Brinkley describes floating above his own body, observing the energy fields around those trying to save him, and traveling through a tunnel into a place of brilliant light. He details his panoramic life review, where he re-experienced every interaction from the perspective of those he had affected. He recounts encountering a being of light and visiting crystalline cities where 13 beings showed him visions of future events, including Chernobyl and the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The conversation also explores Brinkley's second near-death experience following emergency open heart surgery years later, his 18 years of hospice volunteer work, and what he learned about forgiveness and the true nature of human existence beyond the physical body.
Key Moments
Lightning strike on the phone: Brinkley describes the September 1975 lightning strike that came down the phone line, welded the nails of his shoes to the floor, suspended him in the air, set him on fire, and stopped his pulse for more than 28 minutes.
Seeing auras around his wife and Tommy: Out of body, Brinkley watches Sandy and Tommy work on his corpse and realizes for the first time that human beings are surrounded by colored energy fields that pulse with each emotion.
Panoramic life review from the other side: Brinkley describes a 360-degree, three-dimensional life review in which he relived every event, then re-experienced each encounter from the other person's point of view, feeling the direct results of his own actions.
The 13 beings of light in the Crystal City: Inside what he calls a Crystal City, Brinkley encounters twelve equal beings of light plus a thirteenth that seems to control what he is shown - future events including Chernobyl, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the Gulf War.