Theos-Talk Archives (February 1999 Message tt00079)

Darren wrote:

<< I think this film is definitely mixing up it's belief systems in an
effort
to make Christians and "new agers' happy. It fails to address so many
issues that in the end it becomes another hollywood love story. For
Example, is this their first incarnation - if not what about the
children
etc from previous incarnations? What about the differential in bodies
available to spirits wanting incarnation? I could go on...but you get
the
picture.

Anybody else seen the film and have a comment? >>


Yes, I saw it too. It made me think of all kinds of questions as well,
like ....

1) Could the "subjective heaven" Williams experienced really be
Devachan, especially with all the rampant emotionalism going on? Felt
more like a slightly higher than average Kama Loka (or a very low level
Devachan) to me. I mean, Williams was surely "suffering" to be separated
from his wife. That kind of emotional burn off is supposed to happen
prior to any "devachan", no? Reminded me of "Merton Fowler Land" from
"Dweller on Two Planets" by Phylos the Thibetan.

2) At first he doesn't "recognize" his two departed children, but sees
them in the guise of other people he apparently trusts or is comfortable
"seeing" more. Yet his "children" both act as his knowing guides,
explaining to him the "rules" of how Heaven and Hell work, what's going
on, etc., and basically serving as the dispensers of all the answers he
is seeking. How and when after they died, did they become so wise and
when would that experience of wisdom happen or have happened to him? It
seemed like they knew all about it and the film didn't explain how they
came upon that. Certainly his own afterlife experience eventually taught
him a few things, but not in any way near as complete an understanding
as his children showed. They seemed to understand more. How'd that
happen?

3) t was all still very personal and experiential for him. Definitely in
the realm of the personal ego. No change of consciousness to a mind that
transcends the last earthly life. No memory of other incarnations, no
broadstroke understanding, no past life review, no freedom from the
dross of personal anguish, etc., etc., etc.

Mark


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