by Mark Pitstick MA, DC

If you’ve not already, please read: 

  1. ‘The Great News‘(article #19 at SoulProof.com/Articles)

  2. ‘Eight Developments for Widespread Conscious Living Now’ (#125)

  3. Greater Reality LIVING Program: Integrating ‘The 8 Developments’ Into Your Daily Life (#72)

  4. Greater Reality HEALING Program: Journeying FROM Deeply Grieving TO Brightly Shining (#82)

The evidence-based information and holistic resources outlined in these articles will help you to:

  • realize your true nature as an eternal being of consciousness / life-force / energy

  • receive guidance and assistance from highly evolved energies and Source / The Light

  • heal old wounds, release lower energies, and update erroneous teachings

  • create the greatest life YOU have envisioned (YOU = your higher self / soul)

  • help others by sharing your greatest gifts

  • make our world a better place

As enough people do this, widespread personal and planetary change will naturally unfold. 

 

Scientific Evidence That Bodily Death Is NOT the End of Life

My landscaper Joe, a big and friendly country guy, recently told me his beloved dad passed on just three weeks earlier.  I gave my condolences and said, ‘Joe, many religions have taught that life continues after physical death.’  Before I could continue, he said with tears in his eyes: ‘I sure hope that’s true.’  Then I told him about the scientific evidence that now clearly shows that bodily death is NOT the end of life. 

Joe expressed what many people feel.  Despite many different religions and denominations on our planet, fear of death is still widespread and significant.  As a holistic physician for 35 years, I have seen and heard ‘the real story’ that most people don’t share.  Numerous patients who were very religious have expressed their fear and worry when they or a loved one are close to bodily death.  It’s good to have faith, but it’s even better to have replicated research at a top university that corroborates the great news of life after death.   

Gary E. Schwartz, PhD, is the director of the University of Arizona’s Laboratory for Advances in Consciousness and Health.  A former assistant professor at Harvard and tenured professor at Yale, he stated in the book we co-authored, Greater Reality Living: “Speaking as a scientist, I am now 99.9 percent certain that life continues after bodily death.”

I am equally sure based upon my personal and professional experiences and knowledge of the collective evidence.

Those are very high levels of certainty.  Many experts on consciousness and afterlife topics agree that there is very strong evidence that your consciousness / energy / spirit survive bodily death.  Put another way, life is never-ending despite outward appearances to the contrary.  

Many potential benefits, including the heightened potential for personal and global transformation, can occur when you deeply know this evidence and live accordingly.  

(NOTE: I will not use the terms ‘departed, deceased, or dead’ since those have such strongly entrenched – and, according to much contemporary evidence – erroneous meanings about the end of life.  Instead, I will use more accurate terms: physical or bodily death / die, change worlds, pass on, or cross over.  Other more factual descriptors for what happens after physical death include: transition to the next phase of forever, reenter the field of all possibilities, and graduate from earth-school.)

The evidence that consciousness continues after bodily death can be grouped into three categories indicating who is doing the analysis: research scientists, clinicians, or persons having the firsthand experience. 

1.  Evidence from Research Scientists

Evidence collected by a scientist requires a laboratory or research setting with double-blinded, experimentally controlled and replicated studies.  Further, the findings must be statistically significant, peer-reviewed and published in reputable journals.  Topics in this category include: studies of authentic mediums, spirit communication technology, and other scientific evidence for consciousness. 

2. Evidence from Clinicians

Evidence from a medical or psychological clinician requires systematic collection and analysis of data in a professional office, hospital or field setting.  Categories include: near-death experiences, past life memories, perinatal research, life between lives studies, terminal lucidity and deathbed visions. 

3. Evidence from Persons Having Firsthand Experiences

Evidence in this category is perceived and analyzed by the person having the direct experience.  Categories include: after-death communications and other types of firsthand experiences. 

This article provides an overview of some of the scientific data; more is presented in Greater Reality Living and my book Soul Proof.

Studies of Authentic Mediums by Dr. Schwartz
As described in his book The Afterlife Experiments, Dr. Schwartz conducted numerous studies to investigate the validity of mediums.  In one study, he investigated five mediums and their abilities to accurately communicate with people who have passed on.

