Does a prayer offered by the living on the dead have any effect?

The departed are still living human spirits like us on earth! The main difference between them and those on earth is that they have discarded their physical bodies.

On leaving the flesh, the departed one simply changes his location from one part of Creation to another part. The departed is held fast to the environment in the beyond which corresponds with the way he has lived his life while on earth. So, there are communities in the beyond for those who relish bearing false witness, for those who are robbers, hoodlums and so on. These areas are dark and each one tries to inflict harm on the other thus creating for themselves spheres of great suffering! These are the regions of the beyond which have come to be recognized as hell.

Those who are noble minded will however find themselves in the regions of Light in the beyond and they continue to work with those of like nature for the further maturity of their spirits.

Where then does the prayer for the departed come in? Since the departed are still in Creation, and have not ceased to exist, those on earth can still pray or intercede for them. One can pray so that help may reach them to point them in the direction leading to spiritual ascent. For it is possible that after much suffering a soul in the dark regions might still change and in its agony plead for help. This can lead him out of the dark regions and suffering.

Even for the departed who while on earth was already striving towards spiritual ascent, prayers will still have the effect of strengthening him as he makes his way upwards to the Eternal Gardens above.

We should strive to recognize that Creation is one. The different spheres of existence in Creation can be visualized as different countries belonging to one continent. Therefore, those who depart this earth do not simply cease to exist but have relocated to another part of Creation. The effects of man's thoughts and prayers are able to reach farther than this earth and therefore his prayers and thoughts can be of benefit to those who have departed this life.

However, as indicated above, what is decisive for the departed is the way they have lived here on earth. Those who abide by the Laws of God will ascend to higher regions of Creation; while those who stubbornly cling to their evil propensities will fall into the regions of darkness and damnation!