Taped at the Pacific Northwest Conference on Near-Death Experiences, Transcending the Limits is comprised of highlights from speeches by people who have had near-death experiences and authors Melvin Morse, M.D. (Closer to the Light) and Kenneth Ring, Ph.D. (Heading Toward Omega). The accounts from the speakers, which include a humorous presentation by a Vietnam vet recalling a hellish experience, and a bizarre account by a young man who remembers his near-death experience at the age of 9 mos. old, generally include what might be called standard features of the NDE (Near-Death Experience; the people are referred to as NDE'ers). These stock symptoms include: floating out-of-body, entering a dark tunnel, emerging into intense light, gaining universal knowledge (but forgetting it on their return), seeing departed loved ones and other beings (occasionally Biblical figures), and, often, acquiring healing abilities. Variations include "the dark side" (and apparently, like old Star Trek fans and new Star Trek fans, there are separate camps for those who have "light" and "dark" NDE's), and the notion, advanced by author Morse, that one doesn't even have to be near death to have an NDE (which raises semantic, as well as philosophical, questions). Perhaps the strangest argument comes from author Ring who, after pointing out that many NDE'ers had abusive childhoods, suggests that the NDE may be a "compensatory gift" for their earlier sufferings. Regardless of one's take on the subject, Transcending the Limits is a very interesting video (just as the similarly-themed 1980 Ellen Burstyn film Resurrection was an intriguing movie), and interest is perennially high (currently, the latest bestseller is Betty J. Eadie's Embraced by the Light). Unfortunately, the technical quality of the video is unacceptable, with sounds of planes and ambulances blaring onto the soundtrack and blackout glitches running throughout the tape. Not recommended. (R. Pitman)
Transcending the Limits: the Near Death Experience
(1993) 105 min. $29.95. Seattle IANDS Productions. PPR. Color cover. Vol. 9, Issue 2
Transcending the Limits: the Near Death Experience
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