Читать книгу YEARNING FOR HEAVEN - Irmgard Hetterich - Страница 4

Religions

Different parts of the world had different preachers who had different ideas about life after death. Many followers spread their teachings. (I just read this Article “Heaven Can’t Wait” by Jon Meacham in Time Life Magazine April 16, 2012, and all the following information about different religions is on page 42.) In some parts of the world there are Buddhist of the Pure Land schools who can achieve rebirth in wonderlands that are way stations toward Nirvana –the ultimate cessation of ego and desire. These followers believe in a “Western Paradise” when they follow the teachings of Buddha Amitabha.

For the Tibetan Buddhism there is a Hindu god Shiva and Mount Kailasa in the Himalayas is s holy place.

By Hinduism the great Hindu god Vishnu reposes far above the highest heavens in Vaikuntha, a gathering place for those who have achieved spiritual liberation through him.

Islam believes the dead must await the Day of Resurrection to receive judgment. It provides many details about the rewards and pleasures awaiting the souls who are ushered into heaven who have the privilege of seeing God’s face.

By Judaism the Torah says little about heaven but the works of 16thcentury rabbi Isaac Luria – divided the cosmos into several spheres and layers, thought which move the sparks of souls. The highest of these realms is Atziluth, from which the pure deity emanates.

Taoism – in ancient China, heaven – tian – was not merely sky but a god. The Jade Emperor governs the universe from Da Luo Tian – the highest of 26 heavens – using an intricate celestial bureaucracy that parallels the earthly administration of imperial China.

The religion of Zoroastrianism inspired many an Abrahamic tenet, including the dichotomy of heaven and hell. After death, souls must try to cross a bridge. The blessed will ease over into Garo Demana – the House of Song. The damned head for Drujo – Demana – the House of the Lie.

All these religions are teachings from different people through the centuries and I found the above descriptions in Time Magazine as listed above.