Much like the following Dead Saint testimonial, Eugene, a Christian, who briefly died during a head on collision in 1995, describes this Grand Central Station as a large Stadium full of people of every color, religion, and creed. It was a place where souls go to wait before going on toward their final destination: [Author: Notice the thick “fog” described in Eugene’s Dead Saint experience below, a description similar to the “fog” I see people walk from in my 1975 NDE/Dream in chapter 2].
[I found myself in] what can be described as Yankee Stadium FULL of people, and full of fog as thick as pea soup. I say a stadium because I could hear CROWDS of people all talking at the same time. I couldn’t tell what they were saying, just that sound you hear in a crowd. Then I saw her, my Nana. [Deceased Grandmother]. She calmly stepped into view from the fog. She said, ‘YOU are NOT supposed to be here!’ I remember being happy to see her, but sad she was sending me away. I saw people who had killed themselves and were still unhappy, having learned their problems were not solved by death in this world. I saw people going by, talking to themselves, people crawling on the floor/ground. There was everyone who died! Muslims, Buddhists, Christians...everyone!
I thought only Christians would be there, but that wasn’t what I saw. I asked Nana what all these people were
doing here, and asked where I was. She said I was ‘In the middle, a place where souls go to wait!’ I asked, ‘Wait for what?’
She simply said, ‘The destination, the last stop.’49
Statistically, on average, about two people die every second—151,600 per day, 55 million per year,50 so the Grand Central Station of Death must be constantly bustling with the newly dead. Joseph observed this stream of the newly deceased leaving Earth University as they returned to the Light:
I know I observed a whole lot while I was there but the only thing I can remember actually seeing were “souls” (for lack of a better term)separating from the Light and traveling to the Earth to inhabit human bodies(earthly birth). There were also souls leaving their human bodies (earthly death) and returning to the Light. I didn’t see them actually entering or leaving their earthly bodies but I just knew this to be true. They appeared as orbs of Light.
The best way to describe it is blips on a radar screen. There were hundreds if not thousands moving in a constant stream out of the Light and into the Light. I knew as I watched this we existed as part of the Light before we were born as humans. When I came to, I couldn’t remember everything I learned there. It was as if trying to recall a movie you saw a year ago. You might remember the gist of it, but you can’t recall all of the details. I knew the reason we are here is to love, to learn, to create and to grow, but mostly just to love. It’s all about love.51
A Confusing Transition
Remember the last time you went to a three-hour 3D IMAX movie and got so engrossed in the drama, that by the time you left the theater, you couldn’t remember where you parked your car, or even what day it was? It took a few moments to reorient yourself from the movie reality to this Earth University reality. Imagine playing the starring role for seventy years in your Earth University movie, a movie more real than a 3D IMAX, and getting lost in its reality when death comes your way? This appears to be the case when the Dead Saints observe the Grand Central Station of Death.
Raina observes souls puzzled and confused after death caused by the sudden change in reality:
At first, the man in front of me is approximately 30 feet away from me. He appears to be flooded with white Light in a white suit, bald, with extremely white teeth. He floats me out of formation, then in front of him. He is not in a white suit, but he is “glowing.” Inner Light is flowing out all around him. He has extremely blue eyes. I am so happy to see him! I know him and he knows me. I cannot recollect who he is now. I hug him and tell him I miss him. He tells me it is not my time. I disagree!
