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Near-death experiences in Thailand.

Todd Murphy, San Francisco, S Blackmore, H Gehman, B Greyson, N Bush, I Horner, M Horowitz, J Adams, H Irwin, B Bramwell, A Kellehear, C Lundahl, M Morse, D Conner, D Tyler, S Pasricha, I Stevenson, W Penfield, C Schorer

Journal of Near-Death Studies 2001 DOI: 10.17514/jnds-2001-19-3-p161-178. (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Qualitative study Peer reviewed
Population Thai individuals reporting near-death experiences
Topics Buddhism Near-death experience
Keywords Vision Southeast asia Ancient history Ethnology Anthropology Archaeology Jungian analytical psychology
Citations 22
Key findings Near-death experiences in Thailand reflect culturally specific expectations derived from Southeast Asian Buddhist beliefs, yet share a common sequential structure with Western NDEs.

Abstract

Near-death experiences (NDEs) in Thailand do not demonstrate the episodes most noted in those collected in the West, but they do show con sistent features. I argue that these features, including harbingers of death, visions of hell, the Lord of the underworld, and the benefits of making dona tions to Buddhist monks and temples, can be understood within the framework of beliefs and customs unique to Southeast Asia. The simplest explanation is that the phenomenology of NDEs at least in part fulfills the individuals' expec tations of what they will experience at death. These expectations are most often derived from the experiencer's culture, subculture, or mix of cultures. Culture bound expectations are, in turn, most often derived from religion. One case, quoted at length, shows features that suggest that the individual was experi encing stress as a result of living in both Thai and Chinese cultures. Although the phenomenology of Thai NDEs is at variance from those in the West, the typ ical episodes that appear in each seem to follow a comparable sequencing. This similarity in structure suggests that NDEs in both cultures have a common function.

Comparable studies

Other qualitative studies on near-death experience, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Qualitative thematic analysis of the phenomenology of near-death experiences Cardiac arrest survivors 2018 Qualitative study n = 34
Do Suicide Survivors Report Near-Death Experiences? Persons who had been close to death as a result of a suicide attempt 1982 Qualitative study n = 36
The evolving self: finding meaning in near-death experiences using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Female participants who had near-death experiences 2008 Qualitative study n = 3
Investigation of the phenomenology, physiology and impact of spiritually transformative experiences - kundalini awakening. Persons having a spiritually transformative experience (e.g., spontaneous energetic... 2021 Qualitative study
Near-death experiences and religion: A further investigation Near-death experiencers 1984 Qualitative study n = 40

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Buddhism Near-death experience Philosophy of mind