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Lessons from the Light: What We Can Learn from the Near-Death Experience
While providing many accounts of near-death experiences (NDEs) from men, women, and children of all ages and backgrounds, Lessons from the Light is much more than just an inspiring collection of NDEs. In Lessons near-death expert Kenneth Ring extracts the pure gold of the NDE and with a beautiful balance of sound research and human insight reveals the practical wisdom held within these experiences. As Stanley Krippner states, "In this remarkable book, Ring presents evidence that merely learning about the near-death experience has similar positive effects to those reported by people who actually have had near-death experiences. Kenneth Ring is one of the few authors whose gifts include the capacity to transform their readers' lives."
340 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
226 people are currently reading
820 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 3, 2016
This book started off as a great experience for me, but about midway through, all the stories were jumbling together and I couldn't keep anything apart in my head. I also felt like I was reading all sorts of data carelessly thrown together.
All in all the book had a good message, but I think the presentation made it entirely too much. I found myself skipping around a lot and looking to the next chapter to see how many pages I had left.
All in all the book had a good message, but I think the presentation made it entirely too much. I found myself skipping around a lot and looking to the next chapter to see how many pages I had left.
August 21, 2007
I'm very interested in the topic of this book, which is near death experiences, but the author is such a poor writer that I kept copy editing the book as I was reading it. The writing really distracts from the content.
August 14, 2008
I've been drawn lately to authors exploring life after death. My focus in Kenneth Ring's book was drawn most sharply to what he calls "life reviews." If his information is correct, we experience the feelings and reactions of those we interact with: their pleasure and their pain arising from contact with us. Roles are reversed, and we find ourselves in the persona of the other person.
The message is one of ultimate connectedness on an intimate scale. Mr. Ring: "In the life review, you will actually experience the episode as you would have been able to then, had you been totally present to the event - sensorily, psychologically, and telepathically!"
Complete and unswerving empathy. No excuses or lame self-justifications. Only learning. And an understand that we touch and affect every other living thing - plants, animals, all.
For those of us practicing and studying mind-body disciplines, this suggests we have a way to go in this life to bring our awareness of the moment to a new level.
Thought provoking.
Best regards,
Bill
The message is one of ultimate connectedness on an intimate scale. Mr. Ring: "In the life review, you will actually experience the episode as you would have been able to then, had you been totally present to the event - sensorily, psychologically, and telepathically!"
Complete and unswerving empathy. No excuses or lame self-justifications. Only learning. And an understand that we touch and affect every other living thing - plants, animals, all.
For those of us practicing and studying mind-body disciplines, this suggests we have a way to go in this life to bring our awareness of the moment to a new level.
Thought provoking.
Best regards,
Bill
November 11, 2020
Many things touched me and I was given more enlightenment about dying and a life beyond. I wished it had more stories of actual NDE. Those were my favorite parts. Lots of learning jargon. I skimmed those parts. Lots of reference to the authors and others books. Almost every page. It made me wonder if I should have read those instead of this book. Good read.
June 18, 2024
A LOOK AT WHAT NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES SAY TO “NONEXPERIENCERS”
Kenneth Ring (born 1936) is Professor Emeritus of psychology at the University of Connecticut.
