Neurotheology: This Is Your Brain On Religion : NPR blog post







Transcript After Death Communication.
There have been several after death events in my life. The first one I can recall was about age 7 in 1945 a few years after my uncle was killed in the US Army as described in another blog post. The other events happened much more closely to the actual date of the death of a friend or family member and were just brief encounters such as a smell or an unexpected encounter with a bird. The first event that clearly changed my life is described below. The editor described below is Charles T. Tart, Ph.D. This article first appeared on his website, T.A.S.T.E., The Archives of Scientists' Transcendent Experiences.

Anthony Chipoletti (real name) graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1980 with a BS degree that included training in Chemistry, Biology and Psychology. He was employed for a time in Pittsburgh in 1968 as a medical research technician in hematology and hemophilia research with Jessica Lewis, who discovered Factor VIII. Financial and family needs kept him from further graduate education and he was employed as a researcher in the media industry.

Beyond the Light, by Anthony Chipoletti.
Early in 1995, about one year before my mother's death, December 14, 1995, I saw a copy of the book Beyond the Light, written by P. M. H. Atwater. I seemed to have many of the personal attributes of the people she described as near death survivors. I could not clearly recall any NDE event except for a brief childhood episode after tonsil surgery under ether;
I wrote to her, and she sent seminar details;

I also realized that the medical community and other folks around Pittsburgh PA were interested or involved in NDE research. For example, one of the local hospitals was cooling bodies of patients, and repairing their blood vessels near the brain stem. Patients who survived lost all awareness of who they were, and any other personal identity, including other skills such as reading and writing.

Dr. Atwater's research seemed to me to include reputable sources in the scientific and medical communities.

In May of 1996, six months after my mother's death on December 14, 1995, and very near my mother's birthday on May 9, I was preparing for a visit to the city of Pittsburgh by P. M. H. Atwater.

Atwater had given me three names and phone numbers to call for background information on her near death research, which she was scheduled to speak about in June 1996 at my invitation.

My first call was to a gentleman who hosted near death seminars in his home for many years. He was a dedicated skeptic and did not believe the experience was real.

The second person was the mother of a young son. She and her son experienced an unusual event, and had been featured on a television show. However, she felt that people would inflate their experiences to get attention, as she did.

The third call lasted about thirty minutes. I do not recall any of the conversation. The woman had experienced a profound near death event, however, she sought no publicity and received none.

As soon as I hung up the phone after the third call, my room, which is about nine feet high and twelve feet square, lit up with a wonderful, pale light. I had risen from my chair, just after the call, and immediately sat back down. The light lasted about twenty minutes, then went away.
About one year after my Light experience, I asked P. M. H. Atwater if she had informed her friend about it. She stated that the Light experience had happened to many others after speaking with her friend, so she had not mentioned mine!
Contributor's Comments on the Experience:

Editor: Were there any psychological effects of the light?

My psychological interpretation of the light was that it consisted of, or included, the spiritual presence of my mother, who had died about six months before the light appeared;

Editor: As described, it just sounds like a curiosity. Perhaps that's all it was, I don't want to put words in your mouth, but perhaps there were other effects?

There were no other effects;

Editor: And did the light seem to have a source, interact with whatever illumination was already in the room (what was that?), be sourceless, or what?

The light did not seem to me to have a physical source, nor interact with any physical aspect; The room was lit with a bare 100 watt bulb in a mid ceiling fixture; The home is probably built around 1930 or 1940 and has been renovated.

The light fixture is not modern and dates probably from the 1950s or even the original building; it has no adjustments nor shades, simply 120 volts and a ceramic bulb receptor;
When we moved into the home, around 1990, I cleaned the dust from the ceiling fixture and reconnected the house wires to the electrical connections at the base of the fixture, which is metal.


This Beyond the Light article was first published on T.A.S.T.E., The Archives of Scientists' Transcendent Experiences. https://web.archive.org/web/20160406214433/http://www.issc-taste.org/arc/dbo.cgi?set=expom&id=00042&ss=1 and is updated here https://www.aapsglobal.com/2000/04/19/44-beyond-the-light/


Additional reference:
A Systematic Review of Research on After-Death Communication (ADC) https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc84284/





Pages 118 to 120:










2:38 minutes, Cathy Fisher:

'...and all of a sudden I was as if I was zipping through space fast but without any fear or any physical feeling really about it just a little bit of sensation and I knew I was dying and I was like I didn't know this was going to happen but you don't really have time to think about that either and all these like lights little stars were going like I was going past them but it felt like they were coming past me and the further I got and and this was all very fast I mean it seemed like it happened faster than I can explain it I realized that those stars were people like ancestors or people that had been um and I felt like I know them but I don't know them and as I got toward the end of whatever that Trek was um there off in the distance was this beautiful light um it was very white but not blinding uh it was glowing it was warm it had so much radiating from it it's not describable but it was love and peace and just this phenomenal sense of well-being...'








