We have all heard stories of moving towards a tunnel of bright light or our lives flashing before our eyes just before we die, though is there any credence in that? Is it due to hypoxia of occipital neurons surviving a little longer than other cells, an effect of CO2 narcosis, or a matter of belief or faith?
Recently US neurologists accidentally recorded a patient’s dying brain, which revealed brain waves related to dreaming, as published in a case report [1].
The brain appears to remain active and coordinated, even as death approaches, according to doctors who analysed electroencephalography (EEG) recordings to detect and treat seizures in an 87-year-old man who had had a myocardial infarct (heart attack) during the procedure.
The rhythmic brain wave patterns recorded during the man's death were similar to those occurring during dreaming, memory recall and meditation, they said.
Furthermore, the neural oscillations recorded in the dying brain suggested the person was seeing their life flash before their eyes.
According to lead author and neurosurgeon Dr Ajmal Zemmar, of the University of Louisville, Kentucky, the findings suggested the brains may remain active and coordinated during, and even after, the transition to death.
Dr Zemmar and fellow authors set a specific focus to investigate what happened in the 30 seconds before and after the heart stopped beating.
“We saw changes in a specific band of neural oscillations, so-called gamma oscillations, but also in others such as delta, theta, alpha, and beta oscillations,” said Dr Zemmar.
“Given that cross-coupling between alpha and gamma activity is involved in cognitive processes and memory recall in healthy subjects, it is intriguing to speculate that such activity could support a last ‘recall of life’ that may take place in the near-death state,” the authors wrote.
“Unlike previous reports, our study is the first to use full EEG placement, which allows a more complete neurophysiological analysis in a larger dimension.”
“These findings challenge our understanding of when exactly life ends and generate important subsequent questions, such as those related to the timing of organ donation.”
It raises the possibility that the recent dead are still present and may hear what is being said after being declared dead until the “soul passes from the body”. Should organ harvesting wait 15-30 minutes in case there is any sensation of pain? Is this just spooky and be left alone or worthy of further study?
What do you think?
Reference
1. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2022.813531/full
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"When you're trying to motivate yourself, appreciate the fact that you're even thinking about making a change. And as you move forward, allow yourself to be good enough."
-- Alice Domar
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A simple gratitude exercise helps to boost people’s motivation, a study finds.
People who listed five things to be grateful for each day over a period of six days displayed significantly increased motivation.
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"When the world around us is in turmoil, we need to look inward. Meditation is the tool that can give us the much needed solace and inner strength."
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar,
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"My father, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, had received a copy of your book 'Looking Inward', and was immersed in it when illness overtook him. I know that, other than his Bible, his Book of Common Prayer, missal and hymn book, this was the only book that he took with him to the hospice where his life ended…
…He had prepared himself for death, and in many ways was looking forward to it, as he had turned more and more to the spiritual aspects of his being. I think that this book, that you gave him, made him accept the end with equanimity and complete nonchalance. He knew where he was going, and was ready to take the final steps. He was of good cheer, and I think that this book helped him to achieve that peace of mind, and ready his spirit / soul for its new adventure. Thank you for having given him this great gift, and for having helped him in his last days."
Trevor Tutu, son of Archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu
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HERACLUTIS-
"You cannot step into the same river twice."
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DEEP RUT STUDY
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A A Minimalism isn’t about removing the things you love. It’s about removing the things that distract you from the things you love.” ~Joshua Becker A 6 Questions a Death Doula May AskIn a society where we often struggle with facing end of life issues head on, death doulas ask questions that others might not think or know to ask… - What sounds would you like to hear during your dying process? Would you like it to be quiet, or would you like ambient sound? Perhaps you like rock music. Would you like conversation to happen around you, or would you prefer peaceful contemplation?
- What is a memory that brings you strength, or showed you your own strength? When in your life did you feel most strong and capable?
- If you died today, what would you want your epitaph to be? If you don’t want an epitaph, perhaps consider what sort of ‘closing statement’ you would like about your life and legacy.
- Is there something you’ve always wondered or wanted to ask, but didn’t? Would you like to ask it now? Why or why not? What’s complicated about the asking?
- How do you want to be remembered after you die? If you feel inclined, choose three adjectives that you hope those who know you will use to describe your memory.
- What is the best advice you’ve ever received? How did you put it into action (or didn’t you) in your life?
