A nine year old, recently in touch with a family bereavement, asked his Grandma…”what happens when you go to Heaven?…what if you don’t like it and want to get out of Heaven?”

In the first part of the question the Grandmother replied that Heaven was a beautiful place full of light and love. Therefore this makes the second question all the more interesting…Why?

Well, in so much as, if the little boy had understood and accepted the reply to his first question, then the second question should not have arisen!

Age is the important factor in this scenario and you would not be criticised for considering if a two or three year old would have asked the second question, after having been given the first answer!

The reason is simple and basically comes down to two key themes. Firstly that of the distance of the young child from his ‘spiritual’ ‘home’ (by some nine years). The second is in terms of his familial/societal programming (think the logical song here), wherein a younger (pre school or new primary school child), would not have received as much external influence on his thinking (aka diluting the prior knowledge of his spiritual home), to the same extent as the nine year old, relative to age.

This (to me at least) demonstrates how the development of human society is self-defeating in its approach, with respect to maintaining spirituality amongst people. This whole scenario can be related to the development (or erosion) of self awareness in the individual concerned, and if not corrected by family/society, could be an underpinning principle leading to the consequence of driving out the spirituality of society at an early age.

Now there is no right or wrong answer on the part of the Grandma. The lady answered in the best and most sensitive way she could. If anything though, this is where society needs to concentrate its efforts the most, in re-establishing the fundamentals of love and respect for one another and all things spiritual. Implementing such a thread to others at an early age, or at least as soon as they are able to understand.

This matter could possibly have been addressed through Religious Education but in these days of political correctness such education is falling out of favour. However, this is not an argument in favour of Religion, so much as an argument for addressing core moral values of society from an early age!  Imparting it in a sensitive manner such that a child can understand the meaning of integration with all life energies, under the auspices of love and peace.

It is worth the investment. Children are definitely our future! Heed the warning that is clearly plain to see from such examples as this and provided so eloquently by our innocents!

Love and Peace from AlanC.

The answer is not 42 c/o Mr Douglas Adams!

Picture oneself, or a bird, a plant or micro-organism even, in fact any living entity and then consider this point. They are all ‘alive’ because of their cosmic spirit. One can build a body from parts (forget Dr Frankenstein for a moment) but one could not inject into that body the cosmic spirit which is the very ‘spark of life’. Likewise, neither can such cosmic spirit as a pure form of energy, identify with physical sensations of touch, taste, smell or emotional feelings, such as happiness, mental pain, grief etc. unless it had first experienced this in a physical form.  

This then is the point. Regardless of religious belief, life itself is a marriage of the physical with spirit (or soul if you like) energy.

We are all on earth to experience senses, feelings and emotions (including from what we do to others and they have done to us) and to shape our learning from them into a meaningful (and positive) interpretation. This we take with us when we return ‘home’ from the physical and examine the progress made from our time here. The interactions with others (people, animals, plants etc.) serves to enrich this experience and this is why the world would be a much better place if all life was in balance and harmony, so our passing back to spirit could be made with the maximum benefit.

Ask not then, what is the point of life? Instead ask, have we contributed enough to life and gained enough from it, in order to return home as a more enlightened spirit? Have we helped others acheive this?

In my experience, every loved one that has passed back to spirit, comes through with messages of love and support, and relates past accounts of positive activity/memory/interactions, as validation to loved ones that they have indeed took the best of their learning with them from the physical. Their passing then (with all of its associated emotions), should be considered a contribution to our own progress and if looked upon in this positive light, may help one come to terms with such an event, however emotionally extreme and painful it may be!

Blessings to all.