The-Tibetan-Book-of-Living-and-Dying

92 THE TIBETAN BOOK OF LIVING AND DYINGfarmers, but Kamaljit Kour's own family were not poor andhad one of the better houses in their village, with a courtyardand garden. What is intriguing about this story is that in facther family in this life felt rather uneasy about the whole business,and worried about "what the neighbors might think."However, what I find most telling is that Rishma's own familyadmitted that, although they did not know much about theirreligion, or even whether reincarnation is accepted or not bySikhs, they were convinced beyond any doubt that KamaljitKour was in fact their Rishma.To anyone who wants to study seriously the possibility of lifeafter death, I suggest looking at the very moving testimoniesof the near-death experience. A startling number of those whohave survived this experience have been left with a convictionthat life continues after death. Many of these had no previousreligious belief at all, or any spiritual experience:Now, my entire life through, I am thoroughly convinced that thereis life after death, without a shadow of a doubt, and I am notafraid to die. I am not. Some people I have known are so afraid,so scared. I always smile to myself when I hear people doubt thereis an afterlife, or say, "When you're dead, you're gone." I think tomyself, "They really don't know." 7What happened to me at that time is the most unusual experienceI have ever had. It has made me realize that there is life afterdeath. 8I know there is life after death! Nobody can shake my belief. Ihave no doubt—its peaceful and nothing to be feared. I don'tknow what's beyond what I experienced, but it's plenty for me...It gave me an answer to what I think everyone really mustwonder about at one time or another in this life. Yes, there is anafterlife! More beautiful than anything we can begin to imagine!Once you know it, there is nothing that can equal it. You justknow! 9The studies on this subject also show that the near-deathexperiencers tend afterward to be more open and inclinedtoward accepting reincarnation.Then again, could not the amazing talents for music ormathematics that certain child prodigies display be attributed