Near-death experiences: Mays excerpt #1

Robert G. and Suzanne B. Mays write: What is the human experience of dying? Among those who can tell us are those human beings who have been close to death and experienced the first stages of the dying process—those who have crossed the threshold of death and returned. Their experiences are called near-death experiences (NDEs).

In the early period of our research in 2005, we concluded that NDEs are an archetypal phenomenon that holds the key to understanding the existential questions of life and death—indeed to understanding the essential nature of the human being. Our conclusion is that NDEs provide the best evidence that the essential aspect of the human being—the Self—is independent of the physical body and survives the death of the body.

Most often, NDEs occur when one is near to death or in a state of extreme psychological or physical distress. What defines an NDE are the characteristic “elements” of the experience that are reported afterwards, for example:

There is a profound sense of peace and freedom from pain. 

 

There is a feeling of separation from the body, generally floating above one’s physical body. This portion of the NDE is sometimes called the “out-of-body experience” (OBE) phase of the NDE. 

 

One may see events in the physical realm beyond normal physical sight that are later verified as accurate, called “veridical perceptions.”  

 

One may enter a beautiful heavenly realm or a dark velvety void, feeling it is one’s True Home. This portion is sometimes called the “transcendental” phase of the NDE.  

 

One may encounter deceased relatives or spiritual beings, including a “Being of Light.” 

 

One may have a review of the events of one’s life, a “life review,” or a preview of future events.  

 

One either chooses to return to earthly life or is told to return to the body.

 Throughout an NDE, there is a continuous sense of one’s self, and afterwards, the near-death experiencer (NDEr) has a number of aftereffects, most prominently the loss of fear of death. The NDE is often felt to be the most significant event of their life—their life is changed forever.

Many of the aftereffects also indicate that there has been a change in the “energetic configuration” of the physical body. For example, many NDErs experience interference with watches and electronics; have increased sensitivities to bright lights, loud sounds, crowds, some medications, and some foods; and avoid watching television and movies, especially those containing violence. Over 90% of NDErs report they experienced a marked reduction or complete elimination of their fear of death and a dramatic increase in belief in an afterlife.

Being close to death by itself does not constitute an NDE. Many people who come close to death—or actually die for a period of time, for example with cardiac arrest—do not remember experiencing anything. Only about 10–20% of cardiac arrest survivors recall experiencing an NDE.

Furthermore, many people who are not close to death also experience an NDE, for example during sleep, meditation, or fainting. These non-life-threatening NDEs are the same phenomenal experience with the same features, regardless of their precipitating cause—whether occurring in cardiac arrest or during meditation. This fact suggests there is a common mechanism for all NDEs.

 

Robert G. Mays, BSc and Suzanne B. Mays, AA,  “There is no death: Near-death experience evidence for survival after permanent bodily death.” An essay written for the 2021 Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies addressing the question: “What Is The Best Available Evidence For The Survival Of Human Consciousness After Permanent Bodily Death?” Footnotes are omitted from these excerpts but are available in the full text available on the Bigelow website at https://bigelowinstitute.org/contest_winners3.php.