WORKBOOK

Related reading – Chapter 8 of NG

8. Is life eternal? What does that mean? God eternal? How does knowing God is eternal make death impossible.

9. Does accepting death into our minds make it real? When God created us did he intend us to die? If not, did He change His mind? If not, why does nearly everyone die? Is there a time to be born and a time to die?

10. What is different when you die? What is the same?

11. Why is life in a body precious if the body is not real? Is there anything wrong with striving to improve the body?   Eating healthy food? Focusing on longevity?

12. What is reincarnation? What is ego's purpose for reincarnation? For what purpose can Spirit use reincarnation? Do you believe in it? Why or why not?

13. What is karma? How is karma real? Is it of God or of ego?

14. How do you break the cycle of birth and death? What happens when you awaken?

15. What does it mean to accept no compromise where death plays a part? Is a suicide bomber accepting no compromise? Is one who is willing to die for the salvation of the world accepting a compromise with death? What is the difference between those who die for their belief while killing others and those who die for a noble cause? What is a noble cause? Is country patriotism?

16. How do we compromise? How do we accept no compromise?

17. How would it feel if you could take death away from everything?

18. What does it mean to be alive? What does it mean to be the living dead? What prevents us from feeling the pain of others?

19. Was Jesus death God's will? What was its message? What did he mean when he said he was willing to lay down his life for his disciples? Was he referring to his crucifixion?

20. Is killing ever justified? Could you justify killing Hitler, knowing that in so doing you would be saving millions? Could you justify not killing Hitler, even if it would mean that millions would be killed?

21. Can a victimizer victimize when there are no victims? How do we remove victim consciousness?

22. W hat is euthanasia? Who is to say what is incurable? When is it appropriate? When not? What is a terminal illness?

23. What are your thoughts on abortion?

24. Is it ever appropriate to commit suicide? What happens to those who take their own lives? Is death an escape from eternal life?

25. When you change your mind about who you are, can you still die? Is changing your mind merely an intellectual exercise?

