The NDE, like the mystics of all traditions, tell us that God/Source/Universe/divine loves us unconditionally. We don’t have to “buy” or earn His love. Nothing we do can deprive us of His love. Nothing, not even the most horrible things you can imagine in your worst nightmares, can deprive you of this unconditional, limitless love.
Human love always has limits
It’s easy to write and read. It takes much longer to assimilate, because it’s radically different from what we do ourselves. If you say, or if your partner or your parents or your friends say, “I’ll love you no matter what you do”, you know that’s a statement of principle. There will always be a limit to our love for someone.
Sometimes we’re able to accept the actions of someone who hurts us – if the damage isn’t too great – because we care about them and remember that we ourselves are far from perfect… But more often than not, we only love those who love us, or at least don’t hurt us.
All religions speak of a God created in our image. It’s a deity who asks us to live in a particular way, to believe in something particular, in order to love us. And, of course, every religion believes that only its beliefs and rules of life can earn us this divine love.
Wherever we look, on Earth or in Heaven, we only see a love that is limited, conditional and largely dependent on our behavior.
Divine love as seen through NDE
That’s why this direct encounter with a Being who loves us radically, without expectation or judgment, is so disconcerting and overwhelming. We can’t even imagine this quality of love until we meet it.
Raymond Moody, who has interviewed hundreds of Emists, explains: “People felt that God loved them for themselves, completely and totally (…) God is not interested in justice. God has a much better idea. God loves and educates, rather than dispenses justice. God is not interested in justice. Justice is an aspect of life in this world.[1]
Life review: learning to love
During the “life review”, people relive their entire existence. It is often at this moment that they have the most profound revelation of their NDE. They realize that they are not being judged, even for actions of which they are deeply ashamed. They understand that it’s not about fixing their punishment. The aim is to show them why they acted the way they did, and how they could have done things differently. They also realize the consequences of their choices, for those directly involved and for many others, in a kind of chain reaction.
“The life review is a learning experience, and that’s it. It’s all about love and helping others. It’s about love, love, love and love. It’s about feeling and knowing that you’re always connected to other people, animals and plants. It’s an experience of unity. You know not only that it’s love, but also that you’re connected to that love (…) Experiencers realize that everything they’ve done to others will also come back to them – the positive or negative aspects. And that’s why they change their way of life to put love first.[2]
The absence of judgment: a constant in mystical stories
Long before we started talking aboutNDE, many mystics had already explained that there is no judgment on the part of the divine: “Some people describe God as a kind of angry tyrant, who ruthlessly watches over and judges human beings. They distort the reality of God, who is the merciful Being, the infinite Source of unconditional Love, unlimited acceptance and eternal goodness”.[3]
Jesus and the call to infinite forgiveness
Even people at the forefront of observing Love in action were unable to believe in a love so totally unconditional, without any limits. The apostle Peter had thought he understood Jesus’ teaching on the importance of forgiving those who have hurt us[4]. How many times must I forgive? Shall I forgive 7 times? I imagine he felt he was being very tolerant and a good disciple by setting such a high limit. After all, who among us would forgive someone who hurts us 7 times in a row… Yet Jesus gives him this incredible answer: “I’m not just telling you 7 times, but 77 times 7 times”, in other words, without any limit. I can just imagine Peter’s stunned face and his reaction of astonishment and annoyance: “But how can that be?
In conclusion: a love beyond all expectations
God’s love is not like human love. It does not depend on our behavior. It cannot be earned. It’s there, unalterable, absolute. He does not judge, condemn or punish. It loves.
The NDE, the mystics, and the deepest spiritual teachings invite us to open up to this unconditional love, radically different, transformative, liberating.
See also the article ” Love yourself unconditionally “.
And the article ” Light is joy and happiness “.
As well as the Amsterdam Declaration on Unconditional Love, drawn up by a group of people who had lived through a NDE
[1] God is Bigger Than the Bible
[2] D.J. Kadagian and G. Shushan – The Crossover Experience
[3] Paramahansa Yogananda – At the source oflight
[4] Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 18
