Though the near-death experience may vary according to the individual, its similarities can be classified into 14 common categories.

1. Individuals realize their demise after hearing the announcement of a doctor or other persons clearly declaring their death. Physiologically, they tend to feel extremely vulnerable and shocked to hear this fact.



2. At an early stage of the near-death experience, many may go through a moment of joyousness. It is common to experience a stage of tranquility, calmness, and peace. This pleasant feeling can be accompanied by a headache and later a sense of bodily pain. Later, this feeling disappears in exchange for a feeling of suspension in a pitch-dark space. Many have mentioned that this is the most comfortable feeling that they have ever experienced.



3. During the moment of “dying” and “death”, many report to have their ears filled with strange and indescribable sounds. One young woman said that she had heard music. She described that it was a beautiful melody that she had never before heard in her life.



4. Some of the near-death experiences include a sense of being dragged into a pitch-dark space. At this stage, people may still retain a strong perception towards things. Some have felt themselves as if in a deflated cylinder crossing through a transition zone. On one side is the real world that they are accustomed to, while on the other side is a new, strange territory.



5. Some people are actually conscious of their soul escaping from their body. They may stare numbly at their empty body, with their souls from the outside. A drowned man recalled his near-death experience by saying that his soul escaped from the body in a great pain and he suddenly found himself standing alone in a empty room, as if he was a feather.



6. Many describe a language restriction. They may use their best attempts and efforts to try to talk to people they encounter, but unfortunately their voices are not heard. One lady said, “I tried to talk with anyone in the room, but my voice is ignored. I’m so scared that I may have lost the ability to speak a language in order to talk to them. It’s similar to a gap between two different spaces. I may know what they think and talk about, and even see them, but they somehow aren’t able to even notice my existence.”



7. Time can disappear suddenly and everything seems to be in a state of static. While escaping from the body, time consciousness is no longer felt. One man recalled that he indeed felt like time stopped all of a sudden. He experienced the feeling of his soul entering and escaping his body a few times .



8. The sensory organs are reported to become even more sensitive than when a person was alive. Their visions and their hearing become much more sensitive to things that are situated far away than when they were alive. One man said that he had never seen such a clear, vivid picture complete with living objects to such an extent. Its sharpness may seem to be even clearer than through a high powered microscope. Indeed, the sensory organs are definitely enhanced for those who are experiencing the near-death situation.



9. It is common to feel lonely and helpless as well as experiencing a strong sense of isolation and loneliness. One man said, “No matter how hard I try, I’m still unable to communicate with people around me. Therefore, I feel extremely lonely.”



10. If unaccompanied by loved ones, some will notice themselves being engulfed by other unknown “people”. These “people” might be those who have came to assist them in reaching a country of death or they may be those who have dragged them into hell. There is a feeling of having no choice and of being forced to go with these people.



11. At the last moments of the near-death experience, many will see a bright light. This light somehow has an personal attribute of being “human” because it commonly makes people feel its “human nature”.



12. Often, people will experience recollections and memories that they had gone through in their actual lifetime. They may remember many wonderful moments and panoramic scenes that they had had when they were alive.



13. Some describe being clearly separated by different types of borders. At times, people will encounter things that are labeled as a “border”, a “barrier” or a “territory”. The places where they may encounter these barriers have a variety of specific interpretations and may include a patch of land, a pool of water, a group of islands, a door, a string of lines, and etc.



14. If a soul is offered the chance to return from a stage of a “near-death” situation, they will obviously grab this opportunity to “return” to a real life. Initially, people may feel a desire to return to their empty bodies. Nevertheless, while venturing deeply into a near-death stage, many may refuse to return to their bodies, particularly when they see the existence of a light that may further intensify their sentiments over returning to a meaningless body.