Using strict laboratory procedures, the mediums could not see or even hear the subjects – the people who hoped to receive messages from their ‘departed’ loved ones.  Furthermore, the mediums had no way of knowing anything about the subjects: not their names, gender, age bracket, background, city of residence or any other details. 

After reviewing his experimental research on mediums, he concluded that the information consistently retrieved can best be explained as coming from living beings.  Information was obtained before the medium ever spoke with the subjects. At times, the subject disagreed with some of the information that may ultimately turn out to be correct.  Mediums were sometimes corrected by the ‘deceased.’ The data appeared to be as valid, convincing and living as the mediums, subjects, skeptics and scientists themselves.  That’s what the experimental data unmistakably showed.

Yes, some individuals who call themselves mediums rely on ‘cold reading’ techniques as skeptics have correctly asserted.  Others may use ‘hot reading’ techniques with information secretly obtained before the session.  However, in Dr. Schwartz’s experiments, every conceivable measure was used to ensure valid readings.  Magicians, other scientists and professional documentarians with video-cameras assisted to spot any cheating.  No one who observed his laboratory’s work and data – especially his latest multi-blinded experiments – has been able to point out any critical flaws in the scientific methodology. 

No rational alternative explanations have been found for the findings.  Statistical analyses show that the chances the totality of the results could have occurred randomly are at least 1 in 1 trillion.  Finding a probability of chance in the 1 out of 100 or 1,000 range is the usual requirement for publishing research in respected journals.  The data from the medium research is thus 1 billion times the requirement for acceptance of data validity in traditional scientific journals. 

He concluded, “Scientists and nonscientists alike are experiencing a test of faith: in this case, whether we can believe in the scientific method itself.  Because if we are to put our faith in the scientific method, and trust what the data reveal, we are led to the hypothesis that the universe is more wondrous than imagined in our wildest flights of fancy.  The totality of the findings is surprisingly consistent with the concept of life after death and what we call the ‘living soul hypothesis.’”

Multiple double-blinded laboratory mediumship experiments have been published over the past 20 years from researchat the University of Arizona, University of Virginia, University of Glasgow in Scotland, Institute of Noetic Sciences, and Windbridge Institute.  In addition, imaging studies of mediums’ brains suggest that mediumship is more than imagination and have been published by Temple University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Institute of Noetic Sciences.

To summarize, double-blinded and triple-blinded experiments from 1997 to 2017 with genuine research mediums have indicated that accurate information can be obtained from ‘spirits.’  In addition, specific hypothesized spirit collaborators on ‘the other side’ – including famous scientists, inventors, business leaders and entertainers – appear to be actively collaborating with researchers.  These experiments and findings have been reported in four of Dr. Schwartz’s books: The Afterlife Experiments (2002), The Truth about Medium (2005), The Sacred Promise (2011), and An Atheist in Heaven(2016).

Spirit Communication Technology at the University of Arizona
Technologies are currently being tested to demonstrate that the theories listed above are real.  To date, many proof-of-concept technologies have been evaluated.  States Dr. Schwartz, “We hold the firm conviction that one day soon the technologies that result from these discoveries will allow us to communicate with what is now considered to be ‘the spirit realm.’”  Devices derived from these technologies will likely be available for us to continue our relationships with loved ones who have passed on, but definitely not passed away.

The Laboratory for Advances in Consciousness and Health at the University of Arizona is progressing toward a working prototype of what is called the SoulPhone™.  Researchers there have demonstrated that detection of those who have physically died is possible in optimally controlled environments with ultra-sensitive technological instruments. 

Electromagnetic fields, light, sounds and images of hypothesized collaborating spirits have been captured in proof-of-concept studies.  The challenge is to amplify their signals while minimizing background noise and other interfering signals.  

In light of the compelling evidence and rationale for such technologies, the question is no longer, “Is spirit communication possible?”  The question is now, “What will it take to engineer a technology to make spirit communication extremely reliable, practical and affordable?”

