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The
South of Heaven
Webpages
The
South of Heaven
Guide
to
&
Devachan
Devachan
is a state (not a place) that one attains after
death and before the next life. The concept is
often
mistaken for Heaven. But there’s no need be
disappointed, Devachan is still something to look
forward to.
To
get some idea of what to expect and to
help you deal with it, please read on
Devachan
How you get there
Actually
you are almost certain to get there anyway, it’s what you might have to go
through on the way that can be a problem and that can depend on the life you’ve
lived
First you have to die
(Sorry, there’s no free lunch)
Please
note that we are talking here about physical death and that you as an
individual entity will be carrying on. There will be some changes however.
You’ll feel the same at first except you won’t have a physical body which is a
drag if you’re desperate for a cigarette or a pint. Cravings will continue in
the part of you that survives death but do dissolve away after a while.
Death
involves the withdrawal of your life energy (Prana) or energy body, a review of
your life (free film show) and a brief period of unconsciousness. When you wake
up, you have to break free of the shell of your energy body in which your
non-physical principles are enclosed for the purpose of making the break with
the physical body.
The
review of your life is honest and objective and you can’t delude yourself about
the sort of person you’ve been. It is said that one sees one’s life from the
point of view of the effect it has had on the world.
Some Theosophists suggests that the review at the end of physical
life acts a video record and that when people
recall past life experiences either as a matter of course
or through regression techniques, they are actually
recalling an end of life review
You
then find yourself in the spirit realms (Kama Loka) which is sometimes referred
to as the Astral Plane and this has seven main levels from close to physical at
the lower end becoming progressively more spiritual as you move up.
This is how William Quan Judge describes the moment of death in
The
The breath leaves the body
and we say the man is dead, but that is only the beginning of death; it
proceeds on other planes. When the frame is cold and eyes closed, all the
forces of the body and mind rush through the brain, and by a series of pictures
the whole life just ended is imprinted indelibly on the inner man not only in a
general outline but down to the smallest detail of even the most minute and
fleeting impression. At this moment, though every indication leads the
physician to pronounce for death and though to all intents and purposes the
person is dead to this life, the real man is busy in the brain, and not until
his work there is ended is the person gone. When this solemn work is over the
astral body detaches itself from the physical, and, life energy having
departed, the remaining five principles are in the plane of
Judge uses the term Astral Body, which
refers to the emotional or desire principle in man and the operation of your desire
faculty, if very strong and combined with attachment to your previous life, can
try to hold you close to the physical plane.
Some people are held up by an inappropriate
level of attachment to the life they have just left
and the consequent inability to let go
You go
into a realm of your own creation and if you’ve lived a pretty mean life then
you can find your spirit realm a pretty mean unpleasant place as you will be
held on the lower levels of the Astral Plane. You can be stuck there for a long
time.
Spiritually
advanced people and all round good people will move through Kama Loka fairly
quickly and easily and will not notice the lower levels.
Attachment
to your last physical life can slow your progress as it is all baggage to get
rid off and which you no longer need. Excessive grief, resulting from an
inability to let go by those left behind, can also hold you back like a magnet
pulling on you although you will eventually progress beyond reach of this.
Prayers
for the dead are beneficial and if you have a religion, you can request some
before you go. All religions seem to have prayers for the dead which wish a
safe passage and therefore accept that the person has moved on.
The
lower levels of the spirit realms are somewhere
you want to zip through without noticing.
Some
people are inconveniently detained there
in a Hell of their own making.
Kama Loka (Can be Hell, but not eternal)
For
people who have lived evil lives, Kama Loka is probably the closest thing that Theosophy has to the concept
of hell. It can last a long time but not forever.
As you
go through Kama
Loka you will lose all your earthly characteristics and attachments as the
personality is dissolved. An essence of experience is distilled from the life
just lived and the individual experiences another life review. You now
experience a second death as you go into Devachan
Devachan
Now You’re Here
Heaven
is reported to be a place where lots of people go whereas with Devachan, you
get your own but you won’t be lonely.
Devachan
is really a subjective state but a great state to be in. The individual is
surrounded by loved ones in ideal circumstances and positive aspirations of the
past life are fulfilled.
You
might think this is Heaven and it’s the closest thing available to the average
punter. There are higher possibilities when you evolve beyond the need to live
more lives and although that will come, it takes some doing.
To make
the most of your time here, you will need to have worked on some positive
aspirations when you were alive to give yourself something to develop now.
Sorry,
It’s Not Forever
Unfortunately
Devachan can’t last. You have to leave and be born into another incarnation.
There is some choice about your new life based on what you need to learn but
you can’t be too choosy and have to take the most appropriate of what is
available.
In Theosophy,
the cycle of death and rebirth forms an integral part of both personal
evolution and that of mankind.
__________________
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Articles on Devachan by some
of the Big Names in Theosophy
Definition of Devachan given in
H P Blavatsky’s Theosophical Glossary
Echoes from the Orient
William Quan Judge
Chapter 19
Other
Relevant Links
Creating your own After-Death State
H P Blavatsky on shortening the period between lives
Spiritual Progress in Devachan
The state of Devachan offers considerable possibilities
for spiritual progress but you need to think
about this before you get there.
H P Blavatsky gives some pointers
From The Key to Theosophy by H P Blavatsky
Is the Desire to Live Selfish?
