Death--and After?

By his profound wisdom and most sublime intelligence, he connected the soul with the material body.
If he (man) does good in the material body, and has a good knowledge and religion he is a HartaspA term used in some Persian-influenced philosophical texts, such as the Desatir, to describe a person who has reached a high state of spiritual perfection or holiness.. . . .
As soon as he leaves this material body, I (God) take him up to the world of angels, that he may have an interview with the angels, and behold me.
And if he is not a Hartasp, but has wisdom and abstains from vice, I will promote him to the rank of angels.
Every person in proportion to his wisdom and piety will find a place in the rank of wise men, among the heavens and stars. And in that region of happiness he will remain for ever.*

In China, the immemorial custom of worshipping the Souls of ancestors shows how completely the life of man was regarded as extending beyond the tomb. The Shû KingAlso known as the Shujing or "Classic of History," this is one of the Five Classics of ancient Chinese literature, consisting of speeches and documents attributed to rulers from the legendary past through the Zhou dynasty.—placed by Mr. James Legge James Legge (1815–1897) was a renowned Scottish missionary and sinologist famous for his monumental translations of Chinese classical texts into English. as the most ancient of Chinese classics, containing historical documents ranging from B.C. 2357-627—is full of allusions to these Souls, who with other spiritual beings, watch over the affairs of their descendants and the welfare of the kingdom. Thus Pan-kang Also known as Pangeng, a traditional ruler of the Shang dynasty who is credited with moving the capital to Yin., ruling from B.C. 1401-1374, exhorts his subjects:

My object is to support and nourish you all. I think of my ancestors (who are now) the spiritual sovereigns. . . . Were I to err in my government, and remain long here, my high sovereign (the founder of our dynasty) would send down on me great punishment for my crime, and say, “Why do you oppress my people?” If you, the myriads of the people, do not attend to the perpetuation of your lives, and cherish one mind with me, the One man, in my plans, the former kings will send down on you great punishment for your crime, and say, “Why do you not agree with our young grandson, but go on to forfeit your virtue?” When they punish you from above, you will have no way of escape. . . . Your ancestors and fathers will (now) cut you off and abandon you, and not save you from death.†

* Translated by Mirza Mohamed Hadi, The Platonist, page 306.
† The Sacred Books of the East, volume iii, pages 109, 110.