26. What is life? What is death?

27. What is the problem with seeing heaven as attainable only after death?

28. Summarize the teachings regarding life and death and how they apply to your daily life.

29. What are the pitfalls to guard against?

Answers – Is death inevitable? NO

1. If life is eternal, is death real? No, death is an idea that alliance with ego causes us to experience. As mind and soul we live forever, and only our bodies which are not real die. Is death inevitable? No. Can death be overcome? Yes, through love for God and fellowman and by facing it calmly rather than denying it, ignoring it or accepting it as inevitable.
2. Is death a choice? Yes. If death is a choice, how does knowing that you are responsible for your own death feel to you? It puts me in a position of power and control. What other options are available? Ascension, transfigure the body into a light body, lay the body gently down when it no longer serves a purpose like any worn out garment, make a conscious decision to leave the body at will like the yogis in the Himalayas frequently do, invite God to take you home in His chariot… Its all possible when we take back our power and know that there are other possibilities beside death through unwanted circumstances like illness or accidents.
3. What is behind the reverence for death that seems so prevalent in so many cultures? Misidentification with the body. Reverence comes with body consciousness, thinking death real, thinking death more powerful than God. Is death real? No. Can you raise the dead? Yes, because we made death, therefore we have the power to undo it when we so choose and when we know that we have the capacity. I personally witnessed Sai Baba raising a man from the dead, and heard of a number of accounts of the same. A friend in Germany went into the white light after becoming unconscious due to poisoning. She remembered from reading the Book of Brighu ( a reading that foretells the future like astrology only from palm leaves) that she was slated to die at age 82, so she thought, “Oh, I must be dead.” Next thing she knew, she found herself back in her body. A month later her neighbor came to visit and said, “In my dream you died and a little man in an orange robe came and laid His body on top of yours and breathed life back into you.” She knew that must have been Sai Baba.
4. Who is responsible for your imminent demise? I am. God? No, God only wills eternal life for all His beloved, precious children. Forces outside of you? There is no force outside of me more powerful than me, therefore I am responsible for both my life's experiences and my death.
5. Do you ever think about death? I look at death curiously, fearlessly and see what a lie we all bought into in believing death real. What statement is death making? Nothing lives forever. Nothing is eternal. Ultimately death proclaims that God is dead. What is the message being conveyed through death? If death is possible for us, then its also possible for God, and so there is no God. Behind that of course is ego's assertion that only ego is real.
6. How is fear of death its attraction? In fearing death, we make it real and what we believe to be real we attract to ourselves. You won't fear what is not real. How is death an idea of separation? Death takes away the ones we love and thereby separates us from them, as long as we believe bodies real. Can death make separation real? Only bodies die, therefore death cannot separate you from your loved ones, for they, like you are eternal. I feel my mother's presence constantly, more now than when she was alive.
7. Are you immortal? Yes. How do you reconcile immortality with death? Only the body dies. I am not my body. When it has outlived its usefulness, I will lay it gently down and celebrate my release from this mortal coil. What never dies? Mind and Spirit are eternal. Truth, nobility, integrity live on even after the body dies. Jesus died two thousand years ago, but his message lives on today. What is the way to immortality? The removal of immorality. When we take away that which is not who we are, namely impure behavior, we take away guilt, and free of guilt we are free of our past and thereby free of karma and of the cycle of birth and death.
8. Is life eternal? Yes. What does that mean? When God created us, He created us as eternal beings of light. We can never grow dim, or fade away, for that is impossible. We can try to annihilate ourselves, but we will never succeed. We just keep recycling until we get it right. Is God eternal? Yes. How does knowing God is eternal make death impossible? If God is eternal, then everything that God creates is eternal, and death makes no sense for anyone or anything.
9. Does accepting death into our minds make it real? No. When God created us did He intend us to die? No. If not, did He change His mind? No. If not, why does nearly everyone die? Because we all believed the unreal to be real and the real to be unreal. We all listened to ego's verdict that we are guilty and worthy of death. We are free when we choose to be free. When we so choose we can overcome death for ourselves and others too. We were willing to accept death to deny our Father. We came to die, thus we see signs of death everywhere. Is there a time to be born and a time to die? We are born due to unfulfilled desires from previous lives, and so we live only to die with more unfulfilled desires, until we pause to see if this running after useless worldly desires is really what we want for ourselves. Once we change our minds about our purpose, we break the cycle of birth and death.
10. What is different when you die? Nothing really. We will have only discarded a body. We cannot lose what is real. We can never lose our mind or our soul. Nothing real can be threatened – death is a joke. What is the same? We always take our minds with us where ever we go. When we leave our body, we take our mind in whatever state of disrepair we were functioning at while embodied, so it is important to change our minds about who we are and become enlightened to the truth. We can only do that while inhabiting a body, as that is where our ego identity is undone. We will have to come back into a body if we don't succeed with the body that we inhabit now so we must see the preciousness of life and use each moment to awaken   from the dream. Only when our body, our ego and our dreams are gone, will we know that we last forever.
11. Why is life in a body precious if the body is not real? Because the body is a temple for the divine and must be used for a sacred purpose in order to free ourselves from the cycle of birth and death. We get to keep coming back till we get it right. Is there anything wrong with striving to improve the body? If our objective is our body's betterment, we are making the unreal real. If our objective is to keep it functioning maximally for a sacred purpose, we are in right relationship with our bodies. Eating healthy food? We should eat healthy food so that we feel capable of fulfilling our heavenly function. Focusing on longevity? Our focus should be on quality of life, not quantity, otherwise we confuse our existence in a body as real. The body has nothing to do with longevity as God created us eternal and that means forever.
