When we are dead, will we know it?

[stvdv]

Like from a physical/mental standpoint. I'm not asking if it's possible, or for scientific evidence or anything like that. I want to know what YOU think about my question. Do you ever ponder death, in general, and wonder if even for a short few seconds, after we die, that somehow, we will be cognizant of it?

For those who believe in the afterlife, what part of ourselves will realize and experience that?

This might be a stupid question, but I have often wondered this.

Not a stupid question at all. It is the start to Self Realization IMO.

Most people only live in the physical world. Then your awareness is very limited.

When you expand your awareness sufficient then you will be cognizant of it when dying

Edit: Thanks @SalixIncendium: for alerting me about "cognizant of it"
My Master Sai Baba calls it "CIA = Constant Integrated Awareness". Sanskrit uses "Sat Chit Ananda" which means "Being Awareness Bliss". So "Aware" or "Cognizant" can both be used.
"Cognizant of it" indicates duality. My experience is that this is correct. Beinig in a state of high awareness with body awareness is possible. Of course you have not body identification !!!

Body Awareness is different from Body Identification. As long as one has Body Identification one's Awareness is very little

 

[Deidre]

I can't speak for 'we'... Me though?

I don't plan on finding out.

Do you plan to live forever?

 

[Deidre]

Thank you for not considering my question to be “stupid.” You’ve given me much to think about!

 

[Thief]

Being alive sucks! I live in Da Hood! Everyone is drugged out, unintelligent, and worthless. I don't like suffering, but do I want to die? Without hesitation, YES! NOW!!

not so fast......

you did not put you......into that body
you can't get out
and would you not be beside yourself?......if you could

if you can't get out when you are alive and well.....
you say as you please
you do as you can.....

what makes you think you can get out when you no longer have control?

I suspect your 'ascension' will depend on the same "Force".......that formed you
(that is to say.....the ability to rise above your body)

the other possibility ....follow the body into the grave

eternal darkness is physically real
no form of light follows anyone into the grave
no sunlight
no moonlight
no candle light
no philosophical light

really is dark down there

may the Force be with you

 

[Sir Doom]

Do you plan to live forever?

In contrast to planning to die, most certainly.

I don't really consider it a realistic goal, and I'm not exactly taking steps to 'make' myself immortal. So far, nothing but the past lives of others indicates that I will eventually die. Why take it for granted?

 

[Deidre]

In contrast to planning to die, most certainly.

I don't really consider it a realistic goal, and I'm not exactly taking steps to 'make' myself immortal. So far, nothing but the past lives of others indicates that I will eventually die. Why take it for granted?

You need to change your username to something more...hmmm...optimistic? Then your desires might come true.

 

[Sir Doom]

Reality just wouldn't be the same without doom!

 

[SalixIncendium]

Not a stupid question at all. It is the start to Self Realization IMO.

Most people only live in the physical world. Then your awareness is very limited.

When you expand your awareness sufficient then you will be cognizant of it when dying

While I see the point you are attempting to make, I am hesitant to use the phrase "cognizant of" when describing this expanded awareness, which I am presuming is what you are calling pure consciousness (atman) for the purpose of this discussion. "Cognizant of" implies duality.

I imagine the death of my body will not be dissimilar to awakening from a dream.

 

[godnotgod]

"Thou hast nor youth nor age, but,
as it were,
an after-dinner sleep,
dreaming on both"

TS Elliot

 

[stvdv]

While I see the point you are attempting to make, I am hesitant to use the phrase "cognizant of" when describing this expanded awareness, which I am presuming is what you are calling pure consciousness (atman) for the purpose of this discussion. "Cognizant of" implies duality.

I imagine the death of my body will not be dissimilar to awakening from a dream.

