Do Near-Death Experiences Prove Humans are Avatars?

I recently had lunch with an 80-year-old friend struggling with health issues. We had a fascinating conversation about the possibility of an afterlife, during which he shared an intriguing experience. He described a moment when his body seemed to detach from him, leaving him in a state of expanded awareness.

As someone who has delved into the spiritual path and had my share of out-of-body experiences (OBEs), I have spent years exploring and reflecting on these phenomena. Through my journey, I view these experiences as inner-body hallucinations that hold significant meaning and impact our internal development.

However, my search for a scientific explanation led me to a thought-provoking book, "The Ego Tunnel" by Thomas Metzinger. In this book, Metzinger takes a multidisciplinary approach, drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy, to critically examine out-of-body experiences. His compelling argument challenges the notion that these experiences provide evidence for the existence of a separate, disembodied self.

Metzinger proposes that these experiences can be understood as products of the brain's intricate mechanisms, which have the ability to generate vivid and immersive subjective states. He suggests that out-of-body experiences shed light on the brain's capacity to manipulate and alter our sense of self, emphasizing the flexible nature of consciousness.

Over the years, I have engaged with spiritual believers who hold on to the idea of a disembodied interpretation, urging them to prove their claims through remote viewing of my own bedroom during their nocturnal travels. Interestingly, not a single believer has taken up the challenge, as their experiences were not external to the body but rather internal representations of ghostly voyeurism.

Having put to rest the dualistic claims of disembodied experiences, I found myself gravitating toward near-death experiences, which carry a weight of significance due to the consistent testimonies of a dimension beyond the physical body that feels more real than our earthly existence. What struck me was the profound intensity of these encounters, surpassing what we perceive through our physical senses in the material realm.

How does a barely functioning brain produce experiences that overwhelmingly surpass normal functionality? Take, for instance, the story of a hiker trapped under a river for 45 minutes, who returned with tales of an extraordinary adventure in another dimension, rendering the earthly experience pale in comparison.

Neuroscientists attribute this phenomenon to near-death hallucinations. However, what caught my attention was the parallel claims of detachment from the body, accompanied by feelings of relief and a reluctance to return. Many describe the body as a tight and uncomfortable glove in contrast to the expanded sense of self. Another common thread is the overwhelming sense of home that experiencers feel in the out-of-body state, perceiving it as their default existence while considering the physical body as an avatar in an Earthly video game. There is also a shared conviction that the NDE is not a dream.

I am convinced that when the body dies we return to a "Home Realm" where we have always existed. The universe is just too vast to limit ourselves (as the universe doing itself) to a mortal monkey. Regarding OBEs and paranormal experiences, I lean toward subjective experiences within this earthly realm.

As they say, the devil is in the details. Human biology creates subjective illusions that often convince spiritual-minded individuals of paranormal experiences. The "feeling of being hunted" is an evolutionary trait inherent in our genes, which can give rise to hallucinations of aliens, demons, and other predatory entities. The body generates the sensation of a presence in the room, leading believers to perceive invisible agency. These hallucinations are so convincing that even non-believers may be tempted to interpret them through supernatural explanations. However, we seldom hear stories of atheists attributing such hair-raising experiences to anything more than imaginary fears. It raises doubt as to why disembodied entities if they exist, would require a human brain to believe in them to engage in haunting activities.

For those interested in delving deeper into these subjects, I highly recommend reading the following books by Bruce Hood:

The Science of Superstition: How the Developing Brain Creates Supernatural Beliefs

SuperSense: How the Developing Brain Creates Supernatural Beliefs

Hood explores our inclination towards supernatural beliefs, tracing their origins to our cognitive development and the way our brains process information. He delves into the mechanisms underlying our tendency to attribute agency and intentionality to natural events, ultimately shaping our superstitions and belief in the supernatural. From childhood imaginary friends to religious rituals and paranormal encounters, Hood investigates how our brains create and reinforce these beliefs.

"The downside of open minds is that everything becomes possible, including the abandonment of reason."

In the context of out-of-body experiences, I lean towards an earthly video game analogy. The mounting evidence suggests that these experiences are firmly rooted in psycho-emotional experiences coupled with metaphysical beliefs. Where there are psychics, channelers, paranormal activities, and OBEs, we often encounter outlandish claims of levitation, bilocation, and remote viewing—all of which are easily debunked and difficult to take seriously. These topics are often intertwined with manipulative gurus, charlatans, frauds, cults, and conflicting spiritual philosophies that rely heavily on subjective storytelling.

A sincere spiritual guide is inclined to direct you toward the boundaries of reality and offer guidance on navigating them by fully engaging in the physical realm, the source from which spiritual experiences emerge. This perspective removes delusions and validates the inner realm.

If we consider the possibility that human primates are akin to digital avatars in an advanced video game, it might be plausible to view spiritual experiences as integral to the game's design. In other words, the game is programmed to include hallucinations that deceive the avatar into believing it can leave its body while the organism is still alive. Based on the evidence suggesting that these experiences are merely subjective, near-death experiences might provide us with glimpses into the player of the game as the avatar teeters on the brink of death.

Imagine immersing oneself in a high-resolution virtual reality game to such an extent that one forgets they are playing a game. Then, due to a hardware glitch or software malfunction, they suddenly catch a glimpse of their avatar from a third-person perspective, realizing their true essence and the richness of their default environment, which surpasses all other tactile experiences.

Either way, the near-death experience undeniably demonstrates that our biology harbors a remarkable capacity for experiencing a fantastical realm, whether positive or negative (since some NDEs can be distressing), which skeptics cannot easily dismiss. If we are digital avatars, then the immersive and imperceptible nature of these experiences aligns with the very purpose of virtual reality. One might even ponder if such a system could be designed by an advanced alien race.

For those seeking further exploration, I recommend visiting the IANDS: The International Association for Near-Death Studies website, where you can find in-depth research on the subject, with a particular emphasis on witness accounts.

Typically, people talk about leaving their bodies, but when my friend said his body left him, something in my brain shifted. I think it's more likely that we detach when the body stops functioning. Until then, we are the universe in human form living itself.

— Zzenn