What Is a Near-Death Experience?

An expert answers your pressing questions about near-death experiences (NDEs)— revealing their positive effects on spirituality, consciousness, and our relationship with life and death. Death is the only certainty in life. Yet many people shy away from thinking about it until something drastic happens—the diagnosis of a life-threatening illness; the sudden death of a loved one—which can throw us into turmoil. Paradoxically, contemplating death and the frequently-experienced phenomenon of near-death experiences (NDEs) can help alter our relationship with death and release us from the fear that often surrounds it. After an insightful introduction about why the subject of NDEs is so worth exploring, each chapter in this book addresses a key question: • What are the characteristics of NDEs, and are there different types? • Are all NDEs pleasant, or can some be distressing? • Who has NDEs, and under what circumstances do they occur? • How do they affect the people who have them, and how can this change their lives? • How can NDEs be scientifically explained (aren’t they just hallucinations)? • What can we learn from NDEs, and can they change our attitude to life and death? • Can NDE studies lead to an evolution in consciousness and an enhanced sense of spirituality? The bestselling author of The Wisdom of Near-Death Experiences, Dr. Penny Sartori brings readers on an exploratory journey through the world of NDEs, challenging preconceptions and encouraging us to accept and feel empowered by death—rather than living in fear of it.