…I see a line of people going through a dark tear in the fabric of the void and a man stares at me. In fact, there are other people milling about on the “floor” who have very puzzled looks on their faces, which are slightly blurred to me. I am puzzled too. I want to go where the other people are going, but again, I am told it is not my time.52
Death Element #9: Perception of an Unearthly Environment and Heavenly Gardens
A NDERF survey asked, “Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels, or dimensions?” Of NDERs surveyed, 40.6 percent answered “Yes.”53
Discussed in detail in chapters 7 and 17, the soul, after the black void and the tunnel, often finds its spirit walking through spectacular garden vistas; trees hundreds of feet high, mountains, waterfalls, meadows, huge flowers without stems, and butterflies. Often the soul observes calm creatures it knew on Earth, such as deer, rabbits and sheep. All life communicates its love for the Creator. A perfectly coordinated palette of neon color illuminates all life. Heavenly music plays. Angels sing. Like Analia and most Dead Saints, Heaven was the most peaceful and joyful experience of their life:
It was a place in the countryside, somewhere I had never been, where the Light was very bright. I was stopped on a totally white road, and on looking either way I could see an infinity of white tulips. I couldn’t see the end of this beautiful garden, but it was beautiful! The tulips swayed gently to the rhythm of a warm breeze and the intense perfume of the flowers was very rich. In front, the road continued up to a hill, and the Light shone more brightly here. My clothes were white—extremely white. Someone by my side took my hand. My cousin was with me all dressed in white, as well—20 years ago, she died an angel, at the age of four. She was my friend in those days of eternal infancy. Her smile was so beautiful. She never said to me in words, but I knew what she was saying. She wanted me to come with her to the top of the hill. We began walking looking at each other for a moment, happy. Peace, tranquility and joy. I felt I never wanted to return and live. It’s indescribable with words. I was immensely happy and nothing bothered me.54
Death Element #10: Meeting Spiritual Beings, Friends, Relatives, and Angels
A NDERF survey asked, “Did you meet any other beings?” Of NDERs surveyed, 53.7 percent answered “Yes.”55
This Death Element is discussed in detail in chapter 15. In this summary, virtually every Dead Saint experience is with the deceased. Thirty months since my brain tumor was found, I have had 12 after-death communications with deceased loved ones, and only three dreams of the living; my wife Delynn, my daughter Angela, and my father, Ron. How does a debunker explain away that?
The follow Dead Saint account describes meeting two deceased loved ones:
The wall of the hallway began to dissolve behind my Dad. Behind the dissolving wall was a large valley that was very green with a few trees. Further away, I saw large mountains with very blue water in front of them. The sun was behind the mountains. My Dad was smiling with a very bright Light on him. At that time, my Mom walked between Dad and me. She turned to him and said, ‘We have to hurry, I don’t want to be late.’ I then turned to my Dad telling him, ‘I can stay here, I want to stay.’ My Dad grabbed my upper left arm and turned me around to my right. I saw a rolling countryside with an old farm on it and a well-warn pathway made by animals pulling a wagon. My Dad said, ‘You have to go through the gate.’ My feet were still on tile flooring. My Dad placed his hand on my upper back and began to push me through the gateway. As I went through the gate, he told me, ‘Tell everyone to be nice to each other.’ He seemed sorry for sending me back. I felt someone telling me to tell people to’ stop worrying about their pending death because worrying takes life away.’ I was pushed and awakened by my wife telling me that I had a heart attack.56
Death Element #11: Experiencing a Bright Light / Meeting a Being of Light
A NDERF survey asked, “Did you see a Light?” Of NDERs surveyed 64.6 percent answered “Yes.”57
Discussed in detail in chapters 15, 17, and 23, this Death Element describes
the encounter with a Bright Light, or a Being of Light, God or Jesus. God is seen as Father, Mother, and Triune— the Source of Life and Creation.
