Joint declaration by Near-Death Experiencers
Unconditional Love
NDE Declaration
A Joint Declaration, Amsterdam 2019
Introduction
People who have had a near-death experience (NDE) had the privilege to look beyond the separation between life and death. Most NDEs occur during a critical medical situation – such as a cardiac arrest or a serious accident – or during an existential (psychological) crisis, but they also sometimes occur during other circumstances such as deep meditation.
During the experience, the consciousness of near-death experiencers (NDErs) is in a timeless world without physical limitations, which is described by them as much more real than the earthly world. NDErs are convinced that they will return to this extraordinary world once their physical bodies die permanently. They are also convinced that everyone will access this world eventually after their bodies die. So, consciousness does not end after death. Rather, it is eternal.
During their experience a great number of NDErs have had contact with an entity they often identify as the Being of Light. In this Declaration it is referred to as The Universal Light because it represents an infinite energy and an infinite power that is universal and supersedes everything humans know. The essence of The Universal Light is unconditional Love, and it is felt that each and every one of us is part of it.
However, also when NDErs have not had a direct contact with The Universal Light, they get to see a glimpse of the essence of what there is after this earthly life: unconditional love for all and everything that is. For the smaller number who experienced the trauma of a distressing NDE and were able to integrate it fully, they also may arrive at an awareness of the centrality of unconditional love.
Even though there are millions and millions of people around the world, that have had an NDE, there is no solid scientific proof (yet) of the reality of these experiences. Yet, there are important indications for their reality, and these occur primarily in the first phase of an NDE when the consciousness of the NDEr leaves the body and observes the physical world. During this phase NDErs were able to observe other people, situations or things that could be objectively verified later. There is an overwhelming number of these so-called veridical observations, which supports the conclusion that the consciousness can exist independently from the body.
NDEs occur everywhere in the world, with people of all walks of life. Through their experiences NDErs have very important and positive messages for all people, regardless of their gender, race, nationality, descent, level of wealth, sexual orientation, beliefs, or other characteristic. This Declaration has four messages that can all be traced back to the core message of unconditional love from NDEs.
Postscript
With this Declaration on Unconditional Love we, NDErs, want to stress that love itself, in whatever form, is immensely important. The limitation of love is not in accordance with the essence of The Universal Light. That essence is Unconditional Love, love that has no boundaries or limits.
If you have had an NDE, know that you are not alone. Everywhere in the world many millions of people have had a similar experience. If you haven't had an NDE and are afraid of death, know that many millions of people have had the privilege to look beyond the separation between life and death, to discover that consciousness continues. If you think that you are not loved, or if you are oppressed because of your ideas, gender, race, nationality, sexual orientation, or any other reason, know that there is infinite love for you. Such Love is available for all of us, without a single exception. So, continue to live your life the best you can, as it is important, and strive to be aligned with the essence of The Universal Light.
Message 1: Love is the Essence
Love is the essence of the universe, and unconditional love is the essence of The Universal Light. The Universal Light is pure Peace, pure Perfection, and pure Unconditional Love. No one can imagine the infinity of the love of The Universal Light. To make it clear and to emphasize: unconditional is really unconditional. It means that there are no conditions attached to this love. Additionally: The Universal Light is neither male nor female; its identity is indefinable.
Message 2: Closely linked with all and everything
All and everyone are incredibly closely linked with each other, as if we are part of one big whole, part of The Universal Light. It includes everyone, all of nature, and everything there is. It excludes no one. The Universal Light loves each of us infinitely, and there are no exceptions. To The Universal Light everyone is incredibly important and valuable. There are no inferior people on Earth; there are no lesser souls.
Message 3: Love has no limits
The love of The Universal Light is not limited to a specific form of love. It encompasses any kind of pure love, because love has no boundaries. For The Universal Light, it does not matter who you love, but that you love. To say it differently, The Universal Light is not interested in someone's sexuality; It is interested in someone's love. The love of The Universal Light itself is without boundaries; it easily surpasses all boundaries that people create for themselves and others, such as race, gender, nationality, religious or spiritual background.
