To Be Non-Political for a Moment, What Are Your Views of Near-Death Experiences?

Been there also. While drowning once, I had one of those. My opinion is that the near-death experiences was a hallucinations, created by the anoxia, probably the temporal lobe influence was involved.

As for the incidents recorded of experiences and memories, I've had dreams with similarities to those (deja vu.)

Mine was a very wonderful experience. A feeling of great peace with God and a calmness settles all over you. It is so powerful and awesome that I expect that there are some who wanted it to continue; there may be some who want to experience it again and again.

How do you explain documented episodes of people being aware of events, which they could not have been aware of, unless they were conscious in another location?

"...I expect that there are some who wanted it to continue..."

Several folks on the "I Survived..." series stated that they did not want to come back. A few were actually angry that they were sent back.

"...there may be some who want to experience it again and again."

I don't recall anyone reporting that. Mostly, what these people report is not being afraid of dying - when their time comes. There are a few cases (from other sources), in which people had ndes from suicide attempts. Invariably, they regret the suicide attempt, and are grateful they survived. They are not suicidal following their experience. So I think they are not looking to experience it "again and again."

Awesome as it was, I have no desire to go through that again.

Regarding the ". . . documented episodes of people being aware of events, which they could not have been aware of, unless they were conscious in another location", I of course have no explanation, but as I have said, that has happened to me sometimes while sleeping, so it might not be associated only with near-death experiences.

I have not had a near death experience, but I have had what Melvin Morse refers to as "parting visions", and what Carl Jung referred to as "big dreams". I do not know to what extent these phenomena are related, but they lead me to believe that consciousness is non-local. That is, consciousness is not a function of the brain, but that the brain is a physical manifestation of consciousness.

Interesting hypothesis. Mine is that it is possible to communicate directly with the brain if you have the right technology. That of course opens up the idea that there might be others (spirit creatures) sending this information directly to our brains.

I think the way NDE researchers would put that is that the brain is a material manifestation of consciousness - that consciousness is more basic and independent of the brain. The use the analogy of a radio and radio waves. They're not the same, and the radio make the waves intelligible in this dimension. But the waves are more basic and independent of the radio.

Great hypothesis. It's not illogical,

That's what you got from a near-death experience Sever? ☺

Maybe, he thinks that "Satirum" is "politically dead". But this article is about being "clinically dead". On the other hand, perhaps, Sever is thinking that this is all about hallucinations - because Romney ain't gonna pick "Santirum" for VP.

But back to near death experiences...

I believe they are real, not random firings of a dying brain. If you have ever experienced an out of body event, you know it is real, and I think NDE's are really one and the same.

Some folks equate lucid dreaming, out of body events, and near death experiences. All seem to point to non-local consciousness. I agree that ndes are not "random firings of a dying brain." The reported consciousness is much too perceptive for that to be the case.

I believe in out of body experiences. I have had several verifiable one's. One was a visit to my uncles new apt when he first moved to Detroit, almost 40 years ago. I thought it was a vivid dream, until they came home to visit and showed pictures, and it was the same place.

I have had similar experiences, Char

I also have had experiences, but not an out of body experience. I have had patients, who described them during traumatic events.

This, as I learned years later is called astral projection. If is happens to you, it's kind of hard not to "believe" in it. Some class this in the occult, but I think it is something science has probably looked at, and can't nail down. The question is, do we all do it, and not remember it? OR do only some retain an ability that fails to develop as we grow? Are some more gifted, or do they just accept and retain the experience?

I have read that it's in the same sphere as lucid dreaming. A few books describe how you can train yourself to do it. I must not be very talented. I've never experienced that. I've seen things though, and because of those things, I find it entirely believeable that consciousness is more basic than our individual lives. It makes more sense to me that our individual lives are functions of consciousness.

I have had prophetic dreams. I just thought they were dreams at first, but came to know the feel of those that would come true. I told people, and then it happened. I also am a mighty prayer warrior to effect things. Not always, because some things, I believe, are set. But some things are changeabl, and prayer or concentrated faith, or belief is the way to do it. If you are a scientist, you need to be looking for the substance, faith. It is a physical thing, very infinitesimally small substance. It is only grown in the body with spiritual contact, but it can be done, I'm sure of it. Physically.

A physician, Larry Dossey (I think that was his name) did some very interesting research on prayer. He maintained from his research that every physician should be prescribing it. I think that's true, based on his research.

