To die is to retire from this life and to return to the Source. It is a birth into the Ultimate. In this process the layers of personality are peeled off, from the periphery to the center, one by one. It is similar to what happens in meditation. Those who meditate (the right way!), know that to „die and being reborn" is an entirely natural process. While consciously watching, layer after layer is dropped off, to such an extent, that finally only pure awareness is left. Dissolving into the Ultimate appears to be identical to Homecoming, the Unity with THAT which you really are. The layers that are subsequently disappearing are:

1. The first layer: thinking

In the first stage of dying thoughts are slowing down with or without an initial intensifying. Very often the film of life - always in reverse direction - appears in front of you. With great clarity and intensity all memories - from the present to the beginning - reveal themselves for the last time. It is a sign that consciousness has retired itself from the front lobe of the brain, which is a matter of a few seconds only. After that few thoughts are left. They are powerless, like shadows with great space between them.

2. The second layer: emotions

In the general drawback the brain's emotional and unconscious centers come next. Here also a flare-up may manifest itself (but not necessarily!). You may become (very) anxious, fearful or agitated by the feeling of dying. Strong images either ecstatic - celestial music, angels - or horrifying - rats, and devils - may appear in your mind. Energies from the collective unconsciousness may come up. It is the stage in which you may try to resist the inevitable. Of course, trying to stay in tune with the natural process - relaxing, trusting and surrendering - is the answer here.

3. The third layer: the body

In this stage the body will be dropped off, which means that it has disappeared as a „separate entity". You don’t feel it anymore. The flare-up symptoms could be e.g. deep cold, stiffness or „dying of the flesh". At the same time your awareness has retired itself to the beyond, being totally free in itself, unhindered by any „obstruction". It is similar to the situation in which somebody is laying in coma. Although totally aware - more aware than ever before - the control over the body and its functions has been lost. These patients hear everything you say (through direct awareness), but are unable to communicate. What we thus don’t realize, is that these people are enjoying the first stage of paradise.

4. The fourth layer: identity

Included in the state of total freedom is the loss of sense of identity. All identification with what you thought you were - your old identity - has disappeared. There is nothing left of who you were, your abilities, functions, relationships or worldly situation. You have become pure awareness, your true Self instead.

At this stage you have left your bodymind – your earthly part - behind

5. The fifth layer: Satori

Very soon the limitations of awareness will evaporate too. This New Awareness proves to be a timeless and limitless dimension, a space of great clarity, empty of everything that was there before. It is the Realization of Unity in which all contradictions have melted into Oneness. It is both cool and ecstatic, empty and full, serene, peaceful and „at the same time" utterly alive. It is the dimension in which there is only Being.

6. The sixth layer: Transparency

Finally, Satori becomes so transparent, that it doesn’t have any „Substance of Its Own" anymore. It is the Dimension of the Void. No any transcendental quality nor emotion, neither ecstasy, nor joy is left here. Only an utter serene Nothingness, an Ocean of Eternal Calm is left. Consciousness has become so subtle, „all life has gone out of it". It is the State of Absolute Peace.

At this stage your spirit has dissolved into Buddhahood

7. The seventh layer: Full Enlightenment

The „transcendental flare-up" (...) of Being is Enlightenment. It is the triumph of the Divine in its utmost glory. Being imbued in Eternal Light, THAT which you are, is „indescribable". The entire universe has become One with It. Everything - the bed, the candles, the curtains, the room, the people, the sky, the clouds - has become part of it, OF YOU. You are Paradise, including everything else as infinite precious shadows. You have become the All-embracing One Itself.

8. The eighth layer: The Great Mother

Now there is only one step left: that into the Abyss, the Great Unknown, the Dark Cosmic Womb, a step we will never come to know. Because Enlightenment disappears and is being reborn in the SELFSAME Eternal Moment. If someting returns in the SAME Moment, it is as if it had never disappeared. I call this Ultimate Non-Dimension The Great Mother - called Vacuum by physics.

Stages of Renewal

To be reborn is to emanate from the Womb and incarnate into a new bodymind.  It is a birth into the world. In this process the layers of personality are rebuilt, from the center to the periphery, one by one. It is similar to what happens after meditation. Those who meditate (the right way!), know that to „die and being reborn" is an entirely natural process. While consciously watching, layer after layer is returning, to such an extent, that finally the entire personality is "reborn". . Birth from the Ultimate appears to be identical to the process of growth, maturity, decay and death again. The layers that are subsequently formed are:

1. The first layer: Full Enlightenment

Mysteriously born out of the Cosmic Womb..... Enlightenment is your "initial birhtright". Before birth, every (human) Being is Being imbued in Eternal Light. THAT which you are is „indescribable". The entire universe is (still) One with It. Everything - the sky, the clouds, the mountains, the oceans, the rivers, the land, people, the animals and the vegetation  the  - is part of it, OF YOU. You are Paradise, including everything else as infinite precious shadows. In this stage the All-embracing One Itself.

2. The second layer: Transparency

Enlightenment has "diluted", while "form" - you - becomes visible.Still, the two are still part of the Divine Void. There is a perfect balance between the two. No any transcendental quality nor emotion, neither ecstasy, nor joy is present here. You are in your purst State: an utter serene Nothingness, an Ocean of Eternal Calm. Consciousness is so subtle, „all life is entirely invisble". It is the State of Absolute Peace.

