This blog is more than an account of Near Death Experiences. It ponders in detail the tough questions of life. Who are you, and why are you here in this physical world? What happens when you die, and is there a judgment? However, most anything could appear here. This is not a news blog, archived posts are just as relevant as new posts. Check the boxes at the top of the page for the Contents, Contact, Forum and other links.
You, I, and all other individuals are like drops of consciousness living in an ocean of consciousness. We are within the whole, and the whole is within us. Consciousness has no beginning and no end. Just exactly what consciousness is may best be answered by the word “life.” Consciousness is life, self-awareness, understanding the “I am” of our existence.
We exist in many dimensions, but we will consider only the spiritual and physical dimensions for this writing. We are “created” in the spiritual dimension, and then later decide whether or not to be born into the physical dimension for purposes of learning about ourselves.
In both dimensions the tools of our consciousness’ are beliefs, thoughts, and emotions. In the spiritual dimension there are no limitations on us, or these tools of consciousness we use, however, while in the physical dimension there are many limitations on us and our beliefs, thoughts, and emotions. These limitations are the result of the limited physical body in which we find ourselves. Our bodies shield us from the Oneness of all things, causing us to perceive ourselves as the bodies we inhabit and control. Instead of perceiving ourselves, and others as part of the whole, we see ourselves as separated from others. This is for the purpose of learning about ourselves and others. All others are like mirrors in which we will eventually see and understand ourselves.
Beliefs
Beliefs are clusters of thoughts held together by a predominant idea or concept. We can use the concept of “God” as a good example. Each of us has some idea, or belief of what God is, and whether we choose to believe in God or not. The number of thoughts we hold about God could be huge, containing many uncertainties, and contradictions. While a smaller concept, like “Santa” would probably contain fewer thoughts with scant or no contradictions. The beliefs we hold about God, and the beliefs we hold about Santa are just examples of how belief systems are constructed and held within our consciousness. Beliefs can be large and complicated, or small and fairly simple. Some beliefs will be held on faith only, while others only after much research. The important thing about beliefs is they change with our experiences, as we gain more knowledge of the physical world we live within. Beliefs are always chosen by us, even if others in authority teach them to us, so be careful of what you choose to believe. Beliefs can be beneficial for us, or they can inhibit our spiritual growth and worldly knowledge.
Thoughts
Thoughts are the tools of living, without thought there could be no living of life. Thoughts change static life into dynamic living. The diversities of thought are many. There is “rational” thought, “logical” thought, “literal” thought, “conceptual” thought, etc., however these qualifying words tacked in front of the word “thought” are only concerned with the perceived value of that thought, not the thought itself. So thoughts are commonly judged in this manner. We are concerned for the moment with only the thought itself. However, thoughts can be beneficial to us, or detrimental to us, a group of bundled beneficial thoughts constitutes a good belief, while a bundle of detrimental thoughts constitutes an inhibiting belief.
Emotions
Emotions are our natural morality system. They are our teachers of right from wrong. How we “feel” about events or actions we are involved in are very important to our well-being. There are basically only two emotions, and from them all others can be expressed. Love or fear, are the two basic emotions. Emotions can be very strong or hardly noticed, but they are always there. They come automatically attached to our deeds, thoughts, and therefor to our beliefs. Emotions are the color of life.
Spiritual Dimension
In the spiritual dimension we are pure energy, without form, unless we choose to have form. Many take on a human form from their last incarnation. This is called an astral, ethereal, or celestial body depending upon who you are asking. In the spiritual dimension thoughts are used to communicate with others, to move from place to place, to explore new horizons, and to create form. If you wish to know something, the minute your question is formulated the answer appears. Near death experiencers tell us this happens to them during their experience, they had only to think of something, and the answer was there immediately within their consciousness, or to think of a place, and they were transported to that place instantly. In the spiritual dimension one is not limited, those entering feel the love, caring, and compassion the moment they arrive. This too is evidenced by the writings of numerous near death experiencers.
I am aware of those who believe only in a materialistic universe, and think all events can be explained using materialistic explanations. They are only half right, what we call matter is energy, nothing solid about what we perceive as matter. Quantum physics, and atomic structure has shown us Einstein’s formula was accurate — E=mc². Now as for all events being explained using materialistic explanations, this is true, as long as you don’t care whether the explanation has any semblance of accuracy or reality. Any event anywhere could be given any number of explanations or causes. It is not explanations that we seek, it is truth.