A Bodhidharma, “Pointing directly to the human heart – see nature, realize buddha.” Dōgen says, “To penetrate means to make the sutras the land-body-mind. Hashimoto Rōshi “How stupid you are. When riding on a train, just ride on a train. When studying, just study.”
Remember that study practice isn’t about getting somewhere, but just like kinhin (walking meditation), the destination is the journey.
A mdd - major depressive disorder A Does a tree experience in samsara?I do not think a tree or a plant has such issues, as for all I know it doesn't have a mind. But, what about coral, muscles or clams? Probably not since they don't have a mind. Presumably, most trees are not sentient beings, given that plant life is not a realm of rebirth. Sometimes plants can be abodes of certain kinds of spirits or devas, maybe that basically is like a tree experiencing samsara. That corals, clams and so on don't have minds is a matter of speculation, maybe they are basically like plants and maybe they aren't. Unless you're an extremely advanced practitioner you probably cannot know. Samsara is a condition of sentient beings (as defined in Buddhism), which means beings that have minds. Something to consider is the vast networks of fungus that plants use to nourish and support each other. It may not be a “mind,” but it is a very complex interactive system. So I remain on the fence about plants not being sentient.
A An excerpt from the editorial of Prabuddha Bharata Magazine September 2020 issue on the topic ‘knowledge and devotion in Advaita Vedanta. Advaita speaks of direct knowledge and indirect knowledge. Indirect knowledge is the means to direct knowledge. Direct knowledge is subjective and immediate, whereas indirect knowledge is gained through the combination of the senses, mind, and intellect. The Upanishads say that the knowledge of the ultimate Reality is subjective and is experienced beyond the realm of the senses. However, we first require indirect knowledge in order to realise the subjective intuitive knowledge. The intellectual knowledge gained through Shravaṇa, hearing; manana, contemplation on the truths of the Upanishads; and nididhyasana, profound meditation is merely an indirect knowledge. This knowledge removes the cloud of ignorance called avidya that has veiled the Reality, which is sat, pure being or existence; chit, pure consciousness; and ananda, pure bliss. In the subjective experience of our identity with the Atman, the ideas of the knower, the known, and knowledge merge into a common awareness or consciousness. Hence the Upanishads declare: ‘
Vijnanam brahma; Brahman is consciousness itself.’
There are two connotations of bhakti in the Advaita Vedanta. The adoration of the Bhagavan of the universe is essential to attain purity of mind, which makes one eligible to reach the highest goal. It is upheld in an age-old saying: ‘Ishvaranugrahadeva pumsam Advaita-vasana – one can get the tendency for practising Advaita or non-duality only through the grace of Ishwara, the supreme Lord of the universe.’ The devotion that is practised with faith for self-purification is termed preparatory bhakti. But as that bhakti becomes pure and mature, we begin to feel our oneness with the eternal Reality. Adi Shankaracharya says in his Vivekachudamani: ‘Svasvarupanusandhanam bhaktirityabhidhiyate; bhakti is the state of absorption in one’s own real nature as Atman or Brahman.’ This can be considered as the highest state of bhakti.
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A SAMR initial interest in the subject of this book arose from a fascination
and curiosity regarding two great literary figures: St. Teresa of Avila
(1515 – 1582), the reforming Spanish Carmelite writer of such strikingly
original poetry and prose, and Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889 – 1951), the
austere and forbidding Austrian professor of logic and metaphysics
who tore up and rewrote the rules of philosophy in the mid-twentieth
century
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STRESS= EXPECTATION MINUS REALITY
In spiritual life there are two paths: the path of renunciation and the path of living in the world, with an attitude of renunciation. The path of renunciation means not to be attached to any of the common , worldly pleasures and use life to attain the highest goal. The path of living in the world means that life should be used in a fruitful and positive way, with a sense of detachment from the lure of the senses and the mind. Both paths require extreme discipline and self-control. Not everyone can be a monk but it is more difficult to remain pure, while living in the world. Faith in God and Gurus and daily practice of meditation can help us overcome life’s obstacles. - - - Paramahamsa Prajnananandaji Maharaj - a
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a Towards the end of his life in 1949, while walking with his friend
Maurice Drury around Phoenix Park in Dublin, the Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889–1951) shared the following remark:
I am not a religious man but I cannot help seeing every problem
from a religious point of view.
(Rhees 1987: 79)
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