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1998 book, “it is gradually becoming clear that this preoccupation with the NDEr [‘experiencer’] has resulted in a certain one-sidedness and … a kind of subtle elitism, as well. Millions of persons may have had NDEs, but MANY millions who have become interested in the subject have not… Where is the literature that speaks, not to the needs and circumstances of the NDEr, but to the hunger of the NONEXPERIENCER to learn and profit from these experiences as well? Most of us… will never have an NDE as such, but ALL of us, surely, can benefit from the lessons that have been thrust upon those who have… this book is an effort to place exactly this kind of information at the disposal of its readers by presenting … the practical lessons for living and dying that are to be found from the study of NDEs… In reading this book… you will be able to discover for yourself what others have had to nearly die to learn, and you will find that your own life can blossom in ways that are typical for persons who have undergone NDEs directly.” (Pg. 3)
He explains, “I was starting out in this field in 1977… [after] reading Raymond Moody’s book [Life After Life’]… I wanted to make it evident to other scientists and scholars that there was indeed a phenomenon here that merited their study, and to urge them to investigate it themselves… As scores of researchers from the United States and many other countries published their findings over the next decade, it became abundantly clear that the NDE… was a commonly reported experience and one that had profound and largely very consistent effects on the lives of those who survived it. What was controversial about the NDE was what to make of it… but one thing about the NDE is incontrovertible: It happens.” (Pg. 2)
He recounts the stories of six NDErs, then summarizes, “there are certain recurrent themes … these themes represent three distinct LEVELS of insight that must be made explicit if the full spectrum of lessons from the NDE is to be properly understood. First, there is the level of… the BEAUTIFIC VISION.’ This is the highest, most inclusive, and universal aspect of the NDE… the individual realizes the perfection of the universe and… one’s own perfection as well… Next, there is the level of… EARTHLY REALIZATIONS… one comes to see with pristine eyes the importance of certain human values, beliefs, and strivings that ought to inform one’s life in the world. Among these are the primacy of expressing empathic love and concern for others… with a never-failing awareness of the preciousness of life… finally, there is the level of … PERSONAL REVELATION. This is information that… [is] particularized to the needs and circumstances of the NDEr.” (Pg. 49)
He acknowledges, “there are certainly other books … such as Susan Blackmore’s ‘Dying to Live,’ that take a rigorously skeptical view of these encounters and try to explain them away largely on neurological grounds. This kind of challenge must surely be addressed… The difficulty in resolving this issue, of course, lies in the very fact that NDEs are… inherently subjective, deeply private, and often ineffable. As such, they would seem to be beyond the scrutiny of the scientific lens and have the status of undiscomfirmable modern-day religious revelations… In principle, I would like to be able to show you that these experiences… are authentic, objective, and as real as they appear. But to demonstrate this, one would first have to establish that … the NDE is not merely a PSYCHOLOGICAL phenomenon or simply the neurological artifact of a dying brain.” (Pg. 56)
He argues, “somehow, persons close to death can indeed see minute and normally imperceptible optical ‘blemishes’ from an apparent out-of-body vantage point… in some of these cases, it would be physically impossible for these individuals to see what they do from the visual field afforded by the position of their body… cases of [this] sort… provide a difficult challenge for anyone who would still wish to explain away these stories as nothing more than … curious hallucinations… The perceptions described are too fine-grained in their details and too telling in their appropriateness.” (Pg. 63-64)
He also considers blind persons who have had NDEs: “the visual perceptions of Vicki and Brad were extremely clear and detailed… While not all our blind NDErs had clear, articulated visual impressions, nevertheless enough of them did, so that we can conclude that cases like Vicki’s and Brad’s are quite representative in this regard.” (Pg. 81) Later, he adds, “reports of visual perceptions among the blind are common, that their impressions concern both things of this world and otherworldly domains, and that they are often clear and detailed, even in narratives furnished by those who have been blind from birth.” (Pg. 84)
He suggests, “you may well be beginning to wonder if we have finally reached the edge of apparent conscious recall of early childhood NDEs. Certainly, for most people, the idea that a six-week-old infant could remember an NDE is hard to credit. And yet… we now have good empirical evidence that memorial processes in children can indeed be accurate at such a young age and even earlier. In fact, I myself have even been told by several persons that they are sure they can remember an NDE they had at birth!” (Pg. 113)
He states, “the general consistency of aftereffects… show that whatever the nature of the NDE, it is real in its effects… they are decidedly not the kind of changes one would expect if the NDE were merely an elaborate hallucination or… purely psychological phenomenon… both the commonality of these changes among NDErs and their specific and abiding character constitute another argument in the brief for their authenticity.” (Pg. 124)
