On how the soul awakens in the astral plane after dying on the physical
plane, William Atkinson related the following in his book "Life beyond
death":
« There
is a great difference in the time required for the development in soul-slumber
by different souls. Some dwell in this state for a very short time, while souls
of a higher degree of attainment require a much longer time in the soul-slumber
state. Here, too, we find a remarkable correspondence with the phenomenon of
gestation and birth on the material plane, which should be considered by the
student.
For instance, in the
case of these animals whose natural life period is short, we find, as a rule,
that their period of gestation in the womb is correspondingly short; on the
other hand, animals of a natural long life spend a much longer period in the
womb before birth. Thus, the elephant has twenty or twenty-one months in the
womb; man, nine months; rabbits, one month; guinea-pigs, three weeks; the
natural life of each bearing a relation to the period of gestation. In the same
way, the gestation period on the Astral Plane — the period of the soul-slumber
is found to vary in proportion to the time the awakened soul is to pass on the
Astral Plane.
An apparent exception
to this rule is found in the case of persons of highly advanced spiritual power
and knowledge, in which the soul is able, by its knowledge and power, to
largely control the natural processes instead of being under their general
control.
The difference in the
period of soul-slumber in varying cases, above noted, arises from the fact that
the soul during its slumber period discards the lower portions of its mental
nature (as well as its Astral body) and awakens only when it has reached the
highest state of development possible for it, when it is able to pass on to the
particular plane or sub-plane for which its degree of development calls.
A soul of low
development has very little to “shed” in this way, and soon awakens on a low
plane. A soul of higher development, on the contrary, must shed and discard
sheath after sheath of the lower mental and animal nature, before it can awaken
on the plane of its highest attainment. When we say “shed” or discard, we mean
rather prepare to shed or discard, for the actual process of discarding or
shedding these lower fragments of personality occurs immediately after the first
stage of the awakening, as we shall see in the next paragraph.
The soul feeling the
impulses of reawakened life, stirs itself slowly and languidly, as one does in
awakening from a sound slumber in earth-life. Then, like the butterfly throwing
aside the chrysalis shell, it slips away from the Astral body, and in rapid
succession unconsciously discards the lower principles of its nature. This
occupies but a short time, and occurs while the soul is slowly regaining
consciousness. At the moment of the actual awakening, the soul is free from all
these worn out shells and encumbrances, and opens its eyes upon the scenes of
its new activities and existence in the Astral World.
Each soul is destined
to dwell on the plane of the highest and best in itself, after the dross of the
lower elements has been discarded. It awakens on the plane in which the highest
and best in itself is given a chance to develop and expand. The soul may, and
often does, make great progress on the Astral Plane, and during its stay there,
may discard more of its lower nature as it passes to higher and still higher
planes or sub-planes.
It is a beautiful
fact this of the soul dwelling on the plane of its highest and best. The
student immediately recognizes that this answers the longing of the soul; and
the aspiration of the heart.
There is often
something within individuals which is much higher and better than their
everyday life and actions would seem to indicate. Material environment and
circumstances tend to retard and prevent the expression of the best in us, in
many cases. Therefore, it is pleasant to know that on “the other side” the soul
is relieved of all that tends to hold it back and drag it down, and is rendered
free to express and develop those qualities and characteristics which represent
the best and truest that is in it.
This fact accords not
only with the sense of justice and equity; not only with the longings and
cravings of the imprisoned soul, but also with the facts and principles of
evolution, which ever attracts upward and onward, toward some far off goal of
attainment and perfection.
If passing on the
plane of its future activities, the soul has discarded its Astral body, that
strange counterpart of the physical body is discarded still further back.
Henceforth the soul does not wear the form and shape of the human being, but is
something of a far higher order of being to which the terms “shape” and “form”
do not apply. Our physical bodies (and their Astral counterparts) are the
result of physical evolution, and are but the bodies of developed animals.
The soul on the
higher planes has no need of arms and legs, hands and feet, — it dwells where
these instruments of a lower form of expression are not needed. It is a being
transcending the limitations of physical life. The discarded mental principles
soon are resolved into their original elements (but the discarded Astral body
becomes what is known as an “Astral shell,” and, forsaken by its former
occupant it sinks, by what may be called astral gravitation, to the lowest-planes
of the Astral, there to slowly disintegrate.
