Introductory Book Note |
I
n many of Her lectures around the world, Master has talked about "the
oneness of the universe". Many religious scriptures also mention this
"Oneness". The ancient Masters such as Buddha and Jesus, throughout their
teachings, have expounded on their actual experiences of oneness with
all things, visible and invisible. Now in the field of empirical science,
scholars are beginning to investigate the interrelatedness of manifested
and unmanifested phenomena. Raymond A. Moody, Jr., a physician and sociologist,
has pioneered research of near-death experiences (NDEs), which has led
to the preliminary development of a paradigm for investigating the unmanifested
Reality.
By his work, Dr. Moody,
in essence, opened the way for scientific research into the spiritual
realm. His research and that of other investigators has helped many medical
doctors to understand more about NDE patients and thereby has made a great
contribution to the treatment of these patients. Based on the research
of physicians, psychologists, and sociologists, the scientific community
is being forced to accept the existence of the NDE. No longer is the NDE
a mystery or something to be relegated only to the religious domain. More
scientific studies about this phenomena are on the rise.
Dr. Moody mentioned
in his book: "There are several things about NDEs that make me feel so
strongly. One of these is the verifiable out-of-body experiences," he
said. "Although these out-of-body experiences might be the most solid
scientific reason to believe in life hereafter, the most impressive thing
about NDEs to me is the enormous changes in personality that they bring
about in people. That NDEs totally transform the people to whom they happen
shows their reality and power."
In "The Light Beyond,"
Dr. Moody includes many case histories of NDEs, each demonstrating a unique
aspect of the experience. One example is a "Sense of Connection With All
Things." Dr. Moody wrote, "NDEers return with a sense that everything
in the universe is connected. This is a difficult concept for them to
define, but most have a newfound respect for nature and the world around
them. An eloquent description of this feeling was given to me by a hard-driving,
no-nonsense businessman who had an NDE during a cardiac arrest: The first
thing I saw when I awoke in the hospital was a flower, and I cried. Believe
it or not, I had never really seen a flower until I came back from death.
One big thing I learned when I died was that we are all part of one big,
living universe. If we think we can hurt another person or another living
being without hurting ourselves, we are sadly mistaken. I look at a forest
or a flower or a bird now, and say, ''That is me, part of me.' We are
connected with all things and if we send love along those connections,
then we are happy."
Another interesting
aspect of the NDE is the description of the planes where one goes after
leaving the physical body. One such realm was described as being set aside
for the "passionate pursuit of knowledge". A woman called this place a
"big university," whereas another NDEer referred to it as "a state of
consciousness where whatever you want to learn is available to you". He
said it was almost as though information was available in bundles of thought:
"This includes information of any kind. For instance, if I wanted to know
what it was like to be the president of the United States, I would need
only to wish for the experience and it would be so. Or if I wanted to
know what it was like to be an insect, I would merely have to 'request'
the experience by wishing for it, and the experience would be mine." Dr.
Moody continued with this theme, "This brief, albeit powerful, learning
experience has changed the lives of many NDEers. The short time they were
exposed to the possibility of total learning made them thirst for knowledge
when they returned to their bodies."
And so begins the world's
scientific odyssey into the spiritual realms. We, the initiated fellows,
have had our own proof to a certain degree since the day of initiation,
and we don't need to wait until it's proven by scientists. We certainly
thank our beloved Master for blessing us with such a gift.
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