Do you believe in ghosts?

[Muslimwoman]

Hi Chris

May I ask a personal question. If Mark did communicate with you, do you think you would accept it as from Mark or would you think it is from your desire to be with your brother again?

Would it depend on what message you heard or saw?

Salaam

[China Cat Sunflower]

Well, that's kinda what I'm trying to explain, Sally. I'm trying to avoid wanting it because that will ruin my objectivity. I'm trying to stay in a neutral, yet open state. I'm not sure that's possible, though. I think, though, that if Mark can communicate he will. We are super close, and that's what I would do if the situation were reversed. I'm not sure what form that may take, so I don't want to close up to some possible means for that communication by deciding that it must be a certain way that I might be predisposed toward because of the prevalent cultural mythology of such things. It's hard to explain.

[Muslimwoman]

I hope Mark can communicate with you Chris, truly I do, if ever there was a man that would have something to say to you after passing it would be Mark and I am sure it would give you peace of mind to know that he is at peace.

I also hope you can avoid thinking about it, as time passes. I would hate you to be disappointed if he is unable to communicate.

My belief is that there are so many things in this life we do not understand. We talk of ghosts/spirits communicating with us and often see that as a white hazy image speaking to us. Perhaps our loved ones can communicate in more subtle ways. Maybe one day you will turn left instead of right and avoid an accident, or decide to do something out of character which has a good result. Perhaps that is how Mark will communicate with you, without you ever being aware of it?

Salaam
Sally

[AndrewX]

I think this all makes perfect sense, Chris, and I wonder ... perhaps Mark might choose the method of a vivid dream to communicate with you? A friend of mine from work used to communicate in this way with her mother. She is quite open to the possibility, has always had an interest in these sorts of things, and defines herself as a Christian ... yet with a strong interest in Gnostic, even `New Age' teachings. (Her mother was the one initiating the dreams, btw, and it was quite easy for her to tell that this was not just a case of wishful thinking, or wish fulfilment at the subconscious level ... sometimes, lucid dreams do occur, in which we know - that something "beyond us" is at work.)

I think it is of prime importance to be open to the possibility. If we look for it too hard, or expect it come via a specific form, we may close ourselves to what is really there. As it is, I believe our friends and relatives MAY sometimes choose to communicate with us via a number of ways. One is through dreams, and these, when they are meant to make it into our outer awareness, almost always do. If the message (or need to be aware of our loved ones) is important enough, several dreams may need to recur ...

Other methods may include communiation via a medium, or perhaps the relaying of something via a 3rd party.

And yes, I think we can influence the possibilities most strongly, either by our positive, or negative expectations ... or beliefs. But is this not the case with all else in life? Not that I can simply will my way into Nirvana, or believe strongly enough and precipitate (materialize) a horse!

But then, in fact, this is exactly what I believe, if the truth be told. I'm just not "there" yet ...

Anyway, best of luck to you, Chris. If you hear nothing, then you probably know well enough - that all is well. Still, it's nice to get some reassurance, and I suspect there are forces at work to make sure that anything which needs to get through, will get through.

Peace,

~Andrew

[greymare]

when my father died i was very devasted. of course you would expect that. I had a little other trauma as well going on at the time. I could have become a lost person but i thankfully didnt. I wanted my father so much to come and rescue me from my predicament. Of couse he could not. gradually I got my life back together and it was only then that I noticed the things in my life that resembled his work. his strength. Those things are very personal but please be assured that even though I know he has physically left, he could never leave me. He tried his entire life to give me and my sisters a good life and the best foundation to be good people. that is my legacy to my children. just be good citizens. that is all. love the grey

[17th Angel]

Originally Posted by Postmaster

For many of us out there we do believe that the mind is limited to only the human body. However is it possible for a soul or a spirit to make a physical appearance on earth? The answer for me is yes. However it takes a special kind of human and a special kind of Ghost to make the appearance possible by some sort of connection.

I...... see.... dead, people... Heh. No I don't believe in ghosts... They are to me like Santa clause, easter bunny, tooth fairy and the lochness monster..

[InLove]

For me, "ghosts" would not be the word I would use. But I very clearly "saw" two loved ones--a husband who passed on after a very long and serious illness, and my grandmother. I saw my husband immediately when I came home and insisted on being alone for a few minutes the day he "died". I saw him completely healed, jumping around and clicking his heels together, and saying, "Look, Deb! Look what I can do!" Ain't it great?" It was such a comfort. Anyway, I was totally awake when I saw this. I won't go into the details of how I saw my grandmother, as it would take a while to explain. But I saw her in a very clear dream. But bear with me just a bit...

