Two years ago, a close friend passed away at age twenty-eight after a long illness. Even though his death was heartbreaking, I wonder: where is he now? What happened to his soul when his body was no longer available? And what will happen to my soul when I die? Most people don’t want to think about it, but maybe death isn’t something to dread.

Astronomers tell us that the universe has no limits and that it keeps expanding. There’s an enormous amount of space within and between the celestial bodies; galaxies with planets revolving around various stars—like our sun. And other stars are even further out, separated by space filled with all sorts of cosmic debris. The truth is, the universe is mostly spaciousness, an infinite nothingness.

From the opposite perspective, microbiologists tell us that our immediate physical environment is also mostly spaciousness. The space between the atoms and molecules that make up the physical world, as well as the space within the atoms and molecules themselves, is mostly emptiness. From both the macro and micro perspectives who we are, as well as the physical universe in which we live, is mostly spaciousness. When we die, then, wouldn’t it make sense that we continue on as spaciousness, released from our bodies and our minds into the infinite nothingness?

Over time, with practice, I’ve learned to sink into a deep meditation space that I call “Presence.” It’s a warm, supportive energy that’s always available. I can feel it in and around my body when I tune in. Maybe that Presence energy is what carries our souls when we die. The soul being the “non differentiated essence” of who we are, according to one definition.

What blocks us from accessing that Presence energy? What blocks us from feeling part of the infinite nothingness? The answer is ego. Our egos don’t like the idea of the nothingness space. They aren’t interested in the workings of our souls. Our egos make us fear death. They want to keep us in their narrow self-absorbed realm, fearful and insecure. They interfere with our connection to the whole.

Meditation is a tool to access Presence, a tool to help us connect with our deepest selves, to our souls and to the infinite nothingness. Learning to meditate helps us get out of our heads and into our bodies.

We all face problems as we live our lives. Some are individual, some are global and they can feel insurmountable. I can’t explain the craziness of the world: discrimination against those who are different, the pain people endure in war-torn parts of the planet, how the human race seems hell-bent on extinction. But, in spite of that, I believe that love is in the air. Every day, little things show up which make me smile. It may be as simple as watching young children on a playground or sharing a kind word with a passerby. Or maybe it’s an unexpected gift from a friend. Love is everywhere. We just need to tune in.

Love and expanding consciousness are built into the system. They’re part of evolution. There have been millions (billions) of years of physical change leading to the creation of our solar system and the onset of life. Then, with animals and the development of the neocortex in humans, there has been a natural flow from unconscious to conscious.

So in the transition to the next phase, to whatever the afterlife is, evolution will continue. Death is more than an escape from the trials of life. In death, our souls are free from the limitations of our bodies and our minds. Death provides an opening to the next step in consciousness for each individual.

And there are no prerequisites, no specific requirements to participate. The infinite nothingness is available to us all, all of the time.