Message 4: Feel other people as if we are those other people
The Universal Light does not condemn anyone for anything. The Universal Light does not judge; It is neutral, and does not choose sides. If anyone judges us, it is we. Many NDErs report that during their life review, they could feel everything they had done to others or done for others as if they were the other people themselves. They are convinced that in our own life review, each of us will experience both the joys we have engendered and the injuries we have inflicted on others, as if we are those others ourselves. This places the Golden Rule, which in one way or another is expressed in all major religions, in a special context: Treat others in only the ways you yourself would like to be treated.
Endorsements
NDErs from all over the world, and from all walks of life, endorse the Declaration
(website links when available)
If you are an NDEer and you agree with the Declaration, please join us and sign the declaration, contact us here
Tienke Klein, Amstelveen, Nederland, Anita Moorjani, USA, Eben Alexander (wanted to be called a strong endorser), Charlottesville, VA, USA, Diane K. Corcoran, Chapel Hill NC, USA, Catja de Rijk, Kudelstaart, Nederland, Mirjam Leféber, Alkmaar, Nederland, Marleen Bode, Oldenzaal, Nederland, Carina Janssen, Enschede, Nederland, Marcel Wiers, Eindhoven, Nederland, Olivier Onghena-'t Hooft, Brussel, Belgique België,Geoffrey de Jong, Rotterdam, Nederland, Jolanda Setz, Rotterdam, Nederland, Anna Best, Nieuw Ballinge, Nederland, Sabine van den Bulk, Oldenzaal, Nederland, Gabriëlle Disselhorst, Nieuw Heeten, Nederland, Rinus van Warven, Kampen, Nederland, Jean da Fonseca Bitar, Belém, Brazil, Gert Kunnen, Purmerend, Nederland, Albert Popping, Ruinerwold, Nederland, Irina Berghout, Den Hoorn, Nederland, Ghislaine Koolen, Amstelveen, Nederland, Wim Setz, Delfzijl, Nederland, Anoeska Coopman, Amsterdam, Nederland, Christopher Carson, Hot Springs AR, USA, Yvonne Sneeden, Raleigh NC, USA, Uf Riezebos, Nederland, Kimberly Clark Sharp, Seattle WA, USA, Nancy Evans Bush, Oak Island NC, USA, Dieter Becker, Regenstauf, Deutschland, Christine Clémino-Naéglé, Pierrefonds, la France, Chris Batts, Palmdale CA, USA, Yvonne van der Meer, Alphen aan den Rijn, Nederland, Jim van der Heijden, Breda, Nederland, Alain Durand, la France, Christian Blondy, la France, Lida Uittenbogaard, Den Haag, Nederland, Herna Westera, Winterswijk Nederland, Lodewijk Crijns, Driebergen, Nederland, Sonja van Sloot, Gouda, Nederland, Betty Galama, Marsum, Nederland, Lydia Smith, Haarlem, Nederland, José Hunneman, Heeten, Nederland, Lisette Siepman, Arnhem, Nederland, Carolien Brouwer, Baarn, Nederland, Hilly van der Veen, Ambt-Delden, Nederland, Saloua Bouazzaoui, Vlaardingen, Nederland, Henneke Dijkstra, Amersfoort, Nederland, Johan van de Erve, Mijnsheerenland, Nederland, Ana Dammers, Triemen, Nederland, Elly Moerman, Soest, Nederland, Patrick Lami, Vilvoorde, België, Marleen Dewancker, Poperinge, België, Michel Dutordoir, Nevele, België, N. de Smet, Brugge, België, Linda Hermans, Dendermonde, België, Nadine Ooghe, Nieuwpoort, België, Dries Lybeer, Erps-Kwerps, België, Trui Lagae, Gent, België, Rita Cocquyt, Sint-Andries, België, Guy Vander Linden, Brussel, België, Rudy van Verre, Dendermonde, België, Martine Marie de Barba, Nice, la France, Richard Bampi, Saint-Marcel-d'Ardèche, la France, Constant Michielsens, Sint-Niklaas, België, Alma A. Blazquez, Chicago Il, USA, Rev. Bill