What do you believe heaven looks like?

Remember that in all kinds of societies (be it human or more bodiless ;-)) there always seem to be some strings attached. Desires that create conflicts that create suffering. So how would a heavenly society be structured? Can you construct it in your mind? Where you will want to spend all eternity?

I believe we can only be there if we can reach the point of being able to perfectly and selflessly give and receive love, and show compassion for others. Well then, once every soul is like that, it's perfect. Or not? Wouldn't it be boring? Nothing else to strive for? Remember again, it'd be for all eternity. ;-)

I'm asking this question because I believe you can only go to heaven if you are able to describe it in the first place and more or less conclusively. ;-)

asked 31 Mar '10, 19:47

herzmeister's gravatar image

herzmeister
1.9k3719


A microcosm of heaven can be experienced while here on earth, during periods of deep meditation in which a divine connection with the Universe or Source is present, and bliss occurs.

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answered 31 Mar '10, 20:33

Vesuvius's gravatar image

Vesuvius
32.7k1165201

Thanks for your answer Vesuvius. Yes I also had this nice experience once where I 'saw the light' which seemed to me was the source of all souls. That even gave me a sense of a 'cosmic community', so meditation is not a lonely path. :-) ... Although many questions have been answered for me back then, I still like to ask in a more playful way if this is all there is, and if we come to this earth sometimes for a challenge because we're bored. ;-)

(02 Apr '10, 15:36) herzmeister

I agree with Vesuvius - I think Heaven can be experienced while meditating and one is in complete union with the Divine Source from where we originate. Most people who have attained this state feel that words are inadequate to describe it. Rather than being a visual experience I tend to think it is more of a feeling experience.

I have had fleeting moments of bliss during meditation and I think you're right that we can only realize Heaven when we can love selflessly. As for it being boring if we all reach that transcendent state,I too have pondered this which prompted me to ask this question - http://www.inwardquest.com/questions/3352/does-god-or-source-have-an-ultimate-goal-or-purpose-in-mind

I don't have a visual image of what Heaven looks like - I tend to think it is a state and not a place.

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answered 31 Mar '10, 22:33

Michaela's gravatar image

Michaela
35.0k22577

Yes you have asked essentially the same question. I also like LeeAnn's "reports we send back home" answer, that's exactly my view. God's all-knowingness maybe wouldn't be without our contributions and that is what we're here for.

(02 Apr '10, 15:41) herzmeister

Hi herzmeister, the image of heaven you are depicting is completely different from the one described in the bible. Also how to get there (the way you mentioned) is not the same path as the one prescribed in the bible. Let me elaborate.

From a biblical perspective,

What is heaven like: Consider these biblical passages. Read it in a literal sense. There are no hidden meaning here.

Revelation 21:1-5; 1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Matthew 6:19-20; 19 ¶ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

John 3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

These are a few passages of heaven. Some of them come in forms of parables. The word “parable” signifies a comparison between two objects. Nothing more, nothing less. Many parables contain the words 'is like' to represent similitude's. This was a way for the crowds to understand heavenly or spiritual truths. Which unfortunately, most never got, as it is today.

In this case the parables of heaven. Jesus spoke with terminology and illustrations that the regular folk knew and could grasp. He explained 'heaven' using these illustrative devices. Thus, a parable may contain one main word which is used to mirror another singular concept or object.

Now, if heaven is pretty much already described in the bible, why would I attempt to imagine one? Can I (or you) imagine something better than that? For myself, I will stick to what is already prepared.


You also asked, "Wouldn't it be boring? Nothing else to strive for? ...it'd be for all eternity."

People on earth strive for peace, love, joy, happiness and such like. Once they achieve this state, they would not want to trade it for the world. They don't want to come back to the strife they had once known to re-struggle to get back up there again. Once you reach this state, you do not want anything less.

Think about this awhile. Do you like the state you are presently in? Aren't you striving for a happier life? Do you like being sad, stressed, unhappy, agitated, miserable, discontented, sorrowful, having hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, envyings, disagreement, disharmony, fights, discord, disunity, etc, etc. in your life? I didn't think so.

The world we are presently in, gives us more of the opposite or negative states that man generally lives by i.e. the opposite of peace, love, joy, happiness, etc. and we are constantly striving for its opposites.

