The concept of the soul passing into or toward a brilliant Divine Light at the end of life appears across several major world religions, esoteric philosophies, and mystical traditions. Near death experiences often mention going through a tunnel towards a brilliant white Light. At the End of Life a human soul can go to the Light immediately at the End of Life if the soul is enlightened. If a soul is not enlightened in life and rejects The Light it fades away in the darkness of nothing.
Light holds a profound, foundational meaning in Judaism as a symbol of divine creation, wisdom, truth, and the Torah. Light represents the Shekhinah (the indwelling presence of God) and spiritual truth rather than a physical need for illumination by God. Jewish tradition uses light as a metaphor for divine instruction and insight. Proverbs states, “For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching (Torah) is light”.
The Bible frequently describes God and heaven in terms of pure light (God dwelling in “unapproachable light,” or heaven needing no sun because God’s glory is the light). While traditional orthodox Christian doctrine emphasizes judgment, resurrection, and entering the presence of Christ, modern Christians who have experienced a near death frequently report moving through a tunnel toward an all-knowing, loving Being of Light.
Traditional Islamic theology teaches that the soul is extracted by the Angel of Death and ascends through the heavens to be presented before Allah. In Islamic mystical interpretations (Sufism) and accounts of Muslim near-death experiences, the ultimate destination and source of comfort is often perceived or described as a manifest presence of divine light (Nur) representing Allah.
Tibetan Buddhist texts, such as the Bardo Thodol (The Tibetan Book of the Dead), describe a profound transitional state after death called the Bardo. Immediately after the breath ceases, the consciousness experiences a powerful, pure, and brilliant phenomenon known as the Primary Clear Light. If the dying person recognizes this bright light as the true nature of their own mind rather than fearing it, they achieve instant enlightenment and liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
In Hindu and Sikh philosophy, the eternal individual soul (Atman or Jiva) is frequently conceptualized as a spark or ray of the ultimate divine light (Brahman). Upon final liberation (Moksha or Mukti), the individual soul merges back into the eternal source of truth and cosmic light, ending the repetitive cycle of reincarnation (samsara).
Many New Age philosophies, Spiritualism, and modern adaptations of Gnosticism view the soul as an energetic fragment of the universe that naturally magnetizes back toward a central source of unconditional love and high-frequency white light upon physical death.
What are the teachings of religions? Do they teach selfish hate and fear with which humans souls live in darkness and do not recognize the peace and happiness of The Light? Or do the teachings repent and reset themselves to teach about peace and happiness? In order to bring eternal life to their members?