Join the Discussion | With Eyes Open

After watching the program I know that my husband had tremendous courage. He was alert nearly to the very end. After a pastor's prayer I felt as though his soul left then, as there was a peace, no more fight, about an hour before the heart stopped.

I am reading a lot about reincarnation and feel more and more strongly that reincarnation for our souls is a reality. How do others feel about this?

If heaven exists, the first thing I want to hear is my mothers voice. Its been 12 years since her death and a day doesnt go by that I dont think about her

The only way we know the difference between good stuff and bad stuff is because we experience them both and are reminded of them on a regular basis. However, both Heavan and Hell obviously claim to be only filled with one extreme, and eternity is quite some time, more than we can conciously fathom... So my argument is this, when we are in either, after a while, won't we cease to know where we are? Which one we are in? It won't feel good or bad, just normal. Because if we're there long enough, won't we eventually forget what the other felt like?

After all, this is just mythlogy we are talking about. From a biological perspective, all we have is a higher state of awareness that causes us to think differently from other animals. But just because we analyze the world around us instead of following blind instinct through life... does that make us suddenly immortal? How are we so special? More likely our conciousness will just cease to exist like our body after we die, and we won't even know we are dead.

It seems to me that humans are this strange species that are awkwardly disconnected from the natural perpetuating forces of the universe. Maybe that's why we are the only ones worried about death. We go about our lives alone, separate, and scared for the most part, because that is what our higher intelligence gave us: independant minds. We always seek comfort in one form or another and to belong in some way because we always feel so alone.

Now, I have read of certain people, who claimed to have had near-death experiences and "crossed over" as they say. And they always seem to say the same thing, that it is this wonderfully comforting and familiar place where you feel completely appeased and contented to stay in this dream-like haze and lose yourself in the oblivion of bliss; and there are no walls of fear separating anyone or anything anymore. I have also read of some ancient Native American lore of the afterlife that was referred to as the One, in which you also floated in a bliss-like state and never thought of hardship, and where all creatures returned to, and (as in the other case) you felt completely connected and not at all alone anymore. So I believe that there is such a place as this on the other plane of existence....the other side of reality in the center of the universe.

I was brought up Catholic and taught to believe in a heaven and a hell. Over the years I 've read much material on this subject and believe that heaven is a reality that exists and if there is such a place called hell it only exists in our belief systems. I've concluded that life goes on--it is different but it never ends. I also believe in a loving God who will receive us all when we are ready.

if heaven exists, i would like to hear upon my arrival that i will be reunited with those that died before me and those that will come after. my father past away three months ago and for the life of me i just can't and refuse to believe that he will never be with me again or that i will never see him again. there has got to be more out there.

i'M VERY CONFUSED ABOUT WEATHER OR NOT THERE IS AN AFTERLIFE. i LOST MY FATHER 6 YRS AGO TO CANCER . IT WAS QUIT SUDDEN THE DOCTORS DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PRIMARY CAUSE WAS AND MY DAD. DIED TWO MONTHS AFTER WE FOUND OUT HIS WHOLE BODY WAS FULL OF CANCER. HE LIVED AND DIED AT HOME WITH MY FAMILY WHICH AT THE TIME CONSISTED OF MY HUSBAND AGE 47 MY OLDES SON AGE 19 YOUNGER SON AGE 14 AND DAUGHTER AGE 12 I WAS 44YRS OLD. MY MOTHER AND FATER WERE DEVORISED WHEN I WAS 13YS OLD AND DAD NEVER REMARRIED. I HAVE ONE BROTHER AND TWO SISTERS. MY DAD WANTED TO COME TO MY HOME TO DIE. IGUESS IT WAS BECAUSE HE ALWAYS FELT THE LOVE OUR FAMILY HAD FOR EACH OTHER . MY YOUNGER SON WAS VERY CLOSE TO HIS GRANDFATHER AND WE TREATED MY DAD WITH RESPECT AND CAREING. WE TOLD HIM THE TRUTH FROM THE START AABOUT HIS CONDITION AND TRIED TO MAKE HIM AS COMFORTAABLE AS POSSIBLE. WE DIDN'T HAVE HOSPIC AT THAT TIME BECAUSE INSURANCE COMPANIES WOULD NOT CONTRIBUTE TO HOSPIC AND HOSPIC WE WERE TOLD WOULD NOT COME IN IF A

AS STATED EARLIER MY DAD DIED AT HOME WITH ME HOLDING HIS HAND MY BROTHER AND SISTER AT HIS SIDE AND MY HUSBAND THERE ALSO. MY DAD TOUGHT US ABOUT LIFE AND HE TOUGHT US ALL ABOUT DEATH AND THE NEED TO BE WITH YOU LOVED ONES.

