11. Peculiarities of Time Perception
Until now, we have considered the perception of a 2D universe from a third dimension that allowed us to understand the particularities reported by the NDErs. These latter seem extremely similar to those which would appear when a 3D space is perceived from an external vantage point, thus situated in an additional spatial dimension.
This notion of a fourth dimension is far from new. As a purely spatial extension, it has been evoked in the 19th (Bork 1964) and early 20th century as mathematical and geometric speculations (Bragdon 1913, Manning 1914, Durrel 1938, Rucker 1977, 1984), within metaphysics (Willink 1893, Zollner 1901, Gardner 1981), philosophy (Kant 1783) as well (remember some paintings from Picasso showing a model seen from several different places simultaneously! ) in fine arts (Dalrymple Henderson 1983).
As it concerns for the moment only the perception of space, the modelling I have set out until now can be considered as a purely geometrical analogy in an Euclidian affine extended space. A similar hypothesis has been proposed independently in 2003 by another NDE researcher (Brumblay 2003). But is it sufficient? Since Minkowski, Einstein and Poincaré’s works, it is well known that we live in a four-dimensional world, in which space and time are closely linked within a spatio-temporal continuum. Thus there already exists a fourth time-like dimension and if we want to be rigorous we have now to talk at least of a fifth dimension.
11.1. No time The NDErs’ answers to questions about their perception of time during their experience led us to enlarge the 4D spatial model to a 5D spatio-temporal one. For a start, during a NDE the notions of time or of duration may disappear:
Feeling that time no longer existed. (S.D.)
In fact, there was no time, it was like a moment of eternity. (K.E)
Time did not exist. Now it's a real knowledge for me, time does not exist! (M.M.)
On the other side, time does not exist. One truly realizes it. Time is a completely mental concept. A thousand years may be instantaneous. (M-P.S.)
There I had the distinct impression of finding myself in a familiar place, a place I had known. As if I was gone for some time and then back home Some time ... But what does it mean: "some time"? The concept of duration to which it usually refers was absent from this story. All I can say, even if I am unable to explain it, is that I existed in what might be called a kind of absolute timelessness. For this entire trip out of my body also unfolded outside of time. No body: no time! So I wonder whether our perception of temporal flow could not be an enormous performance, a joke. (M.N.)
Notion of time? No, I think we totally lose track of time. Maybe faster. But in reality I do not know, because it happens like flashes by, you see things, you hear, you see, it seems that everything happens at once. (A.L.)
11.2. An eternal present In other cases, a less drastic disappearance of time may be translated by various expressions. Many speak about an "eternal present", an "omnitime", or of a "time that no longer unfolds":
I could tell some facts that were going on at places where I was not supposed to be, since I was strapped to a bed in ICU. They checked, they found it surprising that this was true, as this seems surprising to some that I talk to them about what happened. About their lives. They call it the past because they reason in terms of time, but there is no time outside the body. There is no past. There is no present, no future. There is an eternal present. (P.M.)
I had a horrible feeling of eternity. I had an experience where time no longer unfolded. Furthermore, no past, no future, just an eternal present. I had the feeling that all that was real, the feeling of "living" in eternity. (I.H.)
Their experience led C.N. to study Einstein, and H.R. to speak spontaneously of space-time as a whole:
I had no notion of time during the experiment. It's just another time, in fact we are no longer in time, it's omnitime, that is to say, the eternal present ... One is truly in the eternal present. There is no more time. But having said that, after my return, I had a very very big problem with time, I was very obsessed by time, space-time, that is what made me study Einstein, the fourth dimension, etc. Because at the same time I was very anxious at the idea of having no time, no time enough to do what I had to do, it's funny; I had a very very big problem with time having been out of time gave me a problem with the chronological time that we live on earth. At least I know I was in that omnitime and omnispace. (C.N.) No notion of time and no limit. To my knowledge there is no possibility of comparing the earthly time and that of this dimension. The whole makes up this space-time, a form of totality, comprehensiveness. (H.R.)
There is an apparent contradiction in living "out of time": to experience something, one must one way or another
last. In fact, some expressions used by NDErs suggest that, during their experience, there remains at least a present allowing them to continue to exist, but it is also clear that this present of their own is no longer subject to the time arrow. Like an astronaut who is no longer submitted to gravity but who can watch the Earth with a telescope and see the fall of an apple, in their experience they "observe" a time which is no longer their own.