Whether what I saw was actually how things are for my loved ones "on the other side" I don't know. I'm a spiritual-type person, so I wonder if it was simply "God's" way of letting me know they were okay. Some might say it was just my brain creating a way to comfort itself (sorry, I know that I am being awkward). But then, I believe in an intelligent Creator. So if that Creator could dream up a way to make something as complicated as the human brain, then surely "He" could devise a way to communicate with that creation. All I know is that there are certain things that happen in my life that are so significant that they remain extremely clear. These "visions" I tell you about are like this.

I have not "seen" my mother yet, but my daughter did. It was beautiful, and we thought Dad would dismiss it as just wishful thinking or typical dreaming. We hesitated to tell him about it, afraid it would somehow upset him, but to our surprise, he was very comforted by it. I think that the reason I have not seen Mom in the way I did others is that she and I were just so close that she is simply "with me". I just feel her, and as time goes by, this becomes more apparent to me.

I know I sound looney to some folks. But that's okay. I just want you to know that I would never make something like this up just to sound mystical or spiritual or anything. This is really how it is for me. I tell this in the hope that it might be a comfort to someone else. It seems wrong of me not to share these experiences where I think it is appropriate.

InPeace,
InLove

[Muslimwoman]

Originally Posted by AndrewX

and it was quite easy for her to tell that this was not just a case of wishful thinking, or wish fulfilment at the subconscious level ...

Hi Andrew

Please could you expand on this. How could she tell it was real and not just what her mind was 'wanting' to see/hear? Having never experienced anything like this I just can't work out how we could know the difference, is it just a matter of believing it?

Salaam
Sally

[Faithfulservant]

Chris have you had any vivid dreams about him yet? Im saying yet because I believe you will just as I believe everyone does that needs comfort. I had one of my dad that has carried me through that last 22 years.

I walked out the back door and my dad was sitting there and he looked so beautiful to me. I started crying and asked him to take me with him that I wanted to die so I could be with him and he said to me "No baby.. not yet... soon though" And he hugged me.. I can even remember the feel smell and the exact inflection in his tone. That dream brought me out of a stage of grief that was borderline suicidal at the age of 13. I had a comfort that I would see him again and an understanding that whenever that was would be soon enough compared to eternity.

[Vajradhara]

Namaste Cavalier,

thank you for the post.

Originally Posted by cavalier

You say this is the traditional view, is it a view you share? I'm curious.

based upon my own experiences, yes, this is a view that i share. i am rather non-traditional in my own approach to the tradition and i would always suggest that beings form their own views with regards to these things.. especially as it has little relevance on ones praxis.

thus far, every aspect of the Buddhist teachings that i am able to test has been confirmed in a positive manner by my experience.. though i am not able to test many aspects of the teachings yet due to the paucity of my own practice.

metta,

~v

[zeras]

Asalaamulikum,

noo have not seen a ghost in my life,
but it would also be contradictory if someone was dead and was in his/her spiritual -like body to be here on earth. I do belive in Jinns aka Spirits. The Qu'ran and Hadiths are good examples what they are like. well Simply, they are like humans that they can choice to be good or bad! This is where I think it is contradictory to Christian idea of Trinity, the Holy Ghost, or now called Holy Spirit. When it is clear that this is taking about Archangel
Gabreal {SA}, how sent messages from god to messengers of all diffrent times. Gabreal {SA} is an Angel, like it says in the last testament (Qu'ran), and in Old testament (Torha aka Jaburr) and
new testament (Bible aka engill). Also Iblis was Jinn who was around the angels and in the heavens, that meant he was highly respected. Remember like I said Jinn like human can choice. And Iblis didn't obey to God's command to show respect his creation of man, called Adam {SA}. Both man or Jinn can be called Sayyitean aka Satan in english, which is a title given to well bad people. But question people say the most can people see them, well yes, some can if a Jinn choices make themsevls apear before human if they want and they can take diffrent forms like a person or animal and etc..
So what should we do if we see Jinns we should show respect, like we show respect to everyone else, what happens if it a bad Jinn?! than you should avoid, just like you would avoid a hostile human or not to let them take control of you.

Salaamulikum

[mee]

[quote=cavalier;115867]I wonder though, if these are the ghosts of people, or if they are spirits(good and bad) taking on the form of people.

quote]
that is almost spot on , but it would only be the bad rebellious angels or demons that would be pretending to be dead loved ones , the Good angels would not be doing that because they would be doing the right things inline with Gods purpose. and pretending to be dead people is not a good thing in the eyes of the most high.