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eISSN: 2577-8250

Arts & Humanities Open Access Journal

Case Study Volume 7 Issue 1

Exploring reincarnation and near-death experiences: a case study of past life regression therapy

Shivam Gupta,1 Dr. Vijay Girdhar,2 Dr. Amita Puri,1 Srishti Bhatt1

1Clinical Psychologist, Citizen Hospital and De-Addiction Centre, India
2Psychiatrist, Government Medical College and Hospital, India

Correspondence: Shivam Gupta, Clinical Psychologist, Citizen Hospital and De-Addiction Centre, India

Received: February 08, 2025 | Published: February 14, 2025

Citation: Gupta S, Girdhar V, Puri A, et al. Exploring reincarnation and near-death experiences: a case study of past life regression therapy. Art Human Open Acc J. 2025;7(1):23-25. DOI: 10.15406/ahoaj.2025.07.00248

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Abstract

This case study delves into the experiences of Mrs. M, a 42-year-old woman, as she navigates Past Life Regression Therapy (PLRT) and recounts Near-Death Experiences (NDEs). Her narratives reveal recollections of past lives spanning diverse cultures from Argentina to Tibet and her ability to communicate in multiple languages during these regressions. Her NDEs consistently involved encounters with a "White Light" and a recurring message to fulfil an unfinished purpose. Additionally, the case includes an account of her mother’s NDE, marked by visions of existential threats and profound concern for humanity’s future. This study underscores the therapeutic and philosophical implications of PLRT and NDEs, offering insights into human consciousness, spiritual experiences, and the pursuit of purpose.

Keywords: past life regression therapy, near-death experience, reincarnation, human consciousness, spiritual therapy, white light

Introduction

Past Life Regression Therapy (PLRT) and Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) are pivotal in exploring the realms of consciousness beyond the physical. PLRT, a therapeutic technique using hypnosis to access past life memories, is rooted in the belief of reincarnation. This method aims to address psychological or spiritual challenges by unearthing unresolved issues from previous lifetimes.1,2 NDEs, first popularized by Raymond Moody in 1975, involve profound out-of-body experiences or visions often occurring during life-threatening events.3 These phenomena have intrigued researchers and clinicians, revealing consistent themes such as encounters with divine entities, life reviews, and feelings of peace.4 While critics argue about the subjective nature of these accounts, studies highlight their therapeutic potential in reducing fear of death and fostering spiritual growth.5 PLRT has been employed in therapeutic settings to address trauma, phobias, and existential distress.1 documented its efficacy in uncovering past-life trauma contributing to present-life challenges.2 explored soul journeys between lives, emphasizing spiritual purpose. NDEs, as documented by,6 involve vivid memories of leaving the body, encountering light, and receiving messages. Greyson B7 research provided a framework to assess NDEs’ transformative effects, including heightened spirituality and reduced fear of mortality.8 illustrated their implications for understanding consciousness and life after death.

The exploration of Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) and Past Life Regression Therapy (PLRT) has significantly expanded our understanding of consciousness, bridging the physical and metaphysical realms. NDEs, as illuminated by Dr. Raymond Moody,3 revealed consistent themes such as out-of-body experiences, encounters with radiant light, and feelings of peace, suggesting the continuity of consciousness beyond physical death. Moody’s qualitative approach laid the groundwork for systematic studies. Dr. Bruce Greyson4 advanced this field by developing the Near-Death Experience Scale, a tool for empirically evaluating NDE features, and his 2007 research provided evidence of their transformative effects, including reduced fear of death and heightened spirituality. Similarly, Peter and Elizabeth Fenwick's The Truth in the Light 5 integrated neuropsychological and spiritual perspectives, emphasizing NDEs as profound experiences that foster psychological and spiritual growth, with implications for understanding consciousness.

In parallel, PLRT emerged as a therapeutic avenue for exploring the continuity of consciousness. Dr. Brian Weiss’s Many Lives,9 Many Masters introduced PLRT to the clinical field, documenting its effectiveness in alleviating anxiety, phobias, and emotional distress by addressing unresolved past-life traumas. Weiss’s work provided anecdotal evidence for reincarnation and highlighted the therapeutic benefits of accessing subconscious memories. Dr. Michael Newton’s Journey of Souls10 expanded this exploration to the metaphysical, focusing on the soul’s journey between incarnations and uncovering themes of spiritual purpose, soul progression, and interconnectedness. By delving into the dynamics of soul groups and life purposes, Newton provided a structured framework for understanding reincarnation and spiritual growth.

