years life has been a steady erosion of what took decades to create...

So, if we are a soul in a human instrument, a soul that has existed for millenia , experiencing the manifested thoughts of Creator...let's hope there's no more hoops we have to jump through... in order to finally say....enough, let me remember (rejoin) Source.

Blessings from a weary sojourner.

[ktlight]

LD, don't give up. There is always something more to learn. I feel that, wanting to retain our individuality would be deprivation of something that unifying into one would otherwise benefit us.

[vibrations]

A series of regressions can lead you little by little in the span between the lives. it's not simple, it takes quite a lot of work because this part of life is carefully closed for the access, so normally takes an effort and a lot of patience to get there. It's quite easy to "relive" the moments of death and closely after, or moments of birth and before, but the in between is a bit harder. It looks like some of the people can access it and I suspect that is related to the spiritual awareness of the individual.
In the other side there are a lot of testimonies regarding this period from the people experiencing NDE. In this cases I think the experience is planned before incarnation to help to educate individual and his surroundings about the time between two lives.

[Camilo]

Even, after gone full circle and returning to union with source, we all retain our individuality and uniqueness. Look at a diamond, it's one with many different individual and unique facets.

[vibrations]

Even, after gone full circle and returning to union with source, we all retain our individuality and uniqueness. Look at a diamond, it's one with many different individual and unique facets.

Muy bonito Camilo and perfectly true.

[Unified Serenity]

I have only died once as a small child and do not recall what happened while dead. None of us can answer this question. I have read many accounts and the recent lawyer thread about when she died and what she experienced has a whole other take on what happens and matters. So, until you leave this clay vessel with which you are using to read this thread, you won't know that answer. I am not afraid and I look forward to the journey though I am in no immediate desire to take it.

[Kindred]

"Individuality" is Always Yours. Source has endowed You, and each one of us, with Free Will. Each of our Manifestations (lives) is just one of Many Manifest Experiences - Each manifestation is to allow our Aural 'selves' to Learn and Expand our Spiritual awareness.

Yes, we 'merge' with Source for a while upon the culmination of each Life, and Reflect what we've learned, and how it fits with All our previous manifestations. We then Decide, when and how we will manifest Again, with an 'eye' towards learning the Next set of Lessons. Source wishes for All it's children to Understand and Learn how to Become Itself.

We are the Reflection of Source, in All it's manifestations.

In Unity and Peace

[greybeard]

We dont have it now-- its an illusion.
To qualify--- that is if you are thinking of an individual person or consciousness.
However--- you will always be aware ----as to whether or not that is really individual or unique I dont know.
Oneness would not see things differently or have various points of views--- the experiences of one being identical to the experiences of the seeming other.

Not saying im right but thats what seems to be so.

Chris

[VaughnB]

Gracious thanks to all of you for your wonderful and beautiful perspectives.



Flash ...unity with individuality
Greybeard...choice with awareness and oneness
Kindred... Free will and reflections to Learn how to Become Itself
Camilo ----- Look at a diamond, it's one with many different individual and unique facets. So true



Maybe we're a fractal of Source, a facet, a branch reflecting the whole, again and again.

[Unified Serenity]

Well according to some we are all like a web spider that just goes out and gathers data which when we die is downloaded to the hive mind of God, and we just go dormant again until some more information needs to be gathered. It matters not if you suffer or are blessed. It matters not if you are an axe murderer or a starving and beaten child, it's all about experiences. I personally don't buy it and if it were the case would understand the books about Lucifer going against that sort of monster hive mind / God and trying to put a stop to it, but in my path I happen to believe God loves us immensely and wants true fellowship with beings who understand love, mercy, pain and suffering and through it all choose unconditional love. God is making a way for each soul to decide their path and thus choosing his/her friends wisely.

[greybeard]

Me, Myself, You, Us..Together and Separate.

I've often felt alone, separate, apart from...is this my individuality?

Do I have free will? Choice? Now and after I die?