Proof of concept research provides experimental evidence demonstrating the feasibility of designing practical spirit communication technologies.  Important milestones thus far include:

  1. A collection of fundamental information from hypothesized collaborating spirits (HCSs.) These luminaries – scientists, inventors and others who have transitioned from earth – want to help those on earth. Thus far, contact with them has been achieved via key research mediums.  The data collected from 2009 to the present reveals the physics of the ‘deceased’ and the requirements of technology for reliably detecting them.
  2. Scientific publication of three proof of concept experiments in the peer-reviewed journal Explore (2010.) These data documented that the ‘energy of spirit’ could be reliably detected using state-of-the-art research grade equipment measuring single photons of light in a pitch-black light proof chamber.  Evidence of increased light was detected when hypothesized collaborating spirits were asked to enter the chamber.  No consistent changes in light were detected during the control trials of the experiment when they were not asked to appear. 

Additional findings about (1) and (2) were reported in Dr. Schwartz’s books, The Sacred Promise and An Atheist in Heaven. 

  1. Follow-up findings from two proof of concept experiments were published in Explore (2011.) This research documented that the energy of those who have passed on could be reliably detected using a fully automated computer low light CCD camera system.  Again, patterns of light were detected in a light-proof chamber when the computer signaled the timing for hypothesized collaborating spirits to enter the chamber.These experiments occurred in the middle of the night when no human experimenters were present to run the experiments.  This indicates that collaborating spirits can work with the equipment even when no humans are present and can follow precise instructions given via PowerPoint.  This phase of research also considered the unlikely possibility of inadvertent near-distance psi effects by the researchers.
  1. Additional research indicating the practicality of ‘spirit’ detection was conducted using a photomultiplier tube system in an electrically shielded chamber. Data were collected by a senior scientist with a Ph.D. in physical engineering at the California Institute of Human Sciences in 2013.
  2. Experiments were performed from 2011 to 2014 using shielded magnetic sensors and background radiation detectors. The statistically significant results documented that skilled collaborating spirits could increase or decrease the signals and produce patterns in the signals.
  3. Experiments from 2014 to 2016 using sophisticated equipment have detected: (a) micro-breezes using an optical dynamical interferometer with special software developed by Schwartz and his team            (b) micro-photon beam attenuation using an optical detection system

    (c) sub-audible sounds using a microphone with preamplifier synchronized voice paradigm

    (d) blurring in real time using high quality video recording equipment with specially designed software

(Note: The research described in (5) and (6) has intentionally not been published to protect important intellectual property.)

Dr. Schwartz has written the following papers for peer-reviewed scientific journals:

Schwartz G.E. (2010). Possible application of silicon photomultiplier technology to detect the presence of spirit and intention: three proof-of-concept experiments. EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing 6, pages 166-171.

Schwartz, GE. (2011) Photonic Measurement of Apparent Presence of Spirit Using a Computer Automated System. Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing (2011) 7(2) 100-109 DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2010.12.002

Schwartz GE. (2019). A computer-automated, multi-center, multi-blinded, randomized control trial evaluating hypothesized spirit presence and communication [published online ahead of print, 2019 Nov 16]. Explore (NY). 2019;S1550-8307(19)30552-X. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2019.11.007

Schwartz, Gary E., Woollacott Marjorie H., eds. (2019) Is Consciousness Primary?  Perspectives from the founding members of the Academy for the Advancement of Postmaterialist Sciences. Copyright 2019 AAPSGlobal.com 

 

Other Scientific Evidence for Consciousness

Additional evidence about the indestructibility of consciousness comes from many eminent scientists and their mathematical, theoretical or research findings.  As such, I want to share them in this category. 

I credit The New Science of Consciousness Survival by Alan Hugenot, Engr.  ScD as a resource for quotes in the remainder of this section.  

Max Planck Ph.D., Nobel Prize recipient and founder of quantum physics, stated: “All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force.  We must assume that behind this force is the existence of a conscious and intelligent Mind.  This Mind is the matrix of all matter.” Thirty years later, Dr. Planck wrote: “I regard consciousness as fundamental.  I regard matter as derivative from consciousness.  We cannot get behind consciousness.  Everything that we talk about, everything that we regard as existing, postulates consciousness.”

Erwin Schrodinger Ph.D., Nobel Prize winning physicist stated, “What we observe as material bodies and forces are nothing but shapes and variations in the structure of space.” Carl Sagan Ph.D., astronomer and astrophysicist said, “Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality.” Albert Einstein Ph.D. stated, “Everyone who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that some spirit is manifest in the laws of the universe, one that is vastly superior to that of man.”