12. What is reincarnation? Shedding one body to don another, relative truth since if it happens, it happens to everyone until they become enlightened, but not ultimate truth as it was never God's intention for us when He created us. What is ego's purpose for reincarnation? To keep us bound to time and space where it can live at our expense, to assuage guilt, to satisfy unfulfilled desires, to balance karmic debts. For what purpose can Spirit use reincarnation? It can motivate us to wake up if we don't want to keep recycling, repeating the same mistakes endlessly, feeling guilty for no reason, suffering self-inflicted punishment again and again, being mesmerized by useless worldly glamour… Is reincarnation of God or of ego? It is of ego though it can be used by God. Reincarnation has to do with bodies and God only creates creations of light. Do you believe in it? I believe reincarnation to be what happens when we die if we have not awakened. Why or why not? It makes sense in terms of some of the inexplicable things that happen to seeming innocents and the injustice that some seem to get away with. We do not know their past or future lives. We only see a very small portion of the whole trajectory.   This does not mean that if someone is suffering it is because they did something wrong in the past for which they are getting what they deserve. Though we all make mistakes, we all deserve the best because of who we are. It is we who punish ourselves needlessly for crimes we never committed. When I was raped I was told I must have done something in a past life for which I was now suffering the consequences. This led to feeling guilty for a past that I didn't remember. Ego used my rape to make me feel guilty even now, until I asserted, “I'm innocent no matter what I may have done in the past. I'm sorry if I made a mistake and I'm determined to live a life of purity and holiness now.” That's all that any of us need do to be free of our past, no matter what we may have done.
13. What is karma? Reaping the results for actions of the past. How is karma real? It is real as long as we believe that our actions can produce real results and can bind us and make us guilty. It is a relative truth, based on the idea, as you sow - so shall you reap. It is sustained by our belief that we are our bodies. Is it of God or of ego? It is ego's device for keeping us locked in cause and consequence, always tempting us toward actions for which we are sure to feel guilty. God can efface all our karma when we are willing to turn over a new leaf and be the perfection He created us to be.
14. How do you break the cycle of birth and death? By seeing through ego's cleverness, waking up to who we are, leading a life of purity and holiness, loving God and fellow man, making a shift from body consciousness to God consciousness…What happens when you awaken? All you past is wiped away instantly, you know who you are, you will never be born again, you will know death to be a joke, you will be egoless, you know you will live forever, you will know that to be everyone's glorious truth…
15. What does it mean to accept no compromise where death plays a part? It means to live life fearlessly, willing to die for the sake of the salvation of the world, unwilling to see death as a final solution, unwilling to let fear of death get in the way of truth, love, integrity… Is a suicide bomber accepting no compromise? No, he is accepting a compromise with death, because he is using his body to attack other bodies, and thereby he makes bodies real and mistakenly thinks his hatred is righteous. Though he has overcome fear of death, he lacks love as his purpose and only love can be a real purpose. He suffers from a lack of moral clarity. Is one who is willing to die for the salvation of the world accepting a compromise with death? No, he is fearless and knows that his love for humanity is greater than life itself. What is the difference between those who die for their belief while killing others and those who die for a noble or worthy cause? Those who kill themselves and others are not for God, but rather are against God. Those who are willing to die for a worthy cause are great heroes and an inspiration to the world of what love truly looks like. What is a noble cause? A willingness to risk life to save life, to end others suffering, to end injustice, violence, war... Is country patriotism? No, war and conflict are symptoms of alliance with ego. We are all brothers and sisters and there is always a non-violent solution to every problem when we are willing to trust God, face our problems and look for true solutions through negotiations... It is good to love your country, but it is better to live for freedom and to fight for it with all non-violent means, than to resort to violence whatever the apparent danger. If we truly trust in God we cannot resort to violence.
16. How do we compromise? Every time we do not take personal responsibility for all that happens to us, every time we blame someone else for our difficulties, every time we think death real, every time we refuse to act courageously (for a sane purpose) because of fear of loss of life, every time we meet violence with violence… How do we accept no compromise? When we live life fearlessly, nobly, willing to be unpopular, to take a stand, to take purposeful risks, to rock the boat for a worthy cause…
17. How would it feel if you could take death away from everything? Suddenly we could love God, because if we are honest we will admit that we all blame God for death. How many people don't say about death, “It's God's will?” God has nothing to do with death. Ego is the cause of death. In the garden, when God told Adam and Eve not to eat of the forbidden tree, He warned, “Or you will surely die.” This was not God punishing Adam and Eve, but rather death was part of the package when they chose to make ego to replace God. Death is our choice, and never God's idea. When we come into right relationship with death there is hope of vanquishing death and coming into our true experience of eternal life.
18. What does it mean to be alive? To drink deeply of the teachings so that they take us to our enlightenment, to be happy learners, to embrace life fully, to welcome each challenge with enthusiasm, to be open to feeling the pain of others, to be courageous and fearless, to live for opportunities to give joy to others. What does it mean to be the living dead? To lead a purposeless, useless, meaningless existence, to live for oneself, to be immune to the suffering of others, to put safety before courage unwilling to take healthy risks, to live a life of pretense, to understand the teachings superficially so they are harmful rather than helpful. What prevents us from feeling the pain of others? An idea that we are separate, that their pain is not ours, that their suffering is not ours, that we are not all one.
