Afterlife Evidence Case - Out Of Body Experience (OBE)

1. What Specific Evidence Are We Looking For?

1.1. What Is an OBE and Why Is It So Significant?

OBE is short for out-of-body experience. It means exactly that. OBE is a human episode where the patient moves physically outside the body. It happens during times of great stress or sickness. Typically, it will be described as the patient leaving their body, during an operation for example. During the episode, they will describe themselves as hovering outside their body, looking down at it from above.

Currently, the consensus is the OBE is not real. Although there are millions of documented accounts of OBE, medical science does not believe them. They are typically "written off" as hallucinations of some sort or another. We, here at "theory of afterlife", believe OBE is real. In this series of slides, we will show "the theory" view of the human condition and how it varies from the current consensus.

What makes the test case of OBE so special is that if we can demonstrate that OBE exists, it proves by definition that afterlife exists. The definition of OBE is the physical existence outside your body. This is not to imagine being outside your body, it is having a point of view of your environment that exists at a point outside the body. It may seem that this is a physical impossibility, but it is not. Our explanation of the human condition, what we call the awareness/memory model will show that OBE can and does happen. Rather than discounting the millions of accounts of OBE as being fictitious, we demonstrate that they are real and true. In doing so, we inadvertently prove that afterlife is real as well.

1.2. The Human Awareness/Environment Model: The Normal View

In this slide below, we show a man standing on a ridge, looking out at the scene in front of him. The scene is his surrounding environment. We have the word "Outside" superimposed over the environmental scene. This superimposition of the word outside on the surrounding environment signifies that the physical environment is outside the mind. This is how we as humans see our surrounding environment.

The man is viewing his environment from the point of view of the white dot, located approximately in the center of his head. The point of view from where he views his environment can also be regarded as awareness, the point from where he is aware of his environment. This awareness or point of view is shown as a small fuzzy dot. Just outside the dot is a grey circle. This represents the man's memory. Notice how we represent awareness and memory as fuzzy objects, without distinct edges.

Insdide the Mind: This is how we go through life. We have a point of view, the vantage point from where we view the environment. We also have our memory. It too is located inside the mind. Awareness and memory are generally regarded as being on the inside. They are inside the mind.

Outside the Mind: The surrounding word is generally regarded as being outside. The physical world, where we dwell during life, is outside the mind. Nothing is earth-shaking here. It is merely a description of how we observe the world.

1.2. The Human Awareness/Environment Model: The Theory View

The first big change, from a normal view, is in the environment. In the normal view, we superimpose the word "outside" on the surrounding space. Here in the "theory" model, we superimpose the word "memory" on the surrounding space. This means that the surrounding space is in memory as you experience it.

In normal view, we showed memory as a small grey fuzzy area inside the mind. In this theory view, that small area of memory has been expanded to reach out and encompass the environment. Hence the small grey space of the previous model is not gone. It has been expanded and is now holding the surrounding environment inside of it.

The second big change is in the point of view. Note also that the point of view has become smaller and more focused. Awareness, or point of view, now has a specific location, as if it had X, Y, and Z coordinates. In this view, awareness is represented by a point, not a fuzzy dot. In "theory of afterlife" view, we have a point of awareness surrounded by memory which is space. This model is simple, uncomplicated, and correct.

Insdide the Mind: We now have awareness, at the center of the environment. It is surrounded by memory, which is now the environment. Memory too, is located inside the mind.

Outside the Mind: In the "theory" view, nothing exists outside the mind. Everything - awareness and memory - exists inside the mind.

1.4. OBE Is Displacement of Point-of-View To Outside the Body

Using our "theory" model, we are going to show how OBE happens. In the illustration below, we start with our man looking out at his surrounding environment. His point of view is somewhere within his head. Then OBE happens.

OBE is not a lightly regarded event. It does not occur without severe, acute physical trauma. OBE only occurs when you are close to death. For example, imagine the man above just had a heart attack. As shown above, his point of view has shifted. Where it was once inside his body, it has now moved above, outside the body. The sensation he would have during the OBE would be to be above and looking down at his body. When you go through OBE, it is unmistakable.

How can this happen? What makes OBE possible is that the surrounding environment is in memory as we experience it. Since memory is inside the mind, awareness is free to go anywhere inside the surrounding environment. Point of view does not have to be at the center of the environment, as it is normally. It can also be outside the body because it is still inside memory. This explains why people can hover above their bodies looking down at the scene. They can be above their body because they are still within their memory. This can and does exist. This is not a hallucination, misrepresentation, or illusion. The point of view has moved outside the body. From this new vantage point, it is entirely possible to look at your body from the outside.

1.5. Is Consciousness Capable of Extending Beyond the Physical Confines of the Brain?

Yes, but only for a second or two.

Most people, especially people who have not experienced OBE, simply do not want to believe that the conscious mind can exist outside the brain. These skeptics often dismiss OBEs as hallucinations or artifacts of a malfunctioning brain. While skeptics hold firm to their beliefs, verified accounts of OBE continue to roll in, suggesting the exact opposite. Time and time again during an OBE people find themselves outside their body, looking down on it from above. The consistency and verifiability of numerous OBE accounts go far beyond what can be explained away by skeptics. The truth appears to be that during an OBE, consciousness can and does exist outside the brain.

The duration of an out-of-body experience is short. OBE is an event, not a permanent state. OBE is a situation that happens quickly. An OBE lasts only a few seconds. While the physical duration is short, it can "feel" like several minutes or even longer. The perception of the time an OBE lasts differs from the actual elapsed time. Individuals experiencing OBE often report a distorted sense of time while in this state. OBEs occur spontaneously, during a near-death experience for example. Regardless of their short duration, many individuals describe them as vivid and memorable.

