Soon after my mother’s death in 1987, my dad and I took classes together. My dad wrote to my sister Syd about one class we took called, “You Bet Your Life,” offered at the Unitarian Church of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Interestingly, my dad called his higher guide “the Master,” who lives in a deep cave in my father’s psyche. Dad said he can readily access “the Master” anytime he remembers to ask.

The following are the questions and answers.

Dad: “Who am I?”

Master: “You are a conscious, aware entity capable of loving and understanding. Your essence is whole, including mind, body and spirit. And you are a thinking, feeling and willing entity.”

Dad: “How do I know?”

Master: “You learn from the experience of trial and error. Intuition, authority and faith must be tested against these truths. “

Dad: “Who is in charge?"

Master: “God is in charge of what He created as He provides a beautiful physical world for that creation."

Dad: “What is the purpose of life?"

Master: “You must increase your understanding, appreciation and love for God‘s creation. You must serve God‘s art form in your own unique way."

Dad: “What does my death mean?"

Master: “Your death is a new beginning in a new dimension without body but with mind and spirit intact. It affords reunion with loved ones who died prior to your time."

Dad: “I expressed my appreciation for the wise counsel and return to my normal state of consciousness. I continue to ponder these things."

Dad continues: “Can I be sure of these beliefs? Can I bet my life on them? Can I prove these beliefs are true? If so, where or when is the payoff?” (My dad was an accountant).

“Is the payoff after death? If there’s no consciousness after death, there is no payoff or determination of the winner.

“Why not hold these positive beliefs during my life time on earth and find happiness, prosperity and good health?

“The magic word is faith.”

My dad began questioning his own mortality after my mother’s passing. Before his retirement, he was busy going to the office everyday and providing sustenance for his family. He left the Big Questions up to my mother.

The death of a spouse makes the age old questions Real. Life isneat and tidy and suddenly, in the wake of impermanence, the old life is over.

That is what I experienced with Tomaso’s Last Breath. My mother’s death was also a tsunami of revelations in my awareness. I was there when each of them made the great journey to parts unknown- to most of us. OM