Together, these bodies of work converge to challenge materialistic views of consciousness by presenting compelling evidence for its continuity beyond the physical realm. While NDEs are spontaneous phenomena that reveal glimpses of the afterlife, PLRT offers an intentional therapeutic tool to access and heal past-life influences. The consistent themes of love, interconnectedness, and spiritual awakening across independent studies lend credibility to these experiences and highlight their profound transformative effects on individuals’ psychological and spiritual well-being. This synthesis of research underscores the interplay of mind, body, and spirit, advocating for an integrative approach that combines scientific inquiry with spiritual exploration.

The study of Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) and Past Life Regression Therapy (PLRT) has profoundly deepened our understanding of consciousness, exploring realms beyond the physical. NDEs, brought into focus by Dr. Raymond Moody in Life After Life,6 highlight universal themes such as out-of-body experiences, encounters with radiant light, and feelings of peace, suggesting a continuity of consciousness that transcends physical existence. (16) Moody’s foundational work paved the way for systematic exploration, furthered by Dr. Bruce Greyson,4 who developed the Near-Death Experience Scale. Greyson’s empirical studies, particularly in 2007, revealed the transformative psychological and spiritual impacts of NDEs, including diminished fear of death, heightened spirituality, and a renewed sense of purpose. Peter and Elizabeth Fenwick8 expanded this understanding in The Truth in the Light, presenting multidisciplinary insights that emphasized NDEs as profound psychological and spiritual phenomena, offering evidence of life beyond the physical realm.

Parallel to NDEs, PLRT has emerged as a therapeutic approach to exploring past-life memories and their influence on present-day challenges. Dr. Brian Weiss, in Many Lives, Many Masters,9 demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of PLRT in alleviating phobias, anxiety, and emotional distress by addressing unresolved traumas from past lives. Dr. Michael Newton extended this exploration in Journey of Souls,10 delving into the metaphysical dimensions of the soul’s journey between lives. Newton’s work revealed intricate themes of spiritual growth, soul progression, and interconnectedness, offering a structured understanding of reincarnation. Together, NDEs and PLRT provide compelling evidence for the continuity of consciousness, challenging materialistic perspectives. These phenomena highlight consistent themes of love, interconnectedness, and spiritual awakening, emphasizing their profound transformative effects on psychological and spiritual well-being. Their synthesis advocates an integrative approach that merges science, spirituality, and psychology.

Methodology

Case study: Mrs. M's spiritual journey through past life regression and near-death experiences

Mrs. M, a 42-year-old woman, underwent a series of past life regression (PLR) sessions, revealing profound insights about her spiritual journey across lifetimes and near-death experiences (NDEs). Her accounts offer a unique perspective on the themes of spiritual transcendence, interconnectedness, and the continuity of life, as well as their implications for humanity's collective consciousness.

Past life regression experiences

Through guided PLR sessions, Mrs. M recalled past lives in diverse geographical regions, including:

Argentina

Norway

Tibet

India

The Middle East

Vatican City

America

These experiences demonstrated her exposure to varied cultural, linguistic, and spiritual contexts. Mrs. M reported fluency in languages such as French, English, Haitian Creole, Urdu, and Hindi, suggesting deep-rooted connections to different cultures and civilizations throughout her soul's journey.

Insights from near-death experiences and past-life memories

The “White Light” and its spiritual significance

Mrs. M repeatedly encountered the “White Light” during her NDEs and past-life memories. This light, often described in spiritual accounts as a representation of divine presence, universal consciousness, and unconditional love, emerged as a central theme in her experiences. For Mrs. M, the “White Light” symbolized a transcendent force that provided peace, guidance, and purpose. Each encounter reinforced the concept of life as a continuum, where death is not an end but a transition into another realm of existence. The light's directive for her to return and fulfil her spiritual mission underscored the belief in reincarnation as a mechanism for growth and collective contribution.

Tibetan Buddhist monk life: Enlightenment through discipline

One of Mrs. M’s past lives was as a Tibetan Buddhist monk, during which she practiced intense mindfulness through chanting and meditation. This disciplined lifestyle allowed her to cultivate inner stillness and align with higher states of consciousness. Upon her death in that lifetime, merging with the “White Light” likely symbolized enlightenment a state of liberation from the cycle of samsara (birth, death, and rebirth) as per Buddhist philosophy. This memory has profoundly shaped Mrs. M’s present-life understanding of mindfulness, compassion, and the power of inner peace. Her affinity for spiritual practices reflects the continuity of wisdom carried across lifetimes, influencing her role as a spiritual guide.

Her mother’s near-death experience and the vision of nuclear catastrophe

Mrs. M’s mother also recounted an NDE, characterized by visions of a nuclear catastrophe. In contrast to the serenity Mrs. M experienced, her mother’s vision represented an apocalyptic scenario, symbolizing humanity’s destructive tendencies and their potential consequences. Such imagery in NDEs is often interpreted as cautionary and reflective of the collective fear of existential threats. For Mrs. M, her mother’s vision serves as a reminder of the urgent need for global healing and harmony. By integrating these insights into her work, Mrs. M emphasizes the importance of redirecting humanity’s focus toward sustainability, peace, and collective well-being.

