Near Death Experiences

Death is a Withdrawal

The experiences of Dr Moody's patients in Life After Life are similar to those described by theosophical writers.

The dying person hears a ringing noise (the Tibetan Book of the Dead refers to alarming sounds!). The cause is the concentration of vital energies in the brain (up to ten times normal). Theosophical author Geoffrey Hodson writes:

'We shall see the life-forces are withdrawn from the extremities and centred in the heart as a golden light. As death draws nearer the life forces are withdrawn still further into the middle of the head.... When the life force is entirely centered in the brain it finally leaves as a shaft of light through the top of the head!' As the consciousness withdraws some felt they were passing through a dark tunnel. Spiritualists describe this as 'coming through a veil', or 'coming out of a mist'.

Dr Moody reported that patients who have just died find themselves in another dimension in a different 'body', surrounded by 'unearthly luminosity which they later find difficult to describe.' They become aware of the physical world and know what people are saying but cannot communicate with them.

Surrounded by Love

In the near-death experiences the 'spirits' of friends come to meet the patients exactly as described by C.W. Leadbeater in his book Invisible Helpers.

After an incredibly rapid but vivid review of the life just past, they are helped to evaluate it by a loving warm spirit - a being of light which is probably their spiritual self. They know they must return to complete unfinished work on Earth and reluctantly reunite with their physical body. Their whole life is changed - they now want to work unselfishly for the good of others.

One investigator, Dr Karlis Osis concludes: 'I cannot call this proof in the scientific sense, but the pattern of near-death experiences convinces one that there is life after death.'