11.3. A second form of time We could consider a purely psycho-physiological explanation, as this "other form of time" might be a reconstruction by our brain, which is used to run sequentially, in particular with regard to memory, not to mention that the narrative of the experience can only be done sequentially too. But NDErs are adamant that, just like any of the other perceptual particularities we have reviewed so far, this second time was experienced during their NDE and is registered in their memory as well as the rest, as shown by some pertinent remarks:
It is a profound conviction that I do not explain, displacements are infinitely fast but there is still a before and an after, a chronology and a souvenir of the action that just took place, so there is a form time but I cannot explain it. (Be.N.)
All this took place "outside time" - or in a time that has no earthly reference. I had the impression of being outside of time, and yet there was some sort of time (it was another time). (A.T.)
As I said, in the absence of time there is still time. I know it sounds absurd, but I can not explain more. (J.X.)
The notion of time has nothing to do with ordinary life, that's for sure. Physical, material time does not exist. Time does not flow. To say that there is another " time system", I do not know. If there was a complete "timelessness," all emotions would be simultaneous. For me, anyway, I had various feelings. Knowledge is complete and simultaneous. Emotions not. We react emotionally to what we see. In my opinion, there must exist another form of time, anyway.(C.P.)
Jourdan: "Did you have a notion of time?"
Yes and no. Yes because events followed events. I feel they did not occur at the same time. No, because the concept of time is not the same. There is no yesterday, today and tomorrow. I would say that events are instantaneous but emotions come and go. And then maybe I say that the events follow one another because the emotions are, themselves, quite distinct from each other. Maybe it has nothing to do with the concept of temporality within ordinary life. No, because my own chronology doesn't match that of the ordinary world. Events that I placed before actually occurred afterwards when I asked for confirmation. And vice versa. (P.C.)
12. A Spatialized Time
Now, let us follow our 5D hypothesis through, supposing that during an NDE our 4D universe could really be perceived as a
whole from an extradimension. If this hypothesis more or less reflects some reality, we ought to find some accounts reporting several kinds of temporal perspective.
12.1. Past, present, future, all confused If we walk on a lane, one part of the way is behind us, another is ahead. But if we see this lane from above, no more walking on it, not only are we nowhere on it but also, as they were relative to us, the notions of behind and ahead logically disappear. In the same way, if we are "out of time" we are no more subject to its arrow. Thus the notions of past, present and future can disappear or merge together. In fact, almost every feature we are about to review seems to translate a spatialization of time:
Past, present future are merged in a single concept, that's what I experienced (X.S.) Time no longer existed, past, present, future, all confused. (M.O.)
No sensation of duration, neither of waiting. No sense of past, present, future, as if all that was away from me. (F.E.)
During NDEs, frequently following the OBE stage, most patients describe a "life review". They report having been able to "see" or sometimes "live again" some moments or only significant scenes of their life, in chronological order or in reverse order. During this stage some additional anomalies and perspective effects concerning time will appear, strengthening the hypothesis that our universe could be perceived from an external vantage point.
12.2. Flying over time The non-locality of the observer in relation to the observed universe, which has helped us understanding the spatial 4D perspective effects appears to concern also time: to be "outside" the space-time would give the same impression of "being" everywhere at once compared to the latter. The expressions are various, but translate the same strange feelings of perceiving time from outside or flying above it:
I had access to both past, present, future and any place in space. (M.Z.)
I had no access to the future, I don't think so, but to the past yes, exactly so, as well as to present since I was seeing myself. It seems to me that I could move around. (P.B.)
I felt I could fly over time. (J-M.M.)
It seems to me that the time is no longer valid. That is, I don't take place within time. There is no longer any past neither future, everything is within the same plane. I got out of the timeline and I can contemplate it AS A WHOLE. But thirty years later, I am still unable to define accurately, using common words, this perceived lack of time ... and both its presence. When you move from one place to another in a flash, when one sees multiple views of the same situation, physically and temporally, that’s not "every day life."
Jourdan: "Have you had the impression of "flying over" time, as one can fly over a landscape, or see it from above?"
Yes, in some ways, move forward or backward at the same time. "Time" no longer appears as fragmented, but as a one and single moment: a "continuum" related to will and free will. (D.S.)
