A “Little Death”: The Near-Death Experience and Tibetan Delogs
Journal of Near-Death Studies March 1, 2001 DOI: 10.1023/a:1026461521146 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Tibetan delogs (contemporary and historical cases) |
| Topics | Near-death experience |
| Key points | Proposes that delog accounts represent a culturally specific phenomenon resembling near-death experiences, linking them to shamanic traditions. |
Abstract
A phenomenon remarkably like the near-death experience has been uncovered in Tibetan culture, aside from the so-called Tibetan Book of the Dead (Thurman, 1994). Anthropologists have gathered accounts of contemporary and historical cases of remarkable people called delogs. Seemingly dead for several hours or days, these people revive spontaneously and tell detailed accounts of otherworldly journeys. Their journey accounts contain elaborate versions of Buddhist otherworldly landscapes and characters, emphasizing the moral and spiritual teachings of Tibetan Buddhism. These delogs are a bridge between contemporary near-death experiences and ancient shamanic practices.