Pranam. I and my sister were traveling together in a car. She died in a car accident and I survived without any injury. I am not able to accept and feel that I couldn’t or didn’t do anything. She was the one who was taking care of her family, including financials as her husband was not working. Her son is having problems after he suffered brain injury from the accident. I am not at ease. Why did she die and not me? Where is her soul? What happens after death? How do I ask for forgiveness? It’s been two weeks now after her death. Pranam.
—HK, USA
Blessings, HK. Very sorry to hear of this tragic circumstance in your life. It gives great pause for reflection and I am glad that you are able to ask these questions. As you know, Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita says: “The soul is immortal. The soul never dies.” Even so this experience is very difficult but these words hold great hope. It would be helpful to try to meditate upon them. We each have very different karma, perfectly designed by God to truly fulfill us and liberate us. This too we must learn to trust in and build our faith.
Your sister is now in the astral world on the journey of her soul. She will feel the blessings you send to her and she will give to you forgiveness if you feel this is what is needed. She continues as well to grow on a soul level. You might find the chapter “The Resurrection of Sri Yukteswar” from Autobiography of a Yogi a helpful thing to read as Yogananda conveys the words of his guru regarding the astral world and what the soul experiences. I have enclosed also Swami Kriyananda’s Astral Ascension Ceremony to be read at the passing of a soul. It is very comforting to those left behind and offers words of encouragement and support to the soul who has journeyed forward.
I pray that you feel peace in your heart and can find the path to understanding and hope, and also that your sister be able to journey forward in love.
In Divine Friendship,
Nayaswami Maria