McDonald, Elk Grove CA, USA, Barbara Bartolome, Santa Barbara CA, USA, Cass Forkin Belknap, Downingtown PA, USA, P.M.H. Atwater, Charlottesville VA, USA, Beverly Brodsky, El Cajon CA, USA, Michael Corcoran, Morgantown WV, USA, Meg Rose, DuBois PA, USA, Mary Catherine Volk, Narrangasett RI, USA, John H. Sphar, San Jose CA, USA, Al Learn, Santa Paula CA, USA, Ellyn Dye, Virginia Beach VA, USA, Thomas Klim, Neenah WI, USA, Nancy Rynes, Arizona, USA, William Flandera, Pensacola FL, USA, Mies Bouman, Den Hoorn, Nederland, Noël van Herreweghe, Gent, België, Diego Walkopz, Bogota, Colombia, M.K. (Kathy) McDaniel, Gig Harbor, WA USA,Anke Merkx, Nijmegen, Nederland, Peter Panagore, Boothbay Harbor ME, USA, Andy Petro, Lincoln, CA, USA, Marian Abbas, Amersfoort, Nederland, Susan Hebard, Newtonville MA, USA, Christina Duffy, Sacramento CA, USA, Gerjo van der Horst, Olst, The Netherlands, Arlene Kelly, Kapolei HI, USA, Frederieke Maas Geesteranus, De Meern, Nederland, Douwe Reekers, Easterlittens, Nederland, Efrat Shokef, Israel, Inez Hoedjes, Amstelveen, Nederland,
More endorsement to come ...
About us
This initiative is non-political and non-religious. Our aim is simple: to make the essence of NDEs (unconditional love) known to the world, so people can think about what this would mean to them personally, and what it could do for them in their life.
It is our hope that people will align with this essence, because we are convinced it will be beneficial to us individually (it will improve our individual lives), but also to us as human race, and to the whole world, including nature.
This initiative is supported by:
⭐ NL: The Dutch Association for Near-Death Studies:Netwerk Nabij-de-dood Ervaringen
⭐ BE: The Belgian Association for Near-Death Studies:IANDS Flanders/Limen VZW
⭐ BE: Zoektocht naar Zingeving op het raakvlak tussen Wetenschap, Filosofie en Spiritualiteit:Ponto3
⭐ US:IANDS Raleigh NC USA
⭐ DE: The German Association for Near-Death Studies: Netzwerk-Nahtoderfahrungen e.V.
⭐ DE: The German Association in München: Vereins Nahtoderfahrung-München
⭐ US: IANDS South Bay, San Jose, CA USA
Research
First research
Raymond Moody was the first to write about NDEs
Prospective research
Follow-up research was done by Bruce Greyson, who introduced the so called Greyson scale to determine the depth of the NDE.
The first prospective research was done in The Netherlands. This research was conducted under the responsibility of the Merkawah foundation, which was later renamed into Netwerk NDE. It was published in the scientific medical journal The Lancet. The article was written by the cardiologist Pim van Lommel together with Ruud van Wees, Vincent Meyers, and Ingrid Elfferich. The Lancet article can be downloaded through Pim van Lommel's website,
This research was repeated several times in other countries, like the USA and The United Kingdom.
A comprehensive prospective research was conducted by Sam Parnia et al. The first results of this so called AWARE study (AWAreness during REsuscitation) were published in 2014. There plans for a follow-up study.
Veridical observations
New research was also done in The Netherlands. This research is an analysis of a large number of veridical observations, that were well documented and verified. It was done by Titus Rivas, Anny Dirven, and Rudolf Smit, and was published in Dutch (Wat een stervend brein niet kan) and English (The Self does not Die – Verified Paranormal Phenomena from Near-Death Experiences)