He recounts, “Very often, following a lecture on NDEs, a question is raised to the effect of whether EVERYBODY will eventually find him- or herself in the presence of the Light and receive the incomparable blessings that the Light seems to extend to anyone… The Light is unconditional and plays no favorites… ‘Even Hitler?’ someone will ask incredulously… P.M.H. Atwater … said that having to reexperience what she did to, thought, and felt about others, was hell itself for her… From this perspective, can you imagine what Hitler’s life review must have been like? One may even wonder whether it is over with yet!” (Pg. 163-164) He continues, “what holds true for the NDEr here holds for everyone: In the life review, you need never fear being judged by a force outside yourself.” (Pg. 165) He adds, “the NDErs… are plain to say that while the being of Light never judges, they themselves do.” (Pg. 167)
He summarizes, “the overall pattern of our data here gives us a strong suggestion that merely acquiring knowledge about NDEs can act rather like a ‘benign virus’; that is, by exposing yourself to NDE-related information, you can ‘catch it,’ because the NDE appears to be contagious. Therefore… you can reap some of the benefits of an NDE… you should already be showing some signs of having contracted the condition from which NDErs ‘suffer’ and thus seeing the world with eyes not unlike theirs.” (Pg. 203)
He laments, “It is unfortunate but understandable… that there has not yet been any rigorous and systematic study of the healing gifts that are claimed by so many NDErs… as a result of which we are left with many testimonies like the last that hang solely on the word [of] the individual involved… On the contrary, it seems probable, even in the absence of solid research on the matter, that healing gifts do abound among NDErs, but we nevertheless must acknowledge that we do not yet know this for certain.” (Pg. 220-221)
He concludes, “In the light of the NDE, death is nothing more than the illusion of separateness and finality, and those who can believe in this vision of death, like NDErs themselves, lose all fear of it, for how can you fear that which does not exist?... And this view of death is by no means confined mainly to those interested in NDEs and like subjects… Rather, as the kind of applied work, based on the NDE, has gained momentum… more and more persons who are a part of the mainstream culture have begun to take note of it…” (Pg. 271)
This book, like Ring’s other books, will be “must reading” for those seriously studying Near-Death Experiences.
Kenneth Ring (born 1936) is Professor Emeritus of psychology at the University of Connecticut.
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1998 book, “it is gradually becoming clear that this preoccupation with the NDEr [‘experiencer’] has resulted in a certain one-sidedness and … a kind of subtle elitism, as well. Millions of persons may have had NDEs, but MANY millions who have become interested in the subject have not… Where is the literature that speaks, not to the needs and circumstances of the NDEr, but to the hunger of the NONEXPERIENCER to learn and profit from these experiences as well? Most of us… will never have an NDE as such, but ALL of us, surely, can benefit from the lessons that have been thrust upon those who have… this book is an effort to place exactly this kind of information at the disposal of its readers by presenting … the practical lessons for living and dying that are to be found from the study of NDEs… In reading this book… you will be able to discover for yourself what others have had to nearly die to learn, and you will find that your own life can blossom in ways that are typical for persons who have undergone NDEs directly.” (Pg. 3)
He explains, “I was starting out in this field in 1977… [after] reading Raymond Moody’s book [Life After Life’]… I wanted to make it evident to other scientists and scholars that there was indeed a phenomenon here that merited their study, and to urge them to investigate it themselves… As scores of researchers from the United States and many other countries published their findings over the next decade, it became abundantly clear that the NDE… was a commonly reported experience and one that had profound and largely very consistent effects on the lives of those who survived it. What was controversial about the NDE was what to make of it… but one thing about the NDE is incontrovertible: It happens.” (Pg. 2)
He recounts the stories of six NDErs, then summarizes, “there are certain recurrent themes … these themes represent three distinct LEVELS of insight that must be made explicit if the full spectrum of lessons from the NDE is to be properly understood. First, there is the level of… the BEAUTIFIC VISION.’ This is the highest, most inclusive, and universal aspect of the NDE… the individual realizes the perfection of the universe and… one’s own perfection as well… Next, there is the level of… EARTHLY REALIZATIONS… one comes to see with pristine eyes the importance of certain human values, beliefs, and strivings that ought to inform one’s life in the world. Among these are the primacy of expressing empathic love and concern for others… with a never-failing awareness of the preciousness of life… finally, there is the level of … PERSONAL REVELATION. This is information that… [is] particularized to the needs and circumstances of the NDEr.” (Pg. 49)