As I stood there with my arms out wide, I realized I wasn’t alone anymore. I knew I was in the presence of the Creator. The Light had started to get a little brighter and less radiant. I felt the presence of something, something that was way bigger than me. I was in awe of it and the fear I felt was my own shame. I kept telling myself, ‘I know I didn’t believe; I KNOW I WASN’T worthy.’ YET, I felt that The Presence was honored that I was there.58
Death Element #12: The Life Review
Discussed in detail in chapter 9, the Life Review usually replays the life of the Dead Saint in granular detail from birth until their NDE:
Samantha H’s NDE explains it: My focus was on what was being shown to me—a sort of film reel that was directly in front of me but up just a bit. It was like watching an immense, very clear TV. I was watching images of every event that had taken place in my life—my entire life all in pictures. The most interesting part of it was that with each picture—with all the pictures (there were more than I could count). I re-experienced the original feelings that had accompanied each one at the time it had actually happened. AND THIS WAS HAPPENING ALL AT THE SAME TIME! Everything was so clear, so vivid!59
Death Element #13: The Judgment
Discussed in detail in chapter 10, the Judgment usually coincides with the Life Review. It is also called a “Hall of Reconciliation”60 when we face our mission on Earth and all the things we have done and must answer for. A council of judges or assessors (either 7 or 12) along with God or Jesus gently guide a Dead Saint through the experience and point out the consequence of their actions and where they have erred, or where they have done well with the right decisions. The entire Judgment process is unconditionally loving, and in the end appears to be a self-judgment. We judge ourselves with God’s help.
Death Element #14: Accessing Special Knowledge
A NDERF survey asked, “Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/ or purpose?” To this question, 56 percent of NDERs surveyed answered “Yes.” Another question asked, “Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?” To this question 31.5 percent responded they seemed to understand everything “about the universe,” and 31.3 percent responded they seemed to understand everything about “myself or others.”61
Scott H’s NDE describes it: While I was being exposed to a view of the whole universe, I was also exposed to all knowledge of the universe. I knew instinctively the universe is infinite. It goes on for eternity. I didn’t see the beginning and the end of the universe because there is no beginning or end. It was certainly far beyond what I could comprehend. It’s so large and so perfect and yet, we’re able to be so connected to it that we are the universe and it is us.62
Death Element #15: Cities of Light / City of God / Holy City
This Death Element is discussed in detail towards the end of chapter 17. The City of God, also called the Holy City, resides in the higher Realms of Heaven. Described in some Christian encounters much like the City of New Jerusalem described in the Book of Revelation, the City of God houses the Great Throne Room, where Jesus and His angels oversee earthly affairs. Here we read about great libraries of knowledge, administered by a league of angels managing births, deaths, and technical advances on Earth. The City of God spans the breadth and width of a significant portion of the universe and is populated by millions of souls.
Death Element #16: Realms of Bewildered Spirits / Realms of Darkness / Hell
Discussed in detail in chapters 18 and 19, this Death Element describes souls who live on “astral planes” superimposed over the physical Earth plane. However, the darker the soul, the darker the planes of existence they descend until some reach the fiery depths of “Hell.” As souls move between the Earth and the Kingdom of Light through the tunnel, they are usually accompanied by an escort who protects them from the “grey areas” populated by bewildered, sometimes powerfully evil souls who may attempt to mislead them away from the Light toward these darker realms.
Death Element #17: Sensing a Border Where You Cannot Go
A NDERF survey asked, “Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?” Of NDERs surveyed, 31.0 percent answered “Yes.”63
Every Dead Saint encounters a barrier in the Afterlife they are not allowed to cross. Of course, the Dead Saint testimonials we have on record are from Saints who have reached the proverbial “barrier”—and returned to tell their story. This boundary or point of no return may appear to the Saint as a deep canyon, gorge, river, brook, wall, fence, sunflower field, cornfield, or a traditional pearly gate. The Saint is warned sternly, if the barrier is crossed, their death becomes irreversible.
The barrier to Heaven is described in every religion. In ancient Greece, for instance, it was the River Styx. The dead must cross this river before reaching the Elysian fields of Heaven. The ferryman Charon is believed to have transported the souls of the newly deceased across this river into the underworld. Greek paintings depict the journey across Styx as a perilous voyage, requiring the boatman to fight off lost and angry souls populating the river on its journey to the other side. Some believed that placing a coin in the mouth or over the eyes of the deceased would help pay the toll the ferryman required to cross the river. If someone could not pay the fee, a reference to passing the Judgment, it was said they would never be able to cross the river.
