I have been thinking about what options do we have after death other than go to the tunnel of light scenario.
My first time seriously pondering this was while reading the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. He makes reference to the fact that he is agnostic and assumes that when you die you cease to exist. He describes a pact made with a friend that whomever of them should parish first would come back and prove the existence of the afterlife to the other. Franklin claimed that his friend had been dead for so many years and so far has no seen no sign of him. Therefore he continues his theory that there is no afterlife or that we humans are not able to perceive it.
Second time of pondering was in contemplating ghosts. I personally have had direct contact with the paranormal at different intervals of my life. In hind sight, it absolutely may have been my conditioned childhood fear of such a thing that reinforced a belief in it. Such as me being a kid sensing a presence in my room.. Was there actually anything there? And then at an older age after messing with a Ouija board having experiences of haunting progressing to attempted possession during my sleep. I had a shaman friend tell me there was nothing in my house, it was all in my head. Was it possible that all ghosts are peoples fears manifesting as an external entity? Something to blame as a distraction instead of dealing with inner work?
But there's something to be said about ghosts. For what I've heard about them are they are "lost souls" that we tell to "go to the light." Basically, you don't have to go home but you can't stay here.
So now it's clear, when you die you must go too the light.. Or else you will be an unfortunate ghost. Those seem to be the only two options at this point.
Then you have ascended masters: Jesus, Buddha, Quan Yin, Isis.. These are people who have achieved master status for their ability to do something amazing to humans..
Why do more people not do this? Is it that they lack the empathy or skill needed for such a thing? Lack the discipline and dedication?
Example 1. The story of Quan Yin, and how when "he" died, he was at heavens gates and heard the cries of the people and decided to come back to earth in the goddess form of Quan Yin.
I bring this up because of the parallels to the idea of dying and not going to the light tunnel, not going to meet with family in "heaven" and not being memory wipe and reincarnated. What other options may there be?
Further, I am very interested to know what kind of a man was Quan when he was human? Was he particularly spiritual? Enlightened? Or just a simple every day Joe, perhaps a farmer?
When he died, what encouraged him to return.. other than the compassion Quan is famed for? There must have been some sort of wisdom associated with it, as it being something that essentially "could" be done.. did he disobey the normal "go to the light" and at what cost?
Summary:
They say every 2000 years or so a new savior comes along. I am wondering the many ways in which a savior is "able" to take form, and has done so over time. Sticking with Quan.. how did he materialize as a woman? How was he recognized? Did he have supreme intellect thus proving his status? Was the physical body somehow special, such as able to fly or was it particularly illuminated? How did Quan actually help the suffering people? Was he listened to and respected such as a political leader would take his advise and thus impacting decision making? Did he go on foot to spread the word?
Or is this just an elaborate story, just like most the other stories, which may have had some merit, but have been altered for a hidden agenda? Or completely made up entirely?
Does one have the ability to choose to come back after death as an exalted being? If anyone has tried to do so, it would imply that no one has succeeded in.. quite a long time.
Where is Quran now? A guidance from the ethers? When and how did he leave as the goddess? Some say he has reincarnated again.
