Latest news with #lifeAfterDeath
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
I died for eight minutes... my encounter proves the soul never dies
She died for eight minutes, no pulse, no breath, and no brain activity, and then came back to life with a chilling, vivid story about death. Brianna Lafferty, a 33-year-old woman from Colorado, was battling a life-threatening neurological disorder when, as she describes it, her body simply 'gave up.' She was pronounced clinically dead, but according to her, her consciousness did not die with her. 'Death is an illusion because our soul never dies. Our consciousness remains alive. And our very essence simply transforms,' Lafferty said. 'I did not see or remember my human self. I was completely still, yet I felt fully alive, aware, and more myself than ever before.' Lafferty suffers from myoclonus dystonia, a rare neurological condition that causes involuntary muscle jerks and can disrupt bodily functions. During one of her medical crises, she flatlined. Before she lost full physical awareness, she said she heard a voice asking if she was ready, then everything went dark. What happened next, she said, defies scientific explanation. She described her soul 'floating' above her lifeless body and entering a realm where time did not exist. Near-death experiences (NDEs) are complex and not fully understood, but scientific research suggests they are likely neurological phenomena arising from specific brain activity during moments of critical illness or near-death. While various theories exist, a key aspect involves the brain's continued activity, even after the heart stops, potentially leading to altered states of consciousness and vivid perceptions. But Lafferty is sure she died, experienced life after death and returned to the world of the living. 'I was suddenly separated from my physical body,' Lafferty said. 'There was no pain, just a deep sense of peace and clarity. This detachment from my physical form made me realize how temporary and fragile our human experience is.' She also claimed that she noticed something extraordinary, her thoughts began to shape her surroundings in the afterlife. 'My thoughts instantly materialized,' said Lafferty. 'I realized that our thoughts shape reality there, it just takes time, which is a blessing.' After she was revived, Lafferty had to relearn how to walk and speak. She underwent experimental brain surgery to treat damage to her pituitary gland. Though she fears the possibility of another near-death experience, she no longer fears death itself. 'It changed the course of my life,' she said. 'What I feared no longer had power over me, and what I used to chase didn't seem important anymore.' Though her account is deeply personal, it resonates with findings from a recent study that suggests awareness may persist long after the heart stops. Researchers across 25 hospitals in the US, UK, and Bulgaria tracked 567 patients who suffered cardiac arrest in hospital settings. The study, published in Resuscitation, used EEG monitors to measure brain wave activity during CPR. Nearly 40 percent of the patients monitored during resuscitation showed signs of brain activity associated with consciousness, some as long as 60 minutes after their hearts had stopped. Dr Sam Parnia, the study's lead author and director of critical care and resuscitation research at New York University (NYU) Langone, said the findings may offer a glimpse into what happens as we die. 'These experiences provide a glimpse into a real, yet little-understood dimension of human consciousness that becomes uncovered with death,' Parnia said. In one case, a woman believed she was being tortured in hell as a nurse inserted an IV, a traumatic, semi-conscious moment that may have been interpreted through a haze of near-death awareness. Lafferty described a similarly surreal experience as she encountered 'other beings' that didn't seem human but felt oddly familiar. She also described the presence of a 'higher intelligence' watching over her with what she called 'unconditional love,' a moment that altered her perception of life and death. 'There's a presence, or intelligence, higher than ourselves that guides and watches over us with unconditional love,' she said. The NYU-led study is among the strongest scientific evidence yet that consciousness may persist after clinical death, and that memory, perception, and awareness do not necessarily stop the moment the heart does. As for Lafferty, the experience left her with a sense of clarity, and a belief that life's pain has meaning. 'I feel empowered and trust life's events, especially the hard ones,' she said. 'Everything happens for a reason.'
