Swami Sivananda - What Becomes of the Soul After Death, Wisdom Ancient
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WHAT BECOMES OF THE SOUL AFTER DEATH
By
SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA
Sri Swami Sivananda
Founder of
The Divine Life Society
SERVE, LOVE, GIVE,
PURIFY, MEDITATE,
REALIZE
So Says
Sri Swami Sivananda
A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY PUBLICATION
Thirteenth Edition:
1997
(8,000 Copies)
World Wide Web (WWW) Edition: 1999
This WWW reprint is for free distribution
© The Divine Life Trust Society
ISBN 81-7052-011-8
Published By
THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY
P.O. S
HIVANANDANAGAR
—
249 192
Distt. Tehri-Garhwal, Uttar Pradesh,
Himalayas, India.
OM
DEDICATED
TO
LORD YAMA, MARKANDEYA, NACHIKETAS,
SAVITRI AND NANDI, THE ETERNAL
ATTENDANT OF LORD SIVA, WHO HAVE
ALL UNRAVELLED THE MYSTERIES
OF THE LIFE BEYOND DEATH
OM
5th December, 1957
Children of Immortality!
There is a living, unchanging, eternal Consciousness that underlies all names and forms.
That is God or Brahman.
God is the end of all actions. He is the end of all Sadhanas, Yoga practices. Seek Him.
Realise Him. Only then can you be free and perfect. Look upon the world as a mirage. Lead a life of
selfless service, renunciation, dispassion, prayer and meditation. You will soon attain
God-realisation.
May God bless you. Om Tat Sat.
Thy own Atman,
Sivananda
PUBLISHERS’ NOTE
The problem of life beyond death has ever been a most fascinating one from time
immemorial. Man has always been intrigued by the question, “What becomes of the Soul after
Death?” The present volume, as the title suggests, treats in detail of the subject and furnishes an
answer to the agelong question.
In recent times there has been much speculation on this problem. This had led to a lot of
research work too. The fact of continuity of consciousness after physical death has come to be
accepted as such by most of the modern thinkers, latest of whom, the famous scientist, Dr. J.B.
Rhine, has expressed himself in favour of such belief. Many books have been written on this
subject, but hitherto most of the works deal mainly with the astral or other spirit world. It has mostly
been the study of the conditions in the Pretaloka which is merely one among the numerous
supramundane planes beyond the grave. Spiritism, seance and the testimony of recognised
mediums have for most part featured prominently in all such works.
This present book by Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj is a departure from the usual line in that it
is based, to a great extent, upon authoritative scriptural texts and upon knowledge derived through
reasoning, deep reflection and personal meditation. It throws a flood of light upon all aspects of
post-mortem existence not adequately dealt with in other works. The book also gives valuable
information about the different beliefs on this subject, of the various races and religions.
The portions giving the inner meaning and esoteric significance of the different practices
and customs in connection with the dead form a most informative one. The appendix and the stories
in the end and the very interesting poems in the beginning are most thought-provoking and highly
inspiring.
iii
We feel that the perusal of the present work will confirm man’s belief that ‘death is not the
end of life’, that his actions here unfailingly react upon him in the ‘after state’ too and will stimulate
his
Vichara
or power of investigation. We have no doubt that the reader will be helped to make a
proper evaluation of the real worth of this physical existence upon the earth plane in the light of this
new knowledge of the supracorporeal states of being.
—THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY
INTRODUCTION
Paraloka-Vidya
or the science about the departed souls and their planes of living is a subject
of absorbing interest. It is a Mysterious Science which contains many secrets or hidden wonders. It
has intimate connection with Panchagni-Vidya or the science of transmigration propounded in the
Chhandogya Upanishad. The doctrine of reincarnation or metempsychosis, transmigration of the
soul and spiritualism come under the Paraloka-Vidya. Everybody is curious and anxious to know
this science.
Great scientists, the inventors of many marvellous things, mighty Emperors who have done
stupendous works, inspired poets, wonderful artists, many Brahmins, Rishis, Yogins have come
and gone. You are all extremely anxious to know what has become to them. Do they still exist?
What is there at the other side of death? Have they become non-existent or have they dwindled into
an airy nothing? Such questions do arise spontaneously in the hearts of all. The same question arises
today as it arose thousands of years ago. No one can stop it, because it is inseparably connected with
our nature.
Death is a subject which is of the deepest interest to everyone. One day or other all must die.
The terror of death overshadows the lives of all human beings. It brings considerably unnecessary
sorrow, suffering and anxiety to the survivors who are anxious to know about the fate of the
departed souls.
In the West also this question has aroused a great deal of interest and attention in certain
scientific circles. Much investigation has been made. But the researches have, however, been
confined more or less to find out whether or not the individuality survives and persists after the
dissolution of the physical body. This has been proved in the affirmative by actual communication
with the spirit world through science, mediumship etc.
A knowledge of this science will rob death of all its terror and sorrow and enable you to see
it in the proper light and to understand its place in the scheme of your evolution. It will certainly
goad you to find out suitable methods to conquer death and attain immortality. It will forcibly urge
you to take to the study of Brahma-Vidya in right earnest and find out the true Master or illumined
sage who can put you in the right path of Truth and explain to you the mysteries of
Kaivalya
or
Brahma-Jnana.
iv
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