Theworld’sleadingexpertonnear-deathexperiencesrevealshisjourneytowardrethinkingthenatureofdeath,life,andthecontinuityofconsciousness.Casesofremarkableexperiencesonthethresholdofdeathhavebeenreportedsinceancienttimes,andaredescribedtodayby10%ofpeoplewhoseheartsstop.Themedicalworldhasgenerallyignoredthese“near-deathexperiences,“dismissingthemas“tricksofthebrain“orwishfulthinking.Butafterhispatientsstarteddescribingeventsthathecouldnotjustsweepundertherug,Dr.BruceGreysonbegantoinvestigate.Asaphysicianwithoutareligiousbeliefsystem,heapproachednear-deathexperiencesfromascientificperspective.InAfter,hesharesthetransformativelessonshehaslearnedoverfourdecadesofresearch.Ourculturehastendedtoviewdyingastheendofourconsciousness,theendofourexistence--adreadedprospectthatformanypeopleevokesfearandanxiety.ButDr.Greysonshowshowscientificrevelationsaboutthedyingprocesscansupportanalternativetheory.Dyingcouldbethethresholdbetweenoneformofconsciousnessandanother,notanendingbutatransition.Thisnewperspectiveonthenatureofdeathcantransformthefearofdyingthatpervadesourcultureintoahealthyviewofitasonemoremilestoneinthecourseofourlives.Afterchallengesustoopenourmindstotheseexperiencesandtowhattheycanteachus,andinsodoing,expandourunderstandingofconsciousnessandofwhatitmeanstobehuman.
