Near Death Experiences

Near Death Experiences (NDE) - it's a jolly little title and subject isn't it? It's true that most of us are scared silly about the prospect of dying and go to great pains not to discuss it too much, and mostly deny that we are ever going to do it ourselves! The truth is that we don't know much about it really. I mean, as human beings we are full of ridiculous contradictions and what we think about death stands out as a prime example.

(Photo Public Domain - Copyright Expired.)

For instance, we believe it when scientists say that nothing is ever destroyed, but simply converted into another form of energy - fair enough, and yet we also are deathly afraid that death may be the end of us! Doesn't make much sense, whichever way you look at it. Perhaps we are just converted, or something like that. Some research suggests exactly that.

In the interests of objectivity, let's try and lay down our beliefs for this lens, OK? Can you do that? An entrenched mind has a tendency to close to other possibilities, and I need you to be receptive for a little while. For centuries wise men of all religious and spiritual persuasions have agreed on one thing - the middle way is the path.

Almost by definition, if your thinking moves toward fundamentalism or atheism, perhaps you should take a long hard look at a few things? Just a thought - not knocking anyone. One thing for sure - if you know you are absolutely right, you are probably wrong, (and I'm certain about that). If you didn't catch the irony in that last phrase, call me.

Maybe it will help if we are objective right from the start and take a look at internationally accepted research. Up until around the mid-seventies there were reports of the experience, but were mostly ignored and ridiculed immediately. Gradually, research studies were launched and many in the scientific community were struck by the positive correlation of reported experiences between studies, and also from completely independent subjects interviewed within each study.

The subject reached a kind of turning point when the results of research by Dr Pim van Lommel (opposite) et al, were printed in the Lancet, the prestigious British medical journal. At the very least this indicated that the establishment acknowledged that there was enough evidence to suggest that there are more possibilities to death than just an ending. Dr van Lommel is a respected cardiologist and his research is too extensive to cover here, but in essence, after studying many reports of ND, one of his conclusions is that it is relatively common and is often ignored by hospital staff (this was a hospital base study.)

Dr van Lommel's research was carried out both on patients suffering a cardiac arrest (hospital based), and also involved other people who face sudden imminent death - all were interviewed and the data analyzed for common factors (see web-site for exact details.) While all reports were not identical, there were some striking similarities, and the idea of 'being light' and being in the presence of beings of light was predominant, as was rapid travel through a dark tunnel.

Other common features of the individual reports were:

- observation of their bodies from outside and the efforts of medical staff to resuscitate them

- recollection of particular events happening while they were 'dead'

- experience of seeing the roof of the building and moving upwards

- feelings of peace and not wanting to return

Details of observations were later investigated and found to be largely fact. The research opened up a lot of controversy and intrigue. Over the last century or two, our thinking has become more and more logical and we tend to accept nothing without empirical proof. Does research of this kind indicate that we have been ignoring one the most important truths EVER about our lives on planet Earth?

Dr Long is a doctor specializing in cancer treatment, and as a result of his research published the Times best-seller 'Evidence of the Afterlife: The Science of Near-Death Experiences'. This research too assessed the individual reports of hundreds of patients who 'died' and came back to tell about it! In his book Dr Long describes the common features of these detailed reports from separate individuals, like:

- rising out of the body

- awareness of events whilst 'dead'

- the ability to move through walls and other solid objects

- communication with a being of light without speech

- the experience of assessing all events and action in their earthly lifetime

- a feeling of great peace and compassion emanating from beings of light

Dr Long's conclusion is that NDE is a fact, that we are known to other dimensional beings who love and watch over us, and that this human life is but part of a grander journey, a bigger experience.

Whatever your perspective, verified research is rapidly validating the existence of NDE - how anyone can dismiss this fact when faced with the results of research programs spanning several years , and carried out by members of their own medical establishment is beyond me! I started out this lens by stating that we are always afraid that we may just 'end' when we die, even though nothing else in the Universe does 'end' but transforms into something else. The idea that we are passing through a transitional phase of a greater existence is tremendously exciting.

I've noticed more and more that the two paths of empirical science and spirituality are inexorably moving together, and discussing existence in terms of light and quantum energy. A recent research study, for example, shows that a measurable number of light photons are emitted from the brain when an individual thinks about light in a dark room. Some people recounting their NDE talks about beings of light, and that prayers appear as light emanating from the planet. These are all powerful indicators that light may be the essence of everything, including what we are.

It is now being suggested that everything in the Universe is made up of the same thing, which is energy - whether it takes the form of light or solid matter is just a case of the level of density. Wise men have told us constantly through the ages that we are not what we think we are - it's an illusion. Perhaps it's time to wake up.

Mary Neal is a respected internationally recognized surgeon who drowned while on holiday - the video below describes her near death experience during her 'death'. Here again we have an interesting testimony from a dedicated and respected medical doctor who is willing to share something with the world that sounds a little strange to say the least. Before her experience she was 'mildly' religious (Church on Sundays) and felt that her life was just normal. Afterwards she was totally different.

What's that you said? Never heard of these people? I suppose that's not too surprising, but what about the father of modern psycho-analysis Carl Jung? Jung was a previous student and colleague of Freud who late split with latter's rigid ideas about sexuality. He was a leader in his field and was intensively curious about the nature of mankind and his place in the Universe.

In 1944, he died - for the first time! He left his body and traveled to a place that was above the Earth, although he reported that he could see the whole planet. While 'approaching' a place of great peace, he turned around and saw the image of the doctor he had just left in the hospital speeding up towards him. They communicated and the doctor's avatar explained that the people of Earth still had need of him. Reluctantly he realized it wasn't time to go, and returned to his body.

The first question we should ask is this - 'Why would a celebrated international figure such as Jung make such a thing public, knowing that he would be ridiculed?' There's more ...

Carl Jung Lived, His Doctor Died!

Two more things make this story particularly interesting. Jung described in great detail the continents and the colors of the Earth, even down the overall blue sheen and the silvery effect of the relatively thin layer of atmosphere. Astronomers at the time estimated that the view he described would be similar to one seen from an altitude of around 1000 mile - and this was two decades before man venture into space!

The second thing is that his doctor took to his bed and died after three days. Jung also had the feeling that the doctor was going to die, and that is why he saw his astral projection high above the earth - he was preparing to leave.

Please don't take my word for it, or anyone else for that matter, but do, do carry out your own research and explore this amazing revelation. Don't get wrapped into any religious dogma, rapture talk or the imaginative supernatural, but just investigate and make up you own mind - it has enormous implications for you and me, and all of mankind.