--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Xenophaneros Anartaxius" <anartaxius@...> wrote: > > --- 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.
The author of the Salon excerpt co wrote one of his books with a person described as a Canadian "Christian author" - so there is a huge desire to believe going in. They are taking research info and looking to find anything that will suggest that a Soul exists, that there is life after death. > > 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. >