Yes, but as I recall, it ended up to be considered effective because of positive thinking mostly. That is not what I am talking about. I mean intercessory prayer, to effect things when maybe nobody even knows you are praying. I have so much confidence, and do it as a service, that I often tell nobody I am even going to pray, and it works. It's funny, too, sometimes I know it's a "No". And sometimes I can't pray for people, but tell them to pray. It's a one by one thing, but don't believe it is just positive thinking. It is way more powerful than that!

Very interesting thread. The books called Journeys out of the body were written by a man by the name of Robert Monroe. He opened an institute to train people in out of body experiences and for a while the CIA sent people to his institute for training to use the technique for spying on the soviets. Congress found out and killed the program, and there are two different versions on whether it worked or not.

They would never admit if it did. They wouldn't want the Soviets to know, and do it too! Leave it to the government to study a way to use it like that!

"...it ended up to be considered effective because of positive thinking mostly."

I don't recall that Dossey's work just involved "positive thinking". That was more along the lines of Norman Vincent Peale. Dossey's work involved intercessory prayer and meditation. I'm sure it was something different than what you're referring to. I think the point, though, was that the results were scientifically significant.

"...to effect things when maybe nobody even knows you are praying."

Yes, Dossey found that to be scientifically significant, too.

"I have so much confidence, and do it as a service, that I often tell nobody I am even going to pray, and it works."

You know, I think this is the kind of confidence that NDErs have in their experience - and that is why I think their accounts are credible - just as I think your account of your experience with intercessory prayer is credible. I trust that you know what you're talking about, because you've experienced it.

"...the CIA sent people to his institute for training to use the technique for spying on the soviets."

I think this would be an obscene use of this faculty.

"...Congress found out and killed the program...."

Good. That was likely a synchronistic outcome. I think this "sphere" is inconsistent with the goals of the CIA.

I think there is a lot of truth to many of these things that science has yet to explain.

There is some scientific research, summarized HERE, and HERE.

By definition, wouldn't this be impossible to know unless you experience it directly? And recounting the experience would be influenced by the "observer effect."

The thing that convinces me, David, are reports - confirmed by others - that these folks report events that occurred in other locations. Another, is that people report "seeing" a relative, who unknown to them, had also died in the same timeframe. I'm certainly familiar with "false memory" phenomena, but my impression is that these experiences are not that. Having experienced "big dreams" a couple of times ("big dreams" being "archetypal" dreams, in a Jungian sense), I'm convinced that these experiences and the impacts on the lives of those, who have them, are too salient and profound to be simple "false memories".

David, would you consider sharing this with Examining Our Religion?

Thanks Ann. I submitted it to your group.

Now featured at EOR. Sorry for the author confusion!

Thanks for featuring my article. No harm, no foul. If you have any thoughts on the topic, please make sure to comment. Thanks.

I do have thoughts, but I'm up to my neck in literature moderation, as it's National Poetry Month.

There is an unofficial experiment in progress to test the "hovering above my body" experience. A number of ER doctors have placed bumper stickers on the tops of their ER cabinets to see if those who have NDEs can read them. No "readers" yet, as far as I know.

I've heard of that experiment. I've also heard of cases, in which conversations were witnessed - both in the OR among surgeons, and in other locations among other family members. There are also cases, in which the nder "saw" a relative, who - unknown to the nder - also died in the same timeframe. One woman saw an old pair of tennis shoes sitting on a ledge, outside a hospital room window, which were retrieved from where she said they were. I think the factor of salience to the nder might affect the results of this kind of study. As one critic of this design suggested, you see signs all the time, which do not "register". For example, you probably saw a sign today, featuring today's lunch special. But did you "see" it?

An interesting interview with the researcher, who came up with that experiment.

Another interesting thing that happens to me. When I don't understand something, I mean the reason someone acted the way they did, or what is going to happen, or who will get a position, or any question that I could reason, but seem unable to do consciously, I let it go. Don't think about it at all, and then suddenly one morning I wake up, and the answer is the first thing I think about. It is always right, too! No new info, just the answer, it's the wiriest thing. I guess that's why people say they should sleep on it! ;-)

I have always experienced the most profound insights as a result of meditation. They don't come when I'm meditating, but when I get lazy and do not meditate, the insights stop. They always return, when I resume meditation. I guess I think about it as a difference in my ability to perceive them. It's not like they are not there when I'm not meditating. It's more like I'm insight deaf, when I'm not listening (meditating).

