Seeing Dead People Not Known to Have Died: “Peak in Darien” Experiences

Belief that consciousness may persist after death is partly driven by near-death experiences (NDEs) and deathbed visions—mystical experiences reported near death. Some NDEs, termed 'Peak in Darien' experiences, involve visions of deceased individuals whose death was unknown to the experiencer at the time. Such cases offer some of the most compelling evidence for the survival of consciousness beyond bodily death.

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Abstract

SUMMARY The ubiquitous belief that, after death, our consciousness might persist in some discarnate form is fueled in part by phenomena like near‐death experiences (NDEs) and deathbed visions, mystical experiences reported on the threshold of death. Some NDEs, called “Peak in Darien” experiences, include visions of deceased people who are not known at the time to be dead. Cases of this kind provide some of the most persuasive evidence for the survival of consciousness after bodily death.