It's a very eastern view to have, that the world is an illusion or that death is as well. But for me there is much to be gained from this idea that death is an illusion.
That's not to say I think murder and killing are sinless acts, I just like the reminder that when one falls at the hands of another their body dies not their soul. Their soul transcends physical death and moves forward into the depths of eternity.
Birth is an illusion too since most of us believe we existed long before our entrance into the world.
Of all the vets I know who've taken lives it eats at most of them. Especially the ones who believe those they killed simply ceased to exist at the point of death.So even though I feel it's still sinful in a way one can argue that since death is an illusion so is murder. In that you can not uncreate a soul.But for all the weight of sin that burdens the minds and lives of those who have taken lives what can lighten that burden is the Atonement. The debt has been paid we need only to take up the mantle of discipleship.
Sin is very real but the Atonement gives us a clean slate as we cross from this world to the next. And it is entirely possible for us to make amends with those we sinned against in this life.
It is stuck in the minds of many that certain sins are deal breakers and unforgivable. This is simply untrue. Were it true that would make the Atonement invalid and obsolete.
All we carry into the next life are memories of time spent with loved ones or coworkers and friends. Memories and the way in which we use them make up who we are.
But there is something deeper that is not affected by the outside world or even the internal. It is and has always been that divine spark that gives us life, that makes us aware of right and wrong instinctually.
It is what is a part of us but also a part of God. It is the true self.
If we removed all our bad habits, all our bad inclinations and were left with a Christlike mentality that would be this true self I'm talking about.
If we expect to attain liberation from sin or from the bondage of our lives and our minds then we must get back to this true self, this Christlike mentality.
Doing so is what will allow for us to be resurrected both figuratively and literally I think.
If we develop this Christlike mentality, if we have this epiphany and realize our true self then we can resurrect the course of our lives into something very divine and share it with all we meet, all we come in contact with.
