Page 227 - Mystic Pathways through the Bible

Chapter Eight
The Kingdom of Heaven Is Within Thee
The terms “Heaven” and “Hell” have had great importance in human society and in the teachings of Christianity over the
ages. Many people consider Heaven or Hell to be planes of existence that one experiences after death according to how good or evil their actions have been while they were alive. In the Vedic tradition, Heaven and Hell play a similar role in the context of astral experience after death. However, in both the teachings of Lord Jesus and in those of enlightened Sages, Heaven and Hell take on a more profound meaning and signi cance.
On a more abstract level, we can consider Hell to be separation from God, while Heaven is abiding in God. Sel shness, pride, greed, lust, violence, hatred, jealousy, hypocrisy and other mental impurities arise from the negation of the Divine Presence in human heart. These lead one to a hellish experience