I was recently asked a question that, I think, warrants a public answer here.
“The end of the world, pralaya, is supposed to be a major event that would influence the world of the dead as much as the world of the living. It makes no sense for it not to include someone who died a month earlier, for instance. Also, what about the newly born children who had no opportunity to develop by that point?”
This is a bit hard for me to answer because I would have to disclose information that is either secret, so I don’t know, or I’m unwilling to reveal it. However, I can say this much.
If by “world of the dead” you mean the “NDE plane”, the answer is complex, because it’s not necessarily a singular place. But let’s say that the souls generally speaking move in the same general sphere. Things are widely known in this sphere, that are not allowed to be known outside, and the memories of the souls that are allowed to interact with the physical plane are being actively suppressed by the beings in charge of such things. This is actually not a new thing. Also, I perceive this “astral” sphere to be so connected to the physical plane that they are essentially the same thing. Whether an earth-bound soul is incarnated or astral at any given point, does not change the fact that it will be subject to the same rules of judgment. You can look at it this way: there are rules for ascension to the next level of existence that need to be met. If you don’t meet them, you share the fate of this world. It’s not that someone will go around and check whether some soul is to be destroyed or not. They will check whether they meet the requirements for eternal life. Those that don’t will be destroyed automatically. From what I can understand, anyone who is anywhere near meeting the requirements will be treated with all kinds of patience and healing, but there are also those who endlessly abused the current system, and they will be summarily wiped out.
I would expect restrictions on incarnation on the physical plane to have been placed a while ago, which means everybody knows what they are getting into, and they need a very good reason, based on dharma, in order to pass through a “wall of interdiction”. Whether someone dies as a child, adult or an old man, never mattered before and is not going to start to matter now. Incarnations are interrupted early. Abortions exist. Infant deaths exist, and they were in fact the majority of deaths throughout history. This is not relevant. What is relevant is whether one attained what they came here for. Some might want to experience it only briefly, and design their incarnation with this intent. Also, the age of the body and the age of the soul are independent variables. It’s not those with young bodies that will have the problem, but those with souls that failed to attain eternity, are of time and will perish within it.
The number of actual souls in circulation here seems to be lesser than I would have thought. We’re talking thousands.
I assume that you can see people's spiritual bodies and distinguish them (if I’ve understood this correctly). But is there any other way to tell the difference between a true soul and an automaton or an accumulation of astral matter?
I try very hard not to see anything of that kind, and I see too much already. This ability is a blessing when I'm in a presence of a saintly person, because I can see all kinds of stuff that's impressive, but for the most part humans are spiritual sewage. Imagine diving in sewage, but it's mental and emotional. Yeah, that's public transport for me. So you may understand why I try very hard not to see anything and close myself off as much as possible.
If you are wondering how to see someone's inner world directly, you might get images while in the company of a person, focusing on them softly, being open to messages they convey, and observing which subtle images come to your inner eye, and there are also senses. Years ago, I somehow forced this by focusing on Sahasrara all the time, throughout the entire day, doing it for many weeks from the moment I got out of bed. I didn't do it for the purpose of obtaining any abilities, but it was the result—I could clearly see images coming from people talking to me, which species of dog they had, and what they wanted to eat. Rather useless.
You'll see what's in their inner world—it's usually their dog, cat, food, pleasures and passions, carnal desires, fears, family, and relationships, worries… I haven't yet seen images of Serbian folk music concerts or football games (but I think I can somewhat sense it). Lack of refinement and taste, for starters, is, I'd say, a sure sign that someone is only dwelling in the astral mud. Violent types might harbor violent images and intentions in their aura, so maybe this part could be useful to recognize.
Bringing yourself to see and feel what others are truly like might make life in society unbearable, especially in a bigger town/city.
Feeling which part of your "body" is tingling or oscillating when in contact with some person might also give you an indication of where they are located: do they stimulate only the lower chakras and their domains, are they hooking and pulling, merely seeking attention, or – are they airy and fresh? Do they need to consume a part of you, or are they self-sustained? Are they predatory?
So, how to discern whether someone is a soul or a clump of stuff? I don't quite know. I'll admit that on rare occasions I can feel that someone is beautiful up there, no sight, but an airy, gentle, chill feeling, wonderful to be around. I wasn't sure, for example, if the 1st person I felt it for was just me falling in love with a man (but without any physical desires, just some "non-binding love-admiration" – I'm a man BTW) or whether this person had some special abilities.
Another thing I noticed is that this "feeling" can be (mis)managed — some people radiate their "splendor" so it's easily perceived, others mute it, and some, facing difficulties of life, conceal it and copy the astral contents of their environment to blend in, camouflage. Some have personality development issues, and they project a certain heaviness, which is like a smog, covering and contaminating the traces of airy-freshness (I guess that would be lower astral pollution while still having some version of a soul of some quantity).
If one has this splendor and freely radiates it, a percentage of the environment will hate them intensely, not knowing why. I think it's generally safer to mute it and be invisible.