Dr. Bruce Greyson

However, most near-death experiences will tell you when they start, when you ask them the experience, they'll say, I can't really describe it. There are no words for it. So let me say, you know, that's great. Tell me about it. So they end up using metaphors and whatever metaphors come to them most readily. And that's going to depend on your culture and your religion. So for example,

Most Christians will say, you know, I saw this one loving being of light that makes me feel welcomed and unconditionally loved. I knew I was in the presence of God or Jesus. If you talk to a Hindu or a Buddhist, they won't use those words. They may say, they give another name like a yam dude or something, or they just must say this warm, accepting, loving being of light.

Most Christians will say, you know, I saw this one loving being of light that makes me feel welcomed and unconditionally loved. I knew I was in the presence of God or Jesus. If you talk to a Hindu or a Buddhist, they won't use those words. They may say, they give another name like a yam dude or something, or they just must say this warm, accepting, loving being of light.

Most Christians will say, you know, I saw this one loving being of light that makes me feel welcomed and unconditionally loved. I knew I was in the presence of God or Jesus. If you talk to a Hindu or a Buddhist, they won't use those words. They may say, they give another name like a yam dude or something, or they just must say this warm, accepting, loving being of light.

And some may identify it as a deceased loved one that they couldn't identify. And that applies not just to the so-called deity they see. Many people describe they're here in this physical world, and then they're in this other realm, and they don't remember how they got there. So they say, well, I went through this long, dark, enclosed space. And Westerners will say, I went through a tunnel.

And some may identify it as a deceased loved one that they couldn't identify. And that applies not just to the so-called deity they see. Many people describe they're here in this physical world, and then they're in this other realm, and they don't remember how they got there. So they say, well, I went through this long, dark, enclosed space. And Westerners will say, I went through a tunnel.

And some may identify it as a deceased loved one that they couldn't identify. And that applies not just to the so-called deity they see. Many people describe they're here in this physical world, and then they're in this other realm, and they don't remember how they got there. So they say, well, I went through this long, dark, enclosed space. And Westerners will say, I went through a tunnel.

Now, people from third world countries where there aren't a lot of tunnels don't say that. They may say, I went through a cave or I fell into a well. And in fact, I interviewed one truck driver who said, I got sucked through this long tailpipe. So I tend to think that the tunnel is not necessarily a real thing, but something our brain constructs to explain how they got from here to there.

Now, people from third world countries where there aren't a lot of tunnels don't say that. They may say, I went through a cave or I fell into a well. And in fact, I interviewed one truck driver who said, I got sucked through this long tailpipe. So I tend to think that the tunnel is not necessarily a real thing, but something our brain constructs to explain how they got from here to there.

Now, people from third world countries where there aren't a lot of tunnels don't say that. They may say, I went through a cave or I fell into a well. And in fact, I interviewed one truck driver who said, I got sucked through this long tailpipe. So I tend to think that the tunnel is not necessarily a real thing, but something our brain constructs to explain how they got from here to there.

Well, there are some different types of groups of people. For example, people who are intoxicated when they have near-death experiences tend to have much shallower, less elaborate experiences. People who are very young children don't have the elaborate life review that adults do. They don't have as much life to review, I guess.

Well, there are some different types of groups of people. For example, people who are intoxicated when they have near-death experiences tend to have much shallower, less elaborate experiences. People who are very young children don't have the elaborate life review that adults do. They don't have as much life to review, I guess.

Well, there are some different types of groups of people. For example, people who are intoxicated when they have near-death experiences tend to have much shallower, less elaborate experiences. People who are very young children don't have the elaborate life review that adults do. They don't have as much life to review, I guess.

They also tend not to report as many deceased relatives coming back to greet them because they don't know enough deceased relatives. They're more likely to say that they met a deceased pet that they had. So there are some differences according to what type of person is giving you the answer. And some of that involves culture as well.

They also tend not to report as many deceased relatives coming back to greet them because they don't know enough deceased relatives. They're more likely to say that they met a deceased pet that they had. So there are some differences according to what type of person is giving you the answer. And some of that involves culture as well.

They also tend not to report as many deceased relatives coming back to greet them because they don't know enough deceased relatives. They're more likely to say that they met a deceased pet that they had. So there are some differences according to what type of person is giving you the answer. And some of that involves culture as well.

For example, many people report coming to a border or point of no return. And if they go beyond that, they won't be able to come back. And in the Western world, that's often a wall or a barrier of some kind. or being sent back by a deity or by a deceased relative. Whereas in a lot of Asian countries, they'll say it's a river. I came to this river that I couldn't cross.

For example, many people report coming to a border or point of no return. And if they go beyond that, they won't be able to come back. And in the Western world, that's often a wall or a barrier of some kind. or being sent back by a deity or by a deceased relative. Whereas in a lot of Asian countries, they'll say it's a river. I came to this river that I couldn't cross.

For example, many people report coming to a border or point of no return. And if they go beyond that, they won't be able to come back. And in the Western world, that's often a wall or a barrier of some kind. or being sent back by a deity or by a deceased relative. Whereas in a lot of Asian countries, they'll say it's a river. I came to this river that I couldn't cross.

So they're describing the same phenomenon, but using different metaphors for it. And in fact, they will tell you it's a metaphor. I've had many people say to me, and then I was in the presence of God. Now I'm using God because I don't know what else to call it that you'll understand me, but it wasn't the God I was taught about in church. It was much bigger than that.