19. Was Jesus' death God's will? No. What was its message? In the course, Jesus refers to the crucifixion as his last useless journey. I see his death as the result of others' projections of guilt onto him. The guilty find fault with the blameless. Ego was threatened by Jesus, so had to convince others to get rid of him. What did he mean when he said he was willing to lay down his life for his disciples? He loved them so much that threats on his life could not stand in the way of his love or cause him to denounce them as Peter subsequently did. Was he referring to his crucifixion? No, Jesus did not die to take away anyone's sins. That would make sins real and God vengeful. His crucifixion was not an expression of love, it was a demonstration that death is not real. Jesus knew his body was not real and that therefore it's crucifixion means nothing in the ultimate sense. Christians who believe Jesus died for their sins are making the unreal real and refusing to take responsibility for their own salvation.
20. Is killing ever justified? No. Could you justify killing Hitler, knowing that in so doing you would be saving millions? No, that's not my business. I would be willing do everything within my power to help him change his mind, praying to God to show me what to do for him and for the protection of others from him. Could you justify not killing Hitler, even if it would mean that millions would be killed? I would do everything possible to prevent life from being destroyed, including risking my own life, however I would never resort to killing another even to protect my own family. I subscribe to non-violent resistance to injustice – no exceptions. We can always ask God for a non-violent solution – with God all things are possible.
21. Can a victimizer victimize when there are no victims? No, therefore, when we remove victim consciousness, there can be no victimizers. How do we remove victim consciousness? By knowing who we are, that we are responsible for everything that happens to us, that there is no force outside of us more powerful than we or capable of hurting us against our will and that we can change our minds. When consciousness changes destiny also changes.
22. What is euthanasia? The act or practice of ending the life of someone who has an incurable illness or injury or allowing or assisting that person to die. Who is to say what is incurable? Not me, but I can always turn to Spirit to guide. When is it appropriate? If they are on life support against their will or instructions. When not? We are generally not in a position to make that decision for another unless there is a clear understanding between two people. We can pray to be shown what to do if that seems the only reasonable recourse and then trust Spirit to direct our actions. What is a terminal illness? No illness is terminal as with God all things are possible. It is not necessary to suffer and die. We can go to sleep one night and never wake up…Those who have become free of guilt will leave their bodies gently, effortlessly. For them sickness would serve no purpose.
23. What are your thoughts on abortion? It is better of course not to have to make that decision by waiting for the right relationship and the right circumstances, however, I am of the persuasion that in the first trimester of a pregnancy, the soul has not yet entered the fetus so there are no karmic ramifications if one has an abortion during that period. I also think the emotional trauma of having an abortion should be carefully weighed.
24. Is it ever appropriate to commit suicide? No, if one commits suicide to escape the hell of life, he is escaping nothing because he takes himself with him. The only solution is to change his mind. When he transforms his mind and heart he has found a real solution. Death is never a real solution because death is not real. What happens to those who take their own lives? Like everyone else, their mind and Spirit live on, but they have to live with the inevitable guilt that suicide invariably engenders. Is death an escape from eternal life? Yes, under all circumstances where we have not accepted that life is eternal. We cannot escape from eternal life, as we are eternal beings and that's not negotiable.
25. When you change your mind about who you are, can you still die? No, for you will know you are not your body, and even if your body dies, you live forever. Then you will not fear death. Is changing your mind merely an intellectual exercise? No, our mind can either free us or bind us. Being willing to change our mind is where consciousness is shifted from fear to love, from death to life, from guilt to innocence…
26. What is life? Everything - Enthusiasm, joy, passion, exuberance, delight, striving for perfection in every undertaking, embracing each moment with full intensity and eagerness, cherishing everyone and everything…What is death? Nothing – unreal, a lie, a joke we play on ourselves, impossible for a holy, precious child of God, the shedding of a worn out body.
27. What is the problem with seeing heaven as attainable only after death? It makes death real. It holds   heaven out as a promise in the future, making it unreal. No one has come back from the dead so it is simply based on assumptions and completely overlooks the possibility that heaven can be found right here and now. It sets out false hopes and false promises. Seek but do not find… Jesus taught that the kingdom of heaven is within.
28. Summarize the teachings regarding life and death: Accept no compromise where death plays a part. Death is not real as life is eternal. Only the body dies and bodies are not real. The mind and Spirit live forever. Death is a choice. Death's purpose is to prove God dead. The way to immortality is through the removal of immorality. Death yields to life simply because destruction is impossible. Apply the teachings to your daily life: If death is not real we have nothing to fear. In holding all life sacred and precious, we honor life. In leading a life of purity, holiness and compassion we end the cycle of birth and death.
29. What are the pitfalls to guard against? Becoming careless since death is not real anyway, refraining from acting when someone else's life is in danger since death is not real, feeling guilty when someone dies due to taking personal responsibility for their death, attempting to use death to escape life, attempting to disappear, obliterate, dissociate from the body… rather than heal the problem.

"The way to immortality is through the removal of immorality."  Sai Baba