Face to Face With God : A Near Death Experience
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34 Happy Comments
We never die. Love lives.
There is ONE thing we all have to face at some point in our lives. It could happen later today. It could happen in the next moment. It could happen in 60 years or longer from now.
It’s the BIG UNKNOWN we all know (and fear) very well…DYING.
Just a few weeks ago I was reading the fantastic book called On Life After Death by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. In this book, Elisabeth explains what happens to us after we die. How did she learn this? She did extensive research and case studies on the subject (this included thousands of interviews of people who have had near death experiences).
In any case, I was simply blown away by what I read and I would recommend it to anyone.
About this same time, I stumbled upon a blog post on TinyBuddha.com about a lovely woman named Nadia Ballas-Ruta who had also had a near death experience as a teenager and I was very moved by it. Needless to say, I just had to reach out and make contact with her. I had a few questions I wanted to ask her myself about her experience and also, I figured many of you (the readers) would really enjoy what she had to say.
Below are eight questions I asked Nadia followed by her in depth answers. She covers all areas in regards to her experience that touch on subjects like the power of love, what happens when we die, and facing God.
I hope you enjoy!
1. Can you briefly explain your near death experience?
I was fifteen years old and had a very severe case of bronchitis along with an allergic reaction to a medication that I was given. My system was so ill that something caused me to “die” for a couple of minutes.
I remember seeing a bright light and found myself in a place that was utterly peaceful, beautiful and full of love. The colors were unlike any colors I had ever seen or have seen since. It was paradise and the love that I felt was unlike anything I have ever experienced. I was also told a few things about myself and my life which did eventually come true.
It was a perfect place and I did not want to leave.
I was told that my time was not up and I tried to negotiate so that I could stay forever but it was not meant to be. The next thing that happened was that I was pulled from behind and saw myself in my bed and watched what was happening. It was weird to see myself and yet not being inside my body. I was then pulled back into my body and opened my eyes.
2. Do you feel you had direct contact with God?
Most definitely.
The person who was talking to me or rather the voice that was talking to me was God. The love that was present was definitely divine for it was unconditional and extremely powerful. Plus, the voice that talked to me told me things about my future which did come true. There is no way I could have known all that information that eventually did occur.
3. What do you feel are people’s biggest misconceptions about death?
I think people feel that death is an end when in reality it is a continuation of your true self. In many world religions it is believed that when we “die” our lives truly begin for that side matters more than this side.
It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes by Teilhard de Chardin…
“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience.
We are spiritual beings having a human experience”.
We are not our bodies or our jobs or our bank accounts. We are souls created to spread love and kindness. Our birthright is divine but we get so caught up in the illusions, we forget our inherent power.
4. What are the biggest lessons you learned from your near death experience?
Wow…well, I learned a lot of things which truly did change how I saw life. As a result of the experience, I do know that there is a soul that lives on after we “die”. Death is not to be feared. Life is about love and reincarnation is real. Every little act that we do is known and recorded. There is a God who loves us and loves us without condition. And our actions here determine what happens to us when we die. What goes around definitely does come around.
Another important thing that I learned is that we have to make the most out of being here. We are here to learn and to grow. We are not here to just accumulate stuff. We are here to spread love and to be love. So what matters is our actions and how we choose to play our part. For as Shakespeare said, “life is a stage and each must play a part”. So we need to play our part to the best of our ability and that has nothing to do with what we have but rather with how we are.
5. What do you think is the true source of real happiness that many people overlook?
It took me years to figure that one out even though I did have a near death experience. I think many people feel that happiness is external or can be found in external things. For years, I thought if I had the right education, the right job and the right home, I would be in bliss.
It was not until I had all those things that I realized how empty I felt. Happiness is our inherent state of being when we are born but as we grow older, we forget our true nature and start looking for the answers outside of ourselves. Look at babies, they have no fear and always look so full of love. But as they get older, they start to learn fear. So fear is what prevents us from being our true happy selves.
Plus, the mere fact we get to experience a human birth is really profound. In Buddhism, it is believed that to be born as a human being is a rare gift that should be treasured. However, we take what we have for granted. Human beings always tend to focus on what they do not have instead of being grateful for what they do have. There are many parts in the world where running water from a faucet is a rarity. But in the West, we have that gift without really being appreciative of it.
I guess to sum it up, I would say that happiness is truly a matter of perception and it is our inherent state of being. It has nothing to do with how rich you are or how you look or where you live or what degree you have.