The evidence concludes, that during an OBE, consciousness can exist outside the mind. OBE is an aberration from normal life. It is a condition that only lasts for a second or two. Even though the duration is short, the impact is great. However fleeting, people know what they saw. The evidence supporting the reality of OBEs is diverse and overwhelming. From cross-cultural accounts to scientific research to verifiable testimonies, OBEs rewrite conventional understandings of consciousness and the physical world. We at Proof of Afterlife know that the consistent and verifiable nature of these accounts suggests that they cannot be dismissed as mere hallucinations. On the contrary, OBEs offer compelling evidence supporting the conscious mind's potential to exist outside the brain.

2. Out of Body Experience - Medically Defined

2.1. What Is Out of Body Experience (OBE)?

An out-of-body experience (OBE) is a phenomenon in which a person perceives themselves as being outside their physical body, often observing it from a detached perspective. This experience can feel vivid and real, with individuals reporting sensations of floating, traveling, or viewing their surroundings from a vantage point separate from their physical form. OBEs may occur during near-death experiences, as a result of acute physical trauma, or in some cases induced chemically.

2.2. The Characteristics of Out-of-Body Experiences

Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) are phenomena in which individuals perceive themselves as existing outside their physical bodies. Reports of OBEs span cultures, historical periods, and belief systems, making them a widely recognized but enigmatic aspect of human experience. While OBEs remain challenging to study due to their subjective nature, common characteristics emerge from personal accounts, research studies, and spiritual traditions. This section examines the defining features of OBEs, their variations, and the implications for understanding consciousness.

Sense of Separation from the Body

The defining feature of an OBE is the sensation of leaving the physical body. Individuals often describe floating or rising above their physical form, observing it from an external perspective.[1] This detachment is typically accompanied by a sense of autonomy, as though the individual's essence or consciousness is independent of the body.

Heightened Sensory Perception

Many reports of OBEs include descriptions of vivid sensory experiences.[2] Colors appear brighter, sounds more distinct, and environments more detailed than in normal waking life. This heightened perception is often contrasted with the dulled senses associated with physical limitations.

Spatial Disorientation and Freedom of Movement

During an OBE, individuals frequently report the ability to move through walls, ceilings, or other barriers without restriction.[3] Spatial orientation becomes fluid, and traditional constraints of physics no longer apply. Some individuals describe traveling vast distances or entering unfamiliar realms.

Emotional Intensity

OBEs are often accompanied by profound emotional experiences. Feelings of awe, peace, and exhilaration are common. Conversely, some individuals report fear or confusion, particularly if the experience is unexpected or their belief systems do not accommodate such phenomena.[4]

Verification of External Events

One of the most intriguing aspects of OBEs is the potential for individuals to observe events or details they could not have known otherwise. For example, a person may accurately describe actions taken by others while their physical body was incapacitated.[5] These verifiable accounts remain a focus of research and debate.

Variations in OBE Characteristics

While commonalities exist, OBEs vary significantly in intensity, duration, and context. Spontaneous OBEs often occur during relaxation, sleep, or meditation, while induced OBEs may be triggered through practices such as lucid dreaming, sensory deprivation, or the use of psychoactive substances.[6] Near-death experiences (NDEs) frequently include OBEs as a component, often accompanied by additional elements such as the perception of a tunnel or a life review.

Scientific and Spiritual Implications

The existence of OBEs raises important questions about the nature of human consciousness. The verifiability of OBEs challenges purely materialistic explanations. Spiritually, OBEs are interpreted as evidence of a consciousness that exists beyond the physical body. Many traditions regard OBEs as journeys of self-discovery, opportunities for spiritual growth, or glimpses into an afterlife.[7] The characteristics of out-of-body experiences reveal a fascinating interplay between perception and objective reality. From the sense of separation and heightened awareness, OBEs challenge conventional understandings of consciousness and existence. These phenomena inspire curiosity and exploration, inviting deeper inquiry into the mysteries of human memory and awareness.

2.3 The Prevalence of Out-of-Body Experiences (OBEs)

OBEs are reported across cultures, historical periods, and contexts, suggesting that they are a widespread phenomenon. This section explores the prevalence of OBEs and the contributing factors, supported by empirical studies and historical accounts.

Prevalence in the General Population

Studies suggest that a significant minority of the population reports experiencing OBEs at least once in their lifetime. For instance, a large-scale survey conducted by Blackmore (1982) found that approximately 14% of participants reported having had at least one OBE. More recent studies corroborate these findings, with prevalence rates ranging from 5% to 15% in non-clinical populations, depending on the study's methodology and the specific population surveyed.

Cultural and Historical Perspectives

Accounts of OBEs appear in various cultural and historical contexts. Ancient Egyptian texts describe the ka, a spiritual double that could leave the body, while Hindu traditions reference the concept of the astral body. In modern times, OBEs are a subject of interest in both parapsychology and neuroscience.

Conclusion

While OBEs are not universally experienced, their prevalence in various contexts - from spontaneous occurrences to induced states - highlights their significance in understanding human consciousness. Ongoing interdisciplinary research is essential to further unravel the mechanisms and implications of this intriguing phenomenon.

The shared accounts of countless individuals resonate hauntingly - nearly identical narratives of "near-death" incidents, where consciousness ventures outside the body. In the realm of medicine, scarce yet substantive evidence surfaces the out-of-body phenomenon. Fleeting moments, transient liberation from the corporeal bounds, are suggested. This occurrence, it appears, emerges predominantly in the wake of acute physical or psychological trauma. The person who witnesses this state imparts a perception of suspended animation, a drifting detachment from their body - a state of being where one's physical body is observed from an external vantage point, afloat in the outside world.

