Do Near-Death Experiences Prove Humans are Avatars?

I recently had lunch with an 80-year-old friend struggling with health issues. We had a fascinating conversation about the possibility of an afterlife, during which he shared an intriguing experience. He described a moment when his body seemed to detach from him, leaving him in a state of expanded awareness.

As someone who has delved into the spiritual path and had my share of out-of-body experiences (OBEs), I have spent years exploring and reflecting on these phenomena. Through my journey, I view these experiences as inner-body hallucinations that hold significant meaning and impact our internal development.

However, my search for a scientific explanation led me to a thought-provoking book, "The Ego Tunnel" by Thomas Metzinger. In this book, Metzinger takes a multidisciplinary approach, drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy, to critically examine out-of-body experiences. His compelling argument challenges the notion that these experiences provide evidence for the existence of a separate, disembodied self.

Metzinger proposes that these experiences can be understood as products of the brain's intricate mechanisms, which have the ability to generate vivid and immersive subjective states. He suggests that out-of-body experiences shed light on the brain's capacity to manipulate and alter our sense of self, emphasizing the flexible nature of consciousness.

Over the years, I have engaged with spiritual believers who hold on to the idea of a disembodied interpretation, urging them to prove their claims through remote viewing of my own bedroom during their nocturnal travels. Interestingly, not a single believer has taken up the challenge, as their experiences were not external to the body but rather internal representations of ghostly voyeurism.

Having put to rest the dualistic claims of disembodied experiences, I found myself gravitating toward near-death experiences, which carry a weight of significance due to the consistent testimonies of a dimension beyond the physical body that feels more real than our earthly existence. What struck me was the profound intensity of these encounters, surpassing what we perceive through our physical senses in the material realm.

So, how does a barely functioning brain produce experiences that surpass normal functionality? Take, for instance, the story of a hiker trapped under a river for 45 minutes, who returned with tales of an extraordinary adventure in another dimension, rendering the earthly experience pale in comparison.

Neuroscientists attribute this phenomenon to near-death hallucinations. However, what caught my attention was the parallel claims of detachment from the body, accompanied by feelings of relief and a reluctance to return. Many describe the body as a tight and uncomfortable glove in contrast to the expanded sense of self. Another common thread is the overwhelming sense of home that experiencers feel in the out-of-body state, perceiving it as their default existence while considering the physical body as an avatar in an Earthly video game.

As they say, the devil is in the details. Human biology creates subjective illusions that often convince spiritual-minded individuals of paranormal experiences. The "feeling of being hunted" is an evolutionary trait inherent in our genes, which can give rise to hallucinations of aliens, demons, and other predatory entities. The body generates the sensation of a presence in the room, leading believers to perceive invisible agency. These hallucinations are so convincing that even non-believers may be tempted to interpret them through supernatural explanations. However, we seldom hear stories of atheists attributing such hair-raising experiences to anything more than imaginary fears. It raises doubt as to why disembodied entities if they exist, would require a human brain to believe in them in order to engage in haunting activities.

For those interested in delving deeper into these subjects, I highly recommend reading the following books by Bruce Hood:

The Science of Superstition: How the Developing Brain Creates Supernatural Beliefs

SuperSense: How the Developing Brain Creates Supernatural Beliefs

Hood explores our inclination towards supernatural beliefs, tracing their origins to our cognitive development and the way our brains process information. He delves into the mechanisms underlying our tendency to attribute agency and intentionality to natural events, ultimately shaping our superstitions and belief in the supernatural. From childhood imaginary friends to religious rituals and paranormal encounters, Hood investigates how our brains create and reinforce these beliefs.

"Evidence for the supernatural is elusive. Whenever one attempts to gather evidence for the supernatural, it inexplicably vanishes. Most often, it remains anecdotal, fragmented, or so weak that it barely registers as being there. Experiments investigating the supernatural rarely yield substantial results. Otherwise, we would witness a revision of scientific textbooks with new laws and observations. That's why conventional scientists rarely engage in research on the supernatural. However, the lack of scientific credibility does little to undermine the belief—most of us possess a supersense telling us that the evidence exists and that we should disregard scientific scrutiny and keep an open mind. The downside of open minds is that everything becomes possible, including the abandonment of reason."

In the context of near-death experiences, I lean towards an earthly video game analogy. The mounting evidence against spiritual phenomena suggests that these experiences are firmly rooted in religious and metaphysical convictions. Where there are psychics, channelers, paranormal activities, and OBEs, we often encounter outlandish claims of levitation, bilocation, and remote viewing—all of which are easily debunked and difficult to take seriously. These topics are often intertwined with manipulative gurus, charlatans, frauds, cults, and conflicting spiritual philosophies that rely heavily on subjective storytelling.

If we consider the possibility that human primates are akin to digital avatars in an advanced video game, it might be plausible to view spiritual experiences as integral to the game's design. In other words, the game is programmed to include hallucinations that deceive the avatar into believing it exists beyond the game itself. Based on the evidence suggesting that these experiences are nothing more than biological superstitions and hallucinations, near-death experiences might provide us with glimpses into the player of the game as the avatar teeters on the brink of death.

Imagine immersing oneself in a high-resolution virtual reality game to such an extent that one forgets they are playing a game. Then, due to a hardware glitch or software malfunction, they suddenly catch a glimpse of their avatar from a third-person perspective, realizing their true essence and the richness of their default environment, which surpasses all other tactile experiences.

However, as a human primate, it's possible that this line of thinking might serve as a coping mechanism to alleviate my fear of death.

Either way, the near-death experience undeniably demonstrates that our biology harbors a remarkable capacity for experiencing a fantastical realm, whether positive or negative (since some NDEs can be distressing), which skeptics cannot easily dismiss. If we, as human primates, are indeed digital avatars, then the immersive and imperceptible nature of these experiences aligns with the very purpose of virtual reality. One might even ponder if such a system could be designed by an advanced alien race.

For those seeking further exploration, I recommend visiting the IANDS: The International Association for Near-Death Studies website, where you can find in-depth research on the subject, with a particular emphasis on witness accounts.

Typically, people talk about leaving their bodies, but when my friend said his body left him, something in my brain shifted and sparked the ideas in this article. Are NDEs a hallucination? Is the universe a simulation? Who knows, it's a good topic to discuss over an earthly beer and pizza.

If you are an avatar, I recommend being in the game and living life to its fullest.

— Zzenn