Evidence of the Afterlife: The Science of Near-Death Experiences (14 page)

There was no statistically significant difference in the responses between the two groups. As with life reviews, tunnel experiences appear to occur in both non-Western and Western NDEs, and with equal frequency. The NDERF study found no evidence that life reviews or tunnel experiences are culture-specific features of near-death experiences.

Throughout this book we have found no significant cultural influences on the content of NDEs. This includes the results from our study of very small children, age five and younger, whose NDEs appeared identical to those of older children and adults. We also found no cultural influence whatsoever in the content of NDEs shared in English from predominantly non-English-speaking countries from around the world. Moreover, we have analyzed NDEs occurring under general anesthesia. These NDErs cannot have had any conscious memories at the time of their experience, including memories that are culturally determined.

In researching non-Western NDE accounts from other sources, I have found some that seem to include a life- threatening event at the time of the experience but with content quite different from typical Western near-death experiences. I can’t tell if this apparent difference in NDE content is real or due to language translation issues. It is also possible that even if the content of near-death experiences is the same across the different cultures of the world, the NDErs may interpret their experiences differently. To quote leading NDE researcher Dr. Bruce Greyson and associates: “Even the cross-cultural differences observed suggest that it is not the core experience that differs but the ways in which people interpret what they have experienced.”
⁵

I coauthored a scholarly book chapter that reviewed thirty years of research about the characteristics of Western NDEs. In this review we were unable to find any characteristics of Western NDEs that could be considered to be culturally determined. We concluded:

Researchers so far have tended to find that most hypothesized predictors of NDE occurrence, incidence, contents, and aftereffects are not reliable.
⁶

At NDERF we have received many dozens of nonWestern near-death experiences. Many of these NDEs were shared as narratives only, without the NDErs completing the NDERF questionnaire. From reviewing all of NDERF’s non-Western near-death experiences, I find that these nonWestern NDEs are generally similar to Western NDEs.
⁷

In summary, the NDERF study found the narratives of non-Western NDEs to be generally similar to Western NDEs. Directly comparing the elements of non-Western and Western near-death experiences revealed that all elements that occurred in Western NDEs were found in nonWestern NDEs as well. As we saw in our study of NDEs around the world, language translation issues may account for apparent, but not real, differences in the content of nonWestern and Western near-death experiences.
⁸
Any differences that might exist between non-Western and Western NDEs are likely minor.

The NDERF cross-cultural NDE study found near-death experiences to be remarkably similar around the world, including NDEs that take place in Western and non-Western countries. This is further evidence that NDEs are much more than simply a product of cultural beliefs or prior life experiences. Near-death experiences remind us that although the people on earth may be a world apart, they may share this important spiritual experience. It’s amazing to think that no matter what country we call home, perhaps our real home is in the wondrous unearthly realms consistently described by NDErs around the world.

It is difficult for most of us to imagine what it’s like to have a near-death experience. To begin with, a person who has had one has nearly died. Nobody expects to
nearly
die, let alone die. As Sigmund Freud put it so succinctly, “When we attempt to imagine death, we perceive ourselves as spectators.

When a near-death experience takes place, it is generally completely different from anything people could have imagined ever happening to them. When NDErs describe their experience as being “unworldly,” they are generally understating it. Words like
unworldly
don’t begin to explain an experience that takes you out of your physical body and into realms described so vividly in the dozens of NDE accounts we have presented so far.

It is a long journey from the time a near-death experience takes place until the changes following the experience are fully manifested. These life changes often include transformations in the near-death experiencer’s values, beliefs, and relations with others. Collectively, these changes are called
aftereffects.

Near-death experiencers often tell me that the aftereffects were the most important part of their experiences. As we will see in this chapter, aftereffects can dramatically affect the NDEr for the rest of his or her life. To understand NDE aftereffects, it is helpful to “walk a mile” with NDErs, following what happens from the time of the NDE until the aftereffects become fully manifest later in life.

For NDErs, the first challenge is usually to recover from what nearly killed them. After regaining consciousness following their life-threatening event, NDErs may have to deal with both the shock of their life-threatening event and the memory of their near-death experience.

Many people believe that NDErs would jump at the opportunity to share such a dramatic experience immediately after it happens. In reality, this is not usually the case. After recovering from nearly dying, if they try to share their story, they often encounter another challenge: they may be met with indifference and even negative reactions. It’s easy to understand how crushed a near-death experiencer would be, trying to share how remarkable the experience was, only to be told that the NDE was due to drugs, hallucinations, or a dream or was imaginary and never really happened. When NDErs encounter such inappropriate reactions from others, they may suppress their experience and their memory of it. If they do, the possibility that they will develop life-enhancing aftereffects is greatly reduced.

