A great account of a near death experience - true story/TED talk

[Boris Divjak]

This is an amazing stroke of insight, caused by a temporary brain failure. A true story told by the doctor who lived through it, experienced near-death and came back. Here, she's happy to share that story with us: http://www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_...f_insight.html

[Richard Nagyfi]

one of my all time favorite talks on ED

[Michael Rodgers]

Really interesting. Also the comments are worth reading. From an early buddist perspective it sounds like she experienced something like one of the mental absorptions.

For me the question is if these states can be induced by physical trauma (or drugs as many say) then are they any different from what is achieved from meditation?

[Jerrod Lopes]

In response to the last question of the last post:

Intention is key to kamma. I would think that the ill-effects of drugs taken willingly will most likely negate the value of any 'good' effect that wholesome acts of absorption could give. The fuzziness associated with hard drug use (in this case most likely lycergic acid or LSD) will blot out most memories of any insight obtained within the induced state.

As for such a state induced via trauma... it seems through the telling and retelling of countless such stories, the effects are enormous and very long-lasting and usually life-changing in a very signifigant way. Think of all those stories where after or during a traumatic event which triggers an internal event yielding great insight and clarity, a person changes their "evil ways" and devotes their life to noble pursuits, etc. In these cases the intent wasn't there to attain a state of absorption in the first place, thus quelling any obstacles of expectation (nimittas, jhana), only pointed focus, silent awareness was present. Don't go fall off of a building and go into a coma to try and induce jhanas! LOL. But that's the gist as I see things. Now my moments of clarity are declining and it is past bedtime so I will say adieu, for now.

Metta,

Jerrod : )

[Ciprian Salagean]

wow... great talk.. I'm speechless

[Meredith Hooke]

WOW - made my day watching that! Amazing and inspiring! Thank you so much for sharing!

Cheers,
Meredith

[Ara Danielyan]

Very interesting presentation... thank you for sharing!