Heaven is often described as a transcendent place of ultimate happiness, peace, and communion with the divine. It is frequently depicted as a reward for virtuous living and a place where suffering, pain, and sorrow are absent.
Heaven in Christianity
In Christianity, heaven is the abode of God, angels, and the righteous after death. It is often depicted as a place of eternal joy and communion with God. The New Testament describes heaven as a place where believers will live in the presence of God, free from pain and sorrow (Revelation 21:4). Jesus Christ’s ascension to heaven and his promise to prepare a place for his followers is a cornerstone of Christian belief (John 14:2-3).
Heaven (Jannah) in Islam
Islamic teachings describe heaven (Jannah) as a paradise of physical and spiritual pleasures, reserved for those who have lived righteously and followed God’s guidance. It is a place of gardens, rivers, and eternal bliss, where believers will be in close proximity to God (Quran 41:12). The concept of seven heavens, each more magnificent than the last, is also prevalent in Islamic cosmology.
Heaven (Shamayim) in Judaism
Judaism has varied views on the afterlife, with some traditions emphasizing a spiritual heaven where the righteous dwell with God. The Hebrew Bible often describes heaven as God’s dwelling place, a realm beyond human reach, though some texts hint at a heavenly afterlife for the virtuous (Deuteronomy 10:14).
Heaven (Svarga) in Hinduism
In Hinduism, heaven (Svarga) is a temporary abode for souls who have accumulated good karma. It is a place of pleasure and enjoyment, but not the ultimate goal. The ultimate aim is to achieve Moksha, liberation from the cycle of rebirth, and union with the divine (Brahman).
Heaven (Samsara) in Buddhism
Buddhism views heaven as one of the many realms within samsara, the cycle of birth and rebirth. While it is a place of great pleasure, it is still impermanent. The ultimate goal in Buddhism is to achieve Nirvana, a state beyond all worldly suffering and cycles of rebirth.
A Course in Miracles says heaven is not a physical place, but rather a state of awareness characterized by perfect oneness with God and all creation.
- Heaven as a state of mind: ACIM teaches that heaven is “merely an awareness of perfect oneness”. It’s not a location we go to after death, but a state of consciousness we can experience in the present moment.
- A decision we must make: The Course emphasizes that “Heaven is the decision I must make”. This implies that choosing heaven is an active process of aligning our minds with truth and love.
- Our natural state: ACIM states that heaven is our true inheritance and natural state of being. The peace of God is already within us, “shining in me now”. We don’t need to earn or strive for it; we only need to remove the blocks to its awareness.
- Oneness with God and all creation: In the heavenly state, we recognize our unity with God, our true Self, and all our brothers and sisters. This awareness transcends the perception of separate bodies and individual egos.
- Beyond perception: Heaven is described as the “world of knowledge” rather than perception. It reflects truth and can only be seen through spiritual vision, not through the body’s eyes.
- Characteristics of heaven: ACIM describes heaven as a state of perfect peace, love, sinlessness, and abundance. It is timeless, constant, and eternal.
- Present possibility: The Course teaches that we don’t need to wait for heaven – it’s available now. As stated in lesson 188: “Why wait for Heaven? Those who seek the light are merely covering their eyes. The light is in them now. Enlightenment is but a recognition, not a change at all.”
- Not exclusive to ACIM: While ACIM provides a specific framework for understanding heaven, it acknowledges that its teaching is “only one of many thousands of forms of ‘the universal course’ that can be used for personal transformation”.
Here are some ACIM lessons that deal with heaven:
Lesson 138: “Heaven is the decision I must make”
This lesson emphasizes that choosing heaven is an active decision we must make. It teaches that in this world, we believe in alternatives, but heaven is a choice we can make by aligning our minds with truth and love. The lesson encourages consistent practice to shift our focus from separation and illusion to the awareness of our oneness with God.
Lesson 169: “By grace I live. By grace I am released.”
This lesson explains that grace is a natural state given by God, which we can accept to experience heaven. It teaches that heaven is a state of grace where we are released from illusions and recognize our true, eternal nature.
Lesson 188: “The peace of God is shining in me now.”
This lesson teaches that the peace of God is always shining within us, right now. We don’t need to search for it or wait for it to arrive; it’s already our true nature. The lesson encourages us to look past surface appearances and connect with this inner peace, recognizing that as we do so, we can extend it outward to bless the world. By practicing awareness of this ever-present peace throughout our day, we come to understand that God’s peace shines through us to everyone and everything.
Lesson 202: “I am not a body. I am free. For I am still as God created me.”
This lesson focuses on the idea that our true identity is not tied to our physical bodies but to our eternal oneness with God. It teaches that by letting go of the belief in separation and recognizing our true identity, we can experience heaven here and now. The practice involves repeating affirmations to reinforce the truth and awaken from the dream of separation.