Imagine, if you will, that the afterlife was not so much a destination, but a journey. A journey where you meet all the people you once knew and get to witness first-hand how they were all faring in life.

You see, with stark clarity, the consequences and the toll that your decisions had on the lives of those whom you once knew. Some of them are prosperous and wildly happy, while others are struggling and unable to move on from the losses they incurred due to the extenuating circumstances that you, yourself, have created.

Now, imagine, if you will, that you were given one final opportunity and chance to make amends from the astral realm. The people whom you hurt cannot see you, hear you, touch you or even fathom the possibility that you are there.

How would you — as an astral being — go about making ammends?

Would you try to explain or justify your actions? You could. But would that alleviate the pain and unnecessary suffering of those whom you have hurt?

Would you try to soothe your guilt by providing aid and other monetary means of compensation? You could. But how long will you be able to continue doing so?

Would you explain how you, yourself, had once been wronged the same way? You could. But two wrongs have never made a right.

Now, imagine once again, if you will, that you are in an afterlife court. This is not a courtroom, as such, but you are in Lord Yama’s personal chambers. You are now awaiting judgment from the sole ruler of the netherworld.

When you stand before him, you have no place to hide your dirty laundry, no lawyer to get you off the hook with clever and sly manoeuvres, and no family members to give false testimony in your favour.

Rather, all you see is how you’ve hurt, harmed and neglected your duties–not just to others, but also to yourself.

What would your reaction be if I told you that the judge that had been assigned by Lord Yama to preside over the trial was the person whom you had hurt the most irreparably? Will they grant you leniency and mercy; or will they punish you with the full force of the authority that has been vested in them?

Will they choose to let you off the hook with a fine and a prison sentence or will they condemn you to an endless existence in the arms of the wrath of eternal fire?

Are these hypothetical questions I am asking?

I cannot say for sure.

The jury is adjourned.