At physical death man loses his consciousness of the flesh and becomes conscious of his astral body in the astral world. Thus physical death is astral birth. Later, he passes from the consciousness of luminous astral birth to the consciousness of dark astral death and awakens in a new physical body. Thus astral death is physical birth. These recurrent cycles of physical and astral encasements are the ineluctable destiny of all unenlightened men.
Interpretation
The quote suggests a cyclical relationship between physical life and the astral realm, viewing death as a transition rather than an end.
Paramahansa Yogananda's quote explores the profound transformation that occurs at physical death, positing that it represents a transition from physical existence to a higher state of consciousness in the astral body. He explains that this transition is part of a cycle where physical death leads to astral birth, and astral death returns one to a new physical life, emphasizing the idea that all unenlightened beings are subject to these inevitable cycles of existence and rebirth.
In practice
During a meditation retreat, this quote could be shared to help participants contemplate the nature of existence.
Man is important in one sense only. He was made in the image of God: That is his importance. He is not important for his body, ego, or personality. His constant affirmation of ego-consciousness is the source of all his problems.
When, by meditation, we withdraw restless thoughts from the lake of the mind, we behold our soul, a perfect reflection of Spirit.
It is wisest to be impartial. If you have health, but are attached to it, you will always be afraid of losing it. And if you fear that loss, but become ill, you will suffer. Why not remain forever joyful in the Self?
From joy people are born; for joy they live; in joy they melt at death. Death is an ecstasy, for it removes the burden of the body and frees the soul of all pain springing from body identification. It is the cessation of pain and sorrow.
It is better to meditate a little bit with depth than to mediate long with the mind running here and there. If you do not make an effort to control the mind it will go on doing as it pleases, no matter how long you sit to meditate.
Millions of people never analyze themselves. Mentally they are mechanical products of the factory of their environment, preoccupied with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, working and sleeping, and going here and there to be entertained. They don't know what or why they are seeking, nor why they never realize complete happiness and lasting satisfaction. By evading self-analysis, people go on being robots, conditioned by their environment. True self-analysis is the greatest art of progress.
But what is quackery? It is commonly an attempt to cure the diseases of a man by addressing his body alone. There is need of a physician who shall minister to both soul and body at once, that is, to man. Now he falls between two stools.
The basic fact about human existence is not that it is a tragedy, but that it is a bore. It is not so much a war as an endless standing in line.
It is almost as if the human brain were specifically designed to misunderstand Darwinism, and to find it hard to believe
There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else.
The profound thinker always suspects that he is superficial.
Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them.
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