I'm also aware of psychological literature, which documents the kind of thing you're talking about, Char. Many of the greatest scientific and mathematical problems were solved in dreams. What we call the "unconscious mind" apparently isn't so "unconscious". It's more like we suddenly "wake up" - having such insights - and think that it's the deeper mind that's "unconscious", instead of ourselves.

I think one of the reasons I wrote this article had to do with the question of how far different we might really see ourselves, our lives, and each other, if we stopped and regarded the experiences of all of these people, who report NDEs. If what they are saying they experienced is true, how does that affect our views of our lives, and the lives of others? What does that do to our priorities? You know - if we take these reports seriously? I don't expect anyone to necessarily answer those questions. I just wish people would notice - and perhaps not dismiss them so readily.

Wow, I just had an epiphany! I had one yesterday, too! These discussions are opening a whole new understanding for me! Not just this post, but the site and several things coming together, but thank you Steve, because this post helped me to put it all together. The other was one that had references, and comments& discussion of "I am" that suddenly lit a light bulb, that goes along with what you just said, and many others, thus the statement "epiphany".

It is all one, expressed in Christianity totally. For example, expressions of the "Body of Christ" or verses like "love your neighbor as yourself". If we are all expressions of the oneness, so to speak, we must do that to bring the one to smooth, efficient flow. I do not know how else to express it, but the understanding is growing for this new plateau, and the many points of contact with what I know are joining in exponential fashion.

I just reread that comment, and it does not begin to express what I am seeing as a whole new dimension of my understanding. Sorry if it seems trite, because I cannot find the right words to explain how vast the leap is!

I had many years ago, a given understanding that the scriptures are a "sea", so to speak. Then I was given that the understanding of all that is in there is as deep as it is wide, and all are swimming at their own depth. Some on the surface, some diving deeper, each moving at their own speed in their own way. This was a divine book, inspired to offer truth that each must search for their own path to understnding. I have never thought that all are damned who do not accept it's words. I actually believe the ability to do that MAY NOT be given to some to see. Jesus said let him who has eyes see. Whether those eyes are always present or not, I do not know. I do believe we are tethered to this existence by mortal birth, and only immortal rebirth by overcoming sin can free us. Since Jesus was born "OF" God, he was able to overcome death, which is the failure to see. Those who say there is nothing but death ahead for them may well be right, since I do not believe in an eternal hell. God is life, nd sin cannot stand in the face of a Holy God. Since all is God, and God is eternity, and God is a loving God, how could one who is sinful live eternally? That is why I prefer to accept grace, for the sacrifice made to overcome it. I totally accept others may seek in other ways, and other faiths. I do my very best to judge only for myself.

Char. I wrote the article, because I think as we take these stories seriously, and openly talk about them, such "epiphanies" might happen. I'm not clear re: your epiphany, but I sense it absolutely meant something to you. I think these things do change and deepen us. I recall a blind man, on being healed, was asked by the authorities, who he thought Jesus was. He didn't answer that. He just said, all I know is that I couldn't see, and now I can. Good answer. Our experiences are important, and I think they shouldn't be discounted as hallucinations, or delusions, or other references to mental derangement or faulty brains, etc.

I had never seen this part of you Steve. I can only be glad you are a great advocate, as I well know from your other pursuits! Good to know you, Steve! Thanks for a great post, and a great attitude. Try this openness on what the earth is doing, too! ;-). Had to throw that in!

Thanks, Char. These considerations certainly move us outside our usual political spheres. Thank you for your very thoughtful comments on my article. I've enjoyed the exchange. As you know, I feel strongly about environmental issues, too. Please understand, those convictions came from a kind of epiphany I had many years ago. It was one of those moments of grace, which I may share in a post sometime. The science has give some confirmation to my experience. But it's from the same place.

It's also good to know you, Char. It's a great thing when you can have mutual respect, even though there is disagreement on a few other things. ;)

;-), agreed! This is a post you will maybe enjoy. Although more like your take, I thought was really a good read!
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474981253502

Thanks, Char. I'll take look at it.

Are you and Charles friends, yet? You have a lot in common. :-). He doesn't write a lot, but I usually find his posts interesting. If you were friends you wouldn't miss them. Just a thought.

