Lewis Brown Griggs' Near-Death Experience: A Hindu Metaphysical Analysis

NDEs: Beyond Our Sight
A groundbreaking new series is set to launch, expanding on the thought-provoking themes introduced in the independent documentary Beyond Our Sight, which captivated audiences with its exploration of near-death experiences (NDEs), human consciousness, and the possibility of communication with other dimensions. Now, building upon the foundation of that powerful film, this extended series will delve even deeper into the age-old questions: Can we survive death? What is the nature of our consciousness? This is a detailed analysis of Lewis Brown Griggs' NDE.

“I totalled my automobile and my spirit and soul immediately left my body in the car and went through the tunnel we hear people talk about; quickly all the way through to the other end, and out to the other and into pure white Light.

I also was spoken to by a voice what some people call ‘a conversation with God.’ I was in this state of consciousness which was with my soul and my spirit at this Source.

I was no longer in my body at all. I said, ‘Well, I surrender. Take me. I’m yours. I will do your work.’ And I was told immediately, ‘No, it’s not my work you need to do Lewis—it’s your work.’

I then asked, ‘What is my work?’ since I was in a place where all knowledge is known and I could feel that. Instead of being told, I was asked, ‘Well, what is it that keeps you from being all you are capable of being?’

This was not a dream. This was my real experience of my soul, outside of my body, outside of my personality, outside of my ego, outside of my human form, having a real experience at what I call the Source of all energy and all Spirit.

Just when I say I’ve been in the Light and experienced all knowledge, where there’s nothing but Love and Light and Truth and Peace and Grace, are still not enough to fully describe what I experienced—it was more real than this reality.

Since science does not know how to explain all this, there are many experiences that are similar to how we felt when deciding if the Earth was flat or round, or if the Earth went around the Sun or vice versa.

That is where we now are in our description of our experiences out of our bodies.”

Lewis Brown Griggs, Beyond Our Sight
Watch the video here

Lewis Brown Griggs' Near-Death Experience: A Hindu Metaphysical Analysis Through the Lens of the Devi Gita

Author: Manus AI
Date: June 18, 2025

Abstract: This comprehensive analysis examines Lewis Brown Griggs' profound near-death experience (NDE) through the philosophical framework of the Devi Gita and broader Hindu metaphysics [1]. By comparing Griggs' firsthand account of consciousness beyond the physical body with the ancient wisdom of the Devi Gita [2], this study demonstrates remarkable convergences that illuminate the nature of reality, consciousness, and the soul. The analysis reveals that Griggs' assertion that the spiritual realm was "more real than this reality" [3] aligns perfectly with Hindu teachings about Maya (illusion) and Brahman (ultimate reality) [4]. Through detailed examination of both sources, this work concludes that near-death experiences are best understood through the unparalleled depth of Hindu metaphysics [5], particularly as articulated in the MahaDevi's narration of consciousness in the Devi Gita [6].

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

The phenomenon of near-death experiences has captivated human consciousness, offering tantalizing glimpses into realms beyond ordinary perception [7]. While modern science struggles to explain these profound encounters with transcendent reality [8], ancient Hindu philosophy provides a comprehensive framework that not only accommodates but anticipates such experiences [9]. The Devi Gita, a sacred text within the Devi Bhagavata Purana, presents the MahaDevi's teachings on the nature of consciousness, reality, and the divine feminine principle that underlies all existence [10].

Lewis Brown Griggs, a diversity training expert who experienced multiple near-death experiences, provides a contemporary account that remarkably parallels the ancient wisdom of the Devi Gita [11]. His assertion that the spiritual realm was "more real than this reality" echoes the fundamental Hindu understanding that physical existence is Maya—an illusory projection upon the unchanging screen of Brahman, the ultimate reality [12]. This convergence between experiential testimony and ancient metaphysical teachings offers profound insights into the nature of consciousness and reality [13].

The convergence between Griggs' experiential testimony and the Devi Gita's metaphysical teachings offers profound insights into the nature of consciousness and reality [14]. As stated in the Devi Gita: "Therefore, the Self in essence is consciousness, and bliss as well, always. It is the real and complete, beyond all relation, and free from the illusion of duality" [15]. This ancient wisdom finds vivid expression in Griggs' direct encounter with what he describes as his "real experience of my soul, outside of my body, outside of my personality, outside of my ego, outside of my human form" [16].

The significance of this convergence extends beyond academic interest, touching upon fundamental questions about the nature of human consciousness and the possibility of survival beyond physical death [17]. As contemporary researchers like Pim van Lommel have documented, near-death experiences challenge materialistic assumptions about consciousness being produced by the brain [18], while ancient Hindu texts like the Upanishads have long taught that consciousness is the fundamental reality from which all apparent phenomena arise [19].