Less than 10% of the world’s population are strickly materialists. I don’t see how their numbers can grow very much, because millions of people keep having spiritual experiences on a daily basis.
Physical Dimension
In the physical dimension we take on physical rules and limitations for the purpose of learning who we are. The spiritual dimension is Oneness, while the physical dimension is duality. Here we must choose our path through a world of love or fear. Beliefs, thoughts, and emotions all have important roles to play in the physical realm.
We begin to build our belief systems from the day we are born as we experience the world we live in. Our parents, teachers, peers, all contribute to what we believe about the reality of ourselves. We come to believe we are bodies, controlled by brains, and forget about our spiritual nature. Thoughts become unimportant because we have a language, and a voice to communicate with others. We have arms and legs to get from place to place, and with the help of others, we build our environment from what we perceive as matter.
However, our spiritual nature has not left us. Inside each of us it resides, waiting to be discovered, and used for our benefit in the physical dimension. Our thoughts still create our future, but in a slower fashion determined by the emotional intensity of them. Our beliefs may still contain many uncertainties, and contradictions. While our emotions still show us the right path as distinguished from the wrong path. We are well equipped to handle physical life. Why then is there so much unhappiness in this world?
Mainly because we don’t examine our lives carefully, we assume we know the answers when we don’t, and we are ready to believe what others tell us instead of experiencing it ourselves. Without experience there is no knowledge. We can read about the experiences of others, and assume we understand, or we can experience what we read about and know whether we understand or not. This is called reality testing.
Reality test all your beliefs to see if you can find uncertainties or contradictions in them. Look at your negative beliefs first. For years I disliked spinach, wouldn’t eat it, looked like grass to me. But, then I had never tasted it, not once. After my near death experience I began to examine my negative beliefs, and try to change them into positive beliefs. So I tried spinach at the local cafeteria where I worked. It had been cooked with butter, and I found it good eating, ordered it often after that first experience. I found that to be true with many things I didn’t like, as well as prejudices I had held for years. Start examining what you believe and why you believe it. List the things you feel negative about and ask why. Then reality test the “whys” to see if they are valid. Start with the small beliefs and work up to the big ones. Even small fears can add stress to your life. Read articles or books about what you fear, it will help reduce that fear, and make life more comfortable.
Most people are unhappy because of what they think, and believe about themselves. If you are thinking negative thoughts about yourself, and whining about how much bad luck you have, then changing those negative thoughts into positive ones will change your whole life for you. Only you can change yourself, no one can do it for you. It does take some effort, but not as much as you think, just 20 minutes a day saying affirmations will help you change your thinking about yourself.
Now you are not controlled by your brain, genes, or your past life. You have not been created by your brain, genes, etc., you are the one that created them. You are a spiritual being having a physical life for the purpose of learning about yourself. You can control what you will believe, your thoughts are completely under your control. Thoughts arise from your beliefs and your experiences. If you believe you are inferior or unworthy, so shall you be, but if you believe you are capable and worthy, then so shall you be. Remember thoughts can be dark and foreboding. Thoughts can also be bright and joyous. They pass through your mind like clouds pass though the sky. They are temporary, and you can choose which thoughts you will allow in your sky (mind).
Emotions or feelings are a great help in directing our paths through the physical dimension. Harming others in any way, such as lying, stealing, cheating, gossiping, or misleading them for the purposes of profit will always trigger negative emotions and make one’s life miserable. A person may gain great fortunes, but they will lose their joy, peace, and happiness. Crooks are always looking over their shoulder to see if someone is watching to catch them in their foul deeds. Haunted by their past they lose the real meaning of life. On the other hand those who help others whenever they can will experience positive emotions. Being honest, trustworthy, and kind will lead you to a life of peace, and joy. Pay attention to what your emotions are telling you, and choose the right path of love, and compassion for others.
The physical dimension is for the purpose of learning who you are. A spiritual being, eternal, with great potential in creating your own future. You are more powerful than you imagine, and you are loved unconditionally by your Creator. You are in a win win situation, and have yet to discover your birthright.
