«What Really Happens When We Die?»

Dear friends,

This is one of the great questions that we are all going to think about at some point in our life. For some people, the fears that had been kept quiet until that moment will emerge.

Probably the names: Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and Raymond Moody are familiar to you because they both were pioneers in the study of the process of dying. Currently, other authors such as Sam Parnia, Pim Van Lommel, Monika Renz, and Peter Fenwick are doing research and providing knowledge about consciousness, the process of dying and its phases.

Among those mentioned, Peter Fenwick (1935) is an eminent neuropsychiatrist and neurophysiologist who is known for his pioneering research on the phenomena related to the end of life and the process of dying. He is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College (London), and associated with the Mental Health Group at the University of Southampton. He is a Consultant Neuropsychiatrist in the Epilepsy Unit at the Maudsley Hospital and the John Radcliffe Hospital (Oxford).

Fenwick is also the president of the Horizon Research Foundation, “an independent charitable organisation that aims to provide support for scientific research and understanding into the state of the human mind at the end of life.”. He has an extensive research record and has published over 200 papers in medical and scientific journals. He is the co-author with his wife, Elizabeth Fenwick of several books, the last one is The art of dying.

Peter Fenwick argues that everyone should know what death is and what the process of dying is about because dying is part of life. We all are going to die, so we better learn about it. He says that we should all prepare to have a good death, and recommends:

– “Teach people – including children -not to be afraid of dying».

–  «Learn what may happen to you when you dye».

– «Prepare for death – don’t just clean out your attic but clear up your relationships. Remember that one of the most difficult things of death are relationships within the family which are stressful it makes for a very stressful death. Sort it out beforehand».

– «Discuss death and don’t sweep it under the carpet».

– «The final border may not be as frightening as you think».

In the interview we share below, Fenwick talks about the latest research on consciousness and what really happens during the process of dying.

Although the words resignation and surrender seem to be incompatible with the values that are encouraged and applauded in our society, he argues that they are essential for a good death.

Elena Lorente Guerrero

9th October 2022

* * *

“The experience that I have learnt about near-death experiences and dying have a very strong message to our culture (…):

Any culture which sweeps death under the carpet and can’t acknowledge it is a society which is greedy because you are collecting things and you are getting to have it. You can be angry with people because it means it is fine to have enemies. And they are very self-centered because they are going to live into eternity.”

* * *

* * *

Sources:

Nour Foundation

The Final Border: Peter Fenwick at TEDxBerlin.

What really happens when you Die | End-of-life-phenomena • At Home with Peter Fenwick. Thanatos tv

Anuncio publicitario