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>Near-Death Experience music >Gilles Bèdard > >Adapted from an e-mail to the Natural Death Centre >entitled 'Music from the Dawn of Light - An >Introduction'. See also Gilles Bèdard's article 'A >programme of music for the dying', which contains more >specific recommendations as to appropriate music (on >the web at www.globalideasbank.org/LA/LA-12.HTML). > >In 1973, at the age of twenty, I spent five months in >a hospital on the brink of death with Crohn's disease. >Throughout those months, I came very close to dying >four times. On the last occasion, I had a Near-Death >Experience (NDE). Without going into the details, what >impressed me the most in that experience was the >music, or should I rather say, the sound current I >heard while on the Other Side. This incredible sound >was harmonious, majestic, and serene and at the same >time quite powerful, as if it was the Universe itself >breathing. Being one with the Sound, I 'knew' I was >experiencing the consciousness of the Universe. That >event was to change my life. > > >'The Universe itself was breathing. I was experiencing >the consciousness of the Universe' >Six months later, I heard a piece of music by the >German 'spacemusic' group, Tangerine Dream >('Mysterious Semblance at the Strand of Nightmares' >from the album Phaedra) which brought back the vivid >memory of my NDE and this majestic sound. Although it >was not quite the real thing, it had essentially the >same atmosphere. At that very moment, I started what I >call my Sound Quest. Ten years later, I would find the >sound in 'Structures from Silence' from Steve Roach. >This piece conveys the same energy that was emanating >from the sound current. > > >'Consciousness is the true nature of the mind. Sound >can brings us in resonance with it' >Through the years, while playing this music in my >seminars and workshops, the participants would >suddenly 'feel at home' and for some, it even unlocked >forgotten memories of their Near-Death Experience. >With 'Structures from Silence' and music of Steve >Roach, Constance Demby and Vangelis, my Sound Quest >became a Journey to the Soul. I was not just looking >for the sound but, most importantly, for the >consciousness experienced in the sound current. From >my meditating and the study of Buddhism under the >teaching of Sogyal Rinpoche, I found out that this >consciousness is the true nature of the mind and sound >is a vehicle that can brings us in resonance with it. > >As a result of my Sound Quest, I became involved with >both the Canadian and the International New Age music >scene for fifteen years (1982-97). I've been >journalist, radio host and producer, and record >producer with my own record label, Rubicon. > >The profound impact of the sound heard during my NDE >and the consciousness that unfolded through listening >and meditating eventually developed into 'Music from >the Dawn of Time', which I present with Tina Sweeney. >For the last ten years, I have been doing research and >studies on the emotional and psycho-spiritual aspects >of dying. Over the last three years, I have done >interviews with Christine Longaker (Facing Death and >Finding Hope) Maggie Callanan (Final Gifts) Kathleen >Dowling Singh (The Grace in Dying) and Ira Byock >(Dying Well) These interviews will be published as >part of the programme workbook. > >'Music from the Dawn of Time' is spiritual in its >nature and relaxing in its application. It is an >excellent complement to musicotherapy. The programme >is three-fold: > >(1) A selection of music that creates a sense of >sacredness and reverence, uplifting and inspirational >for the heart and soul of the dying and his/her family >in the last moment of their life; > >(2) A workshop to teach caregivers practical skills on >how to develop mindfulness through significant >contemplative music. As we all know, this is a very >important issue when working with the dying and music >is known to help one connect to their sacred self. > >(3) A workshop for grieving people, their families and >caregivers. Among the seminars and workshops, the >services offered through the programme included a >specialised consultation service, a Guide of >Contemplative Music and a quarterly newsletter. > >Gilles Bedard, c/o Inerson 6727, 12e Avenue Montreal, >Quebec, Canada H1B 3X2 (tel 514 727 3827; e-mail: >inerson@microtec.net; web: www.microtec.net/inerson).
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