--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "authfriend" <jstein@...> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Yifu" <yifuxero@> wrote: > > > > consciousness beyond the brain - precisely; dead people with > > subtle bodies. Likewise, Buddhas existing in varous Buddhalands > > beyond the physical. You doubt the existence of life after > > physical brain existence? How curious. > > This recent article from Salon.com reports on some of > the latest and most conclusive evidence concerning near- > death experiences: > > http://www.salon.com/2012/04/21/near_death_explained > > The final paragraphs: > > ----- > The scientific NDE studies performed over the past decades indicate that > heightened mental functions can be experienced independently of the body at a > time when brain activity is greatly impaired or seemingly absent (such as > during cardiac arrest). Some of these studies demonstrate that blind people > can have veridical perceptions during OBEs associated with an NDE. Other > investigations show that NDEs often result in deep psychological and > spiritual changes. > > These findings strongly challenge the mainstream neuroscientific view that > mind and consciousness result solely from brain activity. As we have seen, > such a view fails to account for how NDErs can experience—while their hearts > are stopped—vivid and complex thoughts and acquire veridical information > about objects or events remote from their bodies. > > NDE studies also suggest that after physical death, mind and consciousness > may continue in a transcendent level of reality that normally is not > accessible to our senses and awareness. Needless to say, this view is utterly > incompatible with the belief of many materialists that the material world is > the only reality. > -----
This excerpt from a book does not appear to be a particularly reliable source of information since it is written by a single individual with a strong belief in the reality of his presentation. It does not seem to represent the consensus view of neuroscientists or the results of all research conducted on this subject, which often contradicts this view. Recent research at the University of Kentucky indicates that near death experiences might be dreams and that in these individuals the division between waking and dreaming is less clear cut than in individuals that do not have NDEs; that is, they can have dreams intrude while awake. It is by no means conclusive what can be implied by this, but this was one possible interpretation. Also near death experiences and death have a decided difference. We have no idea if there are any experiences in bodies that do not recover. Near death does not imply actual death, perhaps we could call it attenuated life, the brain shuts down partially but not completely and is able to recover. What kind of processing it is able to accomplish in this state is not well known, but near death experiences would seem to be an aspect of this. General anesthesia, for example, when properly administered, results in no experience whatever (this is something I have personally experienced or perhaps did not experience - a completely blank gap between going under and recovery). I would look for more examples of research in more reputable sources. While not guaranteed to be reliable the Wikipedia article on NDEs might be a good place to start. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near-death_experience Some examples of alternative possibilities: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100407192448.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080910090829.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/04/060417110256.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070305202657.htm An interview with a scientist at the University of Kentucky investigating near death experiences. [Good interview, the doctor being interviewed is much more skeptical than the interviewer and there is some good medical information in this exchange; it is rather confrontational] http://www.skeptiko.com/kevin-nelson-skeptical-of-near-death-experience-accounts/ I think the hypotheses about life after death miss the point of spiritual insight, which is to live life in the fullest possible way. Then the transition to non life is not going to hold us hostage to terror.