There, the time does not seem to unfold as here. I would say it's "above", a place from where you can "govern" the events and the destinies of the earthly world. Neither was there any space. (A.T.)
I wonder about the word "time". I had the impression of "flying over" a certain portion of time, to fly so quickly but the time seemed at once long and short. That's funny. I felt able to move in time. (F.N.)
When I saw my life, it was like an accelerating videotape, somewhat as if I could fly over it, it goes fast enough to review one's life and yet it lasts forever, I can't explain. (Be.N.)
13. Spatio-temporal Perspective
What could be the predictable consequences of a hypothetical perception from outside our spatio-temporal continuum? Within the framework of this 5D model, everything happens as though NDErs were able to take enough distance to see in perspective not only the immediate vicinity of their body, but also their whole life. Then we could now expect some precise temporal perspective effects.
In our everyday experience, the concepts of time and space are fundamentally different. It is surprising to find several accounts of a uniqueness that has nothing natural nor intuitive for us. Even if he finds it difficult to explain (what we will readily admit), J-Y.C briefly summarizes relativity with some expressions that would have pleased Einstein. Even better, the way he watches his own life as what we could call a "4D spatiotemporal object" is amazing : a 3D form under his eyes, with an "integrated time" which doesn’t unfold, a life he can see from every angle, get more or less closer or change his angle of view, focusing on one part or another… exactly as we do in our everyday life when examining a banal 3D object.
Indeed, at the time I receive this new form of intelligence, I find before me ... my life. I look at this 3D thing that is my life and which does not unfold. The time is integrated in it, it is no more linear. All of one’s life is visible and this "global" intelligence can read it, understand it. (…)
I saw my entire life, in relief, with all the details, people, situations. But in a time that does not unfold, life being seen from every angle with this universal or global understanding. My life was a form under my eyes, which contained everything and that I consulted.
(…) My whole senses were concentrated or condensed in a single understanding concept. The ability to understand and develop ALL, in its wholeness and in its detail. Should I have watched a car, I had known in one thought its mileage, fuel quantity, the wear of spark plugs, how many times it had turned left or right, the condition of all its parts, etc.. It is very difficult to share the encompassing of the three dimensions with the fourth, which merge in a concept that can be easily read when one gets this form of over-intelligence.
(…) Time is no longer linear. Your own life is in 3D and the fourth dimension is fully integrated. At that time, if I had watched a man, I could have known everything about him. His age, height, blood type, his siblings, the amount of all his taxes, his diseases, etc.. etc.. ALL in a single concept.
Jourdan: "Did you feel yourself moving?"
Yes
Jourdan: "When?"
To get closer to my life.
Jourdan: "How did it happen?"
A sort of sliding, zoom displacement.
The only "thing" that I was able to contemplate was my own life. An oblong shape, threedimensional pink-orange hue (always "metallic" as having its own light). I could see inside, seeing-through my entire life course, including time without unfolding time. To see another part of this life I just had to change my angle of view. (J-Y.C.)
This second example is less spectacular, but we find again a "frozen time", a "whole life spread before (the NDEr’s) eyes, its slices being seen instantly":
Totally calm and in a state of unimaginable bliss, I continued to float in a world of breathtaking clarity where the notion of time, that seemed frozen, defies understanding. In tune with this inexplicable timelessness the slices of my life were seen instantly, without any sense of duration. That's quite difficult to explain with "earthly words." My past life did not just appear to me like images following one another in a reverse chronology, as might be suggested by my previous comments. The events unfolded in accordance with the original script, but their succession went backward over the course of my life. Sometimes, and here it's even more difficult to explain, I felt like my whole life was spread before my eyes, undifferentiated in its stages, and still without the sequence of events being linked to time. I know it's crazy, totally incomprehensible, but that's the way it happened. (M.N.)
. Iceland is too close to the UK though for my liking, especially if radioactive nuclear clouds should blow northwards. Apart from being extremely cold in winter (winter nights can hit temperatures as low as -25C), they have a lot of active volcanoes there but then so does the north island of New Zealand, which is also within the Ring of Fire and prone to earthquakes. However, if the Gulf Stream is going to fail soon, Iceland might become unliveable just as Greenland did for the Viking colony that settled there in the latter part of the Dark Ages.
