Around the world and over millennia, near-death experiences reveal the universality of a common spiritual realm. While there are differences based on cultural influence, reported similarities involve a movement from darkness to light, travel to another realm, and contact with deceased loved ones.

Notably, reports from patients in hospice (who typically experience a more prolonged, natural death process), describe the same main features. There is a focus on love, relationships, and a continuing journey to another realm where they are greeted by predeceased relatives.

Coming close to death and surviving is a traumatic event for anyone. But for those who return with memories of a spiritual realm, profound transformation in attitudes, beliefs and values often occurs. Among these so-called “after-effects” of near-death experiences are increased compassion for others, a sense of higher purpose, greater appreciation for life, and losing any fear of death.

The after-effects of near-death experiences have been noted among psychiatrists to be remarkably effective compared to traditional therapy and drug treatments, motivating researchers to explore the precise cause of these life-changing benefits. It seems that touching some aspect of the spiritual realm, beyond this physical world, plays a significant role.
Meditative and transcendental experiences provide an opportunity to cultivate similar features of near-death experiences, and potentially lead to comparable transformative after-effects. Using specialized audio recordings containing binaural beats, the brain’s lower brainstem serves to entrain the listener to alpha, theta, and delta brainwave states resulting in a calmer, more focused awareness that creates a foundation for connection with the spiritual realm.