1. There is no life after death. Death is the total extinction of consciousness.
2. Life after death continues on earth (through reincarnation).
3. Life continues after death on another plane than that of earthly reality (such as in heaven or hell).
If we’re going to talk about this subject at all, we can rule out the first option categorically, especially since practically every culture and religion teaches that there is some form of life after death. There are many discussions of the evidence for the afterlife, and while this is a fascinating subject, it’s out of the scope of this article.
Which, then, of the two remaining options is most likely? Usually these are simplistically conceived. You reincarnate: depending on your karma, you come back down to earth to live again as a sage or a stockbroker. Or you are judged before the heavenly throne and are sent up to heaven or down to hell once and for all.
The Gnostics, the mysterious esoteric teachers of the early centuries
of the Common Era, had their own perspective on the afterlife. Although
their teachings have been all but lost, enough material remains so that
we can reconstruct them. If we do, we will reach some valuable insights
not only about some elements of the later Western occult traditions but
about the project of spiritual liberation....<<<Read More>>>...