You know, Char, I'm not sure. I'll have to go look. If not, I'll do a friend request. Thanks.

Thanks, maree b. That is a really nice comment. I agree that this arena does put politics in a different context - certainly less important by comparison. Your experiences and impressions are certainly familiar to me, and I agree, we do not die. I hope that these kind of discussions can take place more often. As I mentioned to Char, I think that if we were to really listen to what folks, who have had NDEs, have to say, we cannot help but being changed in a very good way. I really do think that most people have some experience of direct spiritual things, and the comments on this post are showing that is right. Char's "epiphay", though I don't understand it, is also something of what I think happens, when people are not fearful of discussing their experiences. I appreciate your story about your Uncle Lou. Thanks for your comment. I look forward to discussing these things with you. You're right too about the respect. If there's one thing we all will face, it is death. We certainly can share what we all have - like loaves of bread and fish - and we all can approach "our time" without fear.

I think most of the persons reporting such experiences are honest and actually remember what they report. But the human brain does not remember very accurately. Also, just because the conscious mind is not functioning does not mean that the sub-conscious mind is hot hard at work (listening, for example, and drawing conclusions).

I don't know, Larry. People report perceiving discussions in other locations, later verified by other people. I don't know if the sub-conscious mind is able to do that, unless what we refer to as the sub-conscious mind is more of a non-local consciousness. I do know that people, who have had a near-death experience, say these experiences are more "real" than their normal, waking experience. And the memory remains consistent over time, relative to "normal" memories.

Steve,

I would not presume to explain all near death experiences. I merely point out that some of these experiences (how many I have no idea) may be explainable by things we already know about.

My own near death had no such experience. I remember nothing unusual at all from the event.

"...some of these experiences (how many I have no idea) may be explainable by things we already know about."

I wonder, Larry. What evidence there is seems to point in another direction.

"My own near death had no such experience."

I forget the percentage of those, who have been near death, have such experiences. I never had a full near death experience, but I do remember a brief close call, in which a clear, factual, comforting "intelligence" took over. It was not my "usual" consciousness. But I never saw a light, and I never lost consciousness. So I think that these people's experiences are very credible.

Steve,

Evidence for what? Other than what people say they remember, what evidence is there?

People have verified conversations that took place in another location, witnessed by the nder. Objects have been found, where an nder reported seeing them. There is a field of research on this subject, which report many such occurrences.

For such examples I have no explanation at all.

Have you seen any programs of the series, I Survived - Beyond and Back?

Not that I recall.

I think a new season is coming up. If you have time on Sunday evenings, check it out. It is fascinating - at least, it is to me.

Steve,

What is the point of view taken by the director/producer/editor of the show? If it is scientific then the show would be quite interesting to me. If it is spiritual or non-science in approach, it would be boring to me.

I don't know the answer to that, Larry. I do know that one of the people, reporting a near death experience, was a neurosurgeon. He mentioned that the "dying brain" theory doesn't explain his experience. I guess the presentation is not within a scientific research framework. It is simply people reporting their experiences, along with others, who were part of the episodes of their near death.

Thanks, Steve.

Seemingly ... we don't know till we know.

Meaning death is still a mystery, but many have 'clues' & 'perceptions'.

Does it mean THAT much that it can't be proven. There are many many things in life that mankind cannot prove as absolute in our so called intelligent minds ... BUT take the mystery out of life & you have little left.

If every thing was wrapped up & un-explorable I think we would really question the whole Universe & the validity of truth. This probably won't make much sense as part of this thread - I hope it points in another direction toward ... Why not just believe that you don't know it all ... period.

I don't think these things are mutually exclusive, CL. Einstein described himself as "religious" in the sense that the more he understood, the more he was struck with wonder. People have experienced the threshold of death, and their experiences show remarkable consistency. I may not know from direct experience, but that does not preclude my accepting the reports of those, who have had direct experience. People, who have had NDEs, certainly are not awed by it all any less - to be sure.

Oh my, I read the comments and am amazed at the believers and explainers ... LOL! I had an after death experience when I was very young and still remember it vividly, I'm now an old lady. I have no fear of death because I know that life doesn't stop when our body dies. Heaven should be a "look forward to" event, not a feared one. God is Love and The love is indescribable. When I was told I had to come back, I didn't want to but it seems that I had a life here that needed to be lived first. Yep, I believe in after death experiences ... been there, done that.

