Spiritual development here and in the astral

[Parmenion]

Greetings Nick,

Spiritual development as such, is inner development as I see it. One must undergo a period of intropection to ascertain all negative characteristics that exist within the person, then proceed to transform these characteristics from negative to positive. One needs to achieve balance by understanding how the elements affect your personality, and changing accordingly. I claim no expertise on the matter for I have much work to do myself.


Adrian,

To expand upon your explanation, if you would.

Re-incarnation.

When does it occur? Does it occur when a spirit living in the mid-astral realises they are still bound by materialism and are missing the point to existance? Are there some circumstances where a spirit would decide that the best way to enoble their character is another lifetime in the physicall world? Indeed, is it possible to progress whatsoever while existing in the mid-astral? Thank you in advance for any further light shed on the subject.

Take care

Parmenion

[Nick]

There is another thread going in OBE discussions about belief system territories. By way of a spinoff, I read a thought provoking post there by Adrian that I thought deserved some discussion:

(Adrian- I hope this is ok with you!)

quote:I believe that the reason we can visit any Astral realm, subject to the highest level attainable due to the vibrational level of the Astral body, is that it provided an opportunity before physical death to view what awaits after physical death, and affords a real opportunity to amend your life accordingly - before it is too late. At the point of physical death, a person will automatically migrate to the Astral sphere most analogous to his or her life at the point of physical death and before. This does not in any way overcome immutable Universal laws including Karma.

With regards to the level of the Astral and later Mental realms (or planes) attainable after physical death - that depends on the degree of "perfection" or "enoblement" of the Astral and Mental bodies and elemental equilibrium - this is a very real and permanent attainment of state of being - not simply being a charitable or friendly person, although they are good attributes of course, or in the case of a religious person - going to church once per week and reading the bible. This requires conscious and ongoing work. Enoblement includes the destruction of the "ego" (the aspect of personality that views itself as existing in the material world and proceeding accordingly)-and equilibration of all negative/bad/evil attributes, and generally identification with, and attributes of the "All". The higher the degree of enoblement is achieved, the higher the Astral and Mental bodies vibrate, and accordingly the higher levels of the Astral and Mental realms. i.e. vibrational level of the Akasha the bodies will exist in with comparitive vibration. More highly evolved people or beings can "visit" lower planes right down to the physical, but lower beings cannot visit higher beings because they cannot tolerate and therefore exist at the higher level of vibration. The ultimate destiny for all mankind is to achieve the degree of perfection necessary in order to achieve unity with the ultimate perfection - the "All" or "God" etc.. Most decent, average, people, will find themselves in the mid-Astral realms after physical death, analogous to Monroe level F 27 which is where most Astral projectors can reach for exacly the same reasons. The density of the Astra-Mental bodies during physical life is the same as it will be at the point of physical death, and that is one reason why Astral projection and exploration is so valuable, and indeed should be open to everyone - it provides valuable knowledge and insight as well as opportunites - if taken. It is the seeemingly relentless fall into materialism that has deprived the majority of mankind from attaining knowledge of, an learning from the higher spheres - our true "home".

My comment regarding Adrian's post (above) is that being here in the physical is hard work because to really raise our vibrational level, we must act in a conscious, selfless, helpful, noble, ethical, etc. manner. Working towards being a truly "spiritual" person is not an easy daily task. It consists of always being mindful of how every act or omission impacts others and ultimately our own spiritual development.

Thoughts or comments anyone?