Near death experiencers (NDEers), people who have died and returned to life, tell similar stories. After dying, people review their lives based upon two questions: "What have you learned?" and"How have you loved?" As an aid to living life from the awareness learned by NDEers, one NDEer outlined a process that occurs throughout life. We can accelerate our learning and growth by consciously using the process day to day. Here's an outline of the process.
1. Passing through a tunnel--We find ourselves in an unexpected or unusual situation and may realize that some part of us is dying. We're losing our job, a relationship is over, a cycle is coming to an end. We can't change it, so we might as well flow with it. Knowing that it's a passage can make it much easier. We are going somewhere, even though we can't see the light at the end yet.
2. Light--We find ourselves reviewing our past in a new light. We question past decisions and relive past actions. It's important to remind ourselves that the light is meant to help us see, not to blind us or corner us.
3. Love, peace, and perfection--Facing the reality of the situation, we often don't experience the love that's in us and for us. Without love and peace, we find it very hard to go forward creatively. NDEers remind us that at the core of our being, we are all loving and peaceful beings. Our most perfect state is peaceful love. Reminding ourselves of this when we don't feel it helps move us forward. Being at peace is essential.
4. Gates--At the end of the process, we go ahead or we go back. To go ahead, we have to recognize our unity with others and be at peace and in love. In unity, there are no others. In this state of mind, we are at our most creative.
Actual death is simple. We have no choice because our body is dying. Metaphorical death demands choice. Being aware of our stage in the process, we can choose our response. We don't have to will ourselves to change anything. We only choose how we want to be.
For example, If a person or a relationship is dying, we can cling to it or we can lovingly and peacefully recognize its perfection and choose to let it move to its next stage of life. We can demand that the unchangeable change, or we can lovingly allow ourselves to be at peace.
In future issues: You don't have to nearly die to have a near death experience. Brain research reveals a part of the brain, that, when stimulated, causes NDE perceptions. Sex may be a vehicle for manifestation of desires into reality. And rapid breathing coupled with drumming leads to extraordinary altered states of consciousness.