6. What is your personal view on organized religions?
I am a product of a mixed religious background. When I was a kid, my dad told me that all religions were one and that everyone was equal. He said that I was free to pick whichever religion I wanted to follow. So I grew up with no formal religious upbringing which did cause some problems for me because I did not have any sense of identity.
That said, it was a blessing in disguise because eventually, I went on a journey to figure out this whole religion issue and as a result, I would call myself a very spiritual person. I almost became a Buddhist/Vedanta nun and have studied all the major religions as part of my journey and training. As a result, I know with all my being that all religions are one. All religions teach the same thing but go about it in different ways.
It is interesting because the Latin word for religion is “religare” which means to bind. While the Latin word for spirituality is “spiritus” which means to breathe or give life to. In my mind, that beautifully defines the difference between religion and spirituality.
Organized religion blinds people to the fact that we are all one. We are all connected to one another and that we all are in this boat together. The concept of duality…meaning that we are separate from another is an illusion. We are all brothers and sisters.
7. What is the best way to connect with God in your view?
When I first started on my spiritual journey, I thought God was external and separate from me. I used to think He was some old dude in the sky with a long white beard who played with my life without any regard to how I felt. However, after all my travels and studies, I have come to see that God resides inside of us. We are made in the image of God and we each have a spark of the Divine within us. Some people are aware of this spark and act according to it. Many are unaware and are taken with the ego so they lose sight of their inherent divinity and perfection.
In my opinion, the best way to connect with God, is to connect with that spark that resides in each one of us.
How we treat the cashier at the supermarket is an indication of how we view God. For God, loves everyone and everything. We must do the same.
None of us are perfect. We are here to learn and grow. When we act from a place of love and compassion, then we are acting in a manner that is Divine and that is what connects us to the God who is within us.
Meditation is really helpful in silencing the ego so that you can access that inner voice. We all have one and that inner voice, in my opinion, is God. When we act in accordance with that voice, then we are connecting with God.
When we act from the mind or the ego, then that is when we are connecting with the Devil. For the Devil is the ego mind run amuck.
8. What makes you the most happy in life Nadia?
There are so many things that make me really happy. For starters, I just love the sunshine and the ocean. Both bring a great amount of joy and peace. Actually, sitting or walking along the beach is like a meditation for me. Something about the sun and the ocean reminds me of what life is all about and how everything here is truly very small and insignificant.
Love also makes me very happy. I am blessed to be married to a man who loves me as I am and supports all my dreams and goals. To be able to share my life with my best friend is a gift that I am thankful for every day.
I guess if I could sum it up, I would say that what makes me happy is when I am in alignment with that inner voice that resides within me and when I am acting from a constant source of love. There are days when I feel so connected to God, I could just hug everyone I meet. I love it when I feel such love for everyone.
The feeling is so immense, I could explode from the power of such love.
So many people are hurting and there is no need for them to be paralyzed by their pain. We all have suffered and we all have had our share of struggle. The key is to realize that that pain does not define who we are. So what makes me the most happy is when I can go out into the world and love everything and everyone I see. So I guess in a word it would be love.
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More about Nadia…
Nadia Ballas-Ruta writes and runs her own blog, www.HappyLotus.com. In addition to her blog, she is a regular contributor at Elephant Journal and Tiny Buddha. She is a free spirit who believes in being happy, green and eating as natural and healthy as possible. You can also follow her on Twitter.
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Posted on November 4, 2009
Dayne:
Wow, thanks for sharing this interview. Nadia, thank you as well for sharing some great thoughts here. I think I remember you might have mentioned your near-death experience on your blog. Interesting to note: a woman I dated had a traffic accident and died for a few moments before coming back to life. It is amazing how similar your story was to hers…actually it was almost the same description. This gives me a tremendous amount of hope.
.-= Tim´s last blog ..10 Things I’ve Learned From Getting Laid Off =-.
Hi Tim,
It seems that everyone who has a NDE has a simiilar experience which is cool. When I had mine, there was not that much literature about it since it was back in the middle 80s. However, as more and more people started to share their stories, it became obvious how similar each person’s experience was and that helped me a lot.
And there is a reason to hope…death is not that bad. Just do your best while here and that will take care of what happens there. In the end, life about love so just be the loving person that you are.
.-= Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..The Power of Redemption =-.
Hi Nadia,
Thank you for sharing your NDE. It takes a lot of courage to share something thism personal so openly. As you know, I had my own NDE, and the thing that amazes me is how similar our stories are, and how the lessons we learned (and are still learning) from it are similar, too.
