“Meditation-Induced Near-Death Experiences: a 3-Year Longitudinal Study,” published in Mindfulness, concludes that some Buddhist meditation practitioners can willfully induce near-death experiences (NDE). These profound psychological events typically occur in people close to actual or perceived death. The ability to willfully induce such experiences could help scientists better understand the phenomenon, which has been difficult to research.

“The practice of using meditation to gain a better understanding of death is longstanding, particularly in Buddhism, where ancient texts exist to help spiritual practitioners prepare for or gain insight into the process of dying,” says study author William Van Gordon, of the University of Derby, in England.

“Unlike regular near-death experiences, [12] participants were consciously aware of experiencing the meditation-induced NDE and retained control over its content and duration. Also, compared to regular forms of meditation, the meditation-induced NDE led to a five-fold increase in mystical experiences and a four-fold increase in feelings of non-attachment,” explains Van Gordon.

This article appears in the March 2019 issue of Natural Awakenings.