Thanks. I never heard of the word cognizant. Was mentioned in the OP, and it felt like awareness. I used this to not confuse the original poster. Consciousness as defined in India is not what I meant. In the west they have a different definition for consciousness as I learned in India. In my reply I just meant "being aware". In sanskrit they use the term "Sat Chit Ananda", meaning "Being Awareness Bliss". So I meant the "Chit" part here.

I checked Cognizant with google = "having knowledge or awareness". That is why I used it. So you say I better use the word "Awareness" and not cognizant, correct?
Sai Baba calls it "CIA = Constant Integrated Awareness". That is the most beautiful way I heard so far. So probably I best use this next time on RF. Seems okay to you?

Language is always trouble when explaining the unexplainable. But on the other hand we need the words to communicate. Thanks for pointing out this one.

 

[ChristineM]

Like from a physical/mental standpoint. I'm not asking if it's possible, or for scientific evidence or anything like that. I want to know what YOU think about my question. Do you ever ponder death, in general, and wonder if even for a short few seconds, after we die, that somehow, we will be cognizant of it?

For those who believe in the afterlife, what part of ourselves will realize and experience that?

This might be a stupid question, but I have often wondered this.

My father was mugged, hit across the head with a half brick for 78 pence (about $1)

In a coma it is recorded that he died 3 times, i.e, brain activity stopped for short periods.

He is not really a religious man but sweares he is alive today because god is a lousy poker player.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Like from a physical/mental standpoint. I'm not asking if it's possible, or for scientific evidence or anything like that. I want to know what YOU think about my question. Do you ever ponder death, in general, and wonder if even for a short few seconds, after we die, that somehow, we will be cognizant of it?

For those who believe in the afterlife, what part of ourselves will realize and experience that?

This might be a stupid question, but I have often wondered this.

You will have all the same knowledge and sensation that you had before you were conceived -- which is to say, if I remember correctly, none at all.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Thanks. I never heard of the word cognizant. Was mentioned in the OP, and it felt like awareness. I used this to not confuse the original poster. Consciousness as defined in India is not what I meant. In the west they have a different definition for consciousness as I learned in India. In my reply I just meant "being aware". In sanskrit they use the term "Sat Chit Ananda", meaning "Being Awareness Bliss". So I meant the "Chit" part here.

I checked Cognizant with google = "having knowledge or awareness". That is why I used it. So you say I better use the word "Awareness" and not cognizant, correct?
Sai Baba calls it "CIA = Constant Integrated Awareness". That is the most beautiful way I heard so far. So probably I best use this next time on RF. Seems okay to you?

Language is always trouble when explaining the unexplainable. But on the other hand we need the words to communicate. Thanks for pointing out this one.

It wasn't so much the word 'cognizant' that I found to be problematic, though I have never used it to describe 'chit' due to the association with 'knowledge,' which I equate with intellect, which is more a brain function than of chit. It was more the 'of' that followed it which I found problematic. The 'of' implies 'other,' introducing a dichotomy of subject/object or I/other, thereby bringing duality into play.

That said, I think using the word 'cognizant' alone is workable in this context.

 

[stvdv]

It wasn't so much the word 'cognizant' that I found to be problematic, though I have never used it to describe 'chit' due to the association with 'knowledge,' which I equate with intellect, which is more a brain function than of chit. It was more the 'of' that followed it which I found problematic. The 'of' implies 'other,' introducing a dichotomy of subject/object or I/other, thereby bringing duality into play.

That said, I think using the word 'cognizant' alone is workable in this context.

Aha, thanks for the explanation. I understand what you mean. I copied it from the OP without thinking much about it, it felt quite okay. There is some duality, body awareness.

I can only speak from my own experience. When my Master Sai Baba died, I stopped eating/drinking, and quite soon I went through this tunnel of light [I didn't expect it to happen, I just thought about doing a short fast, which I do occasionally]. I was in a state of high awareness with little body awareness. So "cognizant of it [the process of dying]". That is why "cognizant of it" feels like a good description to me [at least for the part going through this tunnel of light till you almost die; of course I did not experience the "real dying part"].

