Table Of ContentY V O N N E K A S O N , M.D. , is a family physician, a trans-
personal psychotherapist and an assistant professor in the Faculty
of Medicine at the University of Toronto. She was the founder of the
Spiritual Emergence Research and Referral Clinic and a founder
and board member of the Kundalini Research Network. Dr. Kason
has been a guest on numerous television and radio shows across
Canada and the U.S. Her near-death experience has been re-enacted
on "Sightings," as well as in two television documentaries. A recog-
nized international expert on near-death, kundalini and mystical
experiences, she is in demand as a lecturer and media resource.
A dramatic near-death experience changed Yvonne Kason's life forever and prompted
her study of the mystical experiences that fall beyond the everyday. In this newly revised
edition of the bestselling A Farther Shore, Dr. Kason explores a wide range of spiritually
transformative experiences - near-death experiences, mystical experiences, spiritual
energy/kundalini episodes, psychic awakenings and spontaneous inspired creativity - by
sharing fascinating real-life stories.
Farther Shores is an inspiring book for those who have experienced the extraordinary and
for the health care professionals to whom they turn for help. Dr. Kason offers sound advice
on how to use these occurrences for spiritual growth and personal healing.
".. .an exceptional book... [that] takes the reader into a world where mystical happenings
bring direction and healing to our everyday lives."
JYOTI (JENEANE PREVATT, PH.D.)
FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE SPIRITUAL EMERGENCE NETWORK
AUTHOR OF AN ANGEL CALLED MY NAME
".. .a major contribution to our understanding of a wide range of spiritually transformative
experiences....Kason is a wise and knowledgeable guide in these realms, and 1 can
recommend her book with the greatest enthusiasm."
KENNETH RING, PH.D.
PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF PSYCHOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
AUTHOR OF HEADING TOWARD OMEGA AND LESSONS FROM THE LIGHT
.builds a bridge between the scientific and the spiritual, a bridge physicians
will feel comfortable crossing."
HarperCollins Fishers
A Phyllis Bruce Bay
$18.95
COVER DESIGN: ALAN JONES • AUTHOR PHOTO: RONALD MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY • COVER PHOTO: KEN BIGGS/TONY STONE IMAGES
"Through fascinating case studies and her own personal experience,
Dr. Yvonne Kason explores the mysterious forces shaping our spiritual
and psychic lives. Provocative, well-researched and full of practical
wisdom."
- Sylvia Fraser, author of My Father's House and
The Quest for the Fourth Monkey
"...an exceptionally readable and useful book on near-death and
other spiritually transformative experiences. Written in a popular style
that will appeal to intelligent lay readers, this book is careful enough
about its science to be palatable as well to physicians and scholars."
- Bruce Greyson, M.D., Bonner-Lowry Professor of
Personality Studies, University of Virginia Medical School,
editor of The Journal of Near-Death Studies and
The Near-Death Experience: Problems, Prospects, Perspectives
"Dr. Kason's ... near-death experience ... propelled her on a lifetime
quest for answers. In discovering some for herself, she found ways of
helping others deal with the kind of life-shaking events that had been
routinely dismissed by orthodox medical practitioners as unbelievable,
irrelevant and bizarre."
- Chatelaine
"What is striking about this book is the down-to-earth nature of
Kason's interpretations of the data she presents ... a grounded and
sensible book ...."
- Canadian Book Review Annual
"As a physician, Kason is able to bring a fresh perspective to much
of this material. She's able to account clinically for many of the physi-
cal symptoms of the typical experience."
- The Vancouver Sun
FARTHER
SHORES
Exploring how near-death, kundalini and mystical
experiences can transform ordinary lives
YVONNE KASON, M.D.
A Phyllis Bruce Book
HarperCollinsPublisbersLtd
FARTHER S H O R E S :
E X P L O R I N G HOW N E A R - D E A T H , Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data
KUNDA L I N I AND MYSTICAL
EXPERIENCES CAN TRANSFORM Kason, Yvonne, I953-
ORD I N A R Y LIVES Farther shores : exploring how near-death,
Copyright © 1994, 2000 by Yvonne Kason. kundalini and mystical experiences can
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be transform ordinary lives
used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever
without prior written permission except in the case "A Phyllis Bruce book"
of brief quotations embodied in reviews. For infor- Originally published under title: A farther shore.
mation address HarperCollins Publishers Ltd., Includes bibliographical references.
5 5 Avenue Road, Suite 2900, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-00-638624-5
Canada M5R 3L2.
1. Near-death experiences.
http://www.harpercanada.com 2. Transpersonal Psychology.
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Material on pages 52-54 excerpted from Kundalini:
Printed and bound in Canada
The Evolutionary Energy in Man by Gopi Krishna.
Copyright © 1967 by Gopi Krishna. Reprinted by
arrangement with Shambala Publications Inc., 300
Massachusetts Avenue, Boston MA 02115.
