This is a deep question and so anyone seriously considering it will need to probe deeply before they are in a position to offer a meaningful opinion. The boundaries (as defined by conventional, staid, science) of what life is, and of what death is, and at exactly what point and observing what specific criteria it can be confidently claimed life transitions to death, have proven to be a moving target. Just as the definition of what constitutes a 'species' is different now to the definition of 70 years ago, because advances in understanding have forced a re-think . . . and the thinking continues . . . after a fashion.
Yes Only the physical body dies The Soul does not die, it just moves out of the physical body, residing in its Spiritual body, till it reincarnates so as to work out Karma. We keep coming back until the Ego no longer exists, and the separation that we create dissolves and the separate drop of the ocean of consciousness merges into the ocean and the separation disappears and we become one with the ocean. A simple explanation to the fact that we create the separation through our attachment to our Ego thinking that we are separate from God. Lifetime after lifetime we continue through birth and death of the physical bodies til we realize our true Self. That being totally different from our Egoic self.
This post was edited by Baba at March 12, 2018 10:27 AM MDT
I think it is reasonable to accept what Buddha says "consciousness exists in the stone" which would mean after dearh I exist in a state of consciousness like the stone, not exactly 100% dead but no awareness of time , space or material stuff like before my life began. Consciousness is the basis of life; consciousness exists in every particle of the universe.
Buddha -"consciousness exists in the stone, sleeps in the plant and awakens in the animal".
Oops I read your question to fast assumed 'after death' . Um yes I do believe in life before death even if I were just hanging on by a thread.
This post was edited by Kittigate at March 12, 2018 10:27 AM MDT
Absolutely, the wise counsel given in God's word is: "whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might, for there is no work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the Grave, where you are going." (Ecclesiastes 9:10)
Yes I do because I believe what you do in this life effects what happens to you after this life is over.
This post was edited by rusureamisure? at March 16, 2018 12:21 PM MDT
We should believe in living the best life before death and the best life after death. According to HQ 2:28 we go through two stages of death and two stages of life. It mentions those stages in the following rhetorical question: "How can you reject [the existence of the creator] God when [seeing that] you were dead [lifeless, non-existent] and He gave you life [existence] then He will [most certainly] cause you to die , and then bring you [backagain] whereupon it will be unto Him [who granted you existence and life in the first place] that you will return?"