Is There Life Beyond Death?

       Countless people around the world have experienced a few seconds or more of death and claim to have actually visited the other side. Some say they've seen lost relatives, others a city of gold, a dark void, a white light, a tunnel, a beautiful garden, Jesus Christ or a combination of these. The most famous account of a near death experience comes from Mellen-Thomas Benedict, an artist who tasted death due to terminal cancer in 1982. Mellen-Thomas was not a religious or even spiritual man, but his experience would change his views completely.

     While trying to rest in a hospice, with the assistance of Dr. Kenneth Ring, Mellen-Thomas slipped away into a deep sleep. About 4:30 a.m., he awoke and realized for the first time that he was going to die. He called a few friends to say goodbye and asked the hospice caretaker not to move his body for six hours after his passing. With that, he went back to sleep.

     The next thing he recalled that he was standing up, while his body was lying on the bed. Mentally, he was fully alert and aware of his surroundings. In fact, he could see the entire hospice from his vantage point. Then he saw a light and the allure beckoned to him. While he wanted to move toward it, he instinctively knew that if he did, he would be dead. At that point, he asked if he could speak to someone first and his request was honored. He then saw the light turn into different religious figures – Buddha, Jesus, Krishna, and other signs and images.

     When he asked what was happening, he heard telepathically, that each person's belief shapes the feedback he or she experiences at death. He also realized that all humans are connected and their higher selves are conduits of a higher source. Mellen-Thomas felt total love surrounded him, the kind of love that cures, heals and regenerates the soul, and he fully prepared to embrace it. He said the light then turned into a kaleidoscope of souls on earth and he realized the beauty of all of them. While some may commit terrible acts, their souls are not evil. They are simply misled and don't realize that they have total control.

     Mellen-Thomas then asked if all humankind would be saved and was told that we save, redeem and heal ourselves. It was then that he understood that the true joy of living was within everyone's grasp and should be cherished. Feeling as though he'd been drawn into another realm more profound than the last, he saw an enormous stream of light. When he asked what it was, he was told, "the River of Life." He was prompted to drink from it and he happily did so.

     With that, he felt himself being propelled away from earth and saw it fly away. He also saw the solar system fly by and disappear. As he flew through this galaxy, he realized that life existed throughout the universe and contrary to popular opinion, we are not alone. Then a second light appeared and he passed into it. He said it was like a void or the beginning of time, before anything came to be. Resting in the Eye of Creation, he felt as though he had touched the face of God at the time of the very first word or vibration. He realized that God expresses and attempts to explore Himself through all of His creations. And God is the light of love that permeates all things.

     Mellen-Thomas then knew there was not such thing as death, as we understand it. All are immortal beings and like everything else in God's plan, we are constantly renewed, returning again and again. From the smallest atom, to trees and humans, reincarnation was a reality and we are immortal beings. This realization left him in total awe of the Creator and the wonderful nature of life itself. Mellen-Thomas fully expected that he would be recycled into a new body, but eventually found himself in his current one. When he opened his eyes, he found his hospice caretaker crying, as he had been dead for some 30 minutes. Recalling the incident, Mellen-Thomas does not believe he experienced near death, but rather death itself.

     After this experience, he found he was not so quick to judge others, as he now understood that everyone is on their own path. But the best news came three months later, when his doctor told him that he was cancer-free. He wondered how that could be and realized he had experienced a miracle. He had literally been given his life back. Mellen-Thomas said he came away from the entire event with the knowledge that existence is based on love, not intelligence.

     Each person is an incredible light with a total connection to God. We don't need to pray, because God talks to us all the time. And it doesn't matter what religion you are, as they tend to come and go. What matters is the love you have in your heart for all things. He also noted that more light than ever before is coming to us now.  

     People today care about toxic waste, nuclear bombs, over-population, the rain forests and their concern will make things better in the years to come. And most interesting is what he learned about our planet's place in the universe. He noted that we on earth are actually legends throughout the cosmos for being such dreamers. He added that very soon, we will be able to live in one body as long as we want, but will have the where with all to know when it's time to step into a new one. We will, in fact, relish the cycle of life and death.

     Despite all these claims, what awaits us after death still remains a mystery. However, one thing seems clear. God does not want us to pass over by our own hand. Suicide is a definite no-no and this is something Jeanie Peck of  Pasco, Washington discovered when she seriously considered ending her miserable, young life with handful of pills.

     Jeanie's mother never talked about her father or his family while she was growing up. He died when she was must three months old. All she knew was that he was in the coast guard. But at 22, she found her dad's family and learned where her father had been buried. Thus began an exploration to learn as much about this man as she could. First on the agenda was a 100-mile road trip to the cemetery to find his grave. But after 22 years, even her mom wasn't sure where it was.

     "Once I got out of the vehicle, something happened," said Jeanie. "A warmth overwhelmed me. I got tingles from head to toe. I knew my dad was there!"

     Jeanie's mom began her search, wandering aimlessly amongst the tombstones. Meanwhile, Jeanie stood stark still, as she felt warm, salty tears caress her cheeks. When her mom glanced over at Jeanie, she couldn't believe her eyes.

     "I felt something sort of pull me by the hand. It was warm and comforting. I was led about 30 feet forward, pulled to the right a bit, then crossed over some other graves and ended up right in front of my dad's grave site!"

     Jeanie was ecstatic. "I found it!" she hollered to her mom.

     That day, she also learned that her grandpa had passed just one year before, but that her grandmother was still alive. This news sent her on a desperate search over the next year, to uncover everything she could about her father's death. She hoped this information would help her make sense of her own life, which was in more than a little turmoil. At 22, she had already experiences a violent marriage and had two young daughters to care for. Even worse, she was knee deep into another dangerous relationship and in counseling for abuse as a child – abuse so severe that left her believing that her mother hated her.

     "I didn't feel like I had much to offer the world at this point in my life. I felt like a failure."

     At 23, the memories and feelings of worthlessness just became too much. Jeanie felt it would be better to end her miserable life.

     "I decided to take all the sleeping pills I was getting from the counselor at once and end it all. I didn't think about the outcome. I didn't give a thought to what it might do for my kids to find me the next day. I was going to want until they went to school and take the pills with all the beer I could drink. I wanted to go to sleep and end all the pain I had felt for many years. I was set in my mind to do this the next morning."

     But her father was not about to let that happen!

     "During that night, I had a visitor in my dreams. I was in a long tunnel and I felt light and warm. Somewhere in my mind, I was thinking that I already took the pills and this was the entrance to better places."

     Then Jeanie realized that she couldn't move through the tunnel. She was stuck there.

     "I could see someone standing up ahead in the light. They were calling my name and coming closer."

     She could distinguish the features of a man and felt warmer as he approached. Finally, he stood in front of her and she could see his face.

     "It was my dad. He was so beautiful!"

     Then he spoke to her.

     "Jeanie, you have to stay awhile longer. You can't come home yet."

     "But I would rather be here, with you," Jeanie protested.

     "It's not time yet. You have to go back. I don't have much time."

     At this point, her dad gave her a hug and backed away.

     "No!" she hollered. "Don't go yet!"

     "You have to go back now," he replied. "It isn't your time. I'll see you when you come home."

     With that, her father walked away and Jeanie woke up crying.

     "It was a powerful dream," she said. "I know it was my dad coming to save me from myself."

     Jeanie never took those pills the next morning. Instead, she felt revived and full of energy.

     "I was better emotionally with my kids after that. And I'm not afraid to die now. I will be with my dad again when I go home. It's a comforting thought."