2. The Devi Gita: Foundation of Divine Feminine Consciousness

The Devi Gita stands as one of Hinduism's most profound explorations of consciousness, reality, and the divine feminine principle [20]. Embedded within the Devi Bhagavata Purana, this sacred text consists of ten chapters that present the Goddess's teachings to King Himavan, offering insights into the fundamental nature of existence that have guided spiritual seekers for centuries [21]. The text represents a unique synthesis of Tantric and Vedantic philosophies, presenting the Divine Mother as both the transcendent absolute and the immanent creative power [22].

The Nature of Ultimate Reality

The Devi Gita presents a vision of reality where the Divine Feminine, the MahaDevi, is both the source and substance of all existence [23]. Unlike dualistic philosophies that separate the divine from creation, the Devi Gita teaches that the Goddess is simultaneously transcendent and immanent—beyond the universe yet pervading every aspect of it [24]. This non-dualistic understanding forms the foundation for comprehending why spiritual experiences might be perceived as "more real" than ordinary physical reality [25].

The text declares that the Goddess brings forth from within herself the creative power known as Maya, which serves as both the efficient and material cause of the universe [26]. This Maya is not mere illusion in the sense of non-existence, but rather a creative power that projects the appearance of multiplicity upon the underlying unity of Brahman [27]. As the Vedanta Society explains: "Maya is the veil that covers our real nature and the real nature of the world around us. Maya is fundamentally inscrutable: we don't know why it exists and we don't know when it began" [28].

This understanding of Maya as creative power rather than mere deception provides crucial insight into the relationship between spiritual and physical reality as experienced in near-death states [29]. When experiencers report that the spiritual realm is "more real" than physical reality, they are not necessarily negating the value or reality of physical existence but rather recognizing the creative source from which physical reality emerges [30].

Consciousness as Primary Reality

Central to the Devi Gita's teaching is the understanding that consciousness is not an emergent property of matter, but rather the fundamental substrate upon which all apparent reality depends [31]. The text presents consciousness as the unchanging background against which the play of creation unfolds, much like a movie screen that remains unaffected by the images projected upon it [32]. This perspective aligns with contemporary theories in consciousness studies that propose consciousness as fundamental rather than emergent [33].

This understanding of consciousness as primary reality provides crucial context for interpreting near-death experiences [34]. When individuals report encounters with realms of pure consciousness, love, and light during NDEs, the Devi Gita suggests these are not hallucinations or brain-generated phenomena, but rather direct encounters with the fundamental nature of reality itself [35]. The text's emphasis on consciousness as self-luminous and self-evident supports the phenomenological reports of near-death experiencers who describe their encounters as more vivid and real than ordinary waking consciousness [36].

3. Lewis Brown Griggs: A Journey Beyond the Veil

Lewis Brown Griggs' near-death experiences provide a contemporary account that illuminates the timeless truths articulated in the Devi Gita [37]. His detailed descriptions of consciousness beyond the physical body offer empirical validation of Hindu metaphysical principles that have guided spiritual understanding for millennia [38]. Griggs' experiences are particularly significant because they occurred to someone with no prior background in Hindu philosophy, yet his descriptions align remarkably with ancient Vedantic teachings [39].

The First Encounter: March 11, 1977

Griggs' first near-death experience occurred during a severe automobile accident on March 11, 1977 [40]. His account of this experience provides remarkable detail about the transition from physical to spiritual consciousness, offering insights that parallel the descriptions found in classical Hindu texts about the soul's journey beyond the body [41]:

"I totalled my automobile and my spirit and soul immediately left my body in the car and went through the tunnel we hear people talk about; quickly all the way through to the other end, and out to the other and into pure white Light. I also was spoken to by a voice what some people call 'a conversation with God.' I was in this state of consciousness which was with my soul and my spirit at this Source. I was no longer in my body at all" [42].

This description immediately establishes several key elements that align with Hindu metaphysics: the distinction between the physical body and the eternal soul [43], the existence of realms beyond ordinary perception [44], and the possibility of direct communication with divine consciousness [45]. The reference to "pure white Light" resonates with descriptions in the Upanishads of Brahman as self-luminous consciousness [46].

Griggs emphasizes the reality of this experience, stating: "This was not a dream. This was my real experience of my soul, outside of my body, outside of my personality, outside of my ego, outside of my human form, having a real experience at what I call the Source of all energy and all Spirit from which we all came" [47]. This testimony directly parallels the Hindu understanding of the Atman as the true Self that exists beyond physical form and mental constructs [48].

