Near Death Experiences

I've been reading a lot over at nderf.org, a website set up for folks to share and study near death experiences.

I've always found this kind of stuff fascinating, and the internet seems to be a great way for people to get their story out without having to worry about being misunderstood. Many of the people who post on the site say they've only told their very closest friends/family in confidence as they're afraid of being labeled "crazy". Certainly some of the accounts may be false, but I find it probable that a high percentage of the accounts are truthfully told. Taken with a grain of salt some clear themes do emerge though. The cause of these experiences is open to debate - (are they real experiences, triggered by oxygen starved brain, anesthesia, etc), but what I find interesting is an intriguing common thread that runs through so many of them.

Anyhow, I've been reading ALOT of these accounts - I've read over 150 or so accounts so far. Some commonalities I see:
- the experience is generally described as far more real than normal life. Most say comparatively life is far less real than the experience. (playing piano with mittens on)
- often begin with out-of-body experience - floating over their lifeless body but confused, not recognizing what's going on at first. some are actually shocked to realize they're looking at their lifeless body on the ground.
- there's usually an odd objective detachment to the physical body.
- being pulled into a tunnel or void and approaching a bright light. Depending on the experience the light tends to represent religious figures (often angels, Jesus, God), family members, or sometimes just a more abstract "idea" of God.
- a feeling of deep unconditional and accepting love by "the light." In general the experience is highly emotional. Most of the experiences are positive, but a small number have more frightening aspects.
- life review. Most who have a life review say the judgment comes from themselves and they have to learn to forgive themselves. The theme here is that we are our own harshest critics.
- a strong sense of one-ness with the universe accompanied by a connectedness with knowledge of all, that they suddenly just intuitively understand how everything works. Most say there aren't words to adequately describe what's going on. (Analogy: Conceptually it sounds like physical life is described as a computer without an internet connection, and the near death experience is suddenly like having access links to all computers and information in the world available for recall.) One described it as like being in a gigantic warehouse with a flashlight, stumbling around, and then for a few moments the lights are turned on and suddenly the layout and structure all makes sense. Even when you go back to just having a flashlight you understand better how it's all put together, how the aisles are aligned...
- general consensus is that we are here on earth to learn lessons. The vast majority of accounts see earth as a "school" for spirits - a place where they are distanced from the "one" to learn and improve themselves - that physical life exists to further the spirit.
- the theme of interconnectedness of everything permeates so many of these accounts. The assertion that what we do to others is like we also do to ourselves - as we are all part of the same "one". I'm reminded of the verse "Whatever you do unto the least of these, you do unto me."
- sense of extra dimensionality, non-existence of time, all events past, current, and future existing concurrently. There are many accounts describing what is similar to a quantum nature of reality - that all options are available until we choose a course of action.
- most are given the option of whether to return and "finish" their lesson on earth, and often have to be convinced to return. A phrase repeated in many of the accounts is that they are told "it is not your time." Many say at the time they understood fully why they had to return, but once back in their body they can't remember why they were persuaded.
- a surprising number of those that return say they regret the decision.

For an example, here's an account from a motorcycle accident I recently read that has many of the elements,

and here's a link to what the site considers some of the more "exceptional accounts"

Anyhow, I can't seem to get enough of reading these accounts. I think it's the themes that emerge that make them so interesting. After reading a lot of these it's almost like you know what's coming next... Kindof like he's out of his body but doesn't know it, here comes the the tunnel, and the light, extreme feelings of love and one-ness, sense of universal knowledge, they're going to have to talk him into going back, etc... But at the same time it's the commonalities of so many accounts that seem to give an extra level of weight to the overall themes.

This post has run on long enough, but I feel like these are worth reading.