What does science say about awareness after passing away?
What happens to awareness once the heart has stopped beating? This question has captivated humans since antiquity. Many cultures believe that the soul takes about three days to entirely exit the body. But is there a scientific basis for this idea?
Consciousness and D3ath: What We Know
From a scientific standpoint, clinical d3ath occurs when breathing and heartbeat stop. However, current evidence indicates that consciousness may persist for several minutes after d3ath.
A research published in the Resuscitation Journal examined patients who had experienced cardiac arrest and were then resuscitated. Surprisingly, some of them recounted memories, sensations, and perceptions of their environment even though they were clinically d3ad. This has prompted many scientists to reconsider what actually occurs between life and d3ath.
What happens in the body during the following hours?
Following passing away, the body undergoes autolysis, a process in which cells begin to breakdown due to a lack of oxygen. This procedure can take hours or even days, depending on the surroundings and the state of the body.
During this moment, the brain continues to send specific electrical signals. A 2018 study from the University of Western Ontario found brain activity in patients up to 10 minutes after clinical d3ath.
And how about consciousness? Can it outlive the body?
Scientifically, it is still unknown if consciousness (what some traditions refer to as the “soul”) exists outside of the physical body. However, research into near-death experiences (NDEs) has discovered fascinating patterns:
- Feeling like I’m leaving my body
- Perception of powerful light or spiritual entities
- Life review in seconds.
- Feeling of tranquility and complete connection
Spiritual vision vs. science
Many spiritual traditions hold that the soul need time to separate from the body. For example:
- In Tibetan Buddhism, the bardo (state between lifetimes) is thought to last about 49 days.
- Farewell rites are done after three days in Hinduism because the soul is considered to begin its journey at this time.
- Many shamanic traditions use rituals between the third and seventh days to “help” the soul cross over.
- Although science cannot yet prove the presence of the soul, it can explain bioelectrical, neurochemical, and physiological phenomena that may be related to these ancestral beliefs.
Final reflection
The question, “Does it take a soul three days to leave?” has no single solution. Science is still investigating the borders between life and d3ath, and while it cannot affirm the presence of the soul, it does acknowledge that the dying process is far more complex than previously assumed.
Perhaps the mystery is not in finding a precise answer, but in learning to respect the transition as a precious and genuinely human experience.