First published in hardcover by HarperCollins: 1994
First published in paperback: 1995
Revised edition: 2000
Dedicated to the memory of Pandit Gopi Krishna
1903-1984
A Light in the Darkness
Contents
Acknowledgments / xiii
Author's Note / xv
Introduction / xvii
Section 1: Spiritually Transformative Experiences
Chapter 1: My Own Near-Death Experience 13
The Plane Crash / 5
Rescue and Spiritual Awakening / 1 1
The Transformational Impact / 15
My Psychic Awakening / 1 7
Chapter 2: Spiritually Transformative Experiences /20
Mystical Experiences / 21
Psychic Awakening / 22
Near-Death Experiences / 22
Spontaneous Inspired Creativity and Genius / 22
Spiritual Energy/Kundalini Episodes / 23
Spiritual Energy Cross-Culturally / 23
Understanding Kundalini / 27
Chapter 3: Mystical Experiences I 32
Types of Mystical Experiences / 35
A Unitive Experience / 37
A Spiritual Rebirth / 38
Mystical Visions / 40
Saved by a Mystical Vision / 43
Chapter 4: Spiritual Energy/Kundalini Episodes 147
The Signs of a Spiritual Energy/Kundalini Episode / 50
A Dramatic Awakening in Kashmir / 52
My Kundalini Awakening / 55
A Canadian Doctor's Story / 56
Kundalini Awakening and Breath work / 59
Kundalini and Alcoholic Recovery / 61
Downward-Flowing Spiritual Energy / 63
Kundalini by Any Other Name / 65
Chapter 5: Near-Death Experiences I 68
Characteristics of Near-Death Experiences / 70
The Story of a Young Judge / 72
Anyone Can Have an NDE / 74
Frightening Near-Death Experiences / 76
NDE-like Experiences and Facing-Death NDEs / 81
Deathbed Visions / 84
Death-Watch Experiences / 85
A Continuum of Experiences / 87
NDEs and Transformation / 87
Chapter 6: Psychic Awakening I 91
Types of Psychic Experiences / 92
A Psychic Awakening / 94
An Experience of Clairsentience / 96
Psychic from Childhood / 98
Encounters with Unidentified Flying Objects /100
A Classic UFO Encounter / 101
Another Type of Close Encounter / 105
A Tentative Hypothesis / 107
Adjusting to Psychic Abilities / 109
A Balanced Perspective on Psychic Gifts / 111
How Yogis Saw Psychic Abilities / 113
Chapter 7: Inspired Creativity and Genius 1115
STEs and the Creative Experience / 118
Creativity and Altered States /119
Creativity and Intense Absorption /124
Gifted Children and Creativity / 126
Milder Inspired Creativity and Poetry /128
Section 2: The Kundalini Model
Chapter 8: The Modern Kundalini Model 1133
The Underlying Principles /136
Circulation of Potent Prana - The Life Energy / 137
Ojas - Sublimated Sexual Energy /138
Stimulation of the Brain's Dormant Region -
"Brahma Randhra" /139
Pranic Energy Flow and the Chakras / 140
NDEs and Kundalini Awakening / 142
The Sahaja State - Perennial Cosmic Consciousness / 145
Gopi Krishna's Kundalini Awakening / 146
We are Truly Spiritual Beings / 152
Chapter 9: The Kundalini Research Network's Pilot
Project/155
The Results of the Pilot Study / 158
What Helps - and Doesn't Help - Adjustment /163
Section 3: Long-term Spiritual Transformation -
The Mystical Path
Chapter 10: Physical Symptoms of STEs 1169
STE Patterns over Time /170
Common Physical Symptoms / 178
Kriyas and Sensations of Pranic Activity / 179
Undiagnosable Body Pains and Chakra Sensations /181
Metabolic Changes /185
Changes in Sleep Patterns / 188
Changes in Sexual Energy / 189
Energy Fluctuations /193
Yogic Phenomena /195
Distinguishing Physical Illnesses from STE Symptoms /197
Chapter 11: Psychological Symptoms of STEs /200
Positive Psychological Symptoms and Reactions / 201
Challenging or Negative Psychological Symptoms / 205
Tensions and Conflicts in Relationships / 208
Coping with Challenging Psychological Reactions / 210
Chapter 12: Spiritual and Paranormal Symptoms /214
Symptoms Associated with the Mystical and Spiritual / 216
Positive Spiritual Symptoms / 217
Negative Spiritual Symptoms / 219
Coping with Negative Spiritual Symptoms / 220
Symptoms Associated with Kundalini / 222
Symptoms Associated with the Psychic and Paranormal / 225
Positive Psychic Symptoms / 225
Psychic Disorders / 229
Causes of Psychic Disorders / 235
Coping with Psychic Disorders / 236
Changes in Dream Life / 238
Changes in Visual Perception / 240
Chapter 13: Spiritual Emergencies and Psychoses 1242
Spiritual Emergence and Spiritual Emergency / 243
A Spectrum of Difficulties / 244
Distinguishing Spiritual Transformation from Spiritual
Emergency / 245
Distinguishing Spiritual Emergency from Psychosis / 247
A Case History of Acute Mania / 250
The Eight Limbs of Yoga / 253
Better Treatment in the Future / 256
Chapter 14: Who Has Spiritual Emergencies and Why? 1258
Spiritual Emergency and Psychosis - Possible Predisposing Factors / 258
Inadequate Psycho-Spiritual Housecleaning / 268
Unresolved Spiritual Guilt / 272
