My Library

This process is at best a very gradual one, and it might well happen that the man died before it was half completed. In that case there would undoubtedly be enough matter of the lowest sub-plane left in his astral body to ensure him no inconsiderable residence there ; but it would be matter through which in this incarnation his consciousness had • never been in the habit of functioning, and as it coui'd not suddenly acquire this habit the result would be that the man would re§t upon that sub-plane until his share of its matter was disintegrated, but would be all the while in a condition of unconscious/iess— that is to say, he would practically sleep through the period of his sojourn there, and so would be entirely unaffected by its many disagreeables.
It may be said in passing that communication is limited on the astral plane by the knowledge of the entity, just as it is here. While a pupil able to use the mind-body can communicate his thoughts to the human entities there present more readily and rapidly than on earth, by means of mental impressions, the inhabitants of the plane are not usually able to exercise this power, fyut appear to be restricted by limitations similar to those that prevail on earth, though perhaps less rigid. The result of this is that they are found associating, there as here, in groups drawn together by common sympathies, beliefs, and language.