If we on earth are truly striving for this state of with all the winds of adversity against us, wouldn't getting it without any struggle be bliss? I think once in this state, who would be bored.

Boredom a lower vibrational frequency on the Emotional Guidance Scale. This state, I highly suspect will not be in heaven. What I believe will be there is Joy/Appreciation/Empowered/Freedom/Love/Passion/Enthusiasm/Eagerness/Happiness.

Think of it, when you want to 'manifest' anything, the only thing to remember is "do nothing else but get happy" (stingray) and the processes are there for you to have fun with. So you want to be in this constant state. Heaven seems to have these ingredients in its mix.


You also mentioned, "I believe we can only be there if we can reach the point of being able to perfectly and selflessly give and receive love, and show compassion for others...I believe you can only go to heaven if you are able to describe it in the first place and more or less conclusively"

I want you to notice your thought. There is the element of doing. I have bold your words in your statement.

This is an idea that is prevalent in the world. Most everyone on earth thinks they have to do something to go to heaven. 98-99% of all religions has this "what you have to do to go to heaven" thing. The classic one is, "you have to be part of this (insert a name here) religious group or you will never make it."

The bible on the other hand, is completely on the other side of the spectrum. Going to heaven is a free gift, plus minus nothing. It is what God did for you, and not the other way around, what you can do.

Consider these verses.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ephesians 2:8-9; 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.


As for your other question, "Where you will want to spend all eternity?" In the heaven that God describes and going there his way!

That's the way I understand it.

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answered 31 Mar '10, 23:34

Frank%201's gravatar image

Frank 1
1.6k1816

Thanks for your elaborate answer, Frank. I agree with most you say, my question was also a bit tongue-in-cheek, as there are so many religious followers who are obsessed going to heaven, but aren't really able to describe a little piece/peace of it in the first place, at least not in a way that sounds like a place where I would like to be. ;-)

(02 Apr '10, 15:51) herzmeister

Although I do not believe that the Bible is the only "permitted source" to spiritual inspiration and wisdom, I surely do respect much of its content. The first passage speaks of letting go of all our earthly, material attachments, which I totally agree with, as most, if not all of our troubles come from those and the struggle for survival. I think the best way to describe a heavenly state would be that we'd all be playful like children. We may build big sandcastles in heaven but we'd always be ready to detach from them again and not use them to establish monarchies to gain power over others :)

(02 Apr '10, 16:05) herzmeister

Hi herzmeister, I understand your comment about believers that can't answer what heaven is like amongst other bible questions. That is a sad state of affairs. They're the ones, in my opinion giving the bible a bad name. It's like a bad company rep. Oh the damage he can do for his company. On a side note, heaven, to what is described in the bible is an amazing place. I just quoted a few verses. For your 2nd comment, I respect your position totally. It took a while before the bible become my standard to judge everything by. Before I move from any position I have, I say show me the ...

(02 Apr '10, 20:28) Frank 1

...data and facts. I search, deduce, judge, etc. to get to a solid answer with what info I have. About earthly possessions, that is one spiritual application you can draw from it. Remember to read Rev. 21 literally. I'm saying this with the bible knowledge I have. I came to this understanding with with time. I guess if you have an opportunity to see what I did, maybe you'd look at it different. Thanks for your question.

(02 Apr '10, 20:37) Frank 1
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Any possible dream you can Imagine, and thats just a start.

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answered 02 Apr '10, 03:54

Roy's gravatar image

Roy
4.6k11840

That's the point of my question. How much can we imagine? ;-)

(02 Apr '10, 15:42) herzmeister

Heaven is a state of mind; it is not a physical existence. We can all be in heaven everyday if we allow ourselves to experience it. Also if there is Heaven out there then there must be a Hell out there too. And if Heaven is out there then why have this earthly experience?

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answered 06 Apr '10, 18:27

Drham's gravatar image

Drham
7.5k1165

There will be cigarettes and real good whiskey in heaven.So for me it will be a smokey bar with a band playing. (I don't smoke anymore and and real good whiskey is out of my price range right now ;) )

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answered 06 May '10, 06:54

ursixx's gravatar image

ursixx
22.0k11445

Not bad, although I've never liked my clothes' smell of cigarette smoke after attending clubs and bars. I surely do hope they have some remedy for that in heaven. ;-)

(22 May '10, 12:41) herzmeister

in your heaven they will peace :D

(24 May '10, 22:02) ursixx

I have been to Heaven a bunch of times in my dreams, consciously traveling to get there. I can say this each time was different as if there are many kingdom lands you can go to.

