Life after Death

The Theosophical teachings propose that there is Life after Death, and consists of several stages. In the writings of H. P. Blavatsky and the Mahatmas the most frequent description include: a) physical death, b) kāmaloka, c) gestation, d) devachan, and finally e) reincarnation.

Is there consciousness before Devachan?

In the early Theosophical literature there are several statements suggesting that after dying there is no consciousness until the purified ego is born in Devachan.

However, there are some statements that open the possibility of consciousness before devachan. For example, Mme. Blavatsky wrote:

A “spirit,” or the spiritual Ego, cannot descend to the medium, but it can attract the spirit of the latter to itself, and it can do this only during the two intervals—before and after its “gestation period.” Interval the first is that period between the physical death and the merging of the spiritual Ego into that state which is known in the Arhat esoteric doctrine as “Bar-do.” We have translated this as the “gestation” period, and it lasts from a few days to several years, according to the evidence of the adepts. Interval the second lasts so long as the merits of the old Ego entitle the being to reap the fruit of its reward in its new regenerated Egoship. It occurs after the gestation period is over, and the new spiritual Ego is reborn—like the fabled Phœnix from its ashes—from the old one. The locality, which the former inhabits, is called by the northern Buddhist Occultists “Deva-chan”. . .

As can be seen, she describes here the following sequence:

1- Physical death. 2- First interval. 3- Gestation. 4- Second interval (Devachan).

She mentions that the Ego#Spiritual ego can attract to its own sphere the spirit of the medium in either of the intervals, which suggests there can be consciousness before the period of gestation.

Further reading

• Death and After-Death States at Theosopedia