He acknowledges, “there are certainly other books … such as Susan Blackmore’s ‘Dying to Live,’ that take a rigorously skeptical view of these encounters and try to explain them away largely on neurological grounds. This kind of challenge must surely be addressed… The difficulty in resolving this issue, of course, lies in the very fact that NDEs are… inherently subjective, deeply private, and often ineffable. As such, they would seem to be beyond the scrutiny of the scientific lens and have the status of undiscomfirmable modern-day religious revelations… In principle, I would like to be able to show you that these experiences… are authentic, objective, and as real as they appear. But to demonstrate this, one would first have to establish that … the NDE is not merely a PSYCHOLOGICAL phenomenon or simply the neurological artifact of a dying brain.” (Pg. 56)
He argues, “somehow, persons close to death can indeed see minute and normally imperceptible optical ‘blemishes’ from an apparent out-of-body vantage point… in some of these cases, it would be physically impossible for these individuals to see what they do from the visual field afforded by the position of their body… cases of [this] sort… provide a difficult challenge for anyone who would still wish to explain away these stories as nothing more than … curious hallucinations… The perceptions described are too fine-grained in their details and too telling in their appropriateness.” (Pg. 63-64)
He also considers blind persons who have had NDEs: “the visual perceptions of Vicki and Brad were extremely clear and detailed… While not all our blind NDErs had clear, articulated visual impressions, nevertheless enough of them did, so that we can conclude that cases like Vicki’s and Brad’s are quite representative in this regard.” (Pg. 81) Later, he adds, “reports of visual perceptions among the blind are common, that their impressions concern both things of this world and otherworldly domains, and that they are often clear and detailed, even in narratives furnished by those who have been blind from birth.” (Pg. 84)
He suggests, “you may well be beginning to wonder if we have finally reached the edge of apparent conscious recall of early childhood NDEs. Certainly, for most people, the idea that a six-week-old infant could remember an NDE is hard to credit. And yet… we now have good empirical evidence that memorial processes in children can indeed be accurate at such a young age and even earlier. In fact, I myself have even been told by several persons that they are sure they can remember an NDE they had at birth!” (Pg. 113)
He states, “the general consistency of aftereffects… show that whatever the nature of the NDE, it is real in its effects… they are decidedly not the kind of changes one would expect if the NDE were merely an elaborate hallucination or… purely psychological phenomenon… both the commonality of these changes among NDErs and their specific and abiding character constitute another argument in the brief for their authenticity.” (Pg. 124)
He recounts, “Very often, following a lecture on NDEs, a question is raised to the effect of whether EVERYBODY will eventually find him- or herself in the presence of the Light and receive the incomparable blessings that the Light seems to extend to anyone… The Light is unconditional and plays no favorites… ‘Even Hitler?’ someone will ask incredulously… P.M.H. Atwater … said that having to reexperience what she did to, thought, and felt about others, was hell itself for her… From this perspective, can you imagine what Hitler’s life review must have been like? One may even wonder whether it is over with yet!” (Pg. 163-164) He continues, “what holds true for the NDEr here holds for everyone: In the life review, you need never fear being judged by a force outside yourself.” (Pg. 165) He adds, “the NDErs… are plain to say that while the being of Light never judges, they themselves do.” (Pg. 167)
He summarizes, “the overall pattern of our data here gives us a strong suggestion that merely acquiring knowledge about NDEs can act rather like a ‘benign virus’; that is, by exposing yourself to NDE-related information, you can ‘catch it,’ because the NDE appears to be contagious. Therefore… you can reap some of the benefits of an NDE… you should already be showing some signs of having contracted the condition from which NDErs ‘suffer’ and thus seeing the world with eyes not unlike theirs.” (Pg. 203)
He laments, “It is unfortunate but understandable… that there has not yet been any rigorous and systematic study of the healing gifts that are claimed by so many NDErs… as a result of which we are left with many testimonies like the last that hang solely on the word [of] the individual involved… On the contrary, it seems probable, even in the absence of solid research on the matter, that healing gifts do abound among NDErs, but we nevertheless must acknowledge that we do not yet know this for certain.” (Pg. 220-221)
He concludes, “In the light of the NDE, death is nothing more than the illusion of separateness and finality, and those who can believe in this vision of death, like NDErs themselves, lose all fear of it, for how can you fear that which does not exist?... And this view of death is by no means confined mainly to those interested in NDEs and like subjects… Rather, as the kind of applied work, based on the NDE, has gained momentum… more and more persons who are a part of the mainstream culture have begun to take note of it…” (Pg. 271)
This book, like Ring’s other books, will be “must reading” for those seriously studying Near-Death Experiences.
