Death is an inevitable end that comes at the end of every creature's life. But people have always been worried about what happens after the physical body dies. All world religions claim that the human soul, leaving the body, continues its existence further, in other planes of being. But different beliefs represent this afterlife in different ways. There are also eyewitnesses who survived clinical death and returned to the world of the living. Their stories are often very interesting and provide a lot of food for thought.
Out-of-body experience during clinical death
Clinical death occurs when a person stops breathing and heartbeat. The brain in conditions of severe oxygen deficiency also ceases to function. But, nevertheless, many patients who have returned from the afterlife tell amazing things that have happened to them at the moment.
So, a large percentage of people who have experienced this state tell about their flight through a tunnel with a bright light in front, about other bright visions. There is also evidence of a meeting with already deceased loved ones and relatives. Moreover, those who have been in this state note that all these visions look no less realistic than reality itself. A large percentage of cardiac arrest survivors mention leaving their bodies and observing the resuscitation process from the side. Often, eyewitnesses mention the feeling of the presence of higher forces and the powerful positive emotions caused by this. According to many, this indicates that the afterlife exists, and further life after death does not stop.
Explanation from a religious point of view
Religion explains the amazing phenomenon by the fact that the soul leaves the body, then returns to it again at the will of higher forces. If his mission in this world has not yet been completed, such a soul is sent back and the person can be reanimated.
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Of particular interest in this regard is the complex of prayers for the dying in Tibetan Buddhism. In Western countries, this complex is known as the Book of the Dead by analogy with the Egyptian Book of the Dead. In the Tibetan direction of Buddhism, great importance is attached to the death of a person, or rather to his preparation for the transition to the afterlife. It is believed that if a person entered this state correctly, it will help him to be reborn more successfully in the next life. Therefore, a dying lama reads special instructions, which are a kind of guidance.
In Tibetan Buddhism, it is believed that during dying, a person may faint and not realize what is happening to him. Therefore, after leaving the body, his spirit wanders for a long time in the world of the living. In addition, in the next rebirth, he may not have a very successful fate. To prevent this from happening, the lama reads this set of prayers. Thanks to him, the dying person does not give in to hallucinations, which can confuse him and prevent a more successful next rebirth. The Tibetan variety of Buddhism describes in great detail everything that happens to a person at the time of his death. According to her, in this transitional period, the further fate of the soul is partially determined. However, the greatest influence on the success of the next incarnation is still karma.
As for the posthumous visions described, including by people who have experienced clinical death, Tibetan lamas have their own explanation for them. They believe that these visions are highly dependent on beliefs, including religious beliefs. So, for example, a materialist may not see anything at all, dying, but this will not prevent him from reincarnating again. A Buddhist will see pictures that correspond to his faith, and a Christian will see his own.
Scientific research of the phenomenon of clinical death
All the amazing phenomena that those who survived clinical death talk about are not considered by official science to be something mystical. So, scientists associate the feeling of leaving the body with damage to the temporo-parietal region of the brain. At the same time, an experiment was conducted during which a person experienced sensations similar to leaving the body after stimulating this area with electrical impulses.
As for flying through a tunnel with a bright light at the end, the researchers attribute this vision to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. Patients in whose blood its concentration was lower did not experience such visions.
In addition, scientists believe that vivid hallucinations at the time of clinical death can cause a lack of oxygen in the brain. This, coupled with a large release of endorphins from the dying brain, leads to the experience of vivid visions, accompanied by joy and peace.
Scientists cite other arguments explaining rationally everything that happens to a person at the time of his death. But, despite this, some things still remain unexplained. Often there have been cases that science cannot explain. Therefore, we can say that very little is known about what the soul is and what happens to it after death.