The occurrence of the out-of-body experience is not a frequent event, yet it does occur. Its manifestation, although infrequent, has garnered sufficient attention to find its place within the pages of medical literature, acknowledged as a bona fide medical phenomenon. Within the realm of neurology, is a recognition of the existence of this phenomenon. However, many physicians are in a state of perplexity. The comprehensive explanation for OBE, however, is that outside space exists inside memory, hence point of view is free to travel within memory given the right set of conditions. It appears that approximately five percent of the population has experienced an OBE. This is approximately 400 billion people.

I believe that many accounts of OBE may be exaggerated. A true OBE is an actual change in the physical location of consciousness within the environment. If you hold, as I do, that conservatively only one out of five accounts are true location-changing OBE, that is still 80 billion people. That is a lot of evidence for the existence of OBE. This is far too many strikingly similar accounts to ignore.

2.4. What Are the Causes of an Out-of-Body Experience?

OBEs have been reported across cultures and throughout history, yet their causes remain a subject of scientific, psychological, and philosophical investigation. Modern research suggests that these experiences arise from neurological, psychological, and environmental factors.

Neurological Explanations

Many researchers point to disruptions in brain activity as a primary cause of OBEs. Studies have highlighted the role of the temporoparietal junction (TPJ), a region of the brain responsible for integrating sensory information and creating a sense of spatial awareness and body ownership. Damage or unusual activity in the TPJ can lead to a disconnection between the brain's perception of the body and its physical reality, resulting in the sensation of being outside the body. For instance, Blanke et al. (2002) conducted experiments where electrical stimulation of the TPJ in patients with epilepsy-induced OBE-like experiences.

In addition, certain conditions such as sleep paralysis, seizures, or migraines have been associated with OBEs. These states may temporarily disrupt normal sensory processing and body perception, creating the illusion of detachment from the physical self. The role of neurotransmitters, particularly serotonin and dopamine, has also been implicated in generating these altered states of consciousness.

Psychological and Cognitive Factors

Psychological factors such as stress, trauma, and dissociation are also linked to OBEs. Individuals who undergo extreme stress or life-threatening experiences, such as near-death situations, often report OBEs. This may be the brain's way of coping with overwhelming circumstances by creating a dissociative experience.

Lucid dreaming and certain meditation practices can also trigger OBEs. In these cases, a heightened state of self-awareness and relaxation may facilitate a shift in perception, blurring the lines between physical reality and mental imagery. Blackmore (1982) proposed that OBEs could result from cognitive processes such as constructing a mental representation of the body from memory and imagination rather than sensory input.

Environmental and External Influences

Environmental factors, such as sensory deprivation, can induce OBEs. Isolation tanks, for example, create an environment where external sensory input is minimized, making it easier for individuals to experience a detachment from their bodies. Similarly, the use of certain psychoactive substances, including ketamine and LSD, has been known to OBE. These substances alter brain chemistry and disrupt normal sensory and spatial processing, leading to experiences of disembodiment.

Conclusion

The causes of OBEs are complex and multifaceted, involving interactions between neurological, psychological, and environmental factors. While advancements in neuroscience have provided valuable insights into the brain mechanisms underlying these experiences, the true reason has yet to be discovered. Our model of human reality where the surrounding space is explained as being inside memory offers a scientific reason why consciousness can exist outside the brain. The realization that what is outside is inside offers a fascinating premise that unlocks the mysteries of human consciousness.

3. Three Accounts of Out Of Body Experiences

3.1. The Intention and Interpretation of Using Real-Life Accounts

We have included three real-life examples of Out of Body Experience (OBE) - Al, Pam, and Dr. Ralph. What we intend to do is show real examples of OBE, reported by people that went through the event. OBE is unmistakable. During a time of severe trauma, you find yourself outside of the mind and body, looking down at it, from a third-party perspective.

What makes OBE an important piece of evidence for a theory of afterlife is that it is a first-hand account of the mind as space. One of the major tenets of the Theory of Afterlife is that the surrounding environment is already in memory the moment you experience it. Put another way, the outside world is created and resides within the mind. This is what makes OBE possible. Conscious awareness can move outside the body because the surrounding environment is in the mind. This is a very difficult concept to understand and prove. Accounts of OBE are first-hand accounts of a point of view outside the body. Thus it corroborates the theory that external space exists inside the mind.

When reading these accounts, pay attention to the similarities between them. OBE is a fairly common phenomenon. Estimates range as high as five percent of the population has seen this. We are attempting to show that the surrounding space is the memory of the space. That memory is what we see and live within. The present moment is already in memory at the moment we experience it. That means that the present exists within memory for all moments of one's lifetime.

These individuals with OBE have witnessed their minds as space. While their mind was space it was captured into memory. That means the memory holds space - not a copy of it - it holds space itself. OBE provides proof that memory is three-dimensional space, exactly as predicted. The three accounts are strikingly similar. All three witnessed looking at their body from a perspective outside their brain. They all witnessed their mind's transition of dimension from point to space.

3.2. The OBE Case of Al Doe

Al Doe (a pseudonym to protect the individual), a truck driver in the United States, experienced an OBE during a surgical procedure in the 1970s. Doe was undergoing heart surgery, and during the operation, his heart briefly stopped. While he was clinically unconscious, Doe later reported a vivid experience where he perceived himself floating above his body. He described watching the surgical team working on him, noting specific details such as the instruments used and the conversations between the doctors and nurses. One particularly striking detail involved Doe noticing a unique sticker on the top of a medical machine that was otherwise obscured from his physical viewpoint.[8]

After Doe regained consciousness, he recounted his experience to the medical team, who verified the accuracy of his descriptions. The sticker, along with the conversations and procedures he described, matched what had occurred during the surgery. The medical staff was astonished, as Doe had been unconscious and unable to see or hear these events from his physical perspective.

