"From the article it said he was also heavily heavily medicated (morphine?) on drugs to calm him down because he would not stop screaming and thrashing.
Not saying that drugs don’t offer a glimpse into the spiritual world, but it could have just been a drug induced trip.
I think the article said the coma was a medically induced coma."
Yes, two more good points from the article. Heavily medicated and it was an induced coma. I’m no doctor, so I have no ide what to make of his story, just that there is so much that seems fishy.
I hope we get more hard facts about this case, his medical record, scans, interviews with his other doctors, etc.
I’m personally disappointed, that he claims, that his case is special, because he is a scientist, and then it is not presented scientifically.
The Esquire Magazine also got a counter article from the NDE community:
Welcome to the Night Club! Thanks for posting this response article. It is certainly worth the read. Taken together with, in my opinion, the book, the dialogue with Andrew, the articles and one’s own personal experiences offer a reasonable way to view Alexander’s writings about his journey and whatever larger implications, if any, they illustrate.
If you scroll to the very end of the article it says this disclaimer in fine print:
" Revised: August 21, 2013 – minor changes that clarified context Revised: August 15, 2013 – removed direct quote from Dr. Potter per her request, clarified context Revised: August 14, 2013 – reorganized sections, no significant content change Original version: August 12, 2013
Robert and Suzanne Mays are near-death experience researchers. Robert also serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of the International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS). IANDS is holding its 2013 Conference in Arlington, Virginia, August 29 - September 1. Dr. Eben Alexander will be one of the conference’s keynote speakers as well as a participant on a panel of physicians who have had an NDE. Robert has a strong interest in IANDS’ success and in Dr. Alexander’s success as an NDEr, a member of IANDS and an individual. Robert and Suzanne also have an interest in exposing and ameliorating injustices that occur from time to time among human beings."
Looks like the author had to correct the facts on at least 3 occassions.
They also have a significant financial ‘investment’ in Eben and his narrative. They will be selling much less tickets if the world finds out he is a fraud.
Did the article address any of Ebens malpractice lawsuits, or were those facts too inconvenient to dispute?
from what I read on the wikipedia page about him, his sins are the following:
Alcoholism
Sex with student(s)
marrying 16 year old girl
reckless driving that left him half paralyzed
I dont know where I fully stand on this case. Assuming the sex with the students was consensual and not coerced (no Harvey Weinstein tactics) , I am going to have to rule in favor of Trunga.
If he was a pervert that used his knowledge and power to force the women into sex acts, then I would rule against him.
Assuming that is not the case, here is my take.
The alcohol was for the great physical and emotional pain. When he was young he had experienced a great deal of trauma fleeing and trying to escape the Chinese. One story says he had to eat his leather bag at one point when they where climbing through the forests and mountains.
Because no one was hurt in the car accident, except for him, i think that is God punishing him for the careless behavior.
Back to the ‘alcoholism’, someone is only considered an alcoholic, when the booze begins to significantly mess with their ability to function. It sounds like he was still able to function, and also bring the teachings to the masses. Planting the seeds for more tolerance and more interest in the Buddhist religion in Europe and America.
I think overall the Good outweighs the bad. But I only base this off of the wikipedia article. I do not know the full details of his life, or how factual it was.
There was another teacher who was knowingly infecting his students with HIV, and not telling them. Some of the students later died. That teacher is for sure going to hell.
I didn’t know him, or of him until recently. My wife knew of him and said that he was well respected and that people came from Nepal and Tibet for his funeral, a more arduous journey in those days. I’ve read many articles, both pro and no, so it’s hard to get a good picture from those sources, but it does provide a useful sketch. I’ve read a few of his works and have liked them very much.
Many of the people I listen to today were his students including Andrew, Joe Parent and Matthew Z. (meditation teacher). A friend once told me that his Zen teacher attended Trungpa’s funeral, not intending to stay long, but was so impressed with the quality of his students that he ended up staying for days.
My impression, from what I’ve seen, is that he was regarded as highly realized. Interpret that as you will, but the question that interests me, is how these this are understood to coexist, deep realization on the one hand and what look like glaring transgressions and personality defects. I’ve seen some explanation of how “the Tibetans” understand this, but I don’t recall it. The gist is that the two are not mutually exclusive. I would like to know, not out of idle curiosity, but as instruction.