Hi Trevor…I just came across this site today while exploring articles about secrets and shame etc. I have a few things to purge. Great idea Lori !

You said, “nobody replied to this topic” so I felt compelled to respond. I’m someone who has dedicated his life to finding answers to these types of questions, so I could respond in quite a bit of detail, however, that doesn’t seem pragmatic. Also, I am sensitive to the idea of offering advice on spiritual matters, albeit, thats exactly what I am trained to do. I’ve explored a body of spiritual knowledge that offers many prescriptions for the many types of souls…so I like to think of myself as a spiritualGP (general practitioner) guiding a person to that path that best suits them, however, I have myself settled in on the path that I feel and have been taught, aims at the highest goal. Still, almost every path claims that too. What to do? There is a very confusing spiritual market place out there. However, just as 2+2 = 4 is a fundamental foundation in math, sequentially within all school grades, from grade one to grade 12, similarly, there are degrees of knowledge as you ascend the spiritual ladder. Pure Love is the goal, but knowledge is the initial bridge to getting there. One cannot begin learning calculus in grade one anymore than one can answer the types of questions you’ve asked, without guidance and learning the basics about reincarnation and other principles, that do definately exsist.

I don’t believe you are “thinking too much.” On the contrary, you sound like a person who is searching for answers to life’s most important questions. You’ve mentioned reincarnation, merging with God, do we stop exsisting?, who is the ‘maker’ of our own decisions?, and you’ve mentioned the love and affection we feel for those closest to us, and where do those feelings go or perhaps, the question is, what are those feelings to begin with? You’ve opened the pandora’s box of ultimate questions!

As far as spiritual paths and exploration goes, my general instruction is be like a honey bee. I will recommend a very good “working manual of the universe”, and it belongs to a certain ‘religious’ category. But I am not necessarily suggesting you follow that particular ‘religion’, but what I’m suggesting is, whether its your path or not, always be like a honey bee, collecting nectar,the truth- the essence- without getting caught by the form (religion) it must be delivered in. Because we live in a ‘concrete’ world so to speak, there has to be SOME type of delivery device. There is therefore, love and knowledge within all religions but some are grade 2 and some are post secondary calculus.

I can tell you the answers to these questions are absolutely out there. That you have such an inquisitive mind, asking such questions, is a positive thing. The most positive. The answers are sitting right within your heart. Cultivate a relationship with the Intelligence that lives there in your heart, beside your own soul, and Who journeys with you always and forever. I think you are searching for that ‘Reality the Beautiful’. To assist you with some much needed coordinates, I suggest you get yourself a copy of “The Bhagavad Gita, As It Is” by A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Begin your journey here, and see if the co-ordinates spoken in this ancient book resonate with you.

Among my own convictions: I believe that the “who” in the question, who are we?…is the Soul. I believe that that Soul is eternal and indestructible and never dies. That’s very good news! No death to the soul, therefore, no need to fear death at all. Also, in reference to your “scariest” fear of ‘merging into God’- this is one of the most crucial issues you’ve mentioned, and your fears are more than valid. I would respond by suggesting, that not only can the soul NOT cease to exsist, I would suggest the same of your individuality. Your individuality cannot cease to exsist either. However, “Merging into God” or the “Oneness” is the utmost valid fear for any individual and just so happens to be THE fundamental issue (and not just philosophically) which distinguishes real spiritual truth from its opposite. The spiritual goal of ‘merging’ into the oneness, represents the greatest obstacle and firewall built into the matrix of so called self-realization. Relationship with ‘God’ IS EVERYTHING; losing your eternal individuality is spiritual suicide. Therefore, this fear is the greatest fear known to any self-conscious being. Non- exsistance is the greatest fear known to man. And you just so happened, to make reference to that most important fear. This in itself, and your questions, indicates to this ‘GP’ that you are perhaps a far more elevated spiritual practitioner than you may yourself realize. Whatever the case, begin your journey and hold fast to sincerity. Good luck from the EVER-WELLWISHERS.