Analysis of the Experience

Doe's account highlights several key elements commonly associated with OBEs:

1. Perception of Detachment: Doe reported a sense of floating above his body, a hallmark of OBEs. This detachment is often described as a shift in awareness where the individual perceives their environment from an external vantage point.[9]

2. Heightened Awareness: Despite being clinically unconscious, Doe's observations during his OBE were detailed and coherent. Many individuals who report OBEs describe similar experiences of heightened clarity and perception.[10]

3. Verification of Details: One of the most compelling aspects of Doe's account is the verifiability of his observations. The sticker on the machine and the medical team's conversations were confirmed, lending credibility to his experience.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, OBEs like Doe's are often attributed to neurophysiological factors. Research suggests that disruptions in the temporoparietal junction (TPJ), a brain region responsible for spatial awareness and self-perception, may play a significant role in inducing OBEs.[11] Some researchers propose that Doe's experience could be a manifestation of his brain's response to stress and oxygen deprivation during surgery. However, the accurate recall of external details, particularly the sticker on the machine, challenges purely neurological explanations.

Spiritual Implications

For many, Doe's account is evidence of a consciousness that transcends the physical body. OBEs have long been documented in spiritual traditions, where they are often interpreted as journeys of the soul. In some religious and metaphysical frameworks, such experiences are seen as glimpses into an existence beyond the material world.[12] Doe's case has been cited in debates about the nature of consciousness and its potential independence from the brain.

Conclusion

Al Doe's out-of-body experience during surgery offers a compelling example of the phenomenon's significance. While scientific explanations provide insights into the neurological mechanisms involved, the verifiable aspects of his experience challenge conventional understandings of consciousness. We believe that Al's consciousness was outside his body. This was possible because his memory extended out to the limits of his surrounding space. During his OBE, his conscious awareness floated upward, a vantage point from where he could see his body. He knows this wasn't a hallucination. He knows what he saw. What he saw was his physical body looking down from above. Memory as surrounding space made this possible.

3.3. The OBE Case of Pam Doe

One of the most cited accounts of an OBE is that of Pam Doe (a pseudonym to protect the individual), a musician who underwent a rare surgical procedure known as hypothermic cardiac arrest in 1991. The procedure involved cooling her body to a near-death state to remove a life-threatening aneurysm. During the operation, her brain activity was closely monitored, and she was placed under general anesthesia. Despite the clinical measures to suppress consciousness, Pam later described a vivid OBE during the surgery.

Pam Doe reported floating above her body and observing the surgical team as they operated on her. She described specific details of the procedure, including the instruments used and conversations among the medical staff, which were later verified as accurate. She also recounted a sensation of moving through a tunnel toward a bright light and encountering deceased relatives who conveyed messages of reassurance. Her experience ended when she felt herself being pulled back into her body.[13]

Analysis and Interpretation

Pam Doe's account has become a cornerstone in discussions about OBEs, particularly in near-death experiences (NDEs). Supporters of the metaphysical interpretation argue that her detailed observations, made during a period when her brain was considered non-functional, suggest that consciousness can exist outside of the body. Researchers like Moody (1975) propose that such experiences may provide evidence of life beyond death.[14]

However, neuroscientific explanations offer alternative interpretations. Critics argue that OBEs like Pam's could result from residual brain activity or the brain's attempt to process sensory input during trauma. For example, Blackmore (1993) theorized that OBEs might arise from a disconnection between the brain's sensory systems, leading to a constructed mental image floating outside the body.[15] Similarly, some researchers posit that the tunnel and light imagery could be attributed to hypoxia - reduced oxygen levels in the brain - which can induce such visual sensations. This research seems to be an attempt the discredit Pam's account, writing it off as a hallucination. The better approach is to take her account at face value, respect it, and trust it. Only then will we come to understand what she saw exists. It exists because the mind is physical space, underwritten by the surrounding space being already in memory the moment she experienced it.

Broader Implications

The account of Pam Doe highlights the profound impact OBEs have on individuals, often altering their perspectives on life and death. While the exact mechanisms remain elusive, such experiences provoke important questions about the nature of consciousness. Are OBEs a window into a transcendent reality, or are they purely neurophysiological phenomena? Regardless of the interpretation, accounts like Pam's provide compelling evidence for the awareness/memory model of existence, as opposed to the inside/outside model. One can never explain OBE using the inside/outside model. Using the outdated inside/outside model as your basis, researchers will always opt for the hallucination explanation, discrediting the OBE account. This is an admission that they do not know what is going on. They acknowledge that OBE exists but have no reason why. Their OBE explanations are simply throwing their hands up. OBE can never be fully explained using the inside/outside model of existence. Once the correct memory/awareness model is adopted, the accounts of OBE fall into place regardless of how strange they may seem. The truth is awareness can leave the body because it is still within memory. Memory is surrounding space. Once that is understood, the rest is easy.