The thing about having a NDE that seems universal is that it completely removes the fear of death. I still have a lot of fear about other things, things which cause pain, but death itself isn’t much of an issue for me anymore. In fact, I usually get weird looks by people when I talk about death, because my face lights up in anticipation and in remembering the joy, peace, and love I felt on the other side. It’s not that I’m in any hurry to die, it’s just that I know how wonderful it is on the other side.
.-= Jay Schryer´s last blog ..The Perfectionism Myth =-.
Hi Jay,
It is cool how similar all NDE stories are and I think that kind of shows people that NDE are real and not some trick of the mind. When I first had my experience, my family thought that maybe I had some really intense dream. Then about a year later, my mom read a book about NDE and then it occurred to everyone that what happened was an NDE and not some far out dream.
And I know exactly what you mean about not being afraid of dying. I get those weird looks too when I talk about death. That level of love is so beautiful there is no reason to be scared. Actually, what scares me more is not making the best out of being here.
.-= Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..The Power of Redemption =-.
First of all, I just want to say thanks again for Nadia for being so open and sharing all her time and personal information here.
Secondly, I want to say thanks to those who have commented already and also experienced a NDE. I always find it interesting to hear from those who have had them. I think it gives many of us hope and also, makes us not fear death, which in turn makes us learn to really live and love life.
Cheers!
Dayne
.-= Dayne | TheHappySelf.com´s last blog ..Face to Face With God : A Near Death Experience =-.
Dayne,
You are welcome. Thank YOU for interviewing me and for asking such awesome questions. It was so much fun.
.-= Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..The Power of Redemption =-.
Dear Ms. Happy Lotus,
I VERY much enjoyed your article today. Love, and serving others, does instill a sense of purpose far greater than material possessions can. Thank you for sharing!
.-= The Tango Notebook´s last blog ..4 Secrets to Maintaining a Healthy Tango Addiction =-.
Hi Tango Notebook,
Thank you so much for the positive feedback. Life is all about service and love too.
Hope all is awesome.
.-= Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..Woundology 101 =-.
I loved all of your insights Nadia. I had held that death was just something that I wasn’t going to know about till I got there. That gives reason to pay attention to living this life well. What beautiful insight you have. Thank you for sharing them.
.-= Justin- AlittleBett.net´s last blog ..6 Things I’ve Learned From Libertarians =-.
Hi Justin,
Thank you so much for all the kinds words. What we do here truly does determine what happens when we pass. Life is precious and should be enjoyed. The key is to make the most out of each moment to the best of our ability. Some days are easier than others but that is part of the journey.
Hope all is awesome!
.-= Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..Woundology 101 =-.
Firstly, great post Dayne, and Nadia, keep sharing you have a beautiful spirit.
Near death experiences are quite interesting depending on the beliefs held by people
For instance, it appears that our beliefs may play a very important role in what we perceive or experience
For example those of the Christian faith, who have had NDE talk about it within the contents of what the bible says,
Others who dont follow the christian faith, have talked about it from their perception of death and life
Others consider it a continuation into the astral planes
Regardless of each persons experience, what truly is important is that there is nothing to fear.
Hi Jon,
Great point. I think people view their NDE based on what they believe. In my case, I had no religious beliefs at that time. I had no concept of karma or reincarnation or any of that stuff. I was like an ordinary teenager, consumed with making it through the day and just trying to be happy.
The NDE changed my perception in so many ways and made me very aware that life is short and can end at any moment. So it did change my life for the better.
Hope all is awesome!
.-= Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..Woundology 101 =-.
Thanks for hosting Dayne!
Nadia, I really enjoyed reading this so much!
This completes the puzzle for me.
My favorite part is how you shared the meaning behind the words “religare” and “spiritus”. I love words and they are very much a part of my journey and so although I very much embrace spirituality over religion, I didn’t know this was their true root! I’m smiling for it describes the intuition I’ve had the last while about this topic!
Thanks for sharing such a beautiful experience with us! Namaste! ~Jen
.-= Jenn Z´s last blog ..Love in a Time of Global (Uncertainty)~Awakening: =-.
Hi Jen,
Thank you for the positive feedback and for sharing your thoughts about “Religare” and “Spiritus”. When I looked those two words up, I was floored to see what their root meaning meant. My immediate thought was that they both describe my experience perfectly.
.-= Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..Woundology 101 =-.
Interesting. From a spiritual point of view it makes sense, but I don’t understand why God would have done that. I guess there are simply too many things we don’t understand.