January 26, 2025
I really loved the stories that the author highlighted from people who had near death experiences but unfortunately, I got very bored with some of the author’s dialogue in response to their stories. Some of it felt very repetitive and it was hard for me to keep my focus. I’d read a full page and wonder what I just read, only to go back and realize he was just reiterating things he had said in a previous chapter. I also didn’t like how he’d share partial stories. The author would mention how someone had an intriguing experience, totally skip it, and only discuss how the person lived their life going forward as a result of their NDE.
Of course, this book is only my first deep dive into NDEs and maybe I should’ve started elsewhere. The book did point to others I have added to my list to read in the future.
However, if you do love to hear real accounts of NDEs, I did like the ones he did include.
Of course, this book is only my first deep dive into NDEs and maybe I should’ve started elsewhere. The book did point to others I have added to my list to read in the future.
However, if you do love to hear real accounts of NDEs, I did like the ones he did include.
August 17, 2020
A bit repetitive, but I liked the message and the move from sensationalism to practical application.
January 19, 2022
The author is a bit too wordy and repetitive but the accounts he shares of NDEs (near death experiences) are AMAZING. This book changes how I feel about dying, reduces the fear.
April 12, 2025
Loved this book filled with heartfelt stories and more! This is the best book that I have read, via audible, regarding Near Death Experiences. I believe!
July 22, 2016
For many years I've been intrigued by Near Death Experiences ever since I read Raymond Moody's ground breaking book Life After Death back in 1977. Reading that book totally changed my perception of death from something dreaded and fearful, to the most joyous, beautiful experience possible. Just a few days after I finished reading Moody's book, my younger sister and childhood friend died tragically in a boating accident. I always felt it was reading that book that held me together during that difficult time. Since then I've bought just about every single book I could find dealing with NDE's or Near Death Experiences. Some of the books I've read since the seventies are: "Saved by the Light" and "At Peace in the Light" by Dannion Brinkley, "Embraced by the Light", by Betty Eadie, "To Heaven and Back" by Mary Neal, "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo, "Flight to Heaven" by Dale Black, "Waking Up in Heaven" by Crystal McVea, "The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven," by Kevin & Alex Malarkey, "90 Minutes in Heaven" by Don Piper, "Dying To be Me" by Anita Moorjani, and "Proof of Heaven" by Eben Alexander. Although there are many common experiences, each book is as unique as the author, and I enjoyed the insights from every one of them. However, if I could recommend just one book to understand NDE's it would definitely be Kenneth Ring's "Lessons From the Light." What makes this book stand apart is that Ring has devoted most of his academic career at the University of Connecticut to near death studies and is the president and founder of the International Association of Near-Death Studies. Ring has interviewed and befriended countless individuals who have had near death experiences and estimated there may now be millions of people on earth who have crossed over and come back, changed individuals. What is unique about this book is that Ring wants the reader to catch what he calls the NDE virus, all the positive effects these individuals report; increased love for all people and things, increased sensitivity, psychic ability, ability to see energy, auras and chakras, no fear of death, decreased worry, less religious and more spiritual, increased concern for the planet, deepened appreciation for nature, knowing the greatest gift of all is giving love to others, non-judgement, less materialistic, understanding our purpose in life, and understanding our challenges are simply the lessons we need to learn. He feels these experiences may be "harbingers of humanity's evolution toward higher consciousness." There are several personal accounts in this book, many from students who took his class on NDE's at the university, people he met at conferences, and people who read his other books and responded. These accounts are inspiring, moving, beautiful, optimistic. Amazing book! If everyone read this book we would truly understand that life does have meaning, and that we all have a unique path and person guided by the Light. We'd also understand how interconnected we all are and that we're never alone-legions of advanced beings are always there to guide, help and inspire if we believe and have faith and hope.