AS FOR THE AFTER LIFE I STILL DON'T KNOW BUT IF THERE IS A GOD OR HIGHER SPRIT OR KARMA I MUST SAY I SORT OF BELIEVE. YOU SE MY HUSBANDS AUNT WHO I HAD NOT SEEN IN OVER A YEAR, REVEALID TO ME THAT MY DAD WAS GOING TO DIE ON THE 28TH OF JANUARY. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I VISITED HER WHILE ON CHRISTMAS VACATION IN DECEMBER . SHE HAD MET MY DAD AFEW TIMES OVER THE YEARS BUT NOTHING TO SPEAK OF AS FAR AS TO KNOW HIS HEALTH. WHEN SHE REVEALED THIS TO ME I INSTINCVIELY KNEW SHE WAS RIGHT. WHEN WE RETURNED FROM OUR VACATION MY DAD CALLED AND ASKED MY TO GO TO HIS HOME HE WAS IN TERRIBLE PAIN AND WANTED ONLY ME TO BE WITH HIM. HE DIED ON FEB. 28 I GUESS OUR LOVE GAVE HIM ONE MORE MONTH THAN MY AUNTS REVEALATION.

MY HUSBAND WAS SCARED OF HAVING MY DAD IN HIS HOME WITH YOUNG CHILDREN TO BE THERE WHEN HE DIED. BUT AFTER MY DAD DIED MY HUSBAND SAID IF I EVER GET SICK I WANT YOU TO DO THE SAME FOR ME AS YOU DID FOR YOUR FATHER. HIS DEATH WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOT SCARRY AT ALL.

I'M GLAD HE FELTH THAT WAY ONE YEAR LATER MY HUSBAND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH COLON CANCER IT HAD ALREADY SPREAD TO HIS LIVER AND IN OUR HOME TOWN HE WAS GIVEN LITTLE HOPE TO SURVIE. OUR FAITH IN OUR DOCTORS AND THERE ADVISE TO GO TO MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING HOSPITAL IN NY MADE A DIFFERANCE IN HIS LIFE HE SUFFERED ALOT THROUGH MANY OPERATIONS RADITAION AND CHEMO THERPHY.BUT THEY GAVE HIM HOPE AND AFTER TAKING OUT ALL THE CANCER AND THAN FINDING OUT IT HAD GROWN BACK IN ANOTHER ORGAN THROUGH ALL THIS MY HUSBAND AND FAMILY GOT CLOSED. EACH OBSTICAL WAS LIKE ANOTHER BOND TO MAKE US ONE. KNOWING YOU ARE GOING TO DIE PUT A WHOLE NEW LOOK ON LIFE AND LOVE. MY HUSBAND HAD GOALS TO MEET HE WISHED TO SEE HIS CHILDREN GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL. HE GOT TO REALIZE THEM HIS OLDEST GRADUATED YALE IN 97, HIS YOUNGER SON GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL IN 98 AND GO ON TO COLLEGE AND HIS DAUGHTER THE BABE AND LOVE OF HIS LIFE GRADUATED IN 99 FRO HIGH SCHOOL HE EVEN GOT TO SEE HER DORM ROOM AT BOSTON UNIVERSIDTY.

MY HUSBAND DIED IN APRIL OF 2000, AFEW DAYS BEFORE HE DIED I SPOKE TO THE SAME AUNT THAT HAD TOLD ME OF MY FATHERS DEATH . SHE TOLD ME TO GIVE MY HUSBAND HIS LAST RIGHTS WHILE HE WAS STILL ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I WAS ASKING HIM . I MAY HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE AFTER LIFE BUT AT THAT MOMENT WHEN I ASKED MY HUSBAND DO YOU BELIEVE IN GOD AND JESUS AND THE HOLY SPRITE HIS REPLY WAS VERY MUCH YES I ALSO ASKED HIM TO WATCH OVER US AND PROTECT US AND HE SAID HE WOULD. YOU HAVE TO HAVE KNOWN MY HUSBAND HE BELIEVED IN GOD BUT IN HIS OWN WAY. HE WAS NOT INTO RELIGION AND WOULD GO TO CHURCH WITH THE FAMILY MOSTLY TO INSTILL VALUES IN THE CHILDREN. HIS ANSWER TO ME THAT DAY WAS FROM SOME ONE WHO TRULY BELIVED AND I BELIEVE HE HAD PEACE IN HIM AND UNDERSTANDIN THAT I COULD ONLY ACHIEVE WHEN MY TIME COMES.