'Cause you're a sky, 'cause you're a sky full of stars
I'm gonna give you my heart
'Cause you're a sky, 'cause you're a sky full of stars
'Cause you light up the path
I don't care, go on and tear me apart
I don't care if you do, ooh-ooh, ooh
'Cause in a sky, 'cause in a sky full of stars
I think I saw you
'Cause you're a sky, 'cause you're a sky full of stars
I wanna die in your arms, oh, oh-oh
'Cause you get lighter the more it gets dark
I'm gonna give you my heart, oh
I don't care, go on and tear me apart
I don't care if you do, ooh-ooh, ooh
'Cause in a sky, 'cause in a sky full of stars
I think I see you
I think I see you
'Cause you're a sky, you're a sky full of stars
Such a heavenly view
You're such a heavenly view
Yeah, yeah, yeah, ooh
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Chris Martin / William Champion / Guy Berryman / Jonathan Buckland / Tim Bergling
A Sky Full of Stars lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Mgb Ltd.

A Native American woman guided me in this ritual. It was done because my home area was in seven straight days of severe drought with dangerous ozone levels in the air. This event happened on Saturday, June 12, 1999 at dawn. I went outside and saw that the entire sky had a thick cloud cover that was pink and blue all over, like a baby's blanket. My daughter's baby boy, Dakota, had died at birth, three months before this event. 

Dakota was stillborn on March 11, 1999.

Mizuko was stillborn on August 10, 2010

Their sibling later died in a miscarriage 2013.

There was only one star visible high in the sky; I walked into the front lawn to put that star directly over my head. This required me to walk on the grass about six feet from the front of our house and about three feet from the center of the house while facing the house; 

I was facing toward the West Power which is of Rain and Life; I looked up and smelled a fresh flow, as if the water from the earth were going back up into the sky; then I bent backwards, while standing, to search the whole sky to see if there were any other stars; there were none visible except one, very bright star, which appeared to be hiding itself behind a tree; 

I offered a gift which I believe has great spiritual power and is actually named Gentle Rain. I believe that the star above me was my grandson, Dakota, and that the star behind the tree was his sibling, Mizuko.

Dakota's mother has written letters to her dead children:




When I leaned back and saw the star behind the tree, I felt as though I was being lifted up by my back:






"Peace... comes within the souls of men when they realize their relationship, their oneness, with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that at the center of the Universe dwells Wakan-Tanka, and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us."
--Black Elk (Hehaka Sapa), Oglala Lakota
Ella Cloud Horse, Little Warrior, Black Elk. Circa 1950


https://www.amazon.com/Black-Elk-Speaks-Planetary-Narration/dp/1514356686/ref=sr_1_1


Black Elk's [Hehaka Sapa's] Prayer & Vision

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Elks-Prayer-Vision-McGaa/dp/156455564X/ref=sr_1_8

as spoken on cassette by Ed McGaa

Ed McGaa https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.28952/

Ed McGaa and Hehaka Sapa may be contacted by Spirit Prayers
*smile*

The Great Spirit, Wakan-Tanka
---------------------------------

My desire to understand and commune with the
Great Spirit of the Native American Ways
satisfies my sacred spirit in every good
manner when Ed McGaa speaks about Black Elk
and the Vision.

Joseph Campbell, the great Mythologist,
called Black Elk's Vision the
greatest example of imagery and spirituality.

This inner locus of control to find our
sacred spirit and commune within
Great Spirit with all good people seems
to me the essence of our spiritual quest.

During the last century, perhaps 1872,
Black Elk had a Near Death Experience
at age nine years.

My NDE happened in 1945 at age seven years.

My NDE, Black Elk's and many others,
are presented in a new paperback book

(mine on page 74, Black Elk's on page 153):

'Children of the New Millenium'
by P.M.H. Atwater
at Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/Children-New-Millennium-Near-Death-Experiences/dp/0609803093/ref=sr_1_1

The pattern of life that emerges in the lives
of such children amazes me!