Beautifully stated Ms Lee P. - perhaps you could share an article about your experience? I'm sure many would find it most interesting :)

I would second CLs suggestion, Ms Lee, that "...perhaps you could share an article about your experience?"

Have you seen the series, I Survived - Beyond and Back? And since you have had an NDE, I think you can submit your story to that website.

The reason I wrote this article is that it occurred to me how different things might be, if we stopped and really considered - and took seriously - what people, who have had NDEs, are actually saying.

I was an adult before I even shared my After Death Experience because I did not have words or the vocabulary to share. When I discovered that others have had similar experiences I started sharing my own experience. I learned that people tend to shy away from and distance themselves from those of us who have had such an experience. I think we're seen and judged as an oddity and maybe we are an oddity. Jesus told Thomas when he doubted that he (meaning Thomas) believed because he saw Him but "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” I was a believer as a child before the after death experience and I KNOW what others wonder about and I don't have these doubts. I am NOT suicidal and do not have a death wish, but I know that death will happen because that's part of our life plan. I just have no fear of it. Meanwhile I'm just doing what needs to be done on my life's journey to make the adventure a nice one and to help others, if I can, have a pleasant journey along their way, always reminding them that Jesus is Lord and accepting Him into their hearts and lives as their Savior and Lord sure does make the journey a joyful one and He is the One who will open the gates of heaven for us. I cannot describe God’s love, it’s indescribable. Happiness is fleeting but God's joy never leaves us, even in the rough spots because we know that this too shall pass and we'll come through it as the head and not the tail. Wow, I didn't mean to preach ... but there it is! I have not seen the series you spoke of but I will see if Netflix has it, it sounds interesting.

It is true what you say Ms Lee. All of it! I understand what you mean about people shying away. They are afraid of what they don't understand. Like Jesus said, " My people perish for lack of knowledge". That is still true. And we just go on telling, for those who have ears!

Thanks for sharing your experience, Ms. Lee. In many ways, it's similar to oher accounts people give. Especially, people will say they're not afraid of death, and they're not suicidal. They understand "it's not their time", which many of them have been told. They also talk about the incredible love that is at the center of the experience.

Many have been hesitant to talk about their experiences, due to the disconfirming responses that have been typical. Experiences like this have been thought to be hallucinations, or otherwise dismissed as some form of mental issue. I don't know what it is about our culture that makes us so "skeptical" of what we ourselves have not directly experienced. I think, when other people have had profound experiences, like an NDE, and describe that with such compelling conviction, I have no reason to doubt that they know what they're talking about.

In the series I linked, there are all kinds of descriptions. One was of a man, who found himself in a field of grass, but more beautiful than grass. And along this meadow was a grove of trees. As he moved toward the trees, he heard the plants whispering among themselves, as the trees moved aside - they were saying, "He's going to see the King". And he felt everything was so joyous that he was going to see the King. I further describes his experience with Jesus Christ, and also what it was like, when he finally returned to his body. That was also a feeling of constriction. I agree - this is a fascinating subject.

I had a dream of my father, after he died. He was beautiful - more beautiful than he had ever been in life. The whole dream was simply looking deeply into each other's eyes. I have never experienced such intimacy before or since. As I was waking up, I knew that we continue to grow more beautiful after we die. I have been very fortunate in my life to have had such experiences. It makes having faith not so difficult.

Thanks for your comment, maree b.

Maree, I have also had prophetic dreams. I was working in a very busy, successful company, we were working overtime, very busy, even had temps. I dreamed that our boss called us in, everybody, and told us he had good news, and he had bad news. The good news is, you get to go home early today, The bad news is you aren't ever coming back. the company is closing for good. I told my friend who worked there, and she laughed at me. "When?" she said. I remembered when I walked out in my dream, it was hot. I said "I don't know, but it was hot. This summer I think." It happened that summer, on no notice, just like I dreamed. We had 10 minutes to begin filing out!

