From the time the first man and woman opened their eyes and contemplated creation, people have feared death and aspired to an afterlife. From ancient times, the great faiths have consoled and challenged the living with the promise that death is not life's end but its transformation -- either an eternity of perfect joy, or reincarnation. They concur that the values we hold in life determine the quality of our eternity, from the bliss of paradise to the solitude of hell. In Ten Thoughts to Take into Eternity, David Yount explores many different visions of the afterlife and explains how they can help us transform the everyday realities of our lives -- our fears, foibles, and illusions -- into serenity and hope.
Beginning with testimony of survivors of near-death experiences, the author uses inspirational quotations from the Bible, Shakespeare, and other great artists, philosophers, and theologians to explore the changing conceptions of the afterlife throughout the ages. Ten Thoughts to Take into Eternity helps us to answer such questions as, What is the role of sensual passion in the afterlife? and Will we still have love after death? Rather than regarding heaven as a distant reward for righteousness, the author reveals how enlightened men and women can capture the eternal moment every day -- living in the light of their destiny through meditation, love, and celebration. Each chapter is devoted to one of these ten thoughts:
* Death doesn't hurt -- life does.
* You are not the first person to make this trip.
* You can take it with you.
* This trip is not a vacation.
* You are not going somewhere, but to someone.
* You are not ready, but it doesn't matter.
* Be prepared for surprises.
* You are leaving nothing behind.
* You have been preparing all your life for this.
* Enter eternity laughing.
Thought-provoking, personal, and inspiring, Ten Thoughts to Take into Eternity is authoritative and faithful to religious tradition. It embraces the hopes of believers and the aspirations of seekers.