3. The third layer: Satori

Very soon Consciousness is "moving" toward further manifestation. This Awareness is still timeless and limitless, a space of great clarity,. At the same time it is organizing energies, waves and particles around it. While being both cool and ecstatic, empty and full, serene and peaceful, the first step toward a human Being is manifesting itself. It is the dimension in which Being and manifestation are still one.

Included in the state of total freedom is the restoration of identity. This new entity is NOT identical with your previous personality, though. The latter desintegrated into the Void, and was broken down to small pieces. On the atomic level the substance remained, but the faculties of the old mind are all gone. Since identity had been destroyed, memories etc. don't belong to the previous you, anymore. How can you remember "your" past life? Well, though the only faculty, that remains always the same: the Divine Spark within you... What is sees is one of its innumerable contents, all recognized as being "you". Your actual new you - the ego - is perceived from the first year of your life onwards, though.

5. The fifth layer: the body

In this stage the body will be added to your identity, which means that it forms a „separate entity" now. Bodily sensations (reflexes) are making themselves known. You feel alive, a very primordial phenomenon, indeed. Although being part of the Divine, from where you came, you still don't realize this. Control over the body and its functions are instead your primary concern. Babies hear everything you say (through direct awareness), but are unable to communicate about it. Paradise is still there.

6. The sixth layer: emotions

In the rebirth process the brain's emotional and unconscious centers come next. You may become (very) anxious, fearful or agitated by the feeling of this new aspect. Strong energies, all related to need and survival may overpower you. Trying to resist the inevitable is useless. Of course, just letting the natural process go, is the only option here.

7. The seventh layer: thinking

In this seventh stage of incarnation thoughts are slowly emerging. Although you are disposing of an enormous potentiality, the learning process is by imitation. Associative thinking is developing with an enormous speed. In fact, what is already there only has to become activated. In this primordial state connections with the Whole - the Dimension in Which you are embedded - are easily established. Therefore, the Wisdom of a child and that of an Enlightened Mind is the same

And this "ad infinitum"
Everything in the Selfsame Eternal Moment

Consolation
* In dying everybody without any exception will become Enlightened
* It is the true meaning of "God is love"
* Have no fear: To die is a most natural process in which everything goes by itself
* By unconditional surrender you will facilitate the initial stages
* From the third layer on, nothing can be done anymore:
the Unlimited has taken over
* Everything without exception dies and is reborn
in The Great Mother

Appendix

Rebirth I.
There is quite some confusion about being "reborn". E.g. in the US Christians talk about "being born again". It suggests a total renewal of their entire Being. In Reality this isn't the case.  What happens is the following. People suffer because of meaninglessness, a VERY authentic feeling. They subsequently blame their worldly life for it. The latter often being a real mess, indeed. Then "they hear about Jesus" and "his promise to redeem them". This promise of "a new life" becomes irresistable, so, they give their life "into the hands of Jesus". From that moment on they feel "being born again". With respect, because for many it indeed means being saved. However, this shift doesn't go very deep. It is all about changing identification, only. Before your ego identified itself with material life, after it identifies with "Jesus". Actually, you make a shift from one set of values to the other. The underlying "you" remains the same, though: an ego that deep within is still VERY much afraid. Ask "who are you without Jesus" and the answer will be "nothing". The old fears still appear to be there. That's why these people cling to their savior with all might. It is the cause of fanatism and fundamentalism 

Rebirth II.
In this case people also suffer because of meaninglessness, the same VERY authentic feeling. They subsequently may also blame their worldly life for it. The latter often being a real mess, indeed. Then "they hear about meditation" and "the promise to become liberated". This promise of "a new life" becomes irresistable, so, they go into some kind of practice, realizing that just changing identification is too superficial. Rather than "buying in to a new identification" ("a new coat") they long for dropping them all. They know you have to tackle the problem in its core: the faculty that is responsible for all identifications: the ego. They feel that you cannot solve a problem by the level from which it originated (A.Einstein), so their aim is to go beyond. Their longing is to become their True Authentic Self. The solution is to firstly become the inner observer. From there an inner distance between your New Self and the ego (thoughts, emotions and desires) is created. Result: "I am not my ego". This is authentic spiritual rebirth. Having removed the ego putting it to where it belongs: from the center to the periphery. Rather than being the boss, it appears to be a bundle of functions in the service of the Whole. The New Self may subsequently expand. Eventually becoming the Eternal Light in which the ego completely disappears.

Rebirth III.
The culmination of it all is going beyond the Eternal Light. Which always happen suddenly and unforseen. It is the situation in which not only your ego "dies", but your entire Being is completely eradicated by Absolute Nothingness (Blackness). Immediately followed by being the Eternal Light. This Light - which you Are - is All-Inclusive. The whole world appears to be its content: the grass, the flowers, the trees, the people and the clouds. After that you may become confronted with the Great Horror ("Underwold"), a transcendental experience reflecting Cosmic Destruction, as well. Absolute Nothingness, the Eternal Light and the Great Horror together constitute Threefold or Cosmic Realization. It is the Ultimate Rebirth, the Highest Possible Attainment.

Summarizing
When being involved in a talk about "rebirth" you better ask "which rebirth" is meant.....