WCP6362

[1]¹

IN THE NEXT WORLD

A. P. Sinnett²

Page 74

A HAPPY PASSING

As the information required for my present purpose gradually accumulated on my hands, I became impressed with a feeling to the effect that my stories were rather too much coloured by the record of distressful conditions immediately following physical decease. It was important beyond question to understand these, and to realise what characteristics in life gave rise to distressful conditions; but at the same time I knew quite well that large numbers of people whose lives had been fairly meritorious, passed swiftly and undisturbed through the lower levels of the astral plane and only awoke to consciousness on the fourth sub-level. It occurred to me that one important type of humanity had not been represented by any of the next-life narratives collected so far. I wanted a case in which highly advanced intelligence should have been united with a fairly clean physical plane record. And, knowing that most of the great scientific men of the past were still making use of the opportunities afforded by the high levels of the astral plane, I asked if any one of them would be good enough to give me a detailed account of his early experiences on passing over. The response came from one who undeniably belonged to the category I indicated [,] and whose passing was of comparatively recent date.

I need not be too explicit in dealing with this interesting experience. Enough to say that although highly distinguished in the ordinary world of science, "A. R." was also a student, to a certain extent, of the higher occultism, and deeply concerned during life with spiritualistic research. So he had no surprises to encounter on getting free of the body at a very advanced age. He floated for a little while over his death-bed, enjoying a feeling of renewed vigour, peace, and joy. He fully understood the situation, and looked with some interest at the body he had quitted, and with sympathy at the friends around who were mourning his departure. Then he had a feeling of going up, and one which he found it difficult to describe, a feeling as he put it, "of being drawn into himself." He lost consciousness for a time. He has since learned that it was for about three days of our time. He awoke on some high level of the fourth, lying on what seemed a bank of some soft material in the midst of a lovely scene; flowers all around and a beautiful view with mountains in the distance, and a general sense of warmth, light, and colour. He realised that his astral body now bore the appearance it had in life some forty years previously.

He lay for a time in a very pleasant reverie. Then he got up feeling quite light. There was "no gravitational stress" to deal with. He saw some people he knew, and then, suddenly, his surroundings changed. He found himself in a room where he was received by a crowd of his former friends of the scientific world. As I have said already, he passed on at a very advanced age, so that most of those whom he had known in life were already in the next state of existence. They had gathered together to welcome him, and he had a delightful talk with them.

He was now generally on the fifth subplane, but this and the higher fourth are very closely associated. Indeed, I have learned that men of science passing over — - — - always assuming that they either have no disagreeables to get over in the first instance, or have got through these — - — - spend a great deal of their time on the fourth, even after they are entirely free of the fifth. On the fifth they carry on their work and study in whatever department of research their bent leads them into, and descend into the fourth for what may be described as social intercourse with their friends.

A.R. recognises to the full how greatly he benefited, when coming into his inheritance in the next world, from his investigation during physical life of superphysical mysteries. Spiritualistic experience and belief, even of the ordinary type, is enormously better [2]³ an introduction to the next world than blank ignorance of the agnostic order, or even than the shadowy suggestions of commonplace ecclesiastical teaching. This idea will be very clearly illustrated by the next story I have to tell, where the consequences of positive disbelief in any future are made apparent.

59, Jermyn Street

S.W.

Jan[uary]. 13. 1915

Dear Mrs Fisher⁴,

I do vaguely remember your former name, though my acquaintance with you has been so long interrupted. Of course you are right in assuming that A. R. was A. R. Wallace.

I do not know his daughter⁵, did not know that he had one. My acquaintance with him was very slight and the interview I had with him was procured for me in the interests of the little book, by some of the loftier authorities of the occult world who approved of and were willing to assist the undertaking.

I am sorry you are not now living in London, I should have been glad to meet you again.

Ever yours sincerely | (signed) A. P. Sinnett