AS FOR HIS WATCHING OVER US IN JULY OF THIS YEAR MY DAUGHTER WAS IN A VERY BAD CAR ACCIDENT SHE AND A FRIEND WHERE HIT WHILE DRIVING A FORD EXPOLOR THE CAR DID A COMPLET FLIP OVER BOTH GIRLS HAD ON THERE SEATBELTS AND THEY BOTH WALKED AWAY WITH MINOR BRUSES. THE CAR WAS TOTALED . I TRULY FEEL HER FATHER WAS WITH HER THAT DAY AND HE DID IN FACT WATCH OVER HER.

WHEN MY HUSBAND DIED THE NITE BEFOR IT WAS DIFFCULT FOR HIM TO BREATH I STAYED WITH HIM GIVING HIM MEDINCE AND TRYING TO MAKE HIM COMFORTABLE WHEN HE FELL A SLEEP IT WAS A PEACEFUL SLEEP. THE NEX MORING I AROSE EARLY HE WAS STILL ASLEEP SO PEACEFUL I WAS CONCERNED BUT I JUST COULDN'T BRING MYSELF TO WAKE HIM FOR HIS MEDICINE. AFTER A WHILE I NOTICE HIS WAS SWEATING A LOT AND THIS WOULD HAPPE WHEN HE HAD JUST GOTTEN OVER A HIGH FEVER. BUT HE HAD NO FEVER I RUBBED HIM DRY AND STROKED HIS HEAD HE WAS STILL ASLEEP LIKE A BABY I TRIED TO GIVE HIM THE MEDINCE THAT CONTROLLED HIS FEVERS BUT HE COULDN'T TAKE IT I KNEW THAN HE WAS AT DEATHS DOOR. HE HAD A SMALL SMILE ON HIS LIPS LIKE A BABY WHEN WE SAY THEY ARE DREAMING OF ANGLES I GUESS HE WAS REALLY WITH ANGLES I SPOKE TO HIM THROUGH MY TEARS AND TOLD HIM WE ALL LOVED HIM AND WOULD MISS HIM I RUBBED HIS HEAD AND KISSED HIM. HE TOOK ONE LAST SOFT BREATH AND HE WAS GONE. I SAT WITH HIM THE WHOLE DAY HOLDING HIS HAND. MY DAAUGHTER AND HER OLDER BROTHER WHERE HOME

My aunt was very sick for many years before her death. She was able to be at home until the very end. She fought valiantly for her life. But at the end, in the hospital, where she needed to be because she was so sick, she was surrounded by her husband and all of her children and grandchildren. My uncle could not be in the room with her because he was so grief stricken. Finally, she aksed to be alone with just him. They were together for over an hour. When they were finished talking, she asked all of the others to come back into the room. She died about an hour later. It was if she needed my uncle's help to let go in order for her to be ready to go. I think that was an important lesson for me. We are the living who mourn her, but we also had to help her go. I think it was the ultimate gift and act of love for her. I think of her all the time and I still feel her presence.

Three years ago, we lost our dear son Kent, from an unidentifiable virus. Since then, the CDC has sent an update that said they found a virus from the 'La crosse" variety in his brain cells. This virus is spread by mosquitos.

Since we lost our son, I have been on a journey through my soul. I have looked inside and out, addressed all of my beliefs and I know the following to be true.

I will see our son again, when I have crossed over to the other side, where he is now.

God is love and love is God. Those who do not trust in God, will not be rejected by Him. They will still be enfolded within his arms, but they will have to compensate for their actions. They will learn the hard way.

Reincarnation is a belief that makes sense to me. It is in living that we find the hell that makes us pay for our actions, if that is necessary. It is also in living that we experience joy. The joys here on earth are just a speck of what we will find when we cross over into Gods loving arms.

My sweet son is a part of me. and I will carry him with me wherever I go. I do not fear death. Why should we fear what is the gateway to a refreshing new beginning?

It was within the last year that my belief in afterlife has come into being. I truly believe each and everyone of us is here for eternity. I am into self discovery. I still have alot of questions. I do alot of reading up in this area.

After viewing this program on PBs, I feel relief in hearing, that from the doctor's opinion, the final gurgling breath is not so much of suffocation as I though it was. My mother died 2 years ago from lung cancer, and was actually blessed to have passed on before she got too thin or in pain. Her final day was one of my ignorance, and it was like a dream. I only learned of the final signs of impending death after it had already happened. I thank God that the morphine she was on, may have made her lack of breath not as painful as I imagined. She was comfortable, in my home, and loved at the end. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to have cared for her (though I still feel I could have done more if I weren't in such a daze or denial). This program reassured me that I followed her wishes and she went fairly comfortably on to her eternal life within a day of her decline.

I wish I had a more definite belief. I have only a hope that Heaven exists, or some form of immortality. If Heaven does exist, the first thing I'd like to hear when I get there is, "Here are all your family and friends. So glad you're here."

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