It was a very close call. At the end of the tunnel I met Sai Baba and he told me a view things, and then put me back in more body awareness, otherwise I would not have made it on RF now. I am glad Sai Baba gave me another chance, because this was not planned (to die), and it's great I have another chance to experience this "dying process" (was one of the best and nicest experiences I ever had; now I look forward to die; as a pleasant and nice final experience).

In this context they use in India the term Samadhi. there are three of four types of Samadhi. Samadhi with body awareness and without body awareness. So even when speaking of Samadhi the term "cognizant of it" can be used. Samadhi with body awareness keeps you alive. Samadhi without body awareness then the body won't last long. I think that Sai Baba said about Samadhi that it is a permanent state. So it's not that you meditate and experience Samadhi. Once you are in Samadhi you are in it forever

Body Awareness is different from Body Identification. As long as one has Body Identification one's Awareness is very little

 

[TransmutingSoul]

For those who believe in the afterlife, what part of ourselves will realize and experience that?

This might be a stupid question, but I have often wondered this

Yes we will know we have passed on, as we will be made aware of the chances we have have been given in this life by the Messengers of God.

I have found the Baha'i Writings contain many writings about the topic on life after death and the soul of man. You could choose to pursue them.

Peace be with you and all.

 

[Deidre]

Do you all think we will feel bad knowing that we are no more? Like will we view our death as a scary thing? From a cognizant view, I’m speaking of. Remove our religious/faith beliefs away from the topic, for now.

 

[Spiderman]

Do you all think we will feel bad knowing that we are no more? Like will we view our death as a scary thing? From a cognizant view, I’m speaking of. Remove our religious/faith beliefs away from the topic, for now.

Allan Kardec wrote a book about spirits answering all his questions.

They told him that it is euphoric when the spirit leaves it's body because flesh is at war with the spirit.

He says spirits are more advanced when they don't have the flesh to limit them.

I hope to see you on the other side anyway and we can talk about these things from experience!

Do you really want to be an old lady some day?

I pray that I die in my thirties.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Do you all think we will feel bad knowing that we are no more? Like will we view our death as a scary thing? From a cognizant view, I’m speaking of. Remove our religious/faith beliefs away from the topic, for now.

It is impossible to take Faith and God out of that question. it is Gods Faiths that have given us the answers to what you have asked.

I think what we fear about death is how it will happen, as no one wants to linger with or have pain. As to death, with Faith, one embraces Gods will for us.

We are told to look each day at our deeds and ask to be forgiven for all that was not up to standard. If we do this and then each day after try to be better, death will be a birth into our spiritual selves, with not so much to answer for.

Peace be with you allways.

 

[Deidre]

It is impossible to take Faith and God out of that question. it is Gods Faiths that have given us the answers to what you have asked.

I think what we fear about death is how it will happen, as no one wants to linger with or have pain. As to death, with Faith, one embraces Gods will for us.

We are told to look each day at our deeds and ask to be forgiven for all that was not up to standard. If we do this and then each day after try to be better, death will be a birth into our spiritual selves, with not so much to answer for.

Peace be with you allways.

This is a beautiful post.

 

[Spiderman]

You ask a lot of the right questions @Deidre and I am proud of you inquiring about this.

More than 90% of the world believes in unseen entities of some sort.

I doubt they are all believing in falsehoods.

Many people claim to see and hear from spirits. Saint Faustina did regularly and psychiatrists said she wasn't insane, and miracles happened at her tomb.

Many people heard from the Virgin Mary and Angels as well!

I'm sure they and Jesus were all insane!

Just don't trust religious people who make laws that a woman raped needs five male witnesses or she goes to jail. That means men can rape women and get away with it easily and the woman gets punished. People make these laws and use God as an excuse!

Chimps treat their women better than that. In some countries, having a vagina is a crime!

Most people who believe in spirits and contacting ancestors don't treat women like that.