Near-death experiences (NDEs) are often wonderful and even spiritually transformative experiences. But they are not related in any way to actual death, and it is important to keep that distinction clear! A normal death is a series of fairly predictable events which occur as the material body shuts down at the end of its life, and the spirit is escorted to the next level of reality. By contrast, NDEs are in the nature of dreams in which just about anything can happen, and in any order. NDEs are tailored by the near-death experiencer’s spirit guides for his or her own edification and delight. Let’s learn a little more about NDEs:
- What happens mechanically in an NDE is that our energy body, which is who we actually are, leaves our material body, but it remains attached to our material body by an energy cord. That energy cord, which is often called the “silver cord,” is what keeps our material body alive while our energy body is out of it. If the silver cord breaks, it cannot be reattached, so death of the material body then happens.
- Death is always a one-way trip. Our silver cord is unbelievably stretchy. Most of us travel out of our material body using our energy body for two or three hours on many nights each week, and while many of us don’t leave our bedrooms during these excursions, a few of us have traveled as far as the ends of the universe this way. But if the silver cord breaks, it cannot be reattached, so death of the material body then happens. Death is always a one-way trip. If someone is able to tell you about having had an NDE, then that person never has died during that near-death experience. Not even for a moment!
- During our NDE, our spirit guide might raise our spiritual vibration enough to escort us to the astral plane, which is in the same place where we are now but at a higher vibration. This is why many people think that they “went to heaven.” The astral plane looks and feels very different from the earth, since it is full of colors never seen here, and love is the very air we breathe. We might meet sixth-level beings, and perhaps our own dead loved ones, and have amazing and often life-changing conversations.
- The one being that we cannot meet in an NDE is God, and the one place to which we cannot travel is the genuine afterlife. God never appears physically, and never speaks with an external voice. And we know that no NDE traveler ever goes to the genuine afterlife, in part because in more extensive NDEs, the experiencer will sometimes be told that he or she is approaching the place where the dead are, and must turn back now or else that silver cord will break, death will happen, and it will be irreversible.
- We probably cannot meet the genuine Jesus, Buddha, or other religious figures. Religious figures are reported in NDEs, but the ways that they look and the things they say tend to be so atypical that experts consider these apparitions to be dream-figures.
- Approximately one in seven NDEs is hellish or otherwise scary. But the fiery and frightening locales where they take place are not real. When experiencers call for help, they are immediately out of these experiences.
- So now you know that no one who is able to tell you what happened during his or her near-death experience has ever actually died! Death is always a one-way trip.
Near-death experiences are more evidence that you and I in our energy bodies can survive and prosper apart from our material bodies. But nothing that happens during a near-death experience can tell us anything about what it is like to die, or anything about the genuine afterlife!
Conclusion
In conclusion, near-death experiences (NDEs) offer profound insights into the nature of consciousness and the afterlife, but they should be distinguished from actual death. While NDEs can be spiritually transformative and involve encounters with spiritual beings and vivid landscapes, they occur within the realm of the individual’s consciousness and are not indicative of the genuine afterlife. The presence of a silver cord connecting the energy body to the physical body underscores the temporary nature of NDEs and the fact that death is irreversible. Although NDEs provide compelling evidence of the survival of consciousness beyond the body, they do not offer definitive insights into the nature of death or the afterlife.
FAQs
Are near-death experiences real?
Yes, near-death experiences are real subjective experiences reported by individuals who have come close to death.
How do we know near-death experiences are real?
Near-death experiences are reported by individuals from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, suggesting a universal phenomenon.
Do scientists acknowledge that near-death experiences are real?
While the scientific community continues to study the phenomenon, there is growing recognition that near-death experiences are real subjective experiences deserving of investigation.
Can near-death experiences be explained scientifically?
While there are various theories attempting to explain near-death experiences, the exact mechanisms behind these phenomena remain a subject of ongoing research.
Are near-death experiences just hallucinations?
While some skeptics suggest that near-death experiences are hallucinatory in nature, many individuals report vivid and transformative experiences that cannot be easily dismissed as mere hallucinations.
Do near-death experiences provide evidence of an afterlife?
Near-death experiences offer intriguing insights into consciousness and the possibility of an afterlife, but they do not provide definitive proof of an afterlife.
Are there common elements in near-death experiences?
Yes, near-death experiences often include elements such as encountering a bright light, feelings of peace and love, and encounters with deceased loved ones or spiritual beings.
Can everyone have a near-death experience?
Near-death experiences can occur in a variety of circumstances, but not everyone who faces a life-threatening situation will have such an experience.
Are near-death experiences similar to dreams?
While near-death experiences share some similarities with dreams, they are typically described as more vivid, intense, and profound than typical dream experiences.
Can near-death experiences change a person’s beliefs or outlook on life?
Yes, many individuals report that near-death experiences have profoundly impacted their beliefs, values, and attitudes toward life and death.