Physicist David Bohm Ph.D., author of Wholeness and the Implicate Order, described the ultimate nature of reality as unified energy that undergoes constant change.  In his view, life is fundamentally best described as an enormous totality of energy in perpetual motion.  Our physical world is like a tiny ripple on a vast sea, a wavelike excitation on top of this seething energy soup.  Just as each fragment of a hologram contains information about the entire image, each human being in some sense contains the essence of the universe. 

Bohm postulates two levels of reality that coexist and overlap.  The material or explicate order is the manifestation of energy which is perceived by our brains as physical reality bound by time and space.  The absolute or implicate order is infinite, consists of pure energy and transcends physicality.  Together, these two orders comprise an undivided whole that constantly flows and changes. 

Even ‘empty space’ is full of this energy that ultimately merges and unites in a holomovement, Bohm’s term for the dynamic and holographic nature of reality.  Western philosophers such as Plato, Plotinus, Spinoza and Hegel have described this deep unitive reality for centuries, as have physicists for over 60 years. 

Dr. Hugenot states: “The insights of quantum electrodynamics (QED) and Relativity Theory both pointed to a universe that is undivided and in which all parts merge and unite in one totality.  This undivided whole is not static; it is in a constant state of flow and change, a kind of invisible ether (dark energy or zero-point field) from which all things arise and into which all eventually dissolve.”          

He states that the theory of afterlife survival has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt based on:

  • It is a logical possibility.
  • There is a great deal of evidence for it coming from several separate streams of scientific inquiry.
  • No scientist has ever produced one shred of scientific data to disprove it.

Robert Lanza M.D., is the author of Biocentrism and a regenerative specialist.  The foundations for his theories are based on work by theoretical physicist, John A.  Wheeler Ph.D., who gave us the terms ‘black hole’ and ‘worm hole’ and worked on the Manhattan Project.  

Hugenot summarizes how biocentrism supports the theory of consciousness survival: “This biocentrism theory implies that death simply does not exist.  It is an illusion that arises in the minds of people.  It exists because people identify themselves with their physical bodies.  They believe that the body is going to perish sooner or later and think their consciousness will also disappear along with the physical body. 

However, consciousness, does in fact, exist outside of the constraints of time and space and outside the physical body.  It is able to be and act anywhere: in the human body and outside of it.”

Dr. Schwartz is the founding president of the Academy for the Advancement of Post-Materialist Sciences (AAPS).  AAPS was created to inspire scientists in all areas to expand their theories, methods, and applications by exploring mind and consciousness as core properties of nature and the cosmos.  These properties of reality include historical and contemporary observations that do not fit into prevailing materialistic theories. 

The founding members of AAPS are a group of senior scientists spanning physics, mathematics, engineering, psychology, anthropology, neuroscience, and medicine.  They participated in one or more post-materialist meetings in: (1) New York City organized by Lisa Miller Ph.D. of Columbia University; (2) Tucson organized by Dr. Schwartz, Dr. Miller, and Mario Beauregard Ph.D. of the University of Arizona; and (3) Tucson organized by Dr. Schwartz and Marjorie Woollacott Ph.D. of the University of Oregon. 

For over two hundred years, materialistic science has assumed that mind and consciousness are created by matter, and that reality consists only of materially produced processes.  That is, in materialism, consciousness is considered to be merely a byproduct of the brain that ends with physical death. 

Post-materialism, as conceptualized by AAPS, refers to an evolutionary stage in scientific theory that views mind and consciousness, like information and energy, as being fundamental in nature and the cosmos.  Post-materialism expands scientific theory, research, and applications to include consciousness as a core process. 

Post-materialism is founded on evidence-based research published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.  It requires the rigorous application of the scientific method to questions involving mind and consciousness.  Though some of the areas

of research support certain ancient beliefs – for example, the continuation of consciousness beyond bodily death – post-materialism is driven by careful and replicated research. 

Materialism is the foundation of mainstream institutions of science and education.  Like every other scientific paradigm shift in the past, post-materialist thinking is viewed by most mainstream scientists as challenging the academic materialist paradigm.  For this reason, it is typically discouraged, misrepresented, and/or ridiculed in contemporary universities as well as funding institutions.  