Conclusion

Pam Doe's OBE provides compelling evidence about the nature of consciousness and the boundaries of human experience. When viewed as evidence of an unseen realm of memory, such accounts are invaluable in exploring the depths of human awareness. The study of Pam's OBE provides definitive evidence of memory as space. One thing that we can say for certain, Pam's OBE shows evidence of her consciousness moving about in memory. Her point of view moved outside her body, where she was able to look down upon her body from above. This shows evidence of her point of view moving out of her body and into her surrounding space. Her observations of seeing a white light, people from the past, and a tunnel show evidence of her consciousness moving about in time too. Memory, being both space and time, is a vast physical realm we never see. During her OBE, she was able to enter this unseen realm and became free to move about in both space and time. Pam's account of her OBE was verified by her doctors. Pam's OBE was real. It happened exactly as she explained it. It is a fact, not an illusion to be explained away without facts.

3.4. The OBE Case of Dr. Ralph Doe

Dr. Ralph Doe (a pseudonym to protect the individual), a physician from Mumbai, India, reported experiencing an OBE in 2023 after suffering a cardiac arrest in his clinic. Dr. Ralph Doe collapsed unexpectedly and was resuscitated after nearly six minutes of unconsciousness. During this time, he later recounted vividly observing the scene from a vantage point near the ceiling.

Dr. Doe described specific details about the resuscitation process, such as the medical staff's actions, the sound of the defibrillator charging, and a distinct phrase spoken by a nurse who was calling for additional support. Remarkably, he also described events outside the room, including a conversation between two staff members in a hallway discussing their anxiety about the situation. Upon recovery, these accounts were corroborated by the hospital staff, who verified the accuracy of his observations.

Scientific Perspectives on OBEs

From a scientific standpoint, OBEs are often attributed to neurological and psychological mechanisms. Studies indicate that disturbances in the temporoparietal junction (TPJ) of the brain, responsible for self-perception and spatial orientation, can induce OBE-like sensations. Researchers have used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to recreate similar experiences in controlled settings.[16]

However, Dr. Doe's detailed observations - particularly those occurring outside the resuscitation room - challenge this explanation. While it is plausible that his brain could have constructed internal simulations of his surroundings, the accuracy of his account raises questions about the sufficiency of current neurological models.

Alternative Interpretations

Non-materialist theories propose that consciousness can exist independently of the brain. Dr. Doe's case, like many others, has been cited as evidence supporting this paradigm.[17] Proponents argue that such experiences reflect a heightened state of awareness, where the mind temporarily detaches from the body, enabling perceptions beyond ordinary sensory input.

Spiritual frameworks often interpret OBEs as encounters with a metaphysical reality. Dr. Doe himself, previously skeptical of such phenomena, described a profound sense of peace and clarity during his experience. This subjective dimension aligns with other reports of OBEs, where individuals describe feelings of detachment, serenity, and interconnectedness.

Implications for Consciousness Studies

Dr. Doe's account highlights the limitations of reductionist models of consciousness that view it solely as a byproduct of neural activity. Cases like his suggest that consciousness may possess non-local properties, capable of extending beyond the physical confines of the brain.

The implications are far-reaching, potentially influencing fields such as neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy. If consciousness can operate independently of the body, this could redefine our understanding of identity, existence, and the nature of reality itself.

Conclusion

The recent OBE of Dr. Ralph Doe offers a compelling example of the mysteries surrounding human consciousness. Scientific explanations fall short of fully addressing the verifiable details of his experience. The details are that during his OBE:

1. He was located on the ceiling, looking down at his body.
2. That his consciousness - his point of view - was located outside his body.

From the factual account of his OBE, one can conclude that consciousness is capable of existing beyond the physical confines of the brain. His case provides verified evidence that his consciousness moved out into the memory of surrounding space.

4. Out of Body Experience: Why It Enlighens

4.1. Why Does OBE Leave People Feeling Enlightened?

All your life you have experienced your surroundings from the center - the origin. Your point of view is always at the center of the environment. Then, all of a sudden, an event occurs. Without notice or warning your consciousness moves outside your brain. Rather than seeing the world from a point within your brain, you now see the world from the ceiling, looking down on your body. This event, where your consciousness moves outside your brain, is an OBE.

During the brief moment of OBE, you see instantly that your mind is a three-dimensional space. Before your OBE you saw yourself at the center of the outside world. You were on the inside of your brain, where you always reside. During an OBE you are outside your brain, looking down on your physical body where you were just a moment before.

When your conscious point-of-view moves outside the body, into the environment, you realize, at that moment the mind is a three-dimensional space. Your conscious point-of-view could not move outside the body if the mind were not space.

Seeing the world from inside your brain is far different than seeing it from outside your brain. There is no mistaking an OBE. When this happened to me, my first thought was that my mind was permanently broken. I knew my point of view was no longer inside my brain. I was unnerved by the notion that I could never get back to where I was before - inside my brain. I knew the mind was space because I had just been physically displaced within it. OBE changes you. When your consciousness moves out of the brain and into the environment, you realize that your mind is space. OBE happened to me 50 years ago. I never forgot it. OBE is the most profound and religious experience that ever happened to me. Is it enlightenment? Yes, I think so. I was an atheist before this happened. After it happened, atheism was no more. You know there is more to life than what we see during life. During OBE you become a witness to an unseen physical realm. This is not a mere feeling. It is real because you have seen it. It is evidence. The belief that the mind is space is not based on faith. It is based on evidence found in OBE.

4.2. Illustration of Consciousness Inside the Brain

Here is an illustration of a man before OBE. His conscious condition is normal. Notice how the conscious mind (point of view) is at the center of the environment, inside the brain, where it should be. Notice too that conscious awareness is surrounded by memory. This is the normal, before OBE, condition.

