This is an excellent book; it is well written and very informative. The subtitle is "The Science of Near-Death Experience." This is to be understood in the broadest context, since much of the book is how a new understanding of consciousness can give insights into what might be going on when one has a near-death experience.
The book makes you feel very Socratic. The evidence, I think, is still out regarding the nature of near-death experiences, but Dr. van Lommel makes a good case for questioning existing paradigms, namely the materialist reductionist view so prevalent among scientists today. The author has read volumes about quantum theory and the scientific study of consciousness, including the view that consciousness is not limited to the brain; the book contains ample footnotes and suggestions for further reading.
One of the sections of the book has a quote by the 17th century German mystic, Angelus Silesius: "I do not know what I am and I am no longer what I know." That's how you feel after reading this book, and it's a feeling of wonder. (The book is filled with profound quotations from scientists, philosophers and physicists, etc. which are a delight in themselves.)
Dr. van Lommel is an eminent Dutch cardiologist (the original title of the book is Eindeloos Bewustzijn, Endless Consciousness.) After successfully resuscitating a victim of cardiac arrest, the author, at that time at the very beginning of his career, was surprised to discover that the patient, upon regaining consciousness, was disappointed. He had been to a beautiful place and had not wished to leave it. (This response is quite typical for those who have "returned" from a near-death experience, or NDE.) Dr. van Lommel later read about this subject and became fascinated by its basic paradox: how can one have such profound and lucid experiences while the brain is shut down? He began asking his patients who had recovered from cardiac arrest and was astonished that about 20% of them had a NDE.
A chapter of the book deals with a prospective study (that is, one not based on chart reviews, but conducted on cases as they happen.) His study was published in the Lancet, in 2001. Yes, Dr. van Lommel is a respected scientist. Unlike others who claim that they have proof that consciousness can be independent of the brain, the author states there is merely evidence suggesting such a view. He leaves us with no doubt, though, on which side of this debate his intuition leads him. This is quite interesting, since Dr. van Lommel states that he was an ardent materialist before he did his research.
I'm not fully convinced, but I think Dr. van Lommel might be right. My reasoning is as follows. The two most astonishing things about existence are how the universe originated and the fact that we are conscious beings. We know a lot about how the universe came about, but it still remains shrouded in mystery. This mystery is intimately involved with quantum physics. The universe started as a very small particle, perhaps a so-called virtual particle, which means that quantum gravity, which is a complete mystery at the present time, was involved. As Niels Bohr stated: "If you're not shocked by quantum physics, you don't understand it." All interpretations of quantum physics involve conscious observers who can apparently cause, during the course of an experiment, a photon probability wave to manifest itself either as a wave or a particle. Some scientists go as far as to assert, as did the ancient Hindus, that consciousness creates reality. Another mysterious fact about quantum physics is quantum entanglement, where communication between entangled particles occurs instantaneously, that is, faster than the speed of light.
Yes, quantum physics is weird. But there's something even stranger than quantum phsysics and the origin of the universe: consciousness. Since we have some understanding of the universe, its vastness, as it were, fits into our minds which are thus even vaster. It is thus reasonable to assume that consciousness will prove to be even stranger than quantum physics.
Since the basis of quantum physics lies in immaterial probablity waves that are neither waves nor particles, why should the basis of consciousness be merely material? A good question!
Dr. van Lommel quotes Bohr who believed that quantum physics and consciousness are complimentary phenomena. Quantum physics has to do with inert matter; if you do enough experiments you always get the same statistical spread. Consciousness has to do with living beings and is thus non-linear and much more complex. Bohr believed that consciousness will never be completely understood, and, despite sanguine materialists, I think he was right.
The author presents intriguing views from a variety of researchers and philosophers--some of them Nobel Prize winners--according to them, consciousness is not limited to the brain. Roger Penrose, for instance, argues that quantum entanglement also applies to the brain. The resultant super-consciousness exists as wave functions and can be everywhere at once. This non-local consciousness is what has been called cosmic consciousness; Jung's collective unconscious also applies here. A NDE might involve this type of consciousness, which becomes manifest when the waking or body consciousness is suppressed by cessation of brain function.
