Sai Baba Answers on Near Death Experiences invites us to look beyond appearances and question what we believe to be proof of the afterlife. Baba explains that NDEs, though deeply moving and often filled with visions of divine light, may be like a dream at dawn: vivid and convincing in the moment, yet dissolving when awakened. They are shaped by the mind, colored by our beliefs, and cannot, on their own, confirm the eternal realm. True understanding, Baba teaches, is not found in fleeting visions at death’s door, but in awakening to the light of the Self while we are still healthy and alive.
Sai Baba Answers on Do Near-Death Experiences Offer Evidence of a Spiritual Realm?
The midnight sky stretched vast and endless, the stars flickering like distant memories. The traveller sat on the steps of an ancient well in Shirdi, gazing into its still waters, lost in thought. The deep well reflected the moon perfectly, creating an illusion, one could almost believe there were two moons, one in the sky and one in the water.
Was this how reality worked?
Was the world seen in a near-death experience real, or was it a reflection of something deeper?
As if hearing his thoughts, Shirdi Sai Baba approached, carrying a small earthen pot filled with water. He sat beside the traveller, placing the pot before them.
“You seem troubled, child,” Baba said, His voice as gentle as the night breeze.
“Baba,” the traveller hesitated, “people who return from near-death experiences describe seeing a bright light, floating above their bodies, meeting divine beings. Are these visions real? Do they prove there is a world beyond this one?”
Baba smiled and looked down at the well’s reflection.
“Tell Me, child, if you look into this water and see the moon, is there truly another moon beneath the surface?”
Is Near-Death Experience a Reflection or a Reality?
The traveller stared at the rippling water.
“No, Baba, it is only a reflection.”
“Ah,” Baba nodded. “And what happens when the water is disturbed?” He dipped his fingers into the well, causing ripples to distort the moon’s reflection.
“The image disappears, Baba.”
“Yes,” Baba said. “Now, imagine that what people see in near-death experiences is like the moon in this water. It is real to them, just as the reflection is real to your eyes. But is it truly proof of another realm, or is it merely a projection, something shaped by their own minds?”
The traveller’s thoughts deepened.
The Science of the Dying Brain
Baba picked up the earthen pot beside him and poured a little water onto the stone floor.
“Science tells us that the brain does not shut down instantly, it fades in layers, just as this water does not disappear in a single moment but soaks into the earth gradually.”
The traveller listened intently as Baba continued.
“When the body nears death, the brain, like a lamp running out of oil, flickers before it goes dark. It releases chemicals, like DMT, that create visions, lights, tunnels, even divine encounters. Scientists have found that pilots, when deprived of oxygen, experience out-of-body sensations. Does this mean they truly left their bodies, or is it an illusion created by the brain?”
The traveller nodded.
“So, Baba, near-death experiences could just be the brain’s way of making death easier?”
Baba smiled.
“Possibly. The mind, when facing its end, may weave a comforting illusion. But does this mean all experiences of light and peace are illusions? Or is there something deeper?”
The Limit of Subjective Experience
Baba took the earthen pot and held it up.
“If I dream that this pot breaks, does it mean the pot is truly broken?”
The traveller shook his head.
“No, Baba. The dream was real to me while I was in it, but it was not real when I woke up.”
“Yes,” Baba said. “A Christian may see Jesus in an NDE, a Hindu may see Krishna, a Sufi may feel himself dissolve into divine light. Tell Me, child, if these visions were truly of a single, universal afterlife, why do they change based on what the person believes?”
The traveller’s mind reeled.
“Then… Baba, are you saying NDEs are just personal dreams?”
Baba’s eyes twinkled.
“Not quite, child. They are real as experiences, but do experiences prove reality? If a blind man dreams of colors, does that mean the world he saw in his dream exists? Or does it mean his mind was showing him something in its own way?”
Vedantic & Sufi Wisdom: The Death of Illusion
Baba took a deep breath and looked up at the moonlit sky.
“Vedanta says that the self is eternal. The body is a garment, and consciousness does not end when the garment is discarded. But does this mean that what people see in near-death states is the ultimate truth?”
The traveller watched Baba carefully.
“Sufis speak of Fana, the dissolving of the self into the Divine. They say, ‘Die before you die.’ But what does this mean? It means one must awaken to the truth before the body falls away. If you have not realized the truth while living, will a fleeting vision at the moment of death be proof of what lies beyond?”
The traveller’s heart pounded.
“Then, Baba, if these visions do not prove a spiritual realm, what happens after death?”
Baba smiled gently.
“Child, you are asking the wrong question.”
A Logical Example: The Lamp and the Darkness
Baba lifted the earthen pot once more.
“If I place this pot over a lamp, does the light inside vanish?”
“No, Baba, it is only covered.”
Baba slowly lifted the pot away. The lamp’s glow spread freely once more.
“So too is death. When the body falls away, what remains is what was always there, the light. But what is this light? That, child, is not to be found in near-death visions, but in the search for truth while you are still alive.”
The Answer
Near-death experiences are real as subjective experiences, but they do not necessarily prove the existence of a spiritual realm. Science shows that the dying brain can create visions, shaped by personal beliefs. Vedantic and Sufi wisdom teach that truth is not found at the moment of death, but in awakening while alive.
Just as the moon’s reflection in water looks real but disappears with a ripple, so too may NDEs be glimpses, but not proof of what lies beyond.
A Final Thought
If a man sees a paradise in his dream, does it mean that paradise exists?
And if one waits for death to reveal the truth… isn’t that just another dream?
Perhaps the real question is not “Do NDEs prove the afterlife?” but “Who is the one that remains after all visions fade?”
Source: Sai Tatva E-Magazine Authored by Murali P K
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Posts in this Series
1️⃣ Sai Baba Answers About Human Suffering
2️⃣ Why Is God Worshipped in Different Forms?
3️⃣ Existence and Reality – Sai Baba Answers
4️⃣ Why Does the Universe Seem Fine-Tuned for Life?
5️⃣ Is There Life Beyond Earth? Sai Baba Answers
6️⃣ Sai Baba on The Unseen Laws of the Universe
7️⃣ Sai Baba on Consciousness Beyond Science