Compounding the difficulty NDErs face in sharing is that near-death experiences are often so unworldly that they may be difficult to express in words. Near-death experiences are often called “ineffable,” not only because they are difficult to explain in words, but also because it may be difficult to mentally process these astounding experiences. People may struggle for a long time to understand what has happened to them, and they may believe that others won’t understand either.

Still, some NDErs bravely try to share their experience with medical personnel shortly after it occurs. Sometimes they are lucky enough to find nurses or doctors who understand NDEs and are sympathetic. Unfortunately, this is often not the case. Many in the medical profession are uninformed about NDEs or just plain don’t care. The result is a negative response and a look that says, “You must be crazy.” Imagine how traumatic it is for NDErs to encounter reactions like this one when they share their experiences.

Daniel, who lives in Peru, nearly died from meningitis. Here’s what happened when he tried to share his near-death experience:

I told some people about my experience, and they said I was crazy. My own doctor had me get psychiatric help because I said that I spoke with God.

Near-death experiencers may be very uncomfortable sharing their NDE with their medical caregivers. This was the case with Juanita, who nearly died from a hemorrhage after delivery.

I never told my doctor or nurses. I felt they would think I was crazy!

It’s no wonder that medical personnel have a difficult time knowing how to respond to a patient’s near-death experience. Most patients at first don’t know how to respond to them either. The unexpected nature of an NDE presents a significant barrier to sharing the experience. Most NDErs who share their case study with NDERF did not know what a near-death experience was at the time it occurred. An NDERF survey question asks, “Did you have any knowledge of near-death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?” A resounding 66.4 percent of respondents—nearly two-thirds—answered “No.” Only 12.7 percent of NDErs questioned in the NDERF study felt that their experience, when it occurred, included features consistent with their beliefs. Understandably, it would be difficult to talk about such a profound experience, especially if you didn’t believe that anything of its kind could take place.

These barriers to sharing NDEs clarify why many NDErs do not speak of their experience for years or even decades. However, the great majority of NDErs—more than 90 percent in the NDERF survey—eventually shared their experiences with other people.

While people who have a near-death experience often share it first with their immediate family and spouse, we found in the NDERF study that eventually many do talk about their NDE freely, including the aftereffects and associated positive changes that have taken place in their lives as a result of the experience. The original version of the NDERF study questionnaire asked, “Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?” Of those responding, 73.1 percent answered “Yes,” 12.7 percent answered “Uncertain,” and only 14.2 percent answered “No.” Thus the great majority, but not all, of NDErs experienced changes in their lives as a result of their near-death experience.

The percentage of NDErs selecting “No” in response to this survey question must be interpreted with caution. Some NDErs completed the survey shortly after their near- death experience. They may experience changes later in life as a result of their experience. Other studies have shown that it takes as long as seven years or more for a person who has a near-death experience to fully integrate into their life the changes that resulted from the experience. Near- death-experience researcher P. M. H. Atwater studied this and concluded, “My research has shown that it takes the average child or adult experiencer a minimum of seven years to successfully adjust to what happened to them.”
¹

Many different aftereffects of near-death experiences have been described in prior studies. One of the earliest studies found that NDErs described more self-confidence, a stronger sense of spirituality, a reduced interest in material gain or status, and a greater appreciation of life.
²
Later research found a myriad of other aftereffects, including a belief in the sacredness of life, a sense of God’s presence, and an awareness of meaning and purpose in life. Near-death experiencers often become increasingly aware of the needs of others and are willing to reach out to them. They may seek to live life more fully and joyfully. Personally speaking, I think the world needs a lot more people with values like these.

Following their near-death experience, many people become more religious or spiritual. They may become increasingly committed to their preexisting religious practices. Other NDErs become less interested in traditional religious practices, especially if their religious group was dismissive or negative about their NDE.

Near-death experiencers usually undergo not just one aftereffect but many. Developing these major changes in values and understandings takes time. It also takes a lot of work. In a real sense, NDErs may feel reborn into their new beliefs and values. Those who manifest substantial changes may seem to have become completely different people to their friends and family. The great majority of NDErs find their aftereffects to be positive and life-enhancing. It is very uncommon for NDErs to have prolonged negative or life- diminishing aftereffects, though this has been reported.

Experiencing a change in values may lead NDErs to re-evaluate their jobs. For example, at the time of their near- death experience, they may have been in occupations that valued cutthroat competition and a “win at all costs” mentality. With their values shifting toward compassion and reduced materialistic beliefs, they now find that such occupations increasingly conflict with their new way of looking at the world. No longer sharing the values of their workplaces, they may change occupations. By contrast, if their occupations emphasize positive interpersonal interactions and serving others, their compassionate values may result in their becoming star job performers.

Near-death experiencers may reevaluate their existing interpersonal relationships. They may find the courage to end negative and unloving relationships. Often they seek out positive and loving relationships that are more in line with their new values. Many NDErs find that their increasingly loving and compassionate interaction with others results in stronger marriages and relationships.