How does one grow and learn if our choices are made for us? Am I just traveling in an enormous circle trying to return to Source?

When I die do I ponder, think, review my past life experiences, then select the situation for my return?

I do not hazard to guess on any of these weighty questions...it is my desire to be apart of something larger than myself, to feel that love, that light of omnipresence, all knowing but for now I must satisfy myself with what I feel and sense in my heart as I journey through this life, sometimes sadness, sometimes great joy. Such is our duality, our struggle.

Thank you for being.

"God wrote the play
God produces the play
God Directs the play
God is the actor in the play
God is the audience of the play."

So wrote Ramesh Balsekar the Advaita sage.

So it depends what level you want to look at it from.
Lower levels ---- it seems you have choice.
Further up ---- choice is surrendered to the will of God.
Enlightened ----you just watch the play happening
God level --- you brought everything into being --- manifest from the formless into form.

You are both form and formless and neither.

Ramesh also said

"God gave you an ego let Him remove it"
also
"The biggest stumbling block to enlightenment is the belief that you are the doer"

[Lord Sidious]

We dont have it now-- its an illusion.
To qualify--- that is if you are thinking of an individual person or consciousness.
However--- you will always be aware ----as to whether or not that is really individual or unique I dont know.
Oneness would not see things differently or have various points of views--- the experiences of one being identical to the experiences of the seeming other.

Not saying im right but thats what seems to be so.

Chris

Where have you been beardonugget?
You should be around more often, you have much valued input.
For a nugget, that is. :p

[realitycorrodes]

The only thing I know is that I know nothing!

Socrates

Again, I am impressed that those who seem confident to give answers on such topics always carry the

presuppostion that they have direct personal experience - which subconsciously elevates them to the status of

a small mythical god like Jesus. lol

I especially enjoy those who refer to Jesus as if they have direct experience of Jesus - as if they have met and seen Jesus

after death and know for sure "individuality" is the go. lol This to me suggests fame by association. Got to love the games we play.

Most humans have no humility when it comes to the nature of their existence - and always succomb to the ego (based in fear) of

pretending to know FOR ABSOLUTE SURE!! - this is IMHO the result of a limited imagination. lol I saw a quote once that the only constant is change!

I have noticed that when this is pointed out, the same Ego (fear) makes those who confidently state such things

to become threated and as such defensive (sometimes irrationally so).

What to do? Nothing I guess.

So I personally have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA - and that's being honest to myself! Peace

When someone says they don't know - it's not giving advice - advice being something practical to help better the situation.

When we don't know - it's more like the complete opposite of advice - as no-one's situation is improved by such comments -

things merely remain EXACTLY THE SAME as they were before the comments were made....

There is a difference between a neutral comment and the concept of giving advice...I think but I am not entirely sure...in other words I could be wrong. wow

How wonderfully holographic!

[another bob]

We dont have it now-- its an illusion.

Correct.

For great overview, I recommend Nanci Danison's testimony.

http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?32613-Lawyer-Merges-with-Source-Returns-to-Report-Findings

Blessings!

[greybeard]

We dont have it now-- its an illusion.
To qualify--- that is if you are thinking of an individual person or consciousness.
However--- you will always be aware ----as to whether or not that is really individual or unique I dont know.
Oneness would not see things differently or have various points of views--- the experiences of one being identical to the experiences of the seeming other.

Not saying im right but thats what seems to be so.

Chris

Where have you been beardonugget?
You should be around more often, you have much valued input.
For a nugget, that is. :p

Thank you very much---- I know my place---Lol
I post now and then on the enlightenment thread but I am greatly heartened by the number of people on the forum, yourself included, who are contributing in depth spiritual wisdom.
The rate of the number of people understanding these deeper pure simple truths is accelerating rapidly.
I have great hopes for the future.

Best wishes to all (particularly the biggest brightest nugget of all-- namely you L-Sideous)

Chris

[Ineffable Hitchhiker]

Who told you we die?
Does the caterpillar die to become the butterfly?