Note that the environment is labeled memory. The reasoning behind this is as follows: During OBE, when the conscious displaces into space, you realize the mind is space. Then that OBE experience gets filed away in memory as it happens. That means the mind as a three-dimensional space gets absorbed into memory. Since memory just absorbed the three-dimensional mind, the conclusion is that memory is surrounding space. When you look out at the world, you are looking at your memory. You realize the outside world, at the present moment, moves into memory intact. The illustration shows conscious awareness, inside the brain, surrounded by a space that is memory.

Out-of-body experience provides evidence that life is made up of both conscious awareness (point of view) and memory (surrounding space). What makes out-of-body experience possible is that memory is the space around you. During life, our point of view is within our brain. During an OBE event, that is not necessarily so. Consciousness can be anywhere within the environment because the environment is inside the mind. The environment is in memory. Essentially, there is no outside world. Everything is inside memory, even when you first experience it.

4.3. Illustration of Consciousness Outside the Brain

Memory is the space around you. Yet memory is within the mind. This makes it physically possible to have consciousness outside the brain. The point of view, while located outside the brain, is still in memory as shown here:

Patients experiencing this phenomenon sometimes describe it as floating above their body. What is happening is their point of awareness has moved from its usual spot to another point within the environment. However, since the environment is in memory this is physically possible. Awareness (during OBE) can move within memory. When it does the patient is dangerously close to the end of life. This would only happen during extreme trauma. It is an aberration from our normal state of being.

Understanding that reality is in memory is key to seeing how this can happen. Memory is the space around us. Put another way, we are contained within memory. Memory, being a three-dimensional space, allows the consciousness to be transported outside the brain where it attains a different point of view. Out-of-body experiences are factual. Our point of view moves outside into the world yet it is still contained within memory. Memory as surrounding space allows this to happen.

4.4. A Walk-Through of OBE Using 3D Software

Our Conscious Point of View Before OBE

I am going to use 3D software to show what it feels like to go through an OBE. In this view below, we are at a party looking at the people in the room. We are looking at this group of people, from the point of view of the camera located within our brain. This is what we see. Notice the people in the foreground including the woman directly in front of us, as well as the others in the group.

Notice also the background has been designated as memory. We have a consciousness located inside our brain looking out at the environment. This is the normal human experience. Before OBE we are conscious at a point of view within the brain looking out at the environment. We are at the moment immediately before we have an Out of Body Experience.

.

Our Conscious Point of View During OBE

Now an OBE occurs. This is our view during the OBE. This is what we see, as shown in the illustration below. Be it a stroke, accident, or some other trauma, our point of view has changed. You can see where we were before OBE by the red arrow in the illustration. However, OBE has caused our conscious awareness to move out into the environment. We have moved upward, above our body. We have also moved slightly back, away from the group. Now we are located above, looking down at the group and our own body. This is a factual representation of what people see during an OBE.

Imagine the shock of seeing this. For example, imagine lying in a hospital bed and talking to your doctors. Then an OBE occurs. Next, you find yourself up near the ceiling looking down at your body and doctors, exactly like the scene above. At this moment you realize there is more to life than you previously thought. You know now that the mind has the potential to become a three-dimensional space.

OBE does not last long. It strikes, then it's gone. Within a very short time, you are back within your brain. Although your OBE was brief in duration, its impact was profound. You now have proof of the mind as space. That understanding never leaves you. About one percent of the population will see this during their lifetime.

5. Conclusion: How OBE Provides Evidence for the Existence of Afterlife

5.1. How Can Something So Infrequent and Brief Be the Basis for an Entire Theory?

OBE does not happen easily. Nor does it happen on demand. It is also rare. I believe that OBE only occurs when the conscious mind becomes so overwhelmed it simply cannot continue to function. It can be thought of as a sort of mini-death. OBE occurs when conditions are serious. OBE tends to happen during profound physical trauma, such as a heart attack or stroke. As a mechanism to handle the trauma, the conscious mind leaves the brain and moves out into the surrounding environment. OBE is a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon. The person going through OBE sees their point of view move away from the brain and into the environment. From this new vantage point, they look down on their body from the outside.

When OBE happens, it is unmistakable. This isn't a dream state or anything like that. It is the physical moment where a point of view backs up within the environment. OBE only lasts a second or two. OBE is not like sitting outside the brain in your environment for very long. Moreover, when it happens it is hard to remember. Memory is the underlying foundation that allows OBE to happen. One of the memory effects of OBE is forgetting what just took place. OBE is rare, hard to recall, and difficult to capture. However, it does happen. OBE is a real, well-documented phenomenon.

We are not concerned with how often OBE happens. Nor are we concerned with its duration when it does happen. Our only concern is that it does happen. We are in the business of proving that afterlife exists. To prove afterlife exists, you have to think outside the box a little bit. For example, most people will tell you that consciousness cannot possibly exist outside the brain because they have not seen it personally. To understand afterlife, you have to look at things differently.

One of the fundamental differences between a believer and a non-believer is their understanding of memory. Most non-believers believe memory exists only to help them cope with navigating the environment in day-to-day living. Believers don't think that way. Believers understand memory as all-inclusive and never forgetting. Recall has nothing to do with it. The fact that we can't recall some facts does not mean the facts do not exist. Believers understand that 99.99 percent of what is in our memory will be fully realized after life is over, not during it. When it comes to memory, believers think outside the box of life.

Believers turn to OBE to support our understanding of memory. During OBE, people see their minds as space. It opens up. For a brief moment, the mind becomes fully three-dimensional. The three-dimensional mind is memory. Memory is understood to be the surrounding environment. Even though OBE is only seconds in duration, during those seconds the surrounding environment gets absorbed and saved into memory. The one second of OBE gives us proof that the environment is a memory and has been absorbed and saved. This absorbing and saving activity has been going on continuously throughout life. It just took a few seconds of OBE to expose it to us. Once we see it, we know it is true.

