Death-consciousness

General Theravada topics
1

What is so special about the death-consciousness?
The death-thought also known as death-consciousness is the final thought of a life that makes the connection to the next life. It is the connecting bridge between this world and the next world. If the final thought became a good thought; he will be born either in 6 heaven
worlds or in any human world. If the final thought became a bad sinful thought; he will be born in 4 categories of hell worlds.

The 4 categories of hell worlds are;

  1. Asura Ghost worlds.
  2. Various other inhuman worlds.
  3. Various animal kingdoms.
  4. 136 Hell worlds.

What are the good thoughts that connect to a good world? Any thought that contains None-love, loving-kindness, wisdom.
What are the bad thoughts that connect to a bad world? Any thought that contains Love, hatred, ignorance.
At the time of death, all creatures feel or see one of these 3 things.
They are;

  1. A karma did by the creature in the past. That could be even a one
    did in a distant past life.
  2. A sign that was created by one of his most powerful karmas. (karmic
    sign)
  3. The nature of the next world. (environmental sign)

At that time, when the creature feels or sees one of the above three
things, then the creature’s mind immediately clings to it and goes to
the next life accordingly.

If he is a man who did many sinful deeds throughout all his life, then
he may see one of the following signs at the time of his death.

  1. The fire. (certainly connects to a hell world filled with fire)
  2. The flames. (definitely connects to a hell world filled with fire)
  3. Hot water. (connects to a hell world)
  4. Dreadful devils. (connects to a hell world or an inhuman world)
  5. Dangerous animals. (connects to a hell world or an inhuman world
    or an animal kingdom)
  6. A crowd of ghosts. (connects to an inhuman world)
  7. Stolen goods. (connects to any world in 4 categories of hells)
  8. Weapons or anything used in doing sinful actions. (connects to any
    world in 4 categories of hells)
  9. Killed animals. (connects to any world in 4 categories of hells)
  10. Embers. (connects to a hell world)
  11. A forest. (connects to an animal kingdom)
  12. Eggs. (connects to an animal kingdom)
  13. A limitless darkness. (connects to an inhuman world or an animal
    kingdom)

These are a few examples only. There are many karmic and
environmental signs.

If he is a man who did many meritorious deeds throughout all his life,
then he may see one of the following signs at the time of his death.

  1. Divine vehicles. (connects to a heaven world)
  2. A celestial white light. (connects to a heaven world)
  3. Astral colors. (connects to a heaven world)
  4. Divine mansions. (connects to a heaven world)
  5. Saints. (connects to a heaven world)
  6. Celestial trees. (connects to a heaven world)
  7. Heavenly gardens. (connects to a heaven world)
  8. Divine flowers. (connects to a heaven world)
  9. Womb of a human woman. (connects to a human world)
  10. Human muscles. (connects to a human world)
  11. A worshiping to a saint did on a past date. (connects to a heaven
    world)
  12. A crowd of gods or goddesses. (connects to a heaven world)
  13. Divine cloths. (connects to a heaven world)
  14. Divine foods. (connects to a heaven world)

These are a few examples only. There are many karmic and environmental signs.

(This information is from the Practical Meditation Guide By A Forest Monk book.)

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