Thousands of people around the world, from all cultures, religions, age groups, those who believe in God and an afterlife and those who don’t will respond to this question by saying “Yes really, it happened to me.”
So what exactly happened? People who are at the brink of death but are brought back to life through medical intervention describe a phenomenon called the Near Death Experience (NDE). While near death or clinically dead they experience what it is like to step across the veil into the afterlife and then return to the physical body. Dr. Raymond Moody introduced the phrase Near Death Experience in his 1975 best-selling book, Life After Life. This singular book completely changed the way we view death and dying. It has sold over 13 million copies worldwide. Since its publication numerous books about NDEs have been written by medical professionals and others who have had a first-hand experience. Just search YouTube and you can listen to fascinating interviews from those who crossed the veil and came back, some of whom are respected doctors themselves.
Before I describe the more common features of NDEs, let me say that what truly amazes me about NDEs is how the lives of people who have had them are irrevocably changed afterward, and almost always for the better. But I’ll talk more about this later in the post.
While every NDE account is unique, there are many across-the-board similarities. Often reported is an overwhelming sense of peace and serenity and the absence of pain followed by a boundless sensation of love, a love so intense that anything ever experienced in life doesn’t begin to compare. Their consciousness or etheric body separates from the physical body, often floating above the scene and observing resuscitation efforts with accurate and verifiable details. Sometimes people describe moving through a dark tunnel to a small light source that grows larger so that eventually they are enveloped in the light. Often they meet with deceased loved ones, guardians/angels, and spiritual figures that align with their cultural context and communication is always telepathic. Often there is the “life review” or rapid presentation of life events where you can see the emotional impact your actions had on others, good or bad. You actually feel what they felt at the time, their joy or pain. No judgement from a higher being but simply the reality of your actions in life. You are your own judge and jury. You may also be flooded with universal knowledge or complete understanding of how the cosmos and existence operate. Time is no longer linear but rather the past, present and future seem to be happening at once. Toward the end of the NDE there is a point of no return where you can choose to go forward or back to the physical body. This is a very abbreviated description of what can occur during an NDE and it seems to be tailored to the individual. For example, Christians will often encouter Jesus, while people of other faiths will meet a deity approrpiate to their life experience.
Now, let’s examine the impact of the NDE on a person’s life. Many people totally change the trajectory of their life after their NDE. Changes can happen quickly or over a protracted period of time. At first many are reluctant to talk about their experience because of what others might think or say. However, they eventually come to realize some very important principles for living. Love is the most powerful force in the universe. Increased compassion, kindness, generosity, empathy, forgiveness are their goals. They often change careers in order to pursue paths that are more altruistic. They understand that we are all cosmically connected. What hurts you, hurts me. They strive to make life better for others, in small or large ways and they take care of mother earth, the plants, animals, all of nature. They realize that religion is a man-made construct and they begin to self-define as spiritual but not religious. They understand that hell and eternal damnation are simply myths invented to instill fear and gain control and power over people. They affirm that all paths lead to the Divine and none is better than the other. They follow the great spiritual masters who taught we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. And they no longer fear death.
So why hadn’t I heard about what can be learned from NDEs when I was a member of several main-stream Christian denominations? In fact I once asked my Episcopal priest if she heard of NDEs. I was curious to know her take on the subject. Well, it was clear that while she knew of them she didn’t want to discuss it and she quickly moved on to a different topic. Could what we learn from those who have had an NDE be a threat to organized religion? I don’t know the answer to this question, but it gives me pause. What is clear is that we can learn alot from NDEs and we don’t have to experience one to begin pointing our own life in a new direction, here and now. A friendly smile, a helping hand, volunteer work, or paying it forward by showing a kindness to someone who needs a bit of help. These are small things but they can make a big difference and their effect can ripple outward.
Let me now recommend several good books on this subject you might consider reading. First of all pick up a copy of Life After Life by Dr. Raymond Moody. It is an excellent introduction to this topic. Dr. Moody has written several subsequent books about NDEs and one of them might also interest you. And a few more in no specific order are: Evidence of the Afterlife by Dr. Jeffrey Long – After by Dr. Bruce Greyson – Proof of Heaven, a Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife by Eben Alexander – Imagine Heaven by John Burke – To Heaven and Back by Dr. Mary Neal.
Rigorous study of NDEs is on-going, supported by the application of quantum physics and discoveries into the origin of consciousness. Founded in 1967 by Dr. Ian Stevenson, the Division of Perceptual Studies at the University of Virginia is a research group devoted to the evaluation of empirical evidence for extraordinary human experiences and capacities. Dr. Bruce Greyson, whom I mentioned above, is a former director of this division at UVA. The division’s primary focus is investigating the mind’s relationship to the body and the possibility of consciousness surviving physical death. In general, this process involves studying phenomena that challenge mainstream scientific paradigms regarding the nature of human consciousness.
In closing I want to acknowledge the skeptics who discount NDEs by saying they are the result of a dying brain, lack of oxygen, drugs, hallucinations and so on. My suggestion is to read, study, evaluate the arguments for and against and then form your own opinion. Statistics gathered at UVA show that documented cases of NDEs are on the rise. NDEs are no longer thought of as simply fantasy, mystical or esoteric. I know three people in my circle of friends who have had an NDE. Maybe you have experienced one yourself or know someone who did. The search for answers continues.