Find out more about
Theosophy
with these links
links
The
Cardiff Theosophical Society Website
The National Wales Theosophy Website
Theosophy Cardiff’s Instant Guide to Theosophy
Theosophy Cardiff’s Gallery of Great Theosophists
Dave’s Streetwise Theosophy Boards
The Theosophy Website that welcomes
absolute beginners
Independent Theosophy Blog
If you run a Theosophy Group
you
can use this as an introductory handout.
One liners and quick explanations
About aspects of Theosophy
The
Voice of the Silence Website
An Independent Theosophical Republic
Links to Free Online Theosophy
Study Resources; Courses,
Writings,
The main criteria
for the inclusion of
links on this site is
that they have some
relationship (however
tenuous) to Theosophy
and are lightweight,
amusing or entertaining.
Topics include
Quantum Theory and Socks,
Dick
Dastardly and Legendary Blues Singers.
An
entertaining introduction to Theosophy
This is for
everybody not just people in Wales
Wolfie keeping up to date with the latest changes in Welsh
Theosophy
Theosophical
Movement in Wales
as it separates
into independent groups
High
Drama & Worldwide Confusion
as Theosophy Cardiff
Separates from the
Welsh
Regional Association (formed 1993)
It’s all “water
under the bridge” but everything you do
makes an imprint on
the Space-Time Continuum.
A selection of
articles on Reincarnation
Provided in
response to the large number
of enquiries we
receive on this subject
No
Aardvarks were harmed in the
Annotated Edition
Published 1885
Preface to the Annotated Edition Preface to the Original Edition
Esoteric Teachers The Constitution
of Man The Planetary Chain
The World Periods Devachan Kama
Loca
The Human Tide-Wave The Progress of Humanity
Buddha Nirvana The
Universe The
Doctrine Reviewed
Within the British Isles, the
Adyar Theosophical Society
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The Spiritual Home of Urban Theosophy
The Earth Base for Evolutionary Theosophy
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A B C D EFG H IJ KL M N OP QR S T UV WXYZ
Complete Theosophical Glossary
in Plain Text Format
1.22MB
___________________________
What Theosophy Is From the Absolute to Man
The Formation of a Solar System The Evolution of Life
The Constitution of Man After Death Reincarnation
The Purpose of Life The Planetary Chains
The Result of Theosophical Study
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Preface to the American Edition Introduction
Occultism and its Adepts The Theosophical Society
First Occult Experiences Teachings of Occult Philosophy
Later Occult Phenomena Appendix
______________________________
Intoduction The Dense Physical Body The Etheric Double
Prana, The Life The Desire Body Manas, The Thinker, or Mind
The Quaternary, Or Four Lower Principles
Subtle Forms of The Fourth and Fifth Principle
The Higher Manas Âtma – Buddhi, The Spirit Manas in Activity
The Monad in Evolution Lines of Proof for
an Untrained Enquirer
___________________________
Preface
Theosophy and the Masters General Principles
The Earth Chain Body and Astral Body Kama – Desire
Manas Of
Reincarnation Reincarnation Continued
Karma Kama Loka
Devachan
Cycles
Arguments Supporting Reincarnation
Differentiation Of Species Missing Links
Psychic Laws, Forces, and Phenomena
Psychic Phenomena and Spiritualism
________________________________
Quick Explanations with Links to More
Detailed Info
What is Theosophy ? Theosophy Defined (More Detail)
Three Fundamental Propositions Key Concepts of Theosophy
Cosmogenesis
Anthropogenesis
Root Races
Karma
Ascended Masters After Death States
Reincarnation
The Seven Principles of Man Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
Colonel Henry Steel Olcott William Quan Judge
The Start of the Theosophical Society Theosophical Society Presidents
History of the Theosophical Society Glossaries of Theosophical Terms
History of the Theosophical Society in Wales
The Three Objectives of the Theosophical Society
Explanation of the Theosophical Society Emblem
Karma Fundamental Principles Laws: Natural and Man-Made The Law of Laws
The Eternal Now
Succession
Causation The Laws of Nature A Lesson of The Law
Karma Does Not Crush Apply This Law
Man in The Three Worlds Understand The Truth
Man and His Surroundings The Three Fates The Pair of Triplets Thought, The Builder
Practical Meditation Will and Desire
The Mastery of Desire Two Other Points
The Third Thread Perfect Justice
Our Environment
Our Kith and Kin Our Nation
The Light for a Good Man Knowledge of Law The Opposing Schools
The More Modern View Self-Examination Out of the Past
Old Friendships
We Grow By Giving Collective Karma Family Karma
National Karma
India’s Karma
National Disasters
We can learn something from these guys
(The universe exists for a while and then sort of
doesn’t)
Outline of the Creation Process
There is no Dead Matter in the Universe
The Divine Spark in Everything
The 10 rungs on the Ladder of Life
The Sevenfold Constitution of Man
Yes, we all operate at 7 levels
(or
shouldn’t be)
(You do take some things with you but sadly not your
money)
(The Energy Driving the Universe)
We haven’t always looked like this
Try these if you are looking
for a
local Theosophy Group or
Centre
UK Listing of Theosophical Groups
Results & Voting Figures for the
General pages
about Wales, Welsh History
and The History of
Theosophy in Wales
Wales is a
Principality within the United Kingdom and has an eastern
border with England. The
land area is just over 8,000 square miles.
Snowdon in North Wales is
the highest mountain at 3,650 feet.
The coastline is
almost 750 miles long. The population of Wales
as at the 2001 census is 2,946,200.