Good day, dear Take in Mind readers! One of the main tasks that we had set, starting this project, is to analyze various facts and phenomena, which cannot be explained without the consideration of both physical and metaphysical aspects. In our previous posts, we, to the best of our modest abilities, tried to find a scientific explanation for many issues that “science fanatics” (or to be exact, fanatics in the name of science or fanatics from science) may call “nonsense” or “dangerous delirium” (see, for example, the articles about The Power of Forgiveness, The Magic Wand – Myths and Science, The Holy Fire – A Scientific Miracle, or the series about The Sixth Sense).
Today we decided to approach a topic, which, of course, is one of the main topics that occupy the thoughts of almost every person on Earth. Any attempt of self-discovery or each of our most simple activities (from the most ordinary to the most grandiose) or any fear, ultimately leads us to reflect on the theme of death (own or others) and the fate of a person after it.
All religions affirm that there is an aspect of the human person that lives after the physical life has ended. The immortality of the spirit or soul or psychophysical individual (Buddhism does not admit an eternal metaphysical Soul) is the subject of many passages of scripture. Its destiny after the death of the body is to go into another existence -perhaps in heaven or hell, or as another sentient being on Earth, or in a resurrection body, or merged in eternal unity with the Absolute.
Conceptions of the hereafter vary considerably from one religion to another, but there are ample common points.
Today we will not go that far, but only talk about what is happening on the border of two worlds. Mythology, folklore, and science fiction provide us with numerous details. We know even the names of the guards and guides (for example, Egyptian Aqen, Greek Charon, and Slavic Baba Yaga). But this area of research is more humanitarian, namely philological or ethnological. We, who associate ourselves with materialistic science, are more interested in the physical facts and phenomena.
Let us talk about Near-death experiences (NDEs), complex experiential episodes that occur in association with death, or the perception that it is impending. Despite transcendental mystical or spiritual near-death experiences are described for millennia, the intensive studies of the issue have started about four decades ago (Moody, 1975).
Numerous studies indicate that, regardless of cultural background, both adults and young children have described comparable experiences in association with death (summarized in Parnia 2017). These include: Feelings of immense peace and love; a sensation of going through a tunnel; seeing a welcoming light; a feeling of entering a beautiful ‘heavenly’ domain; and encountering deceased relatives who welcome the person. Other commonly reported experiences are seeing pictures of episodes from the person’s life, from early childhood till the current moment, and a sense of separating from the body and looking down from above.
In the past 45 years, many have attempted to explain the occurrence of NDEs in terms of abnormal physiological and brain states. These theories largely categorize NDEs as hallucinatory or illusory responses to hypoxia, hypercarbia, hormone and neurotransmitter release such as endorphins, serotonin, NMDA receptor activation, activation of the temporal lobes (Blackmore 1996; Klemenc-Ketis 2010; Carr 1981; Morse 1989; Jansen 1989; Appleton 1993; Carr 1982, respectively). It has also been suggested that a burst of electrical activity in the first 30 seconds after cardiac arrest may cause NDEs (Borjigin 2013). Although some investigators suggest that these theories may represent a causative scientific model to explain NDEs, there are significant scientific and methodological factors that limit these hypotheses.
One of the main limitations is, in fact, the lack of experimental data to support a causal relationship between NDEs and putative physiological “mediators”. The second and perhaps more important limitation relates to the scientific principles underlying the description of this phenomenon.
NDE and when using certain drugs has given rise to some scientists to define NDEs as hallucinations (Timmermann 2018). This approach is incompatible with most of the known scientific principles. To discuss the last statement, let’s talk about… love (this pleasant topic should distract us a little bit). So, humans are capable of experiencing “love” in various circumstances. This is a fundamental basis of the mother-child relationship, but it is also the feeling that overwhelms a person who took a drug or is under alcohol intoxication. That is, logically, the mother is in a hallucination in relation to her child, or, on the contrary, the drug “pushes” to love the whole world? That is absurd to believe that if hallucinogens can induce a feeling of love, then other experiences associated with love are hallucinations. In addition, it is incorrect to assert whether a person’s love is real or hallucinatory by measurement of the levels of the basic neurobiological modulators of love (such as dopamine, oxytocin, and vasopressin) since their levels are similar regardless of the nature of love (in response to a hallucinogenic or real trigger (Zeki 2007).
Two independent studies have attempted to examine the issue of reality with respect to NDEs through an examination of memory quality (Thonnard 2013; Palmieri 2014). Both investigations concluded that NDE recollections are not consistent with illusory experiences but with memories of real-life events. In fact, NDEs appeared ‘more real’ than actual real-life events that were used as controls. One study also explored brain waves during recall of NDEs which indicated that NDEs were processed in a manner similar to memories of real events (but unlike the case of hallucinations).
Let’s summarize. We do not have an exact answer to the question of the NDE’s origin. Are these real pictures of another world or some kind of brain or physiological activities unknown to us? That is unknown and everyone is free to choose any opinion… However, there is another, very amazing point: the NDEs are often associated with long-term positive transformational and psychological effects (Van Lommel 2001; Klemenc-Ketis 2013).
People who had experienced NDEs often report less fear of death; they have a greater sense of altruism, empathy, responsibility towards others, and increased faith and interest in the meaning of life… We, in turn, would like to remind you of the conclusion from “The Power of Forgiveness“: Religious leaders, biologists, philosophers, and doctors are unanimous – the positive emotions (including sympathy, forgiveness, compassion, and love) improve the overall physical and mental health, cardiovascular system and prolong our life. In short, let’s do good deeds without getting ourselves into the NDE state.
References:
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