Afterlife By John Carter

Is there an afterlife?
To answer this, we must ask ourselves, is there life?
Is existence as we perceive it simply an illusion we perpetuate, which is in turn perpetuated upon us? Is the afterlife, then, simply another manifestation of consciousness?
Some believe that there are destinations waiting for each person, or the consciousness thereof, in the afterlife; Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, Cleveland, etcetera. If we truly become bodiless manifestations of ourselves after death, what use would we have for such a place? A bodiless manifestation takes up very little space- none, in fact. Perhaps the concept of Heaven and Hell are simply another ruse the consciousness employs on itself to direct its person to a 'better' life, as determined by the rest of society. Or maybe the fact that a 'soul' does not exist in the physical realm is exactly what makes Heaven and Hell so infinite to us, and therefore believable.
Some believe that the answer to this question lies outside our realm, in the vastness of space. There are those who believe that if there is life on other planets, it will either prove or disprove the existence of God, which may validate their own existence. Others believe that the answer can be found through meditation and inner reflection, that the very concept of life can be deciphered in our own minds, hearts, and souls.
Maybe the only thing blocking us from the true realization of our potential as a species is our preoccupation with our mortality, the very distinctions we make- life, death, earth, space, reality, possibility... It's all part of the same illusion. The illusion we play on ourselves.

Look in the mirror. Did you ever imagine you were such a magician?
posted by 123454321 at 7:45 PM