The lower planes of
the Astral are filled with these discarded Astral shells, floating about in the
Astral atmosphere. They are not pleasant things to see, and happily the soul on
the other side does not witness them, for it dwells on a plane far above their
region. But persons in earth-life who dapple in things physical, before they
understand the first principles of psychic science, often find themselves on
the lower planes of the Astral Plane and consequently witness some very
unpleasant sights in this region, as might be expected.
The plane upon which
the soul awakens is not a place, you remember, but a state or condition of
existence — a degree in the scale of the vibratory energy of the spiritual
world. As we have said, each soul awakens on the plane representing its highest
and best, upon which plane it dwells during its stay on the Astral Plane,
excepting where it develops itself and moves on to a still higher plane, or,
when, as alas! Sometimes happens, it
longs for the fleshpots of Egypt and is attracted by memories of lower
principles and descends to a lower plane where it finds more congenial company
and surroundings.
There is naturally a
great difference between the various planes and sub-planes of the Astral Plane.
Some are very little removed from the low scenes of earth-life, while others
express the highest conceptions of the human soul. And each attracts to itself
those who are fitted to dwell in its region — those whose best and highest
correspond with the new environment.
But the highest and
best of the soul of low development is but very little above the everyday
thoughts and actions of the same soul in the body. Persons of low spiritual
development must needs go through many periods of purification and development
before they can escape the lure and attraction of the material world. There are
souls so earth-bound —so hypnotized by the low pleasures of earth-life — that
on “the other side” they even refuse to forsake their Astral shells, and actually
strive to abide in the worn-out and disintegrating shells while they last, and
maintain a rapport condition with the scenes and associates of the former life.
Others find
themselves on planes in which there is a conflict between the upward attraction
of the higher things of spiritual life and the lower things of the material
world, and they live a more or less unbalanced life in the Astral, at least for
a time, until one attraction proves the stronger and they rise and fall in the
spiritual scale, in accordance therewith. Others still find themselves on a
plane in which there is but little or no attraction from the material world,
and to them the Astral Life is lived out in advancement, development, and a
fuller expression of the highest and best within them.
The awakening of the
soul is akin to a new birth — an entrance into a new world of experience. The
soul manifests no fear of its new surroundings, but is full of activity in the
direction of expression and manifestation of its new powers. There is much to
occupy the soul, as we shall see as we proceed. It is not lonely or lonesome,
for it has the companionship of those in harmony and sympathy with itself, and
is free from the inharmony and friction of association with those of different
natures.
It finds opportunity
for the fullest expression of its activities and desires, and, particularly on
the higher planes, finds life much happier than on the material plane. Only the
souls of the lowest development those poor earth-bound creatures — are unhappy,
for they are removed from the only thing which gives them pleasure, the things
of earth. And even in their cases there is at least something like happiness at
times.
After the soul-slumber,
the soul awakens into life not into a region of Death. Like the butterfly, it
spreads its wings and enjoys its new state of existence, and does not mourn the
loss of the chrysalis form and life. In the succeeding chapters you will see
the nature and incidents of this new life, in further detail. »
(Chapter 7)
OBSERVATION
Here, I realize that
William Atkinson read the explanation that Master Kuthumi gave about what
happens after death, and he understood that the human after to die, he falls
into a deep sleep, but instead he did not understand that the vast majority of
people do not wake up in the astral, but remain asleep for practically their
entire post-mortem journey until they are reincarnated again on Earth.
And Atkinson also did
not understand that the human has a specific body for each plane of existence,
so it does not make sense that humans when they wake up in the astral plane,
get rid of their astral body, because then with what are they going to be able
to interact with this plane of existence?
It would be the equivalent of saying that when humans are born on Earth,
the first thing that happens is that they get rid of their physical body.
And also Atkinson
confuses the astral body with the desire body, which is the body that transforms
into an "astral shell" when the soul ascends to Devachan. And much of
what Atkinson said about the souls who are in the astral plane is false.
Therefore his
explanation is full of errors and lies.
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