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
I died for eight minutes... my encounter with divine beings proves the soul never dies
She died for eight minutes, no pulse, no breath, and no brain activity, and then came back to life with a chilling, vivid story about death. Brianna Lafferty, a 33-year-old woman from Colorado, was battling a life-threatening neurological disorder when, as she describes it, her body simply 'gave up.' She was pronounced clinically dead, but according to her, her consciousness did not die with her. 'Death is an illusion because our soul never dies. Our consciousness remains alive. And our very essence simply transforms,' Lafferty said. 'I did not see or remember my human self. I was completely still, yet I felt fully alive, aware, and more myself than ever before.' Lafferty suffers from myoclonus dystonia, a rare neurological condition that causes involuntary muscle jerks and can disrupt bodily functions. During one of her medical crises, she flatlined. Before she lost full physical awareness, she said she heard a voice asking if she was ready, then everything went dark. What happened next, she said, defies scientific explanation. She described her soul 'floating' above her lifeless body and entering a realm where time did not exist. Near-death experiences (NDEs) are complex and not fully understood, but scientific research suggests they are likely neurological phenomena arising from specific brain activity during moments of critical illness or near-death. While various theories exist, a key aspect involves the brain's continued activity, even after the heart stops, potentially leading to altered states of consciousness and vivid perceptions. But Lafferty is sure she died, experienced life after death and returned to the world of the living. 'I was suddenly separated from my physical body,' Lafferty said. 'There was no pain, just a deep sense of peace and clarity. This detachment from my physical form made me realize how temporary and fragile our human experience is.' She also claimed that she noticed something extraordinary, her thoughts began to shape her surroundings in the afterlife. 'My thoughts instantly materialized,' said Lafferty. 'I realized that our thoughts shape reality there, it just takes time, which is a blessing.' After she was revived, Lafferty had to relearn how to walk and speak. She underwent experimental brain surgery to treat damage to her pituitary gland. Though she fears the possibility of another near-death experience, she no longer fears death itself. 'It changed the course of my life,' she said. 'What I feared no longer had power over me, and what I used to chase didn't seem important anymore.' Though her account is deeply personal, it resonates with findings from a recent study that suggests awareness may persist long after the heart stops. Researchers across 25 hospitals in the US, UK, and Bulgaria tracked 567 patients who suffered cardiac arrest in hospital settings. The study, published in Resuscitation, used EEG monitors to measure brain wave activity during CPR. Nearly 40 percent of the patients monitored during resuscitation showed signs of brain activity associated with consciousness, some as long as 60 minutes after their hearts had stopped. Dr Sam Parnia, the study's lead author and director of critical care and resuscitation research at New York University (NYU) Langone, said the findings may offer a glimpse into what happens as we die. 'These experiences provide a glimpse into a real, yet little-understood dimension of human consciousness that becomes uncovered with death,' Parnia said. In one case, a woman believed she was being tortured in hell as a nurse inserted an IV, a traumatic, semi-conscious moment that may have been interpreted through a haze of near-death awareness. Near-death experiences (NDEs) are complex and not fully understood, but scientific research suggests they are likely neurological phenomena arising from specific brain activity during moments of critical illness or near-death Lafferty described a similarly surreal experience as she encountered 'other beings' that didn't seem human but felt oddly familiar. She also described the presence of a 'higher intelligence' watching over her with what she called 'unconditional love,' a moment that altered her perception of life and death. 'There's a presence, or intelligence, higher than ourselves that guides and watches over us with unconditional love,' she said. The NYU-led study is among the strongest scientific evidence yet that consciousness may persist after clinical death, and that memory, perception, and awareness do not necessarily stop the moment the heart does. As for Lafferty, the experience left her with a sense of clarity, and a belief that life's pain has meaning. 'I feel empowered and trust life's events, especially the hard ones,' she said. 'Everything happens for a reason.'
Malay Mail
10-05-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Life after death? Most Malaysians say yes — but not in ancestral spirits or sacred mountains and crystals, Pew study shows
KUALA LUMPUR, May 10 — A majority of Malaysians believe in life after death and the existence of a spiritual world beyond what can be seen, according to a global survey by Pew Research Center that sheds light on the spiritual and religious beliefs of people across 36 countries. The report released earlier this week also found that despite Malaysia's lower gross domestic product per capita compared to many Western nations, the country's lower level of ancestral worship challenge conventional assumptions made by secularisation theory. 'Economics is not the only factor at play – the religious makeup of a country also has a role,' said the report. 'For instance, the Muslim-majority countries of Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia and [Türkiye] also are among the less wealthy countries in our survey, yet people in those countries are among the least likely to say ancestors can interact with the living in these ways.' The survey, conducted between January and May 2024, found that 76 per cent of Malaysian adults believe there is definitely or probably life after death, aligning closely with other Muslim-majority countries in the region. In addition, 66 per cent of Malaysians said they believe there is something spiritual beyond the natural world, even if it cannot be seen — a belief shared by majorities in most countries surveyed, regardless of religious affiliation. However, Malaysians were among the least likely to believe that ancestral spirits could influence the living, compared to countries in sub-Saharan Africa or Latin America. Malaysia also displayed a strong overlap between religion and spirituality, with most Malaysians who said religion was very important in their lives also expressing belief in spiritual energies. Malaysia ranked among the top countries in terms of belief in God, with 98 per cent of respondents affirming their belief in a higher power, consistent with the strong religious identity among Malaysian Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists. Other findings included: 48 per cent of Malaysians believe parts of nature like mountains, rivers, or trees can have spiritual energies — lower than in neighbouring Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines or Thailand. 53 per cent believe animals can possess spirits or spiritual energies. This view is more common among younger adults across many countries. 28 per cent believe inanimate objects like crystals, jewels, or stones can hold spiritual energy, below the global median. 76 per cent of Muslims pray five times a day, compared to 91 per cent in Nigeria, Indonesia and Sri Lanka (84 per cent), Singapore (67 per cent), India (51 per cent), and Türkiye (31 per cent). Only 29 per cent of Malaysians wear or carry religious symbols, unlike in neighbouring Thailand (63 per cent). However, Malaysians are unique where more men (33 per cent) than women (23 per cent) wear religious symbols or items. The report highlighted that beliefs in spiritual concepts like ancestral spirits, reincarnation, and magical forces are often shaped by both religious teachings and cultural traditions. The Pew report included responses from over 50,000 adults globally, using a combination of phone and face-to-face interviews. In Malaysia, the survey was conducted via telephone interviews with a nationally representative sample.
