According to Evidence of the Afterlife, no two near-death experiences are identical. When, however, many near-death experiences are studied, a common pattern of elements emerges, that usually occurs in a consistent order. Here is a list of the 12 main NDE elements that have been identified:
- Out-of-body experience (OBE): separation of consciousness from the physical body: 75.4%
- Heightened senses: 74.4%
- Intense and generally positive emotions or feelings: 76.2%
- Passing into or through a tunnel: 33.8%
- Encountering a mystical or brilliant light: 64.6%
- Encountering other beings, either mystical beings, or deceased relatives or friends: 57.3%
- A sense of alteration of time and space: 60.5%
- Life review: 22.2%
- Encountering unworldly (‘heavenly’) realms: 40.6%
- Encountering or learning special knowledge: 56% (31.5% answered that they understood everything ‘about the universe’; 31.3% felt they understood ‘everything about myself and others’.)
- Encountering a boundary or barrier: 31%
- Return to the body, either voluntary or involuntary: 58.5%”
- Info is from Evidence of the Afterlife, by Dr. Jeffrey Long.