One theory states that memory and consciousness form a sort of electromagnetic hologram beyond the brain. This theory has remarkable resonance with Stephen Hawking's research about black holes. It seems that the law of the conservation of information is not violated with black holes, which Hawking has demonstrated. The information is contained in the event horizon, the border between the rest of the universe and the area of no return, beyond which the black hole's tremendous gravity allows nothing, not even light, to escape. A hologram! This has led to the theory that the entire universe might be a holographic projection of some very distant event horizon. This provides an astonishing parallel between the possible hologram of consciousness and the possible hologram of the universe. Once again, consciousness and quantum physics meet.
Dr. van Lommel provides leading scientific views about how non-local consciousness originates. The most intriguing theories have to do with emergence due to coherent spin and resonance. I invite readers to consult the book for details.
I do have some caveats, however. I don't think phenomena such as outer-body experiences have been proven to result independently of the brain. As the author states, more research needs to be done.
But NDEs are indeed fascinating. It remains a scientific enigma that lucid experiences can occur while the brain is completely shut down. The book gives proof that the NDEs occur not during descent or during recovery, but after clinical death occurs. It is also fascinating that those who experience a NDE never encounter anyone living--There is never a child begging mommy to return to her body. Another remarkable aspect is that virtually every NDE experiencer becomes, as it were, a Hindu: everything is connected in a realm of universal love and wisdom.
The NDE is almost always transformative; fear of death, for instance, usually vanishes, or at least diminishes, after the experience. Those that had a NDE, as an eight-year follow-up indicates, tend to become less affiliated with a specific religion, yet almost always become more spiritual. This suggests the possibility of belief in an afterlife that does not include God. Penrose, for instance, who believes that consciousness does not end with death, is an atheist. The author writes about a nurse who had a NDE; she says that she has seen too much suffering to believe in a benevolent deity. After her experience, however, she is convinced that there is an afterlife.
The author believes that contact with the consciousness of the deceased, deathbed visions, etc, are real possibilities. As much as I'd like to believe it, I have reservations. Seances and ouija boards? I think it is better to keep our feet on the ground, which I intend to do with mine, unless I am confronted with incontrovertible evidence that Auntie Lou continues to badger me from the beyond.
If non-local consciousness proves to be a reality, it would be a major paradigm shift for science. I am willing to admit that such a view is possible, perhaps even likely; something very mysterious is going on, no doubt about it. Hamlet, the supreme embodiment of the mystery of consciousness in Western literature, famously informed his scholarly friend Horatio that things are much stranger than his friend's philosophy permits. If Horatios among us remain unconvinced, I suggest that they read this excellent book.
The book makes you feel very Socratic. The evidence, I think, is still out regarding the nature of near-death experiences, but Dr. van Lommel makes a good case for questioning existing paradigms, namely the materialist reductionist view so prevalent among scientists today. The author has read volumes about quantum theory and the scientific study of consciousness, including the view that consciousness is not limited to the brain; the book contains ample footnotes and suggestions for further reading.
One of the sections of the book has a quote by the 17th century German mystic, Angelus Silesius: "I do not know what I am and I am no longer what I know." That's how you feel after reading this book, and it's a feeling of wonder. (The book is filled with profound quotations from scientists, philosophers and physicists, etc. which are a delight in themselves.)
Dr. van Lommel is an eminent Dutch cardiologist (the original title of the book is Eindeloos Bewustzijn, Endless Consciousness.) After successfully resuscitating a victim of cardiac arrest, the author, at that time at the very beginning of his career, was surprised to discover that the patient, upon regaining consciousness, was disappointed. He had been to a beautiful place and had not wished to leave it. (This response is quite typical for those who have "returned" from a near-death experience, or NDE.) Dr. van Lommel later read about this subject and became fascinated by its basic paradox: how can one have such profound and lucid experiences while the brain is shut down? He began asking his patients who had recovered from cardiac arrest and was astonished that about 20% of them had a NDE.
A chapter of the book deals with a prospective study (that is, one not based on chart reviews, but conducted on cases as they happen.) His study was published in the Lancet, in 2001. Yes, Dr. van Lommel is a respected scientist. Unlike others who claim that they have proof that consciousness can be independent of the brain, the author states there is merely evidence suggesting such a view. He leaves us with no doubt, though, on which side of this debate his intuition leads him. This is quite interesting, since Dr. van Lommel states that he was an ardent materialist before he did his research.