THAT, Lord Sid, is absolutely brilliant! http://i40.tinypic.com/sdg0ox.gif



That said, I am with realitycorrodes, in that I have absolutely no idea.

I read in someone´s signature something which I tend to agree with :-

We dance round in a ring and suppose, while the secret sits in the middle and knows. :)

[Asyloth]

This is a great question that I've wondered myself, actually what I think is that we have the same individuality after the death of the body as when the body is alive, but I also think that we have the same wholeness when the body is alive as when it's dead.
Somehow this physical reality that we're experiencing is merely an illusion that doesn't really exists so we are the same today as we'll be when we'll leave this illusion.
For me it's like creating a virtual reality on a computer, playing it and getting so involved into it that you forget your real life and forget that you're in front of a computer playing it, when you "snap" out of it, nothing changed, you just came out of the illusion, see what I mean? (The computer would be the universe, the virtual reality would be our physical reality and the guy in front of the computer would be consciousness)

But it's really a good question, what if the universe was only one consciousness experiencing itself this way? Then we would loose what would be an illusory individuality. Great question.

[modwiz]

If I can..........I'll get back to you on this one. There may be a bit of a wait though. :nod:

Seriously, in the book Seth Speaks, this subject is covered in great depth and alacrity.

[Kindred]

Gracious thanks to all of you for your wonderful and beautiful perspectives.

Maybe we're a fractal of Source, a facet, a branch reflecting the whole, again and again.

EXACTLY!

In Unity and Peace

[another bob]

"It's important to recognize that just because we can't ever find a real "person" behind all our many masks and bodies and thoughts and qualities, doesn't mean we can't speak of people as having a personal history or a sense of authenticity which can be both warped and/or developed both humanly and spiritually. The Buddhist teaching on anatta, or "no-self", doesn't negate the human experience of being born and going through a self-ish process of growth, development, and finally death. Nor does it negate the experience of living in an after-life subtle body and having a greater view of earthly incarnation from a higher perspective. It merely says that there is no actual entity or thing that goes through this process. If we look for one, we are frustrated, and all we find are various patterns of karma, tendency, vasana, samskaras, etc., all without an actual entity or "ego" at its root. And none of that is exclusively personal, it is all completely interconnected with all our environments, bodies, worlds, seemingly other people, and so forth. One has to accept all of that as both "real" and at the same time utterly "unreal"."

~Conrad Goehausen

Blessings!

[Carmody]

Who told you we die?
Does the caterpillar die to become the butterfly?

The interesting thing about butterflies is that when they change, they are unique in the pantheon of creatures in this world. One cannot cal what a butterfly does as 'molting'.

There is a time, directly between being the two..where they are scientifically recognizable as nothing.

There is no way to identify any part of them that is anything, at all. Not just a problem differentiating whether those are caterpillar parts or butterfly parts, but exactly what I said. NOTHING.

Regarding the rest, yes, you retain your intellect, and it becomes much sharper. Much sharper.

You retain emotions, and a residual self presence that is tied to who you are now.

You are not emotional in the negative ways but subtle and soft ways of joy, and freedom. You feel most joyous to cast off the complexities of physicality, the distractions of the physical self. No aches, no pains, nothing. all gone. the clarity comes due to your intellect being a 'perfected' version what you are right now. No damage, no chemical and emotional body interference in the thought process. Time, as well as sight/sound/presence are different.

As the legends and wives tales say, you actually don't like to be around open water. there are reasons for this. It is heavy like a solid and you can get trapped in it, as spirits do in rock (stuck, actually) but it is fluid on the molecular level, so this complicates things.

Basically your brain hemispheres as separations... is ended, and their presence unifies back into oneness. It is a point or condition that is like being hypnotized to remove the barrier between the super conscious and the conscious state, and being awake and aware on a level that you had no idea existed. At the same time you 'know' more.

And much more. This is direct experience, not regurgitated lore.