Many people experience altered states of consciousness and even extraordinary experiences when they are close to death. Due to the special circumstances of being close to death, these experiences are of drastic significance for many, but are sometimes still a taboo subject. In order to better understand extraordinary experiences near death and help them to be more widely accepted, they are examined and addressed on various levels at the IGPP.
Exceptional Experiences and Altered States of Consciousness
Phenomena Near Death
Introduction
The most important of these experiences include near-death experiences, near-death visions, and terminal lucidity.
All of these experiences occur more frequently than is often assumed. This allows comparative studies of individual reports to identify patterns of experience and to better understand the impact of such experiences on the lives of those affected. Although it is generally accepted that near-death phenomena occur across cultures and have great significance for those experiencing them, there is no consensus regarding their interpretation. These range between religious-metaphysical interpretations as a kind of proof of the afterlife and psychological and scientistic-
The following questions are at the center of interest in our investigations of these topics:
What content is typical for near-death experiences in German-speaking countries?
How do people who had an extraordinary experience near death deal with this experience?
How can such experiences be explained?
