The Near-Death Experience (NDE)

There is a river. Life continues.

The near-death experience is an experience that occurs beyond the confines of the physical body through the soul by way of an event that is often traumatic. Regardless of the path, the near-death experience is always life-changing and transformative.  Accounts of these experiences are an invaluable source of information regarding the existence of the human soul,  the process of dying, and the transition that occurs when the soul leaves the physical body.  

These experiences are diverse and while many share similar constructs, no two are precisely alike. An internet search will produce a variety of first-hand accounts including books, studies, and interviews. Regardless of one's disposition, the near-death experience is a fact of life and is, in my opinion, vital to a study of the spirit. It is a common theme in many of these experiences, which are diverse, that the spiritual worlds are a very active place, the sphere beyond death is structured, and that unconditional love and wisdom are universal truths.

Regardless of one's perspective or experience, there is no definitive resolution to the question of the authenticity of the near-death experience or "NDE" in strictly scientific terms and is, of course, debatable. However, some people speak of detailed conversations and behaviors of persons around them after they died and were observing their death in the third person; facts that are corroborated and sometimes scoffed at. This page is not concerned with that process. 

If one keeps an open mind, pursues the answers through research, the heart, and an objective study it is self-evident that most of first-hand accounts are authentic spoken from the heart and a wish to help our fellow human beings and the world. People from all walks of life, cultures, and backgrounds have candidly come forward about their experiences while they temporarily visited the spiritual side of life that exists beyond the physical. 

The physical brain is the carrier and tool by which perception, intellectual thought, and the various processes of human perception occurs and are vital to life. However, the physical brain does not "own" the memories, consciousness, or life of the human soul in light of Anthroposophy and initiation wisdom. It is interwoven in all things, but these things are left behind at death. These faculties have a spiritual source that resides within the folds of the soul and the spirit; aspects of the human being that manifest through the physical world from a hidden source. In light of Anthroposophical vernacular, the Etheric, or Energy "sheath", which can only be observed through supersensible perception, is that aspect of the human being that houses the accumulation of memories (and other things).

Death is the great leveler. It is the most personal of experiences. It forcefully separates us from everything we have ever known including how we think and perceive the world. Everything changes in an instant.

All things, however small, must be faced. One's life, in every detail, is relived before the human being as a multi-dimensional experience in feelings, images, and ideas all of which have a downstream impact and a source. Our connection to others, in every detail, is observable in front of us as if we were the other person; experiencing what our feelings, thoughts, deeds, and words did to other people and all living things during our life. After death, we feel what another person and living beings including animals felt and experienced from their point of view.

"...(in the first few days after death), that is, when the thoughts have been breathed-in by the Angels, Archangels and Archai, then, after a few days, man enters into that backward course of life which I have described to you. There he experiences his deeds, his impulses of will, his tendencies of thought, in the way in which they worked on  other men, to whom he did either good or evil. He enters right into the minds and feelings of other men. He does not live in his own mind. With  the clear consciousness that it is his concern, he undergoes all that took place in the depths of other human beings' souls, with whom he  entered into any kind of karmic relationship,—to whom he did anything  whatever good or ill. 

And once again it shows itself, how that which the human being thus experiences is received. He experiences it in fullness of reality—a reality, which I had to describe not long ago as a reality more real than that of the senses between birth and death. He  experiences a reality in the midst of which he stands more fully, more glowingly than in any reality of this earthly life down here." -Rudolf Steiner, https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA237/English/RSP1977/19240704a01.html  (parenthesis are the author's).

Depending on the path of the individual, and as each experience is unique, sometimes people begin the process of the life-review and sometimes they do not during their near-death experiences. There is a mystery at work in that process, and the life-path of each human being, that is unique and is overseen by divine guides.

Many people who have brought their first-hand accounts forward state that they felt a sense of release and freedom that they had never experienced before when they found themselves outside of their physical body after death. Almost all state that they felt irrevocably connected to every deed, thought, and feeling of their lives which is eternally present before them; for better or worse.  Some return with a genuine form of spiritual vision and a clairvoyant ability.

People who share their accounts of having died and returned have memories of meeting guides, including Christ-Jesus, their guardian angel, family members, friends, and loved ones who died/transitioned to the spiritual worlds in the past (some decades before). Those who come back, state there is no judgement. Dogs, cats, and pets long gone are oftentimes present when one crosses the threshold, or rainbow bridge, and they come to greet one who passes the gate of death. Some speak of an all-pervading light of universal and unconditional love that permeated them, and communicated only in thoughts and/or feelings. Sometimes, there are large groups of people, and families, who greet one after they pass through the gate of death.

