What Happens After Death?

Sri Ramana Maharshi

Engage yourself in the living present. The future will take care of itself. Do not worry about the future. The state before creation and the process of creation are dealt with in the scriptures in order that you may know the present. Because you say you are born, therefore they say, yes, and add God created you. But do you see God or anything else in your sleep? If God be real why does He not shine forth in sleep also? You are always - now the same as you were in sleep. You are not different from that one in sleep. But why should there be difference in the feelings or experiences of the two states?

Did you ask, while asleep, the question regarding your birth? or where do I go after death? Why think of all these now in the wakeful state? Let what is born think of its birth and the remedy, its cause and ultimate results. What is birth? Is it of the 'I-thought' or of the body? Is 'I' separate from the body or identical with it? How did this 'I-thought' arise? Is the 'I-thought' your nature or is anything else of your nature?

Who is to ask these questions?

Exactly - that is it. There is no end to it all.

Are we then to keep quiet?

Doubts cease to afflict when the confusion (moha) is surpassed.