Char, this is interesting. I think many people have prophetic dreams. I too have them and I also have prophetic visions (they are similar, but still different). Most prophetic dreams or visions are usually warning signs and when you start to recognize them as warnings then they are to be prayed about. Prayer can change the outcome of things. Most people do not know that what we call "the spirit" world is real and is actually more real than our physical world. It's permanent. The evil things that happen usually start in the spirit world but evil things can be changed or the outcome can be used in our favor (Jesus will not overturn free will, but our outcome can be changed). We have not been taught these things in our daily lives or in our churches. We have been cheated of our authority in Jesus' name, another evil deception. All of this is scriptural and it's Biblical, we just don't know how to use our authority, our churches don't teach it. They do teach us about our salvation by the shed Blood of Jesus Christ but they don't teach us about our authority. Hmmm, didn’t mean to preach (on second thought, I did .. LOL). Some dreams and visions show us good things that will happen and are usually for our edification or to edify others. For instance, sometimes when I meet a person I immediately "know" something about them. Sometimes the knowing can be a good thing and I usually tell them about it and tell them how blessed they are. Sometimes the knowing can be bad and I really have to think about whether to tell them or not or just to pray about it .... usually I tell them and I always get the startled look or "how did you know" question. I was very surprised when this started happening on the internet ... (who knew). Please don't misunderstand - I do not walk around seeing all and knowing all, it just happens every once in a while and I pray. All this being said, prophesy is given to us for warnings and edification and they are always to be prayed about and Jesus likes for us to say "thank you".

As an active prayer warrior, I totally agree with most of what you said! I see prayer as the authorization God needs to intervene in this world. He gave us free will, so unless we ask for intervention, we are on autopilot. Jesus showed us the way to allow him to come in, and act on our behalf, as well as teaching the spiritual law that operates while we are still here. he wanted us to realize the different between what is Caesar's and what is God's!

I've never had a NDE, but my take on it is that we are energy beings. Even Einstein stated that energy can be changed but not destroyed, so perhaps NDE's give us a glimpse of the energy existence outside of the physical realm.

There are too many cases of people reporting what they see when they are out and away from their bodies for me to think that NDE's are nothing more than physiological hallucinations.

Thanks, Denise. Have you ever seen any of the programs on Biography Channel's series, I Survived - Beyond and Back?

No, I don't have cable or satellite so I haven't seen them, although I know I've seen other shows over the years on that subject as well as read a book here and there. Thanks for the link. I may watch a couple of them.

If you do watch a couple of them, I'd be interested in your impressions.

I have always believed that the people who claim to of had these near death experiences had experienced just what they have said... I watched a show once of children who drew what they had seen on the other side... Now, children are so innocent and not yet tainted to believe one way or another, found this very impressive...
I saw on facebook one of my gather friends had posted from utube sounds of the Heavens, while visiting it, on the side there was other things about God and the universe that interested me, one was the proof of God... It was interesting... It was an experiment that a Russian Scientist had done, and it still confuses me, so I will try to get this right... Some kind of instrument was measuring the energy... This energy knew that it was being watched.. there is more to it, but they felt it was God... It was really interesting... I am thinking that it may of been with Quantum Physics or Quantum mechanics..

Melvin Morse, MD, a child oncologist, has written extensively of his interviews with children, who have had near death experiences.

One of the people, who reported their near death experience on the series I linked in this article, is a neuroscientist (or neurosurgeon). He not only stated that a "dying brain theory" could not account for his experience, he reported his impression that he left this universe. That, of course, brings to mind theoretical physics' theories re: parallel universes, string theory, and eleven dimensions - all of which are associated with quantum mechanics. It is all very fascinating.

Have you seen any of the programs on the Biography Channel series, I Survived - Beyond and Back?

I wish I had a deeper understanding of theoretical physics. I guess the word deeper doesn't belong there, as I wish I had an understanding period! :-) My little brother majored in physics, but when he explains these things to me it sounds like a language of made-up words. Haha...

Vicky, very cool about the energy knowing it was being watched...chills and a great big smile!

Steve, no I havent seen the I Survived-Beyond and Back... We cant get the station...We have Dish Network but I havent found it on there yet... I am pretty sure that Direct TV has it... I would love to watch it as I am fascinated by this kind of stuff...
We watch a series in which Morgan Freeman narrates... Some shows are about string theory, parallel universes, etc... Its mind boggling... We also, watched the one in the beginning before the Big Bang...

