Near-death experiences: Mishlove excerpt #4

Psychologist Jeffrey Mishlove writes in “Beyond the Brain: The Survival of Human Consciousness After Permanent Bodily Death,” that researchers have collected thousands of near-death experience reports. Undoubtedly, millions of individuals have had such experiences involving characteristics varying only slightly from culture to culture.

Almost all these people report being convinced to a certainty that consciousness survives death. The obvious criticism of these experiences as evidence for postmortem survival is, since experiencers inevitably return to their body, they were never dead. So, their experience can’t be about actual death. A more realistic interpretation is their experiences reflect the postmortem state’s early stages.

The consciousness realms described in near- death reports are detailed. They typically claim the afterlife is more real than waking physical reality.

Neuro-surgeon Eben Alexander, author of several books about his own near-death experience, offers his personal recollection of the supersensible reality where he believes our physical four- dimensional spacetime is embedded. It included “colors beyond the rainbow,” and swooping golden orbs of light, sparkling golden trails. Chants, anthems and hymns would thunder through his awareness. As a pure awareness speck “on a butterfly,” he didn’t merely witness this reality. He became one with it, therefore “you can essentially see through everything.”

One fascinating feature included in many near-death reports is the life review. These events suggest a realm where time is compressed compared to physical time and where the boundaries between individual minds are permeable. Alexander explains, we become one with the scenes and objects of the experience in the near-death state. He calls that “knowledge through identification.” One can, therefore, realize many things simultaneously. Earth time isn’t fundamental. There is a deeper time structure taking “soul growth” into account. He adds that language limits our ability to understand these experiences.

One singularly important piece of evidence associated with the near-death state is Alexander’s complete cerebral cortex regeneration. Bruce Greyson, a physician who has been researching near-death experiences for nearly a half-century, examined Alexander’s medical records, over 600 pages, with two other physicians. Puss from a rare infection filled Alexander’s cranium. His Glasgow Coma Scale result indicated minimal brain function. The three physicians all agreed there was less than a one percent chance of survival and no possibility of a normal recovery. In Greyson words, “This guy was as dead as you can be without having his heart stop.”

When Mishlove asked Alexander how he accounted for his miraculous recovery, Alexander suggested he had accessed a part of himself, beyond the ego, having enormous healing power. He referred to it as the “light body” or the “higher self.”  Other unexpected recoveries from conditions thought to be irreversible have occurred in connection with near-death experiences. These have been well-documented and monitored by medical doctors.

Pim van Lommel, a Dutch cardiologist and author of Consciousness Beyond Life: The Science of Near-Death Experience, describes controlled studies involving patients who experienced cardiac arrest in hospitals. Five independent studies have been published involving 562 patients who survived cardiac arrest. Between 10% and 20% reported having a near-death experience. Van Lommel reports that neither physiological nor psychological factors can account for their experience.

We know, during cardiac arrest, there is no brain function left. So, we would expect no conscious experience at all during cardiac arrest.

Also, van Lommel explains how foreknowledge is a feature found in near-death reports. He describes the experience as akin to déjà vu – as, perhaps ten years later, individuals will recognize an experience as one they foresaw during their near-death experience.

An essential feature of many near-death states, to which van Lommel alluded above, is feeling overwhelmingly powerful love. Van Lommel also interviewed patients reporting a life review as part of their near-death experiences. He says people claim to relive every thought they have ever had combined with an intimate knowledge how one’s behavior affects others. Ultimately, the lessons people derive from their life reviews are about becoming more open and loving. The experience inspires people to change their lives.

 

Jeffrey Mishlove’s essay, “Beyond the Brain: The Survival of Human Consciousness After Permanent Bodily Death,” received first prize in the 2021 Bigelow Institute’s challenge to provide proof for the survival of human consciousness after death. Footnotes in Mishlove’s essay and videos he refers have been removed in this presentation but are available in his essay, which may be downloaded at https://bigelowinstitute.org/contest_winners3.php. Mishlove is a licensed clinical psychologist, author, and host on YouTube of “New Thinking Allowed.”