This subject of life after death is one of great interest to all of us, not only because we ourselves must certainly one day die, but far more because there can scarcely be any one among us, except perhaps the very young, who has not lost by death someone who is near and dear to us.
The first thought which arises in the mind of the man who sees such a title as this is usually “Can anything be certainly known as to life after death?”
We have all had various theories put before us on the subject by the various religious bodies, and yet we still speak of death as “the king of terrors”, and seem to regard the whole question as surrounded by mystery and horror. The ancients were wiser than we, for they did not associate all these nightmares of gloom with the death of body — partly perhaps because they had a much more rational method of disposing of the body — a method which was not only infinitely better for the dead man and more healthy for the living, but was also free from the gruesome suggestions connected with slow decay. They knew much more about death in those days, and because they knew more they mourned less.
In this book theosophy gives a hand to explain the life after death. There is no gloomy impenetrable abyss beyond the grave, but instead a world of light and life, which may be known to us as fully and accurately as the streets of our own city.
The author says: “We offer in this book you what we know, we speak, for we are dealing with a definite series of facts which we have investigated, and which you yourselves may investigate in turn. And unless this commends itself to you as utterly reasonable, do not rest contented with our assertion; look into these things for yourselves as fully as you can, and then you will be in a position to speak to others as authoritatively as we do”