As a result, post-materialist science is often conducted outside of mainstream settings.  In the process, young scientists and students are prevented from learning about these discoveries and contributing to human advancement.  A safe place is needed for scientists of all ages to be able to meet and pursue post-materialist theory, research, and applications.  In addition, such an academy, holding itself to the highest scientific standards, will serve to encourage and attract funding for high-level scientific research.  For more information, visit AAPSGlobal.com and read Expanding Science: Visions of a Post-Materialist Paradigm (edited by Beauregard, Schwartz, Trent 2018)

I hope this brief overview of the afterlife evidence provides comfort and inspiration.  Many have found this knowledge helps them to release fear, share their greatest gifts, and enjoy this earthly experience.                 

Thank you for telling others about this article!  Your life, and that of others, will be more enriched when you:  

  1. read the article again so you really know it.
  2. discuss with close family and friends to more deeply internalize it.
  3. take action steps that seem right for you.
  4. share it with others via social media, discussion groups, and other ways.

Hugs, love, blessings, and let it shine!
Mark

Mark Pitstick, MA, DC
author, lecturer, counselor, and holistic physician
spokesperson, research assistant, and strategic planner for the SoulPhone Project
founder of Greater Reality Living, Healing, Helping, and Sharing Programs
SoulProof.com    SoulPhone.org   GreaterRealityPrograms.com

Mark Pitstick, MA, DC is an author, master’s level clinical psychologist, holistic chiropractic physician, clinical nutritionist, frequent media guest, and webinar / workshop teacher.  He has also helped others in pastoral counseling and suicide prevention / education settings. 

His goal is to help you know and show – no matter what is happening to or around you – that this earthly experience is a totally safe, meaningful, and magnificent adventure amidst eternity. 

The Greater Reality LIVING, HEALING, HELPING, and SHARING Programs include free online and in-person groups that share information and resources from Dr. Pitstick, Dr. Gary Schwartz, and other experts about the nature of reality, creating an optimal earthly experience, helping others and our world, and the afterlife.  Click on the ‘Greater Reality Programs’ top tab at SoulProof.com and SoulPhone.org to learn more about these programs that are described in articles #72, 82, 119, and 122 at SoulProof.com/Articles.

SoulProof.com provides many FREE resources:

  • 8 e-books Radiant Wellness, Soul Proof, The Eleven Questions, Greater Reality Living, The Big Picture of Life, The Afterlife Evidence, Ask the Soul Doctor, and Shining Light Parents Speak 
  • 10 audio programs Holistic Breathing; Afterlife Contact; Ask Your Soul, Angels, and The Light; Pre-Birth Planning; Identify and Fulfill Your Purposes AND Enjoy Your Greatest Life; Your Life Review; Appreciate, Realize, and Transform; Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness; Past Life Regression; Heal and Transform Your Suffering 
  • 4 audio books (Greater Reality Living, Soul Proof, Radiant Wellness, and Shining Light Parents Speak; we don’t have control over the others) 
  • 125 Articles (as of 3/1/25) answering the most commonly asked questions and providing holistic solutions for your toughest challenges 
  • 25 Radio Shows: interviews with experts on consciousness, afterlife, and creating an optimal earthly experience. These include Wayne Dyer, Brian Weiss, Anita Moorjani, Raymond Moody, Michael Newton, Caroline Myss, and others. 
  • 27 Videos on different pages 
  • Monthly newsletters (subscriber sign-up at bottom of each website page)

Instead of payment, he asks that you: (1) fully use and appreciate the products, (2) share them with others, and (3) help others in ways you feel called, that is, pay it forward.

The following are also available for a fee:

  • 8 printed books Radiant Wellness, Soul Proof, The Eleven Questions, Greater Reality Living, The Big Picture of Life, The Afterlife Evidence, Ask the Soul Doctor, and Shining Light Parents Speak 
  • Coaching / Counseling Sessions with Dr. Pitstick by Zoom to gain answers to your biggest questions and holistic solutions to your toughest challenges.

Note: This article is intended as a reference source, not to replace professional treatment for physical, emotional, or mental problems.  The author disclaims any liability arising directly or indirectly from the voluntary use of action steps discussed in article. 

I created this article while ‘wearing the hat’ of a clinician, counselor, and educator.  My statements are based upon some scientific research; much clinical and experiential evidence; my personal experiences; and my best current understandings.  This program does not reflect my roles with the SoulPhone Project since those require solid scientific data for all statements.