Life-Altering Events and "Our True Purpose?"

QUESTION

"I am very interested in your work and feel I have been changed from a triple bypass heart operation, and then, a year later, having work done on my spine. I am rather but pleasantly surprised at the changes I am experiencing. I am curious to see if these changes have been caused by my NDE or did I really have an NDE. I am almost seventy-one, so not one to image things nor am I on any mind altering medicines. I will tell you up-front that I did not experience any visions nor anything during my operations that I am aware of. But, I am experiencing changes in my personality, behavior, and thinking. Can you use any of my experiences? If not, good luck in your work. Thanks for your time." .....Robert

ANSWER

You did not have a near-death experience. You had a near death experience. Notice the hyphen. Only the hyphen denotes the otherworldly phenomenon named by Dr. Raymond Moody in 1975. Anyone can experience near death. But only 4 to 5% of the population worldwide undergoes the phenomenon. Within the hospital critical care environment, the estimate is from 12 to 28%. Obviously, not that many people are experiencers.

Anyone who goes through a life-altering event is changed by the energetics of what happened. And the changes can be significant. With the phenomenon of near-death, there is a specific pattern of both physiological and psychological aftereffects that tend to become lifelong. Read either one of these two books for a deeper understanding of the phenomenon: The Big Book of Near-Death Experiences and/or Near-Death Experiences: The Rest of The Story.

If you find yourself beginning to manifest the larger pattern of aftereffects, then you might consider that maybe you did experience some form of the phenomenon - perhaps the Initial Experience - or you may have forgotten what occurred. This is possible. . . to have the experience, not remember having had it, yet manifesting that pattern of near-death aftereffects. Children forget about their episodes fairly often, mostly because they are made fun of when they try to talk about it or are told to shut up and stop lying. Their track with integration can be different than that for adults because of this. If you do not want to read either book, you can get on my website - at www.pmhatwater.com - and here's a chart for Aftereffects Percentages. Blessings, PMH

Question

"I read your book Near-Death Experiences: The Rest of The Story. Your investigative interviewing research with its focus on life post-NDE of the experiencers was insightful for me. It was unique when I compared it to what else I have read on the subject, and has given me much to ponder. One thing that bothered me, though, was the statement on the book jacket that seemed to imply that one would discover "Our True Purpose." If you could refer me to where in the book you directly dealt with that I would be much obliged."....Terence

ANSWER

Book titles are now chosen by publishers, and publishers only. An author has very little input. I asked my publisher not to use that secondary title, as it seemed a little deceptive to me and did not fit the contents. He disagreed, preferring instead to choose what he felt would "sell."

If you didn't like that secondary title, please know I do not like it either.

Seems like you are unfamiliar with my research, which has been ongoing since 1978. If you get on my website - www.pmhatwater.com - you will note my various books and papers. When I began my work, I knew nothing of Raymond Moody, nor his book, or the fact that others were researching the experience. Therefore, none of my work or my findings are appraised by the so-called "classical model." Just last year, one of the other pioneers in the field admitted that what he was finding didn't fit the model either but he kept quiet about it. I wish he would finally open up, so far he has not. Although I have the deepest respect for my fellow researchers, I still challenge their protocols as inadequate and with "holes" in them. They know this, yet still remain tethered to what their disciplines demand. This makes no sense to me. I'm glad it makes no sense to you, either, and that you are willing to ask questions. Blessings, PMH