I'm not fully convinced, but I think Dr. van Lommel might be right. My reasoning is as follows. The two most astonishing things about existence are how the universe originated and the fact that we are conscious beings. We know a lot about how the universe came about, but it still remains shrouded in mystery. This mystery is intimately involved with quantum physics. The universe started as a very small particle, perhaps a so-called virtual particle, which means that quantum gravity, which is a complete mystery at the present time, was involved. As Niels Bohr stated: "If you're not shocked by quantum physics, you don't understand it." All interpretations of quantum physics involve conscious observers who can apparently cause, during the course of an experiment, a photon probability wave to manifest itself either as a wave or a particle. Some scientists go as far as to assert, as did the ancient Hindus, that consciousness creates reality. Another mysterious fact about quantum physics is quantum entanglement, where communication between entangled particles occurs instantaneously, that is, faster than the speed of light.
Yes, quantum physics is weird. But there's something even stranger than quantum phsysics and the origin of the universe: consciousness. Since we have some understanding of the universe, its vastness, as it were, fits into our minds which are thus even vaster. It is thus reasonable to assume that consciousness will prove to be even stranger than quantum physics.
Since the basis of quantum physics lies in immaterial probablity waves that are neither waves nor particles, why should the basis of consciousness be merely material? A good question!
Dr. van Lommel quotes Bohr who believed that quantum physics and consciousness are complimentary phenomena. Quantum physics has to do with inert matter; if you do enough experiments you always get the same statistical spread. Consciousness has to do with living beings and is thus non-linear and much more complex. Bohr believed that consciousness will never be completely understood, and, despite sanguine materialists, I think he was right.
The author presents intriguing views from a variety of researchers and philosophers--some of them Nobel Prize winners--according to them, consciousness is not limited to the brain. Roger Penrose, for instance, argues that quantum entanglement also applies to the brain. The resultant super-consciousness exists as wave functions and can be everywhere at once. This non-local consciousness is what has been called cosmic consciousness; Jung's collective unconscious also applies here. A NDE might involve this type of consciousness, which becomes manifest when the waking or body consciousness is suppressed by cessation of brain function.
One theory states that memory and consciousness form a sort of electromagnetic hologram beyond the brain. This theory has remarkable resonance with Stephen Hawking's research about black holes. It seems that the law of the conservation of information is not violated with black holes, which Hawking has demonstrated. The information is contained in the event horizon, the border between the rest of the universe and the area of no return, beyond which the black hole's tremendous gravity allows nothing, not even light, to escape. A hologram! This has led to the theory that the entire universe might be a holographic projection of some very distant event horizon. This provides an astonishing parallel between the possible hologram of consciousness and the possible hologram of the universe. Once again, consciousness and quantum physics meet.
Dr. van Lommel provides leading scientific views about how non-local consciousness originates. The most intriguing theories have to do with emergence due to coherent spin and resonance. I invite readers to consult the book for details.
I do have some caveats, however. I don't think phenomena such as outer-body experiences have been proven to result independently of the brain. As the author states, more research needs to be done.
But NDEs are indeed fascinating. It remains a scientific enigma that lucid experiences can occur while the brain is completely shut down. The book gives proof that the NDEs occur not during descent or during recovery, but after clinical death occurs. It is also fascinating that those who experience a NDE never encounter anyone living--There is never a child begging mommy to return to her body. Another remarkable aspect is that virtually every NDE experiencer becomes, as it were, a Hindu: everything is connected in a realm of universal love and wisdom.
The NDE is almost always transformative; fear of death, for instance, usually vanishes, or at least diminishes, after the experience. Those that had a NDE, as an eight-year follow-up indicates, tend to become less affiliated with a specific religion, yet almost always become more spiritual. This suggests the possibility of belief in an afterlife that does not include God. Penrose, for instance, who believes that consciousness does not end with death, is an atheist. The author writes about a nurse who had a NDE; she says that she has seen too much suffering to believe in a benevolent deity. After her experience, however, she is convinced that there is an afterlife.
The author believes that contact with the consciousness of the deceased, deathbed visions, etc, are real possibilities. As much as I'd like to believe it, I have reservations. Seances and ouija boards? I think it is better to keep our feet on the ground, which I intend to do with mine, unless I am confronted with incontrovertible evidence that Auntie Lou continues to badger me from the beyond.
If non-local consciousness proves to be a reality, it would be a major paradigm shift for science. I am willing to admit that such a view is possible, perhaps even likely; something very mysterious is going on, no doubt about it. Hamlet, the supreme embodiment of the mystery of consciousness in Western literature, famously informed his scholarly friend Horatio that things are much stranger than his friend's philosophy permits. If Horatios among us remain unconvinced, I suggest that they read this excellent book.
