In many ways, passing from this physical world of mortal life into the astral world beyond is like that - except the adventure of life and death takes us through the "gorge" of the spine, the astral passageway in the spiritual eye, and out into the next dimension.

Most people float through life seemingly unaware that they will ever die. The subject is taboo; no one wants to think about it. But Paramahansa Yogananda said the primary pain involved in death is a psychological pain, caused by attachment. As the scriptures in India say, "Do not fear death; fear attachment."

Through we tend to cling tenaciously to our possessions and relationships and the rest of our earthly existence, death itself is not something to be feared. On the contrary, it is very beautiful. Many people who are on the verge of passing from this life to the next have a glimpse of the glorious astral world that we enter after death. Perhaps they see a radiant "being of light" that comes to reassure them. Or perhaps they see loved ones who have gone before, waiting smilingly to greet them.

So common are such experiences that the free literature handed out by the Hospice Movement of the United States, addressing people who are helping their relatives to die peacefully, says this: "[Your loved one] may speak or claim to have spoken to persons who have already died, or to see or have seen places not presently accessible or visible to you. This does not indicate a hallucination or a drug reaction. The person is beginning to detach from this life, and is being prepared for the transition so it will not be frightening. Do not contradict, explain away, belittle, or argue about what the person claims to have seen or heard. Just because you cannot see or hear it does not mean it is not real to your loved one. Affirm his or her experience. They are normal and common. If they frighten your loved one, explain that they are normal occurrences."

What will you experience when it is time for you to go? Based on what Paramahansa Yogananda has described, and on many

accounts of people who have had near-death experiences, we can compose a scenario of what you might expect:

The consciousness and life force begin to withdraw from the body into the spine. One by one the five senses stop operating; the first to go is the sense of touch, which means that any physical pain you may have been feeling vanishes. Then as the life force moves up the spine toward its exit point, the astral-body forces that empower the senses of smell, taste, and sight withdraw; and last of all, the hearing goes. Finally you breathe your last; there is a slight sense of suffocation as the lungs shut down. The discomfort is very brief, however; then the eyes lift upward toward the

Christ Center, and your sense of confinement in the fleshly cage falls away.

But before you complete your transition to the astral world, there is a stop to be made along the way. And that is for the life review, when all the salient events of your life pass before your inward vision. Many of the things you gave a lot of time and effort to are not necessarily what stand out in this life review. Rather, it turns out the so-called "little things" are what really matter: How much have you loved others? Were you caring? Were your actions generous and kind? How much have you cultivated love for God? These appear as most significant in retrospect, because they are the most vital issues to God and to the soul. However, this review is not harsh or critical; no one is judging you except yourself. You feel no fear; only a tremendous peace and comfort. And as the review is completed, there is a loving sense of justice - an acceptance by your soul of what it needs for its next step in unfoldment.

Now you are really on your way. You are aware of racing through a long, dimly lit tunnel, as the life force and consciousness soar out of the body through the subtle center in the medulla oblongata. Suddenly, you emerge into a radiant, ethereal light. You are in the pure, eternal spring of the astral world. You see that your physical body is gone. You experience a wonderful sense of relief and freedom. You have a weightless body of light and energy. All around you is a vast expanse of wondrous, vibrant space - seen not through physical eyes, but through the newly opened spiritual eye in the forehead, which perceives the finer realms.

You find yourself surrounded by loved ones whom you instantly recognize from relationships you have had for a long, long time. You begin to communicate with this expanded family, your thoughts and feelings being conveyed instantly through intuition; you never dreamed that such intimacy was possible. Then you marvel: "This is death? But I am alive! I have my consciousness and feelings. I have relationships and loved ones. I'm aware of a vast reservoir of experience.? You realize that you are still you, that there is no death, only a transition from life to greater life.

The wonderful truth about the great adventure of life and death is this: We don't have to wait for death to discover that we are immortal, divine beings. Speaking of the power of the spiritual techniques of yoga meditation, Paramahansa Yogananda said: "When you change the center of consciousness, perception, and feeling from the body and mind to the soul - your true immortal transcendental self - you will have the yogi's mastery over life and victory over death."

On September 29-October 1, Brother Anilananda, a longtime monk and disciple from the Self-Realization Fellowship Order founded by Paramahansa Yogananda, will present a public lecture series in Chicago on Yogananda?s universal teachings. For further information about the series, please call 773/638-6928.