There are many ways to discover your spirituality. Meditation, affirmations, emotions, loving kindness, awareness, enlightenment, are a few methods of uncovering your spirituality. The way I discovered my spirituality was through a near death experience. People have been learning about their spirituality through near death experiences, out of body experiences, visions, lucid dreams, and other forms of spiritual experiences for centuries. Simply relaxing and being grateful for everything you have may show you many spiritual insights.
Our bodies do a good job of shielding us from the spiritual beings that we are, and our brains act as the interface between the spiritual and physical dimensions. When our bodies die, we return to the spiritual dimension which is our real home. Occasionally anomalies happen to the brain through congenital disorder or accidental damage that allows a tiny part of the spiritual dimension to show through into the physical. Uri Geller, George Anderson and other psychics discovered their abilities only after receiving damage to their brains. Geller fell from a ladder injuring his brain, while Anderson sustained brain damage through an illness when he was very young. Near death experiencers who have been brain dead for a few minutes to several hours also show an increased psychic ability, and feel more aware of themselves and the world. Some near death experiencers develop healing energy, and the ability to foresee the future.
However the most dramatic cases are those of congenital disorder. Here the individual seems to be living on the cusp between spiritual and physical dimensions. Living in the physical while demonstrating skills found only in the spiritual realms. Some of them are labeled autistic savants.
The savant skills are often called splinter skills. Kim Peek for example, on whom the film Rain Man was based, has a photographic memory. Several recognized artists could be termed idiot savant. These include Richard Wawro, Alonzo Clemens, and Stephen Wiltshire. Several people with idiot savant skills are recognized for their musical gifts, including Matt Savage, an incredibly gifted jazz pianist and composer, and Hikari Oe, a skilled composer.
The skills these remarkable people possess are not learned in the physical, they are just there, within the individual indicating inter or spiritual sources. This is totally counter to contemporary thought that says skills must be learned. There are no medical or physical explanations for these skills. Some savants will tell you when they need the information it just appears in their consciousness. This is the same thing near death experiencers say happens during their experience. I have the videos on Kim Peek and Daniel Tammet. I hope you will also investigate the other savants listed in the quote above. This is very important knowledge. The fact that some individuals born with congenital brain disorders can out perform our brightest scholars with seemingly supernatural skills from beyond the physical dimension.
We are spiritual beings, with skills and knowledge beyond what we can learn in the physical, and will return to the spiritual dimension when this physical life is over. Learn about your spirituality, while being grateful for your physical life. Learn about yourself by seeing yourself in others, and learn to love yourself as well as all others.
Meet Abigail “Abby” Loraine Hensel and Brittany “Britty” Lee Hensel (born March 7, 1990. In April 1996, the twins were featured on the cover of Life under the caption “One Body, Two Souls.”
The twins made this documentary on their sixteenth birthday to satisfy the curiosity of people who gawk and take pictures of them, which they don’t enjoy.
The twins have identical brains with totally different personalities. The scientific theory that the brain somehow creates the personality and/or consciousness is not a valid one. We humans are not bio-mechanical beings as science would have us think. We are created in the spiritual world and come here to enjoy a physical learning experience.
Science can show no physical evidence of consciousness, memory, thoughts, emotions, or any other attributes of mind existing in the brain.
This is the breathtaking story of Daniel Tammet. A twenty-something with extraordinary mental abilities, Daniel is one of the world’s few savants. He can do calculations to 100 decimal places in his head, and learn a language in a week. This documentary follows Daniel as he travels to America to meet the scientists who are convinced he may hold the key to unlocking similar abilities in everyone. He also meets the world’s most famous savant, the man who inspired Dustin Hoffman’s character in the Oscar winning film ‘Rain Man’.
As you watch the video notice that Daniel suffered some brain problems when very young. This was critical to his genius ability. Note also than “Rain Man” Kim Peek was born with brain damage. There is a pattern here that covers many such people with genius ability in some part of their life. It is also true of some psychics such as George Anderson and Uri Geller. It seems that when the brain is damaged in some people a genius talent emerges. This tends to make the brain a limiter of consciousness rather than a creator of consciousness.
Near death experiencers know this to be true also. Many experiencers go through a part of their experience where they are able to access all knowledge about all things. Their consciousness expands after they leave the confines of their body and enter the light. At this point their brain, left behind in their body, has no part in their experience, they become pure energy, sometimes called spirit. I am thinking that brain damage in some instances takes the brain, or part of the brain, out of the physical loop, thereby allowing the individual to become what we humans call a genius. They become individuals that can somehow access the spiritual realms, and are no longer limited to the physical realm by their brains.