The skeptics claim that all these aftereffects following a near-death experience are due to the experience of nearly dying rather than to the NDE itself. Perhaps, they claim, it’s the close brush with death, not the NDE, that explains the life changes that take place later. Once again, as we have seen consistently throughout this book, the facts contradict the skeptics’ claims.

Two prospective studies of cardiac arrest survivors found that it is mainly the near-death experience and not just the close brush with death that results in the positive life- changing aftereffects.
³
In both studies, all the participants had a cardiac arrest and nearly died. The study participants were divided into two groups: those who had a near-death experience and those who did not. The studies assessed aftereffects in both groups. Both studies found that the NDErs described many more aftereffects than the cardiac arrest survivors who did not have a near-death experience. Both studies found that the aftereffects reported by NDErs increased over time.

Three studies also found that NDEs with more detailed content, often referred to as more “depth” in the NDE, were strongly correlated with the occurrence of more aftereffects.
⁴
These studies further establish that it is mainly the near- death experience that results in the aftereffects.

The changes experienced by NDErs are usually both profound and lasting. Pim van Lommel, MD, the medical researcher in the Netherlands who has been discussed elsewhere in this book, discovered a lot about the transformations NDErs undergo in his study of cardiac arrest survivors. Here is what he had to say about the transformative effects of NDEs:

[My work] was designed to assess whether the transformation in attitude toward life and death following an NDE is the result of having an NDE or the result of the cardiac arrest itself. In this follow-up research into transformational processes after NDE, we found a significant difference between patients with and without an NDE. The process of transformation took several years to consolidate. Patients with an NDE did not show any fear of death, they strongly believed in an afterlife, and their insight in what is important in life had changed: love and compassion for oneself, for others, and for nature. They now understood the cosmic law that everything one does to others will ultimately be returned to oneself: hatred and violence as well as love and compassion. Remarkably, there was often evidence of increased intuitive feelings. Furthermore, the long-lasting transformational effects of an experience that lasts only a few minutes was a surprising and unexpected finding.
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Let’s take a closer look at some of the more common and interesting NDE aftereffects.

Love
is one of the most common words NDErs use to describe their experience, and for good reason. People who have a near-death experience often become more loving in their interactions with others and increasingly value positive and empathic relations. Occasionally the NDErs’ desire to relate compassionately to others leads them to change jobs and enter the healing professions. When asked in the NDERF study questionnaire, “Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?,” 57.3 percent answered “Yes,” and many went on to elaborate.

Jewel, who nearly drowned while bodysurfing, wrote,

Certainly it is in the best interests of yourself and everyone you meet to be the most kind and courteous that you can be. Treat everyone as you would like to be treated. We meet simply another version of ourselves every day.

Rusty, who nearly died from loss of blood, wrote,

My outlook on life and what I hold to be important has changed. My experiences and interactions with other people, especially my family, have gained importance.

Donna, who was nearly strangled to death, reported,

I was withdrawn and victimized before. I attracted bad people and didn’t see it. I still seem to attract some bad ones, but I see it. I am very independent, strong, focused, but can be too loving and too giving. I have fewer and need fewer relationships, but those I have are more meaningful.

Gwen, whose heart stopped from pneumonia, wrote,

I never was patient before; now I have lots and lots of patience. I have a lot of discernment too, which I didn’t have before. I have empathy and understand that none of us are ever going to be perfect in this life.

Although NDErs tend to become more compassionate and loving, the NDERF study shows that the changes experienced by NDErs may not be well received by those around them. Friends and family members may find it difficult to relate to changes in values and interests that take place as a result of a near-death experience. Also, NDErs may be less willing to tolerate relationships that are unloving. One NDEr named Joyce summed it up succinctly:

I think it planted a seed that helped me choose better partners for myself and never to be in another abusive relationship.

Overall, though, NDErs tend to become increasingly loving and accepting of
themselves.
This is especially noticeable if their NDE resulted from a suicide attempt, in which case the NDEr will rarely attempt suicide again.
⁶

A study from 1975, before near-death experiences were well known, presented the results of interviews with seven of only ten known survivors of jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. All seven of these suicide attempters described aftereffects of spiritual rebirth and transformed lives. As one jumper said, “It affirmed my belief—there is a higher spiritual world. I experienced a transcendence—in that moment I was refilled with new hope and purpose of being alive.”
⁷

On rare occasions I receive e-mails from people, often in the midst of depression, wondering if they should try suicide as a way to induce a near-death experience. My response is an immediate “absolutely no.” I encourage those who are depressed to seek counseling and also to discuss their life issues with their health-care team. People who had near-death experiences as a result of suicide attempts almost uniformly believe that their suicide attempts were a serious mistake. A personal experience of NDE should
never
be sought by creating a life-threatening event.