5.2. OBE Bears Witness to the Duality of the Mind

Proof of Afterlife believes in the duality of the human mind. On one hand, the mind is a conscious awareness that serves as our point-of-view during life. Conscious awareness is located at the center of the environment and looks out at the world. This is our normal state of being in life. On the other hand, the mind is our surrounding space. We never see the mind as a space during life. It happens in the background. The only time we see this is during OBE, usually caused by traumatic brain injury. The vast majority of us never see this second state of being of our mind as surrounding space.

Only during OBE do we see the mind as memory that surrounds us. To prove the afterlife, we need evidence of the mind as space. OBE is a transition in three dimensions. First, the mind exists as a focal point within the environment. Second, the mind becomes space. Third, consciousness moves out into the newly created space, leaving the brain. The mind's dual states make OBE possible. One moment the mind is focused, like a point, at the center of the environment. The next moment it is out in space. Then it reverts to the center within seconds. OBE is that fleeting.

People going through OBE witness their mind as space. They usually report OBE as a feeling of being outside their body. What they are experiencing is their mind's hidden memory dimension. It feels like they are floating, but what happens is their consciousness moved out into memory which is now space. There are thousands of eyewitness reports by people who have experienced their mind as space like this.

Those of us who have experienced OBE know what we saw. The common theme is space. Before experiencing OBE, you are always at the center of your environment. You live with a belief that your mind can only exist within your brain. Everything outside your brain is on the outside. The environment is regarded as outside your brain. When you experience OBE, you have a sense that you are the surrounding space. OBE witnesses remember the moment as their mind being three-dimensional space. All of a sudden, you realize that the outside world is inside your mind. Put another way, the mind extends out into the environment. They report this phenomenon as floating in space, however, what happened is they saw their mind as space and physically moved into it.

During OBE, a fully three-dimensional mind manifests. This isn't the mind feeling like space. During OBE, the mind is space. Now that it is space, consciousness can go anywhere within it. The sensation is that of the consciousness backing up in the mind where it is now sitting on the ceiling. This is not feeling as though you are on the ceiling. This is actually being on the ceiling. It is real. Consciousness physically moves from inside to outside the brain. OBE is definitive proof of the mind as space. We need to listen to, and believe, the people who are telling us of their experiences when witnessed their minds as space. There are tens of thousands of these accounts. They all say they saw the same thing.

5.3. The Perfection of Memory and Real-Time Environmental Absorption

Memory has often been described as a flawed and selective mechanism, prone to distortions and omissions. Yet, there exists a compelling counter-narrative - that memory operates with precision, absorbing the environment in real-time with total fidelity. We believe that memory functions flawlessly, capturing all complexities of sensory data, emotional subtleties, and contextual nuances without error or loss.

Theoretical Perfection of Memory

Memory functions perfectly. Every sensory input is recorded in real-time, forming a detailed and accurate capture of the environment. This means the sights, sounds, smells, and textures of a moment are encoded into memory without distortion or loss. Perfect memory also includes the emotional and contextual layers of an experience. Emotions processed by the amygdala and hippocampus would be seamlessly captured into memory, providing a rich, multidimensional capture of each moment.

Real-Time Encoding of the Environment

For memory to absorb the environment in real-time, it must process sensory stimuli with remarkable speed and efficiency. The brain's neural networks are adept at rapidly encoding information. Sensory memory serves as the initial repository, capturing fleeting details that can transition into short-term and long-term memory. In a perfect memory system, everything is absorbed. This occurs without the typical bottlenecks or biases, ensuring comprehensive storage of every moment. We believe that dreams perform data-integrity duties that assist the mind in keeping up with the staggering rate of information coming into memory in real time.

Implications of Perfect Memory

When memory is perfect, the implications are profound. Everyone possesses an infallible capture of their lives, fully in four dimensions. The concept of perfect memory, capable of absorbing the environment in real-time, presents a vision of human potential that is inspiring.

5.4. The Physical Size of the Kingdom of Heaven

We all capture present moments of life, in full detail, as they unfold around us. This real-time capturing of the environment takes place in the background. We don't see it. We don't realize it is happening. Consistent capturing of space over a lifetime is the building of a vast realm of time and space inside our memories as shown here: This realm can be thought of as the Kingdom of Heaven. This realm is always there, available to us should we need it. The realm - Kingdom of Heaven - will be available to us at the last moment of life when we need it. As we saw during OBE, consciousness will be free to explore it. In this section, we estimate the physical size of our personal time-space realm we call the Kingdom of Heaven in three steps.

Step One: Find the Duration of the Present Moment in Seconds

The first step in estimating the size of the Kingdom of Heaven is to get a value for the duration of the present moment in seconds. Attempting to quantify the duration of the present moment in seconds requires assumptions as to how we experience time and process reality. While there is no universally agreed-upon value for the duration of the present moment, perspectives from neuroscience may provide answers that illuminate its elusive nature.

From a neuroscientific standpoint, the "present moment" is often described as a window of time in which sensory inputs are integrated to create a coherent perception of reality. This window is generally estimated to span 1 to 3 seconds.[18] This range is rooted in studies of cognitive processing, such as the brain's ability to perceive speech, music, and motion. For example, a musical phrase or a spoken sentence is understood as a whole because the brain processes its components within this brief interval.[19] The brain's capacity to retain information for this short period, known as the "working memory" timeframe, allows for continuity in our perception of time.

Conclusion: The present moment can be approximated as lasting between 1 and 3 seconds.

