Near Death Experiences: A Rite of Passage into Personal Transformation
In the winter of 1982, during my senior year in college, I underwent surgery for injuries related to a car accident. Three days after the surgery, I recalled an experience that occurred during the surgery. I recalled a tense atmosphere in the surgery room just as I went unconscious from anesthesia. The doctor's last words echoed in my head, and the next thing I knew I was sitting up in total darkness being greeted by a being whom I had never before met. During the experience, I felt an exchange of incredible love with the being. I felt completely at peace with this being and felt none of the pain of my injuries. I was surprised to have the complete use of my limbs, which were severely injured in the accident.
Abstract and Table of Contents
The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that the stages in near-death experiences could parallel those of a rite of passage, resulting in the transformation of the individual to a higher level of behavioral and attitudinal functioning. A higher level of functioning, as described here, is an experience of improving interpersonal relationships, an increased openness and acceptance of others, an increased desire to be of service to others, and a loss of the fear of death. The study illustrated that near-death experiences could have a profound effect on the attitudinal and behavioral functioning of an individual.