The barriers separating Heaven and Earth University are described in different symbols throughout the Chronicles. Gary saw the river as a great divide:
I noticed the second this land appears it was separated by a deep canyon. The Guide and I were on one side and this tropical paradise was on the other side. To the degree I could get worried, I was concerned I could feel this place calling my cells to cross the canyon. Actually, it felt more like my atoms were being pulled or attracted to this place. Instinct told me if I cross the crevasse, I could not come back. Yet this place called my every being.
I wanted to go there very badly, but I knew if I did, I couldn’t come back. I thought of how this would impact my sister, my parents, my girlfriend and my friends if I chose to cross. I thought about never being a father or having children. I was only 17 and I wanted to experience more of life. So I continued to concentrate on not letting one single atom or cell cross the divide that was before me. Yet, I had this uneasy feeling that I belonged there, that I originated from there. This place was my home and everything came from there, seen and unseen. I really wanted to be there and go there, but I knew there were consequences if I crossed the divide.64
The Pearly Gates & the Guards of Heaven
John attempted suicide overdosing on pills and found himself before the pearly gates protected by heavenly guards:
I tried to enter this kingdom or whatever it was. There was a huge gate. Everything was kind of an off-white color (that’s what my mind perceived). I was running near the gate and some beings were trying to stop me. I threw a few down, apologized profusely, and started to jump over. I was then pinned to the ground with a power of such that I could not move. Just then, my guardian angel came to me.
Back to the Pearly Gates. He came to me and I said, ‘Hey man, you got wings!’ He smiled at me. I asked him what was pinning me and that it was really tough. He told me not to look at it, but I did for a second. I had to turn away. He was fearsome, had a few faces some kind of lion, eagle, and such. My feeling was it was the guard to the entrance of Heaven.65
A Bridge
I have seen a bridge crossing a river in my own dreams. At times, I attempt to walk towards it or cross it. In this particular Dead Saint experience, Cherie arrives at a bridge she wants to cross. She is in labor under an epidural and feels no pain. There are three men around her bedside: her husband, the gynecologist and the anesthetist. In a bit of humor, she feels little support f
rom them because they are distracted by the soccer world cup event taking place. She knows they all long for the baby to be born quickly so they can go and watch the matches, but the baby would not come. Suddenly, in the midst of her long labor she left her body:
Then I am weightless, all is blue around me; there is a kind of Light bridge to cross. At the other end of the bridge, there is more of the same blue—it’s a blue path, and on it there are people dressed in white robes, like monks. Their heads are covered, too. I don’t see their faces but I trust them. One of the people parts from the group, looks at me, and waves me away with his hand, telling me to go back to where I came from. I feel strongly I don’t want to. I’d like so much to join them! I feel this is my grandfather (whom I never knew personally; he died when I was 7 months old.) I ask him why he doesn’t want me to join them, and he tells me, ‘This is not your time. You have something very important to do right now.66
A Sun Flower Border
Riki was dreaming when suddenly blackness enveloped her. She moved into a brilliant, white misty Light, with all the accoutements of a mystical near-death experience, including a barrier of sunflowers preventing her from entering Heaven:
I also knew I was absolutely NOT to go beyond that border of sunflowers. Then, I was back looking at the open space and watching it become smaller until it was gone. When I woke up, I was still overcome from the feelings and wonder of it. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, talking about it. I had heard of near-death experiences before, but hadn’t really delved into it. Now, I could not get enough stories to read. I was amazed to find all the similarities to my experience! I had thought the border of sunflowers was very odd. I doubted that part a little and tended to leave that out when I told my experience because I thought it sounded weird. Then I read many stories where there was some type of border you were not to go past.67
Cutting the Silver Cord
The Dead Saints Chronicles: A Zen Journey Through the Christian Afterlife Page 21