July 29, 2010
I can't believe this took me over a year to read. It was obviously one of those I only grab when there isn't another within reach. His intent was to study as many people who had NDE's as he could and then compile their experiences and how it changed there lives for the better. Then with the idea that if we could just learn from them we wouldn't have to have a near death experience to achieve the enlightened state they had. I did enjoy it but I felt it read a bit like a textbook and is very long and a bit repetitive.
December 30, 2022
Much value but slightly compromised
While this book does an excellent job of showing the many ways that we can apply the learnings of NDEs, what I found annoying was the regular usage of words and phrases both in English or other languages that I’m confident are foreign to most any reader. Yes, Kindle makes looking them up quick and easy. My point is that the frequent use of such words and phrases struck me as condescending - even arrogant. Just my impression. Still, the book has much to offer.
While this book does an excellent job of showing the many ways that we can apply the learnings of NDEs, what I found annoying was the regular usage of words and phrases both in English or other languages that I’m confident are foreign to most any reader. Yes, Kindle makes looking them up quick and easy. My point is that the frequent use of such words and phrases struck me as condescending - even arrogant. Just my impression. Still, the book has much to offer.
July 4, 2018
This book will change your life!
Truly inspiring, it can lead you to a better more fulfilling life. There are many similarities to the teachings of the Native Americans' Red Road. A beautiful book.
Truly inspiring, it can lead you to a better more fulfilling life. There are many similarities to the teachings of the Native Americans' Red Road. A beautiful book.
August 17, 2018
Interesting
As a person of Christian Faith, I found these stories enhanced my faith life in meaningful pragmatic ways.
Without compromising , the need to be more loving towards others and also understanding too.
Really worth your time.
As a person of Christian Faith, I found these stories enhanced my faith life in meaningful pragmatic ways.
Without compromising , the need to be more loving towards others and also understanding too.
Really worth your time.
November 5, 2020
Informative
The author's vocabulary was excellent.
His presentation of the subject was like a personal conversation with me, also a NDEr. I've been researching the NDE literature for over 30 years since my Near Death Experience.
I am a believer...
The author's vocabulary was excellent.
His presentation of the subject was like a personal conversation with me, also a NDEr. I've been researching the NDE literature for over 30 years since my Near Death Experience.
I am a believer...
January 8, 2009
For those who are interested in what lessons can be learned from the Near Death Experience (NDE, this is a terrific book filled with spiritual insights.
September 6, 2014
The personal journeys of those who have had a near death experience were fascinating and enlightening. The book was well organized, but I found the presentation to be dry.
October 24, 2017
An interesting take on near death experiences. Much of the book is justification for the NDE. Would rather read NDE people had...not justification.
November 7, 2017
Too much justification. Would rather just read NDErs experience. Glad I read it, though.
November 21, 2017
Not one thing concerning people who report just stepping into a black hole. All one-sided typical stories.
September 23, 2020
Mind altering
My world view has changed irrevocably, for the better, from having read this! I found meaning and purpose anew! A must read!
My world view has changed irrevocably, for the better, from having read this! I found meaning and purpose anew! A must read!
August 26, 2020
Inspiring stories
Inspiring NDE stories and excellent research by the author combine to create an awesome reading experience. I recommend this book.
Inspiring NDE stories and excellent research by the author combine to create an awesome reading experience. I recommend this book.
February 23, 2021
It was interesting. Sometimes it read like a textbook.
January 29, 2024
Superlative, amazing, a must-read!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews