Can Near Death Experiences show us the real meaning of life?

Ever since I started my spiritual journey, I have been fascinated by people who have reported to have a NDE (Near Death Experience). Most of all because these people have never met, they come from different cultures and beliefs, and they all describe remarkably similar experiences.

I have collated dozens of NDE stories below and what they reveal to us.

An indescribable Love

Almost every story I have read describes exiting their human bodies and becoming pure consciousness. A place made of light and incredible love.

Gillian, who was pronounced clinically dead for 3 minutes, said that it has been 50 years since and she can feel the total love and acceptance she felt, of being totally cherished, like it was yesterday. Many report that this is not love as we know it on earth. It is hard to put into words. It is unconditional - each soul is loved deeply and equally.

As this feeling of love is so indescribably beautiful, many NDE survivors tell of not wanting to return to their human bodies. They want to stay. Even if this means leaving their loved ones.

"I saw a Light that was brighter than a million suns but which didn't hurt my vision. It radiated the most all-encompassing unconditional Love I've ever experienced." Pamela

We are infinite, spiritual beings having a human experience

Many people who have an NDE say they have never thought outside of their human experience, until this happens. Although we leave our physical bodies behind, it appears from that our existence continues in another form. One described this as feeling like a totally disembodied self in a white light.

Gillian, who died briefly from a COVID-related operation was told "We are love and we are all one; all connected to the divine. We are divine." We are all part of divine source, temporarily experiencing this limited human experience. Many describe this as like having a recollection of a dream when they go back, as if their life was a momentary blip in their infinite existence.

For many, this completely eradicates their fear of dying. They know this is not the end. That energy never dies, it simply changes form and frequency. For Doug, who was pronounced clinically dead after hitting his head on a pavement, says the feeling of being in this other form was overwhelmingly familiar. He felt he had been through the experience before. For me, this is an incredible blessing - to continue to live with no fear of death.

Earth is a school

Earth is often described as a "school", where we go for our souls to learn lessons. We learn these through having a range of experiences. Ultimately, though, many NDE survivors are told that relationships, serving the collective, spreading love and light is the only truth, with everything else being an illusion. This was part of Sherry's NDE experience. She tell that she was shown clearly why we are all here - to have the human experience and help each other rise to a higher level of love.

I have also read of many NDE survivors who are told earth is a "game", with certain rules, where you play an imaginary character (yourself) for a period of time. You will have challenges, where the goal is to wake up to the realisation that Love is the only thing that matters. Think of it like the most sophisticated game of sims you have ever played! The experience feels so real that most people remain completely immersed in their character until death, when the illusion falls away.

We have a life review

Telesa says that she started to have visions of her life, not just the one she had just left, but every life she ever lived. The content of these life reviews vary from person to person. Mohammed says he was replayed scenes of his mother being pregnant with him, when he entered her "like a wave"

These scenes from life are shown like a movie. Mohammed's was one of the most beautiful examples I read. He was shown a scene of when he was a young child, when his family had stopped their car near a river so he could go and collect water in a bucket. On the way back he decided to empty some of the water on a tree that was alone on a dry patch of land. In his life review, he received such applaud and joy from the Universe as he had done this purely from the heart, with absolutely no expectation for his own gain.

Many report being replayed the bad things they have done, and feeling how this made the other person feel. Sherry says this was like reliving the pain as if you were inside the other person. Although you are shown your hurtful actions, there is no judgment. For me, to feel the pain you made others feel in life comes back to the message of Love being all there is. All that matters is how you love and treat others.

We are visitors to earth, we go home when we die

Barbara felt said she felt completely free and she realised that was reality, not earth. Jeffery, who overdosed and was clinically dead for six minutes, says that ever since coming back, this realm has felt like a foggy dream.

Soku, who suffocated when she was four years old, said she had no questions because being in that state felt completely natural, a place of deep familiarity.

A common theme was people desperately wanting to stay, like they had finally gone "home", after an arduous journey. Kip, who had his NDE when he was hit by a car as a child, said he could see the scene of many people gathered around his body, trying to revive him. He wondered why they were crying as he was at total peace, like he was finally home.

Many plead to stay but are told they have not yet fulfilled their purpose on earth so must return. Mohammed said he wanted to stay in the world of love, peace and light, but his guides reminded him of his responsibilities on earth and he argued about returning. Imagine feeling ready to leave your life on earth within minutes.

Others describe a sense of grief when they return to their bodies, like a sense of "homesickness", which can last many years.

Time doesn't exist

Almost as soon as they enter this realm, NDE survivors say that time becomes irrelevant. Telesa recalls how she felt she had been gone for years so went to "check" on her husband and children. Only moments on earth had passed. Bobby said that everything within a space of a minute of two, she experienced 128 years of life, and then a thousand years of other people's lives.

In all the stories, this is one of the first things they say. My belief is that we need time here on earth to live this linear human experience, but that it is also an illusion. One that becomes clear almost as soon as most people pass over.

We are reunited with our passed loved ones

If we are infinite souls having a human experience, then the same goes for our family.

When Beatrice had her NDE, she saw her grandpa, who had died a year earlier. Telesa said she was reunited with her maternal grandmother and sister who had passed away when she was 15. Everyone she encountered was in energy form, a pure soul.

Carson said that during his NDE, he was going up an escalator. At the top of the escalator, waiting for him, were both of his deceased grandmas dressed in their Sunday best dresses. He remembers their words as if this happened yesterday. ’Well, little man, you have quite the journey ahead, but this is not your time’. Universally, these spirits are there to show comfort and love.

Pascal, who suffered a heart condition, was reunited with his son Gabriel, who had died four years before. He had suffered immensely since his death. He heard Gabriel speak to him, without seeing his lips move. No words, but rather a communion by telepathy. Gabriel made him understand that it was not the time to leave his brother and his mother. He let him know that he did not need him there, and that he was fine. Pascal said he could return to his body and continue to live "for the both of them"

A final reflection

Many people also report having some memories "wiped" from them prior to returning to their bodies. What this tells me is that what they did remember, was meant to be shared. Although I have not experienced one myself, I feel the lessons that come from need to be spoken about as they give us as much of a glimpse into the meaning of life than anything else. The only ones to truly see beyond the veil.

Whether you believe these accounts or not, I find it deeply comforting to know that we go to a place of so much Love that most people cannot find the words to describe it and they do not want to leave. Above all, these experiences remind us that there is nothing to fear in death.

Time and again, people describe it as simply going "home" 🤍

My favourite quote from an NDE survivor:

"I’m not scared of death at all. In fact, I will welcome it when it is time to go. I once added up all the minutes I have lived during my 76 years and it came to a little over 40 million or so minutes. In those millions of minutes I have lived, the happiest of them has been those several minutes when my heart stopped and I had that beautiful NDE."

Resources

If you would like to read some real life NDEs, I would recommend the Near Death Experience Research Foundation.

You will find 1000s of first hand accounts here, gathered over many years.