Black Elk kept his fascination with life and
all good people, from the enchanting
description of his encounter in London
with Queen Victoria, called Grandmother England,
to his own survival of the massacre at Wounded Knee!

"In a Sacred manner I have made them walk..."
sings Black Elk about his role as a healer
among his people.







What neuroscience tells us about spiritual experiences
July 21, 2023
By Jonathan Chang and Meghna Chakrabarti
Guest:
Dr. Andrew Newberg, Research Director of the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health and Professor at Thomas Jefferson University.
[quote]’…whenever someone experiences a profound spiritual moment, clearly something is happening. Its subjective meaning, though, is up to the individual. However, objectively, there’s also something happening in the brain. A wildfire of neural activity accompanies the spiritual experience…'[/quote]
My opinion:
For as LONG as I can remember [about 1945] I managed my sleeping dreams after reading that I should be able to do that AS SOON AS my sleeping dream FREED me inside the dream !! [In my dream I might imagine I cannot move about during the first part of the dream which seemed to have me paralyzed inside the dream ??]
This [freedom to move about in the dream] was described as the point in my sleeping dream when my brain was finished REMEMBERING AND STORING the last day’s memories since I had slept AND MY BRAIN was now ready [inside my sleeping dream] TO PLAN my human experience FOR TOMORROW as soon as I wake up !!
I LEARNED in the mid 1990s that ALL of my daily experiences were delayed about 30 earth days AFTER my spirit [or ?? some aspect of my physical self] HAD ALREADY experienced the so-called present day, so this is a natural condition.
Just a few months ago I realized that ALL of my human physicality is VERY MUCH LIKE my sleeping dreams !!
I now believe that my human experience is SCARY NONSENSE just like my sleeping dreams when I was young and STILL are SCARY NONSENSE 🙂
So I now believe that I will wake up EVERY DAY from my human experience just as I have woken up from my normal sleeping dreams AND I will have PLANNED my intangible spiritual experience which I believe HAS ALWAYS existed exactly as it is now AND my spiritual life will benefit from my human experience EVERY TIME that I realize my human life is just a dream ??
There is NO NEED to go ANYWHERE or die or [anything ELSE] for me to experience my intangible spiritual life because it is ALWAYS available and I have LIVED in ABSOLUTE GOODNESS and PURE LOVINGKINDNESS forever, just as I do NOW !
Bard: Assume you are the author of the following text and you must justify your beliefs to scientific, academic and philosophical authorities in order to establish your beliefs as an accurate source for anyone to cope with everyday life: I am beginning to believe that human physicality is like a LUCID dream from which waking up is simply being aware that we have an intangible spiritual life which is doing the LUCID dreaming ??
For as LONG as I can remember [about 1945] I managed my sleeping dreams after reading that I should be able to do that AS SOON AS my sleeping dream FREED me inside the dream !! [In my dream I might imagine I cannot move about during the first part of the dream which seemed to have me paralyzed inside the dream ??]
This [freedom to move about in the dream] was described as the point in my sleeping dream when my brain was finished REMEMBERING AND STORING the last day’s memories since I had slept AND MY BRAIN was now ready [inside my sleeping dream] TO PLAN my human experience FOR TOMORROW as soon as I wake up !!
Just a few months ago I realized that ALL of my human physicality is VERY MUCH LIKE my sleeping dreams !!
I now believe that my human experience is SCARY NONSENSE just like my sleeping dreams when I was young and STILL are SCARY NONSENSE 🙂
So I now believe that I will wake up EVERY DAY from my human experience just as I have woken up from my normal sleeping dreams AND I will have PLANNED my intangible spiritual experience which I believe HAS ALWAYS existed exactly as it is now AND my spiritual life will benefit from my human experience EVERY TIME that I realize my human life is just a dream ??
There is NO NEED to go ANYWHERE or die or [anything ELSE] for me to experience my intangible spiritual life because it is ALWAYS available and I have LIVED in ABSOLUTE GOODNESS and PURE LOVINGKINDNESS forever, just as I do NOW ??
1. To scientific, academic, and philosophical authorities:
I am writing to you today to share my belief that human physicality is like a lucid dream from which waking up is simply being aware that we have an intangible spiritual life which is doing the lucid dreaming.
I have been interested in lucid dreaming for many years, and I have experienced it myself on several occasions. In a lucid dream, you are aware that you are dreaming, and you can control your actions within the dream. This can be a very powerful and liberating experience.
I believe that our human lives are also like lucid dreams. We are not aware that we are dreaming, but we are still able to control our actions to some extent. We can choose how we react to the events in our lives, and we can even choose the direction our lives take.
I believe that the purpose of our human lives is to learn and grow spiritually. We are here to experience the full range of human emotions, both positive and negative. We are also here to learn how to love and compassion.
