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DT EHE Characteristics
This material comes from
Lessons
from the Light by Kenneth Ring, Ph.D., and Evelyn
Elsaesser Valarino (1998) and concerns specifically near-death experiences
(NDEs).
Ring and Valarino say, "(W)e now know
that the NDE tends to bring about lasting changes in personal values and
beliefs," and what follows is their summary in the form of a list derived
from their observations. These researchers are talking
specifically about people who have had near-death experiences, but I
would like to suggest that these characteristics apply to any type of so-called "death-transcendent"
EHE. And Rhea A. White, the creator of the EHE paradigm, and
her associate Suzanne V. Brown tell us [see
www.ehe.org]
that these resulting characteristics can be and often are exemplary of the
aftereffects of any type of exceptional
human experience (EHE). Here, in the words
of Ring and Valarino, is the gist of what thousands of EHErs tell us about how
their lives are changed as a result of their experiences. Those who have had NDEs have observed
that they …
-
appreciate life more fully
-
experience increased feelings of self-worth
-
have a more compassionate regard for others
and, indeed, for all life
-
feel a heightened ecological sensitivity
-
experience a decreased interest in purely
materialistic and self-seeking values
-
tend to become more universalistic in religious
orientation
-
become more inclusive and spiritual in feeling
and expression
-
become aware their fear of death is most often
completely extinguished
-
have a deep-rooted conviction, based on their
direct experience, that some form of life after death awaits us, which
becomes unshakable and a source of enormous comfort
-
spontaneously experience or are aware of
increased powers of higher sense perception, increased psychic ability and
intuitive awareness, and/or the gift of healing
"In short," Ring and Valarino conclude,
"The NDE seems to unleash normally dormant aspects of the human potential
for higher consciousness and to increase one's capacity to relate more
sensitively to other persons and the world at large." Further,
their definitive research (and that of R. White, S. Brown, R. Moody, M. Morse
and others) suggests that the NDE (and indeed, many-to-all possible varieties of
EHEs) "… appears to promote the emergence of a type of functioning
suggestive of the full human potential that is presumably the birthright of all
of us. In a phrase, whenever the blessings of the NDE are fused
properly into one's life, the individual comes to exemplify what a highly
developed person would be and act like. Indeed, as I [Ring] have
tried to suggest in my earlier books, especially Heading
toward Omega and The
Omega Project, NDErs -- and others who have
undergone similar awakenings by other means -- may be the harbingers of
humanity's evolution toward higher consciousness. However, even if
this is true, it is clearly not enough to wait passively for this evolution to
occur. The phenomenon of the NDE, in my view, is not merely an
evolutionary catalyst but a teaching about life, love, and the human
potential that all interested persons could draw upon actively now in order to
enrich their lives and to hasten their own progress toward enlightenment."
Finally, one last note of interest that also
appears to be a consensus among most of the various EHE researchers,
including R. White and S. Brown, regarding all EHE populations is reflected in
one last comment by Ring and Valarino concerning NDErs:
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… (W)e
already have evidence that merely
learning about the NDE has effects similar to those reported by NDErs.
This means that the NDE may act like a benign virus, and by exposing
yourself to it, you can catch it; that is, you can experience some of the
same benefits as do those who actually have the NDE themselves.
Therefore, as we hear from those who have had NDEs and understand more
clearly just what they have gained from their encounter with the Light, you,
too, will have the opportunity to learn and grow as the NDEr
has. The aim of [Ring's and Valarino's book, Lessons from the Light,
as well as this website and the work of numerous other students of EHEs,
such as Rhea White, Suzanne Brown], then, is simply to help you make these
connections for yourself in order to reap the rewards of NDEs without having
nearly to die first to do so.
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Other useful onsite reference material for
wHeretwoworldsTouch.com:
Critical
Ideas
DT EHE List
Glossary and
Notes
Plato's Cave
Allegory
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