.-= Oscar – freestyle mind´s last blog ..How to Prioritize Tasks in Your Life =-.
Hi Oscar,
Thank you for being so open. What don’t you understand? I am curious to know because it is always great to see other points of view.
I agree that there are simply too many things that we do not understand about human life. In the Hindu holy book “The Bhagavad Gita”, Krishna tells Arjuna that if he were to see all aspects of God, he would not be able to handle it because God is so immense. I think there is a lot of truth to that statement.
Hope all is well.
.-= Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..Woundology 101 =-.
I don’t understand why God would have shown you the light only for telling you it was not your time. Thinking again it was a probably a sign that you were special in some way.
.-= Oscar – freestyle mind´s last blog ..How to Prioritize Tasks in Your Life =-.
Hi Oscar,
Thank you for answering my question. That is an interesting point. I think it probably happened to give me hope about life and to see that there is a meaning to all of this. I do not think it was a sign that I was special. We are all special…at least that is what I feel.
.-= Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..My November Dose of Tough Love =-.
Thanks for sharing this information about NDEs. I am fascinated by topics like this. I have never had an NDE, but I have had several out of body experiences. It’s amazing to experience time outside of the human body.
Your mention of the supermarket cashier reminds me of a bible verse. I don’t often quote bible verses, but this one seems to stick with me. “Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me.”
.-= Eric | Eden Journal´s last blog ..The Open Mind Test – Part 2: A Great Teacher, A Little Philosophy, and A Whole Lot of Love =-.
Hi Eric,
Cool on the out of body experiences. Have they been intentional or just kind of happened? I think such things are awesome.
And yes, I know what you mean about Bible verses. I am familiar with that one and it is so true. How we treat every single person matters.
Hope all is awesome!
.-= Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..Woundology 101 =-.
Hi, Dayne and Nadia -
This is a great post! I so enjoyed the positive and wholesome energy I felt in the interview — the words really inspire hope! Thank you for sharing!
- Marie (Coming Out of the Trees)
.-= Marie´s last blog ..Unlike anything you’d expect =-.
Hi Marie,
Thank you so much. I am so happy that they inspire hope. Ironically, that is what “Nadia” means…hope. And funny enough, that is one thing that has always kept me going through my life.
Hope all is well!
.-= Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..Woundology 101 =-.
Thank you everyone for being so kind and for all the awesome comments.
And Dayne, thank you for the opportunity and for a very fun interview. You rock!
.-= Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..Woundology 101 =-.
This is an amazing story. Hopefully not all of us will experience it ourselves – because for everyone who experiences near death there must be more who follow through and actually die.
But even a friend or relative’s brush with death can be a wake up call and cause us to re-evaluate our own life. If only we didn’t need these kinds of catalysts to get us off our bums and doing stuff we love!
Hi Annabel,
You are so right. It would be awesome if we did not need such events to remind us of how we should really view life.
I think events like these happen so that people are aware that there is a reason and a meaning behind all that we go through. We may not see it but that does not mean it is not there.
.-= Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..My November Dose of Tough Love =-.
This is a beautiful story. Thank you Dayne and Nadia, truly, for sharing it here.
.-= Miche | Serenity Hacker´s last blog ..Accepting Suffering and A Call for Compassion =-.
Hi Miche,
You are most welcome and thank you for calling it a beautiful story. Hope all is awesome.
.-= Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..My November Dose of Tough Love =-.
hi nadia and dayne
your story is just so inspirational
ive never had a NDE im actulally only 13 years old
in my lessons at school we are learning about death and NDE and our teacher told us to write a blog on whether there really are NDE or if the mind is just playing tricks and i had already decided that i believe in NDE but i also had doubts to whether they were real having not experianced it myself or knowing anyone who has but your story makes me believe that it is real and that there is life after death but i dont really know a way of saying that in my blog without giving a good argument for it or a reason for the mind may also play tricks. Can anyone help me ????
Kiran
When I had my NDE, I was at a point in my life where I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life – what my career path was going to be, what my major was, where I was going to live…
Beyond having my world flipped in the most beautiful way and all my preconceptions about life being shattered – one of the most profound things that I realized was that it wasn’t what we do that mattered so much as who we are while we are doing it that mattered.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Hi Nadia, my biggest question with religion is which is true? I am a Christian, and I do believe in God. However, I’m always confused about what God is really like. Christianity claims to be the only true religion, but somehow I feel that God can be served in many different ways. If I am to believe that, what about all the rules in Christianity? Should I still follow them?
I wish to express appreciation to the writer for this wonderful post.
You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.