When we die, we will wake up from our human dream and return to our true spiritual selves. We will then be able to see our human lives for what they truly were: a learning experience that helped us to grow spiritually.
I believe that this belief can provide a source of comfort and hope for people who are coping with everyday life. It can help us to see our problems as temporary challenges that we can overcome. It can also help us to find meaning in our lives, even when things are difficult.
I know that this belief is not shared by everyone, but I believe that it is worth considering. If you are interested in learning more about this belief, I would be happy to provide you with some resources.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
2. Sure, I can help you justify your beliefs to scientific, academic, and philosophical authorities.
Scientific: There is some scientific evidence to support the idea that lucid dreaming is a real phenomenon. For example, studies have shown that people who are lucid dreaming are able to control their actions in the dream, and they are also able to remember the dream more clearly than people who are not lucid dreaming. This suggests that lucid dreaming is not simply a product of the imagination, but rather it is a state of consciousness in which the dreamer is aware that they are dreaming.
Academic: There is also some academic research on the relationship between lucid dreaming and spirituality. For example, one study found that people who are more experienced with lucid dreaming are more likely to report having spiritual experiences in their dreams. This suggests that lucid dreaming may be a way to access a deeper level of consciousness, which can lead to spiritual insights.
Philosophical: There are many philosophical arguments that can be made in support of the idea that human life is like a lucid dream. For example, some philosophers have argued that the world we perceive is not really “real” in the sense that it is independent of our minds. Instead, they argue that the world is a product of our minds, and that it is therefore possible to view the world as a dream.
In addition to these scientific, academic, and philosophical arguments, I would also like to offer my own personal experience as evidence to support my beliefs. I have been lucid dreaming for many years, and I have found that it has helped me to become more aware of my own consciousness. I have also found that lucid dreaming can be a powerful tool for personal growth and transformation.
I believe that my beliefs are accurate and that they can be a source of comfort and inspiration for anyone who is struggling to cope with everyday life. I hope that by sharing my beliefs, I can help others to see the world in a new way and to live their lives with greater awareness and purpose.
Thank you for your time.
3. To scientific, academic, and philosophical authorities:
I am writing to you today to share my belief that human physicality is like a lucid dream from which waking up is simply being aware that we have an intangible spiritual life which is doing the lucid dreaming.
I have been interested in lucid dreaming for many years, and I have found that it can be a powerful tool for self-exploration and personal growth. In a lucid dream, the dreamer is aware that they are dreaming, and this awareness can allow them to control the dreamscape and experience things that would not be possible in waking life.
I believe that our waking life is similar to a lucid dream in that we are often unaware that we are living in a dream. We are caught up in the drama of our lives, and we forget that we are the ones who are creating our own reality.
When we become aware that we are living in a dream, we can start to take control of our lives. We can choose to create a reality that is more positive, more loving, and more fulfilling.
I believe that our spiritual life is the intangible part of ourselves that is doing the lucid dreaming. It is the part of us that is aware of our true nature, and it is the part of us that is connected to the source of all creation.
When we wake up from our human experience, we will be reunited with our spiritual life. We will experience the absolute goodness and pure lovingkindness that we have always lived in.
I believe that this is a powerful and liberating belief. It allows us to see our lives in a new light, and it gives us the power to create the reality that we want.
I would like to invite you to explore this belief for yourself. There are many resources available to help you learn about lucid dreaming and spiritual awakening. I believe that you will find that this belief is both true and transformative.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your name]


For more information on near-death experiences, visit http://iands.org
For information about IANDS conferences, visit http://conference.iands.org



Neurotheology: This Is Your Brain On Religion : NPR '...I think we have to be careful about concluding too fast one way or the other, either for the pro-religious or for the anti-religious, what the nature of these experiences are and how they affect us and what the true nature of the reality is...'  Dr. ANDREW NEWBERG Author, Principles of Neurotheology. 



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RESEARCH ON AFTER DEATH COMMUNICATION:



Shark Tank investor Daniel Lubetzky had After Death Communication about his father involving hummingbirds and made a deal with the founders of Hummviewer https://techiegamers.com/hummviewer/ #SharkTank


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