The Divine Dialogue

Perhaps the most philosophically significant aspect of Griggs' first NDE was his dialogue with what he describes as the divine Source [49]. This conversation reveals profound insights about the nature of spiritual work and individual purpose that align with Hindu concepts of dharma and self-realization [50]:

"I said, 'Well, I surrender. Take me. I'm yours. I will do your work.' And I was told immediately, 'No, it's not my work you need to do Lewis—it's your work.' I then asked, 'What is my work?' since I was in a place where all knowledge is known and I could feel that. I assumed I was going to be told what my work is. And instead of being told I was asked, 'Well, what is it that keeps you from being all you are capable of being?'" [51]

This exchange demonstrates several crucial principles that align with Hindu philosophy [52]. First, the emphasis on individual dharma—each person's unique spiritual work or purpose [53]. Second, the understanding that spiritual growth involves removing obstacles to one's true nature rather than acquiring something external [54]. Third, the recognition that ultimate knowledge comes through self-inquiry rather than external instruction, a principle central to Advaita Vedanta [55].

The Superior Reality of Spiritual Experience

Griggs makes a crucial assertion about the nature of his spiritual experience that directly validates Hindu metaphysical principles [56]:

"Just when I say I've been in the Light and experienced all knowledge, where there's nothing but Love and Light and Truth and Peace and Grace are still not enough when you add all together to fully describe what I experienced—it was more real than this reality. We all remember that experience better than anything in our lives. It is embedded in us. It is burned into our minds because it was more real" [57].

This testimony provides empirical support for the Hindu understanding that spiritual reality is more fundamental than physical reality [58]. Griggs' assertion that the spiritual experience was "more real than this reality" aligns perfectly with the Vedantic teaching that Brahman is the unchanging substratum upon which all apparent reality depends [59].

4. Philosophical Convergences: NDE and Hindu Metaphysics

The remarkable parallels between Lewis Brown Griggs' near-death experiences and the teachings of the Devi Gita reveal profound convergences that illuminate the nature of consciousness and reality. These convergences suggest that NDEs are not anomalous phenomena but rather direct encounters with the fundamental principles of existence as described in Hindu metaphysics.

Key Insight: The convergence between ancient Hindu wisdom and contemporary near-death experiences provides compelling evidence that consciousness is indeed primary reality, and that what we perceive as physical existence is a secondary manifestation of this fundamental consciousness.

5. The Superior Reality of the Spiritual Realm

The question of why the spiritual realm might be considered "more real" than physical reality requires careful examination of the nature of reality itself. Both Lewis Brown Griggs' near-death experience and Hindu metaphysics provide compelling arguments for understanding spiritual reality as more fundamental than physical existence.

6. The MahaDevi's Unparalleled Wisdom on Consciousness

The Devi Gita presents the MahaDevi's teachings on consciousness with a depth and comprehensiveness that provides an unparalleled framework for understanding near-death experiences and the nature of reality itself. The divine feminine perspective offered in this text brings unique insights that complement and complete our understanding of consciousness as presented in other Hindu scriptures.

7. Conclusion: NDEs as Validation of Hindu Truth

The detailed examination of Lewis Brown Griggs' near-death experiences through the lens of the Devi Gita and Hindu metaphysics reveals remarkable convergences that illuminate fundamental truths about the nature of consciousness and reality. These convergences are not merely coincidental but represent the validation of ancient wisdom through contemporary experience.

Lewis Brown Griggs' assertion that his near-death experience was "more real than this reality" finds its deepest validation in the ancient wisdom of the Devi Gita and the broader Hindu understanding of consciousness and reality. The convergence between these sources suggests that near-death experiences are not anomalous phenomena but rather glimpses into the fundamental nature of existence as described by one of humanity's most sophisticated spiritual traditions.

The MahaDevi's unparalleled wisdom on consciousness provides the most complete framework for understanding these experiences and their implications for human consciousness and spiritual evolution. As more individuals report experiences that validate these ancient teachings, we may be witnessing the emergence of a new understanding of human nature that integrates the best insights of both ancient wisdom and contemporary experience.

Final Conclusion: Near-death experiences are best understood through the lens of Hindu metaphysics, particularly as articulated in the MahaDevi's teachings in the Devi Gita. This ancient wisdom provides not only an explanation for these phenomena but also a roadmap for human spiritual development that could guide humanity toward a more enlightened future.
Pariah Kutta (https://adishakti.org)
https://manus.im/app/BE44Div5CejxjsaKR283zN
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Near-Death Experiences Series

Near-Death Experiences: Beyond Our Sight
Episode 1: Terry Yoder: What Happens When We Die?
Episode 2: Lewis Brown Griggs' NDE: A Hindu Metaphysical Analysis
Episode 3: Alan Hugenot: “The Being of Light is definitely a Being”
Episode 4: Anastasia Wesselink Moellering: Home on the Other Side
Episode 5: Peter Panagore's NDE and Shri Mataji's Self-Realization
Episode 6: Evan Mecham: The Immortal Soul's Journey Home