Sandi, thanks for the compliment... I was amazed and it made you think...I guess Einstein was right... didnt it go something like this...? You cant get rid of energy and we are all made up of energy... If this is the case, it would make perfect sense for the life after death to be true... we do not cease to exist, we just go onto another level... I think it will be a level that we as humans while planted here on this earth cant get to while we have a body... We are held here by gravity, once we pass from this life... call it a soul or energy, we shed this body, that ties us to this realm and go on another journey.... Makes sense to me...lol

"I would love to watch it as I am fascinated by this kind of stuff..."

Some of the segments are online at the program website I linked above. Looks like it may be channel 119 on Dish. It airs Sunday evenings.

"We watch a series in which Morgan Freeman narrates... Some shows are about string theory, parallel universes, etc..."

I think that's "Through the Wormhole," and it is fascinating, I agree. In fact, my wife and I think that all of this is related, somehow. One of the people reporting an NDE, was a neurosurgeon, and he said he left this universe. That got my attention!

Thanks so much Steve, I appreciate you taking the time to look this up for me...
I do believe that yo are correct "Through a Wormhole" We have several of them recorded, so we can go back to them from time to time... Alot to remember...
I think it all ties in together too... What is your theory on ghosts and hauntings though? I am trying to figure out if there is a connection there as well... You know Steve, that might be a good subject for another article... Hauntings...

I don't know about hauntings and ghosts. I don't doubt them, I just don't know that much about that subject. Ironically, though, I have "seen" my father since he died, but that experience wasn't what I'd call "ghostly". It was more like a "vision" in what Jung would call an archetypal dream. It was very comforting - not at all spooky. But there are alot of possibilities - different dimensions and parallel universes, as asserted by string theory. I'm not at all sure that extraterresterials aren't part of the same thing, though I have no experience with that - nor do I know anyone who does.

Vickey, I find your comments about energy most interesting. I read a report once on energy experiments being done on plants. They discovered that plants have a form of energy intelligence. For instance ... they discovered that the energy level went up when they were fed and watered and they shortly discovered that the energy level changed just before they were fed and watered (sort of like they got excited because they knew it was going to happen --- picking up on thoughts). They then did experiments to try and fool the plants by just thinking about feeding and watering them but not really going to do it and the energy levels did not change. You can't fool a plant (LOL). Now I don't know how accurate this report is but I read it somewhere a few years back and it made sense in an "unknown" energy sort of way. LOL!

Thanks Ms Lee... I believe the report... You have heard that by talking to your plants it is supposed to make them healthier..So it makes sense... I have often wondered if plants could feel pain... Sometimes, I think the weirdest things, I guess...lol

I have never had a near death experience but I do believe they are true. I wittiness my Sister who had Downs Syndrome go through some type of transformation a couple of days before her death. It was like the soul had left her body and she saw beautiful angels and heard singing as she pointed toward Heaven. She raised to a straight sit up positioning without use sing anything to pull her with and had a totally different look on her facreI've ofen wondered what she saw and where she was at that moment.

That's a beautiful story, Betty. I've heard medical staff give similar stories. My wife was married before we were married, and when her (then) mother-in-law was about to die, she came out of her severe dementia for a moment, looked toward the door, and said, "Mama, Poppa." And then she took her last breath. I think these stories are all over the place! I just wish people felt more free (less fearful) of talking about them - without fear of being labeled "nuts". Thanks for writing about your sister.

Wow, my whole story disappeared when I tried to wipe off my iPad. I don't feel like typing it all over. Guess I hit delete accidentally.

Rats!!

What it boils down to, without proper telling is just nefore dying my husband saw a river, and some people coming to get him. He asked me what to do, and he was so concerned, I just reassured him to "rest awhile". And the next thing I knew he died on me. I was furious that he thought I meant he could die, or something???? I am glad I sent him peacefully, it was probably better to tell him it was oK, but it wasn't OK for ME! I was not ready, I guess you never are.

I know Melvin Morse, MD, writes about parting visions, but I've never heard a term for those kinds of visions or visits before someone dies. But I've heard many stories about them. When you husband died, and you told him to "rest awhile", you had no way of knowing how he interpreted that, or what it meant. I'm sure that was a shock, when he died. I don't know how long ago that was, or to what extent you were aware that these stories are out there. Perhaps, that's another value in discussing these things - so that there is no shock. Maybe they help us become ready.

Have you dreamed about your husband, Char?

A few times, but in a psychosomatic way, nothing I felt was outside the realm of dealing with the loss. I felt actual physical pain and was nearly catatonic for three months. I lost close to 50 pounds, and was almost a statistic. (You know, one goes, then the other...).