Some accounts by those who have died and returned to talk about their experiences communicate the openness, and personal extent, of the multi-dimensional nature of a review of their lives which is always accompanied by an angelic guide or guides, and/or Christ-Jesus. Based on the commonality of these experiences, the "life review" is always undertaken with the assistance and oversight of a divine guide or guides. What was "inner" becomes "outer" and we share in the experiences of what we projected into others and the world, and conversely what others projected upon us, for better or worse as a comprehensive experience. Dr. Steiner stated that this step typically occurs over a 3-day period after death.

As Dr. Rudolf Steiner observed, we must relive our deeds, thoughts, and feelings twice; first in the spiritual worlds - in full awareness of all of the impacts of what we did or did not do and the far-reaching thereabouts as if we were that person, or persons, that we influenced while alive - and a second time in the physical world in a subsequent lifetime as our prior deeds return to us through karmic necessity as inner and outer experiences. In light of Anthroposophy, the construct of the experience after death is unique as one moves from the "microcosm" (or the human being) into the "macrocosm" (or universe).

The observation point at which a person enters the spiritual world in a near-death experience is unique. One person may have a very clear experience while another may experience a hazy, dim form of consciousness.  Some bring back no memory of it at all.  Most people, however, speak of crystal clear experiences, feelings, and interactions with other people, cities, the universe, libraries, hospitals, greeting stations, and vistas. Some return feeling that the spiritual world upon which we all came, and shall return, is more "real" than the physical world.  The memory of the experience typically remains, however, after a person returns to their physical body and regains normal waking consciousness.

Living light, which conveys feeling, power, and thought, and love, is a common aspect that survivors communicate upon their return. Euphoria, friends, and family all surround us upon our return home and they communicate through thought; not words. It is not uncommon for people to expand into the universe as an individual, and feel a connection to each star as a living spiritual being...and to sense and take in the beauty and bond of that connection to the universe and other human beings as a family. Most experience a great contraction as a sense of loss, and longing, when they return - most of the times reluctantly - and are folded back into the shell and pain of the physical body. It causes depression sometimes...

Mighty vistas that cannot be described well in human language appear before the soul who crosses the threshold; there are scenes and experiences, which permeate the heart and the soul, that can only be experienced in the world of the spirit. The kind of life we have led, which is based on life choices, disposition, and attitudes, is often reflected in the quality of the experience. But it does not confine us and imprison us. There is a knowledge sharing experience to enable us to lead better lives. Magnificent cities and buildings, which serve divine and spiritual purposes and were created out of pure and ennobled spirit, are often encountered by souls who have crossed the threshold. 

Most first-hand accounts speak of the fact that there is no judgment from Christ-Jesus, or guides, who greet us. Sometimes, it appears, He does not introduce himself as such but simply IS.  Many experiences speak of "what could have been" and the downstream effect of our thoughts, feelings, and deeds in a spiritual context. Negative thoughts, for example, that we have about other people will find their way in spiritual terms into the heart and souls of other people as do positive aspects.

It is not uncommon for people to encounter moving constructs and environments whereby information is shared about one's life, purpose, and spiritual mission prior to the person returning to complete their lifetime.  The applied principle of life missions and karmic tasks that were designed for us - and mutually agreed upon - prior to birth is a common theme as are the turning points in our lives when, for example, a person is compelled to change an existing attitude or direction in their thinking and disposition.

Spiritual initiates, such as Dr. Rudolf Steiner, provid(ed) far-reaching insights into the nature and facts of the spiritual worlds, which can be found throughout his writings and lectures available on www.rsarchive.com.  However, thousands of researchers have shared their experiences that are a matter of a simple google search.  If one is not familiar with Dr. Steiner's works, it is important to consider that Dr. Steiner provided a spiritual vocabulary, based on direct observations, that was constructed with his introductory works. This vocabulary is a reflection of spiritual facts which may not align to the terms that other people use.

Many insightful studies have been conducted in search of correlations with Near-Death Experiences across different people and cultures, and they are as diverse as the experience itself.  These are living experiences of the heart and soul. Therefore, it is the best path, perhaps, to take the time and watch and read about the accounts directly from those who have died and returned to tell their stories...