I have witnessed Spirit manifestations in many parts of Mystic India. Spirit communication is normal to the open soul, and its highest conditions are as strong in the sacred atmosphere of home and friends as in far-off India. Spiritual thinkers of whatever class or name may well realize that they stand at the verge of a wide field, rich in promise and comfort for those who have near and dear ones who have passed to eternal spirit life.

An old Hindu Priest of Delhi, India, said to a mother, heart-broken at the death of her child: "Be comforted; it is only a separation - a separation and not a parting for you. The dead are not even absent; they are simply invisible to those whose Occult Powers or Inner Sight have not been developed. Every time you think intensely of your baby boy he will be attracted to you." This learned man would say to his friends: "We do not die altogether; our individuality survives us, and while I am talking to you I know for certain that all around me are the Souls of my friends and Astral Guides, who assist me in producing these phenomena which astonish you all."

His last hours were in a sort of trance, in which all his spirit friends came to him, and he looked forward with exceeding joy, speaking in tender and thoughtful affection to those around him, saying, "I am now with my friends," meaning Astral Spirits.

And this is true with all who have died, and death, instead of being sorrow and grief, is simply a beautiful transition of the soul to a higher and purer life, full of light and peace. This is death and is as natural as any of God's laws. Thus it comes, light and peace, but no fear, for as our bodily eyes grow dim our spiritual sight is opened before us and we behold visions of our ascended friends and loved ones who have gone before us. We must be true and fearless and fettered by no superstition, realizing that soul-knowledge is deeper than what the outer senses alone can give, and be in that "spiritual condition" of mind which makes the soul open to the noble influences which sweep through the universe. At death, or when the soul leaves the body and we. stand between the two worlds, light comes to us from spirit life and our souls are lifted up in joy and reverence.

One instance among others which has come under the writer's notice, showing the experiences of the last illness and death of a noble soul and Disciple of Eastern Occultism. I attended his funeral and learned from his daughter something of the last illness of her father, who was over a hundred years of age, with no bodily disease, but only a weariness which led him often to murmur, "How long, O guides, how long." Healthful in mind and serene in soul he waited for the time when his soul would pass to spirit life. For weeks before it came he had visions of his ascended wife and son and of other friends who had died. His beautiful daughter, sitting at his bedside, would hear him quietly and pleasantly carrying on conversations with those whom none but the father could see. Occasionally the daughter would ask, "Father, who are they?" And always a rational and natural answer would be given. This was no fancy of a fevered brain, no excitement, but peace and cheerfulness. Thus came his death, a beautiful transition, full of light and peace, but no fear or terror. He had looked across the border and his spiritual sight had been opened wider as the bodily eyes grew dim.

Such experiences are frequent in India and are of the Hindus rarely beautiful and instructive.

Mist Rising From The Dead Body

Another Hindu girl, watching with her mother by the deathbed of a dying and dearly beloved sister, says, when the end came, she distinctly saw a delicate mist rising from the dead body. When they asked the priest about it he said: "You saw life departing visibly from the physical form." This was at Benares, India.

How many times have persons been present at the beside of a dying friend. The eyes closed, the last breath ceased and they thought their friend was dead. Suddenly the eyes opened; light came back to them; then a look of surprise, admiration, inexpressible; then it passed away. This phenomenon, or the passing of soul, can be witnessed at the death-ted by any one who can properly induce the condition which is commonly called clairvoyance, or, in other words, by the withdrawal of all the attention from other objects and affairs and the concentration of thought and sympathy, as well as sight, on your dying loved ones and friends. You can then clearly see the separation of the spiritual body from the dying physical form, as clairvoyance is finer and farther reaching than the sight of your dull physical eyes.

The spiritual body, which Paul speaks of, is the soul you see passing out of the body at death. With it your personality is not lost by bodily death, you cannot be anything but yourselves after that event any more than now. You shall not be formless and disembodied shadows. You cannot die. Paul says: "Although the outer man perish the inner is renewed day by day," suggesting the thought of an imperishable soul or spirit within the physical body.