I experienced this expansion of consciousness in my own near death experience, and know what it feels like. I describe it as: “like an earthquake to my beliefs; shaking, crumbling them to dust. I would never be the same again, the experience changed my perception of life forever.” All previous knowledge and beliefs that I held about my life, and this world, just didn’t matter any more. My consciousness expanded beyond the duality of this world into the Oneness of all creation. Then upon reentering my body most of this knowledge could no longer be accessed due to the limitations of my brain and body.
Below I have gathered quotes from a few near death experiences showing the effects of this “all knowledge” phenomenon. Clicking on the bold “lead-in” will take you to the whole near death experience.
There was total peace. I was surrounded on all sides by a black void. I was no longer frightened. I was comfortable and content to be where I was. No fear…no pain…just peace and comfort and amazingly undaunted curiosity. Immediately the blackness began to erupt into a myriad of stars and I felt as if I were at the center of the Universe with a complete panoramic view in all directions. The next instant I began to feel a forward surge of movement. The stars seemed to fly past me so rapidly that they formed a tunnel around me. I began to sense awareness, knowledge. The farther forward I was propelled the more knowledge I received. My mind felt like a sponge, growing and expanding in size with each addition. The knowledge came in single words and in whole idea blocks. I just seemed to be able to understand everything as it was being soaked up or absorbed. I could feel my mind expanding and absorbing and each new piece of information somehow seemed to belong. It was as if I had known already but forgotten or mislaid it, as if it were waiting here for me to pick it up on my way by. I kept growing with knowledge, evolving, expanding and thirsting for more. It was amazing, like being a child again and experiencing something brand new and beautiful, a wonderful new playground. As each second passed there was more to learn, answers to questions, meanings and definitions, philosophies and reasons, histories, mysteries and so much more, all pouring into my mind. I remember thinking, “I knew that, I know I did, where has it all been.”
I said to the Light: “All this Love for me?”, without words of course. You only need to think there, and you know they know. In fact, I seemed to know everything. I felt as large as a galaxy. Knowing everything. I did not need to turn away from the Light but could see the whole world going on behind me, past, present and future. I always wondered what it was like for our ancestors coming across on the ships and I could see clearly a vision of a ship sailing on rough seas, mixed in with my life scenes and the future which was a bit foggy.
I floated along slowly, I would float in the background. At one point I would see other people greeting the other floaters in the corridor, they hugged and held hands and some walked hand in hand towards the light. I did not recognize anyone. I asked a lot of questions, but it was strange, I thought of the question in my mind, but they were answered before I thought of them? I started to panic, I realized this was death, I started to get scared, “what was happening to me,” at that moment a boy came through the tunnel fog. He was probably 12, (I have no idea who it was) he smiled and waved to me. All my fear then disappeared.
A feeling of extreme peace and joy came over me as I began to realize I was home again. I was where I belonged and I was not interested in returning. Then my mind cleared and finally I understood everything I had ever wondered about. All the mysteries of the world were right there in my mind. Not that I asked about anything or that she told me anything, I just remembered! I just thought, “oh well, I just forgot everything while I was there.”
I had all knowledge.
Hello! I just discovered this message board today.
I feel that I had a NDE after a car accident 2 years ago. It was like one minute all my questions were answered and when I woke up I could barely remember what I was told. I do remember asking if I would remember.
In my choice to live or die, the consequence of coming back was not having the knowledge and the open-mindedness. I tried to remember something anyway. I think all that I remember is that people waste so much energy on small issues that really have no purpose in the grand scheme of things.
Anyway, I hope this helps. — L.H.
Then there was a beautiful glowing pearly white light. I was completely absorbed in it. It was all love, all knowledge, all happiness. We have nothing to compare it to here. Just think of the happiest most loving time you have ever had and multiply it by a million and you still couldn’t come close to it. I was absorbed in all knowledge. I knew everything there ever was to know and it was good. I thought of two pastors I knew and it made me laugh to know how surprised they were going to be. I also knew it didn’t matter one bit that all was as it should be. I saw my children’s lives ahead of them, saw they had much to learn and many hard lessons but it was all good and that our lives…
These quotes are only a tiny part of the NDEs available on the Internet and in the media. I have over three hundred of them on my web site. I hope this writing will further the understanding that the brain is not the creator of our consciousness and/or personality. That this writing will evidence the need to use the knowledge gathered from near death experiences to make our lives better and broader here in the physical realm.
Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, was urged by his family to seek psychiatric evaluation. His insistence the human voice could be sent great distances through a wire caused them concern over his mental health.
If Bell’s family had seen a television set in operation they would have really been surprised. This form of transmitting and receiving data without wires was yet to be discovered.
Alexander Graham Bell, and his family would have believed the television set was the source of the pictures it presented. That the images were stored somewhere within the TV and different groups shown when the position of the “channel knob” was adjusted. Bell might even have removed the cover to look for them, trying to discover how the thing worked. But, no matter how hard or long he examined the television he would not have found the images and sounds produced stored within it.
Science has a similar problem with the human brain. The body is only a “tool of communication” for your spiritual consciousness (the real you) to use while exploring the physical realm. No matter how hard or long scientists look in the brain for things like consciousness, memory, mind, personality, dreams, NDEs, OBEs, etc. they will not be found. The brain is not the source of these life’s events. There is no proof that the NDE, or any other event for that matter, originates within the brain. Nothing has been found stored there. Stimulating the brain at different points to produce different events doesn’t prove any of those events are stored within the brain. Just as adjusting (stimulating) the “channel knob” on a TV doesn’t prove the images it produces are stored within the TV.
Albert Einstein was one of the most intelligent and prolific contributors to the field of science in the twentieth-century. His brain was donated to science for studies of how he acquired such great intelligence. But researchers found that Einstein’s brain was smaller than normal and contained nothing unusual. It did, however, contain a larger number of synapses, a minute space between a nerve cell and another nerve cell, a muscle cell, etc., through which nerve impulses are transmitted from one to the other. He had more “connections” than the average person, more “channels” for his spiritual energy to use. The more you use your brain, the more synapses you will develop.
Scientists are looking for a biologically-based trigger to explain the NDE and other spiritual events. They often say; “We know it is there, we just haven’t found it yet.” The truth is, they don’t know it’s there. Obviously, in order to know it’s there, it would need to be found. So, without any biological evidence whatsoever, some scientists continue to publicly declare NDEs biological. This behaviour is unfair to Near Death Experiencers, characterizing them as witless, while passing misinformation about NDEs to the general public.
The search for a biological basis of spiritual events has been going on for more than a hundred years without any results. I wonder how many more years will pass before science realizes the brain is not the source of mankind. The brain did not create humanity.
So, if you’ve had a Near Death Experience and someone tells you it’s just a local brain thing, be sure to ask them for proof. There is no evidence NDEs originate in the brain. Then explain to them there is considerable proof the NDE doesn’t originate in the brain. That it happens independent of brain and body during clinical death. An example of this proof is shown in FAQ #05 and continued in FAQ #12. There are more examples of this proof on site; hundreds of examples in the Near Death literature; and thousands of them in the broader field of metaphysics.
However, this site was not created to post arguments on the reality of NDEs. Its purpose is teaching the significance of Love as demonstrated by the Near Death Experience. When one reaches the state of unconditional Love (in the presence of the Light) they achieve their highest point of wisdom and understanding. It is known no organ (brain) of the body creates individual consciousness, any more than a child creates its parents. They know because they’re in the presence of the Creator, the Light of Love that permeates all things, called by many names, but best described by the word Love.
NDEs prove there is meaning and purpose to life. That all individuals are responsible for their spiritual growth, and accountable for their thoughts and deeds. Perfect justice is achieved through perfect Love — what you do to others returns to you. Positive deeds return Love; negative deeds return “challenges” for spiritual growth. “You will reap whatsoever you sow.”
In summary: There is no proof that Near Death Experiences, or any other experiences, originate within the brain. While there is proof that NDEs happen independently of the brain and body during clinical death. Therefor scientists, and/or anyone else, have no reason to say Near Death Experiences are biological in nature. NDEs are exactly as the experiencers describe them, real spiritual events.
P.S. It might correctly be asked what proof is there of the “spiritual consciousness (the real you)” talked about in the fourth paragraph above. The answer is: the existence of spiritual consciousness is evidenced by that which remains alive and gathers information during the clinical death of the brain and body. The second part of the argument proves the first. For more information go to FAQ 18.
