what happens when we die?

"What happens when we die, Story Teller?"

The question was asked by a precocious young girl who evidently thought about such things. The other members of the community either dismissed the thought of death and an afterlife from their minds or had already decided either that the question was unanswerable or had provided an answer for themselves that was at least partially satisfactory.

They had gathered at the community fire that evening with no thought of death at all. The moon was full, their bellies were full, and life seemed eternal.

"At first, we may not know that we are dead," said Story Teller. "Many, perhaps most, do not."

"Do you mean we are the same as we are now?" she asked.

"Yes. We have the same consciousness after death as we do when we die," he said.

"What happens then?"

"We stay within the light of our awareness until we are told that greater light is available. Some of us do not want greater light. We are comfortable with the relative darkness we have already chosen."

"If we want more light, we continue opening to it along with others in the community of beings to which we are naturally drawn."

"I do not understand," she said. "What is the light and darkness?"

The other members of the community that Story Teller was visiting that evening were silently listening. Story Teller had not experienced such deep silence among story listeners before. Folk were usually moving, adjusting their clothing, coughing, sighing, looking off into the distance from time to time, their attention elsewhere. They sat enrapt.

"Darkness comes from love of self and of the human-created world. Light comes with love of others and of our Source."

"But aren't we supposed to love our selves and the world?" she asked.

"Yes." said Story Teller. "But if our love is fixed there and no where else, we live in darkness. We are like a lamp seeing nothing but its own light and not what the light reveals. Nor are we open to the Greater Light from which our light comes."

"After our bodies die, is hell then our staying in our own light, our own love of self?" she asked.

"Young woman, you are very bright," said Story Teller. "I see you already live in heavenly places. The light of your awareness is open to others and to the One who co-creates you."

She sat quietly.

"When you drop your body, you will continue growing in light, in intelligence and in wisdom."

"What happens to those who choose to stay within their own light of self-focus?" she asked.

"They will continue to be invited to expand their capacity for Love," he said. "Eternity is a long time. As long as they refuse, they will remain caught in their own misery, which self-love always turns out to be."

"But let's go to now," said Story Teller, awakening people out of their afterlife trance. "Might as well live as if we had already died. And that means to live, to truly live!. Stand up, everyone!"

"Now hold your arms out to each other, to the moon, to the earth, to all who have gone before, to all who are yet to come! Expand your capacity to love!"

A drum began beating. A guitar began playing. Gentle laughter arose. Some began singing. All began visiting with each other, appreciating each other, their vulnerability, their interflow of love and of community.

The young girl smiled.