One I remember most vivid was what seemed like a misty cloudy place but there were hundreds or thousands of people unaware traveling in a daze gliding here and there without noticing each other or bumping into each other.

Another time I remember it looked more like Mt Olympus marble and gold and bright light.

Another time it looked more like just a beautiful place there were clouds but also land light similar to how Tibet looks in the clouds.

Each time I tried to get there i can say this, I was there only as an observer so there was no experience being there it was all just seeing, no sensing or feeling at all.

Maybe this was because my intent was the "see" Heaven not "experience" Heaven?

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answered 03 Apr '10, 10:22

Wade%20Casaldi's gravatar image

Wade Casaldi
36.9k429107

Sounds like you were travelling to places in the astral realms that people created for themselves as their imagination of "heaven"? But I believe, as the astral realms are still part of our emotional and thus "attachy" world, the "real" heaven must be beyond those places?

(03 Apr '10, 12:32) herzmeister

Yes that fits with a lot of teachings of mystery schools we see what we expect. That can be a curse or an amazing blessing depending on if we fear and expect bad or if we are explorers and want to see everything. Like the great library of Alexandra is there if you look and anything actually if you think it.

(04 Apr '10, 07:07) Wade Casaldi

I think and believe that The heaven is the best manifestation of co-creation.

Heaven consists of the best resources of Universe (Creation) validated by our best wishes, what we dare imaginate and what we dare feel. Therefore Heaven contains the best universal basic offers, shaped by our best, very individual, abilities.

By contrast (Law of Pollarity), Hell is also an individual, very personal co-creation, founded on the Universe's (Creation) offers.

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answered 06 May '10, 08:21

Gleam's gravatar image

Gleam
1.8k1437

Whether there is higher state to be considered as heavenly, but since there must be different level of humanity (from lower to higher rank), then there must be visual state (experiencing places, division, duality), and related to this case, we can think of it based on essential pillars.

Generally there must be essential pillars for us to visualize the environment of heaven.

It asserts that essentially there are the sameness in wherever we find location for intelligent being similar to human.

  • Since there are steps, then there must be process (whether it will take short steps or even longer, subjectively) on heaven.
  • Since there are degrees, then there are degrees on heaven, whether we will find a simple people, a shinny people and respectable people. Different acceptance, different level of accessing, and so forth
  • Since we do social, then heaven must have a place for social meeting
  • Since there are families, then there will be possibility for the member of our family exist in heaven.
  • Since we need private, then heaven must have a house, a private room
  • Since love is one of goodness, then heaven must have the way for us to apply love, however it is
  • Since love essentially has relation with tenderness, then there must be super (perfection for) tenderness on heaven
  • Since there are always differences, then, ...

    • there are combinations, therefore there will be various things on heaven
    • there are adjustments on heaven, therefore there are limitation, teaching, learning on heaven
  • Since there were confusion left behind previously when we lived on earth (before we die), then there must be answer, explanation for our confusion

  • Since there are division, then there is always distance, then there must be a journey, an exploration, visiting from one place to another place in heaven.

If we put those all into a simple forms of heaven, we could visualize it as:

  • We have possibility to meet our family and we will be placed at home that typically on heaven. We will get different level of acceptance that would make us having specific level of services, while some other moment we can meet together socialize on specific place, trying to socialize. Learn how to functioning such things differently by following process step by step through teaching to reach better adjustment in between us and for our own needs. Listening to the answers, explanations about our confusion previously when we lived before we die. Applying love relevantly to feel tenderness. And some other moment, together or alone we can have a journey to explore different places on heaven (well, it's time for vacation), whether we will visit our friends or someone else. We will find something new again and again.

How does heaven look like? To the minimum extent, there will be general things representing universal laws and supporting our basic needs, and to the maximum extent, there is no way for us to acknowledge it (at least by now)

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answered 04 Dec '13, 11:01

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Seremonia
2918

edited 04 Dec '13, 11:25

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