What Near-Death Experiences tell us about life, death… and Love
The testimonies of people who have experienced an NDE never cease to fascinate – and with good reason:
They not only talk about what happens after death, but also shed light on how to live fully in the here and now.
For those who have lived through them, these experiences provide a shattering vision of existence:
- Yes, life goes on after the death of the body.
- Yes, there is a reality ofunconditional love, light and unity.
- Yes, death can be a liberation… not an end.
What NDEs tell us, in a nutshell:
- There is a spiritual universe beyond the physical world.
- Infinite, unconditional love is the very nature of this other world.
- We are spiritual beings living a human experience – not the other way around.
- We are one with all that is.
- The only true “evaluation” of our earthly life is two questions: did we like it? Have we become wiser?
- After an NDE, fear of death is replaced by inner peace.
The typical course of an NDE
1. The triggering event
Often triggered by a critical situation: cardiac arrest, accident, drowning, surgery…
2. Leaving the body
The witness sees himself from the outside, floating above his body, and can sometimes perceive scenes from a distance.
3. The tunnel and the light
He passes through a dark tunnel and is drawn towards a light of indescribable intensity and love.
4. Meeting spiritual beings
Powerful encounters with deceased loved ones or spiritual figures. These beings do not judge, but welcome with love.
5. Life review
The witness reviews his entire life, feeling the impact of his actions on others, in absolute lucidity, but without any judgment.
6. The border
A symbolic limit is perceived: a door, a threshold, a river… The witness feels he can cross it… or not.
7. The decision to return
Out of attachment to loved ones or a mission to accomplish, some souls choose to return… or are sometimes forced to do so.
8. Back in the body
The return is often brutal, accompanied by physical pain. But consciousness remains forever transformed.
We are not just a body
NDEs remind us of a truth present in many spiritual traditions:
We are spiritual beings living a human experience.
After physical death, our consciousness continues, freed from the limits of body, ego, time and space.
Death is not the end
If we understand that our essence is spiritual, then death is no longer an enemy.
It becomes a transition, a homecoming.
“If you identify with your soul, death is child’s play. It’s like taking off shoes that are too tight.” – Ram Dass
“Death reveals that the individual we thought we were was only an ephemeral mask.” – Stéphane Allix
“We become again an unlimited consciousness, entwined with others, without illusion of separation.” – Bruce Greyson
A world of absolute Love
At the heart of all NDEs is the encounter with an energy of love of indescribable intensity.
- Some call it God, Jesus, Allah, or according to their spiritual tradition.
- Others say thatno human word can describe it.
- Many speak of a being of light who embodies absolute, infinite, non-judgmental love.
Like neurologist Eben Alexander, who speaks of a: “Loving deity for whom the word ‘God’ is far too weak.”
We are One with all that is
One of experiencers’ strongest realizations is that of unity.
They understand – or feel – that they are not separate from others, but connected to the whole living universe.
They are a drop in the ocean… but containing the essence of the ocean.
This sense of unity resonates with the great spiritual wisdoms:
- Buddhism,Hinduism, Christian or Sufi mysticism,
- They all teach that separation is an illusion.
Did we like it? Have we become wiser?
At the time of the life review, the only two questions are:
- Did we like it?
- Have we become wiser?
Not: did we succeed? or were we perfect?
And above all: no religious rules are required. It’s not a doctrine that saves, but love lived daily.
Living in the light of NDEs
Near-death experiences remind us that :
- Death is not the end, but a change of state.
- Our lives take on their full meaning in love, relationships and awareness.
- What matters is not what we possess, but who we become.
Conclusion: living in Love today
What if near-death experiences were not an end, but a call to begin?
They don’t speak to us of dogmas or beliefs. They speak to us of love, consciousness and unity.
They remind us that we are not just a body, nor our roles, nor our fears…
We are much larger than that. Our nature is love.
Every day becomes an opportunity:
- to love a little more,
- to judge a little less,
- to live with more presence and gratitude.
We don’t need to wait for an NDE to transform our outlook. We can choose, right now, to live as if love were what matters most.
Because at the end of the day, maybe that’s what being alive is all about.
The quotes in this article are taken from the books “After” by Bruce Greyson, “This Life and Beyond” by Christophe Fauré, “New Lights on the Afterlife” by Raymond Moody, “Death Doesn’t Exist” by Stéphane Allix and “Healed from the Afterlife” by Anita Moorjani…
To find out more, here are the websites of the two main experience associations. They contain numerous testimonials, often very moving: http: //www.iands-france.org/ and https://www.nderf.org/French/index.htm