Step Two: Calculate the Number of Seconds in a Lifetime (Using 80 Years)

1. Years to Days: 80 years x 365.25 days = 29,220 days
2. Days to Hours: 29,220 days X 24 hours = 701,280 hours
3. Hours to Minutes: 701,280 hours x 60 minutes = 42,076,800 minutes
4. Minutes to Seconds: 42,076,800 minutes x 60 seconds = 2,524,608,000 seconds

Conclusion: There are approximately 2.5 billion seconds in a lifespan of 80 years.

Step Three: Divide the Lifespan by the Duration of the Present Moment

We estimate the number of seconds in the present moment conservatively on the high side. It should be between one and three seconds. For the sake of these calculations, we will say that the present moment is 2.5 seconds in duration. If we divide 2.5 billion seconds by 2.5 seconds, we get one billion. By this estimation, the Kingdom of Heaven is equal in size to one billion present moments.

The theory of Afterlife uses geometry to predict the size of afterlife. The mathematics above uses addition to show a picture of afterlife being larger than life by an order of magnitude ranging into the millions. This is an attempt to quantify afterlife for clarity. Throughout the theory, we use the geometric concepts of point, space, and time to accurately describe afterlife in terms of size. Therefore, life can be more accurately defined as a geometric point. Afterlife can be described as unbounded space. Time is the same. Life can be described as a moment, the present. Afterlife can be described as eternal. The fact that the mathematics above concluded that afterlife is hugely larger than life is not a surprise. It was predicted to be so. However, to envision the difference between life and afterlife, the geometric model of point to space, and moment to eternity, is accurate and true. The "addition" concept above, is an approximation.

5.5. What Happens to Awareness in the Kingdom of Heaven?

If you think you are going to close your eyes at the end of life, then open them to find a space the size of the present moment, you need to rethink that. Imagine you are a mole in a tunnel. As you dig the tunnel, the walls are close in around you. You are forcing your way through a narrow tunnel. Then, all of a sudden you break into a large underground cavern. You have just gone from a narrow tunnel, with no room, to a large cavern, with room on all sides. This is what the end of life will be like. Before the end of life, you are in a narrow tunnel. At the end of life, you break out into a space that is larger than anything you have ever seen before.

The space you are coming from, before death, is small. The space you are stepping into, after death, is large. The difference in size between where you were, versus where you are is staggering. In the section above, we calculate this difference in size to be an order of magnitude of one billion times. The Kingdom of Heaven you are about to enter is one billion times larger than the present moment you are in now.

As you enter this realm, your awareness expands. During life your awareness has been confined to a location at the center of your universe - your point of view. At the end of life, your universe expands one billion-fold. Your awareness expands in kind. Where consciousness was confined to a location at the center of your universe before death, it has now expanded in both time and space to the limits of its container. Since its container is now one billion times larger than before, awareness expands one billion-fold. This is an understatement. The true size of awareness can be calculated by expanding it one billion-fold in time and expanding it again one billion-fold in space. Awareness will expand throughout space and time. Awareness will be everywhere. In afterlife, you will be aware of everything everywhere. One can scarcely imagine the concept of expanding your point of view into an eternal universe of understanding. That is, however, what the facts predict.

Proceed To Proof Of Afterlife Evidence NDE

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Footnotes

[1]: Blackmore, S. (1982). Beyond the Body: An Investigation of Out-of-Body Experiences. Heinemann.
[2]: Irwin, H. J. (1985). Flight of Mind: A Psychological Study of the Out-of-Body Experience. Scarecrow Press.
[3]: Blanke, O., & Arzy, S. (2005). The Out-of-Body Experience: Disturbed Self-Processing at the Temporoparietal Junction. The Neuroscientist, 11(1), 16-24.
[4]: Moody, R. A. (1975). Life After Life: The Investigation of a Phenomenon- Survival of Bodily Death. Bantam Books.
[5]: Sabom, M. B. (1998). Light and Death: One Doctor's Fascinating Account of Near-Death Experiences. Zondervan.
[6]: Eliade, M. (1964). Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy. Princeton University Press.
[7]: Alexander, E. (2012). Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife. Simon & Schuster.
[8]: Moody, R. A. (1975). Life After Life: The Investigation of a Phenomenon - Survival of Bodily Death. Bantam Books.
[9]: Blackmore, S. (1982). Beyond the Body: An Investigation of Out-of-Body Experiences. Heinemann.
[10]: Irwin, H. J. (1985). Flight of Mind: A Psychological Study of the Out-of-Body Experience. Scarecrow Press.
[11]: Blanke, O., & Arzy, S. (2005). The Out-of-Body Experience: Disturbed Self-Processing at the Temporoparietal Junction. The Neuroscientist, 11(1), 16-24.
[12]: Eliade, M. (1964). Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy. Princeton University Press.
[13]: Sabom, M. (1998). *Light and Death: One Doctor's Fascinating Account of Near-Death Experiences*. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
[14]: Moody, R. A. (1975). *Life After Life*. Bantam Books.
[15]: Blackmore, S. (1993). *Dying to Live: Near-Death Experiences*. Prometheus Books.
[16]: Olaf Blanke and Shahar Arzy, "The Out-of-Body Experience: Disturbed Self-Processing at the Temporo-Parietal Junction," Neuroscientist 11, no. 1 (2005): 16-24.
[17]: Bruce Greyson, "Implications of Near-Death Experiences for a Postmaterialist Psychology," Psychology of Religion and Spirituality 8, no. 4 (2016): 276-284.
[18]: Wittmann, M., & Poppel, E. (1999). "Temporal mechanisms of the brain." Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 1(1), 34-42.
[19]: Levitin, D. J. (2006). This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession. Dutton.

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