Purpose and meaning in Mrs. M’s current life

Mrs. M’s spiritual purpose in her current incarnation is deeply informed by her past lives, NDEs, and her mother’s experiences. Her mission centers on sharing wisdom about life’s continuity and spiritual dimensions, fostering a collective awakening in humanity. Key aspects of her journey include:

Peace as a central theme

The recurring symbolism of the “White Light” and her past life as a Tibetan monk emphasize the transformative power of peace. Mrs. M advocates for cultivating inner tranquillity as a foundation for creating harmony in the external world.

Sharing spiritual insights

Mrs. M has embraced her role as a spiritual guide, sharing messages of interconnectedness, mindfulness, and compassion. Through storytelling, teaching, and healing practices, she helps individuals reconnect with their spiritual essence, inspiring personal and collective transformation.

Elevating humanity’s collective consciousness

Mrs. M’s purpose extends beyond individual healing to facilitating a global shift in consciousness. Her experiences underscore the interconnectedness of all beings and the urgent need for humanity to embrace higher values such as empathy, sustainability, and universal love. She envisions a world where spiritual awareness drives collective progress, fostering an enlightened and harmonious existence.

Implications for humanity

Mrs. M’s spiritual journey highlights the broader significance of individual transformation in shaping collective outcomes. Her experiences suggest that by tapping into past-life wisdom, cultivating mindfulness, and heeding cautionary visions, humanity can transcend destructive tendencies and align with higher values. In her work, Mrs. M seeks to inspire others to explore their spiritual paths, emphasizing that every soul carries a unique purpose and the potential to contribute to universal well-being. Through her guidance, she embodies the belief that humanity's progress is deeply intertwined with individual growth and a collective embrace of interconnectedness and compassion.

Discussion

The case exemplifies the intersections of PLRT and NDEs in uncovering deep-seated memories and existential insights. Mrs. M’s experiences align with literature highlighting recurring themes of purpose and spiritual awakening. Her linguistic abilities and vivid recollections offer compelling evidence for the therapeutic and exploratory potential of PLRT. Similarly, her mother’s NDE underscores the universal themes of love, interconnectedness, and existential reflection. The case of Mrs. M illustrates the profound intersections between Past Life Regression Therapy (PLRT) and Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) in uncovering deep-seated memories and providing existential insights. PLRT enabled Mrs. M to access vivid recollections of past lives, such as her life as a Tibetan Buddhist monk, revealing recurring spiritual themes of peace, interconnectedness, and merging with divine consciousness. These insights align with findings by Newton10 who emphasized the therapeutic potential of accessing subconscious memories to address unresolved traumas and discover life’s purpose. Similarly, NDEs, as reflected in Mrs. M’s encounters with the “White Light” and her mother’s vision of nuclear catastrophe, highlight universal themes of unconditional love, interconnectedness, and existential reflection. Mrs. M’s repeated experiences with the “White Light” reinforced her sense of purpose in sharing peace and fostering spiritual awareness, while her mother’s apocalyptic vision underscored the need for collective introspection and global healing. These themes resonate with the broader NDE literature, such as Greyson’s7 findings on their transformative effects and the Fenwicks’8 emphasis on fostering responsibility toward humanity’s future. Together, PLRT and NDEs challenge materialistic views of consciousness by demonstrating its continuity beyond physical existence. Mrs. M’s case validates the therapeutic and exploratory potential of these phenomena in fostering emotional healing, spiritual growth, and alignment with higher purposes.

Conclusion

This case underscores the transformative potential of PLRT and NDEs in exploring human consciousness and spirituality. By embracing such narratives with empathy and open-mindedness, practitioners can support individuals in uncovering profound personal insights and achieving psychological well-being. The foundational research by Moody, Greyson, the Fenwicks, Weiss, and Newton has significantly advanced the understanding of NDEs and PLRT. These phenomena not only deepen our comprehension of consciousness but also offer practical applications in therapy and personal growth. Future research may further elucidate the mechanisms underlying these experiences, contributing to a more holistic understanding of human existence. Mrs. M’s encounters with the “White Light,” her mother’s visionary NDE, and her past-life memories contribute to a profound understanding of purpose, spirituality, and human interconnectedness. These experiences position her as a bridge between metaphysical insights and practical actions for spiritual and collective growth. Her journey serves as a reminder that life’s challenges and transformations are integral to fulfilling one’s purpose and fostering a global shift toward higher consciousness.

Acknowledgments

None.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

References

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©2025 Gupta, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.