Oh, and I remember a dream where he was driving behind me in a car, and trying to kill me. That was after eating what I suppose was slightly tainted seafood very late at night! ;-)

I wonder if you all have any ideas what this meant... My ex husband just passed a few months ago, after a long illness... As he lay dying his wife said that he told her that he saw my name written all over the walls... It kind of unnerved me and just cant figure out what he was talking about... He also, was talking to his dead father in law too , before he pasted...

That is very strange. Many believe that God joins people in marriage, into one, and the ONE he was really separated into two with at his death was you. I know, my husband and I were one in that way, and when he died it felt like my body was torn in two! It hurt so bad, physically, which I had never at any time expected or thought about, so I can't see how it was psychosomatic. Anyway, just a thought. I know after that, I felt like a newborn babe, truly free, not married. Very weird for one so invested in marriage, happily living in that union for 22 years!

Thanks Char that does make sense... Even though we were divorced, we still remained friends... He still helped raise our daughter that we had together... It did bother me that he had passed... I felt as it I had lost a good friend... I dont know , I really had mixed emotions.. I felt bad , that we had drifted and there alot of unanswered questions... I at least know that he is not suffering now..
Was your husband sick for a while before passing Char? If so, maybe, thats why, you felt free... because you knew that he was free of this life, his sickness was no more and that he had crossed over and now was at peace himself.... There are just so many unanswered questions...Thanks Char for your explanation...

I don't know if answers to those questions are possible - but the experiences are what they are. I dreamed of my father over 20 years after he passed. He was more beautiful than he had ever been in life. The think I am impressed by, with all of this, is that there are alot of clues - but everyone's experience is somewhat different - just like everyone is different. Anyway, if either of you return to this post, thanks for discussing this topic. I appreciate both of you.

I watched one show Steve, about two doctors , husband and wife pushing a dying man back to his room... He spoke to them and told them that he saw angels at the foot of his bed... They both looked and both saw angels, then the man passed away... Both doctors were people of Science.. They were non believers but both admitted that after that experience they now were believers of a Life after Death...
Another man was sitting with his dying mother... She was telling him of people that she was seeing who had already passed on... He told his mom to let go, it was ok to go on... Before she did that , she told him that the angels were gathered to take her home... He too, saw the angels gathered at the foot of her bed... he said, for years he never told anyone that story...

There was an episode, in which a woman was dying during childbirth. Her husband, a physician, was in the room, and as she was describing communicating with two beings, he saw them floating above her, although I don't remember exactly what his description of them was like. It like seeing light bend, I think, like through a magnifying glass.

I've heard many stories of dying people seeing deceased relatives or angels near or at the time of their death. Everyone, just about, who has experienced an NDE, says there's nothing to fear. Little by little, I'm coming to believe that. Maybe it has something to do with getting older - LOL.

I think that the body does somehow prepare you for this... Otherwise, it may be to tramautic. I dont know if its an age thing or not, but I have found as I am getting up there now, that I feel that I am more aware of the beauty that surrounds me more... Its like suddenly , my eyes are open wide, that I can see beauty in so much more of this earth... My hearing seems to of enhanced too... Birds singing sound so much prettier now... I actually feel more alive or maybe, its just the fact that I am slowing down and taking the time to smell the roses.. I have often thought , is it my time? lol

Thats interesting Steve, there are so many things that we just havent any answers for... I know if I saw beings floating above her, it would make a believer out of me...

I probably would do better to spend more time with the birds, and less time online. I need to think about that....

I sure don't understand so many things, but I don't have any need for certainty about them. The clues are there. I have had a few "visions", and those experiences are the "lightposts" in my life. I meditate on them, and they tend to keep me true - and moving in a true direction.

I'll have to watch the show!! It sounds awesome!! I'm a total believer in that. I've "visited" with too many people around the world for things like this not to be true. And on another note, I watched the regular I Survived.. show last night and it was quite disturbing.. ugh

Yes - I agree. That's a scary show. I don't watch that one, either. It's good for the people to have survived, but the accounts of their ordeals is disturbing, indeed.

This has been very interesting and I do believe truthful. I some speaking of angel's my Sister I spoke of before said there was an angel at the foot of her bed.She also said there was a cute little brown and white dog in her room.. I believe this was the first pet our dad ever allowed us to have as young children.