Is Death The End? | Dr. Philip Cozzolino On Past Life Memories, Reincarnation & Fear Of Death
In this interview, Dr. Philip Cozzolino, an associate professor of psychiatry and neurobehavioral sciences at the University of Virginia, talks with Natalia Vorontsova about his research results and methods for dealing with the fear of death. He also delves into intriguing reincarnation-like cases and past-life memories in children, as well as the metaphysical implications of his research.
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Chapters
00:00:00 Interview intro
00:02:29 Guest intro. Philip’s background and personal story.
00:12:07 The fear of death and its personal and societal implications.
00:20:43 What happens when people are reminded of their mortality?
00:31:00 Should we face our mortality or avoid the topic altogether?
00:37:04 Strategies for overcoming the fear of death.
00:53:04 Is fear of death a form of escapism?
00:58:03 Research on reincarnation-like cases: what if we were certain that death is not the end?
01:06:15 Past-life memories: Implications for children and their parents. The mainstream science approach vs. research at DOPS.
01:26:54 Can reincarnation explain our talents & phobias?
01:36:51 Reincarnation and fear of death: cultural differences.
01:43:38 What can reincarnation research tell us about the nature of reality, consciousness and metaphysics?
02:08:34 Advice for students regarding non-mainstream research.
02:13:05 Closing message.
Previous Essentia Foundation’s interviews on similar topics:
Prof. Ed Kelly: Legendary Psi Researcher On Telepathy, Reincarnation & Precognition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KuIugPiHk0
Prof. Marjorie Woollacott: Consciousness Without Neurons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvoT_05JgbE&t=2912s
Prof. Bernard Carr: On Consciousness and Parapsychology
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weKSf000ENk&list=PL64CzGA1kTziPr9dLZYbHf2uFbzZ6dH8V&index=21&t=91s
Referenced literature and online resources:
https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/dops-staff/philip-cozzolino-phd/
Useful books:
https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/publications/books-by-dops-faculty/study-of-reincarnation/reincarnation-and-biology-a-contribution-to-the-etiology-of-birthmarks-and-birth-defects-volumes-i-and-ii/
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250781772
Useful academic papers:
https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=5jXodo4AAAAJ&hl=en
I die, therefore I am: The pursuit of meaning in the light of death
https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=5jXodo4AAAAJ&citation_for_view=5jXodo4AAAAJ:Tyk-4Ss8FVUC
PJ Cozzolino, LER Blackie
The experience of meaning in life: Classical perspectives, emerging themes …
https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=5jXodo4AAAAJ&citation_for_view=5jXodo4AAAAJ:0EnyYjriUFMC
Exploring the transformative potential of out-of-body experiences: A pathway to enhanced empathy
M Weiler, DJ Acunzo, PJ Cozzolino, B Greyson
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 105764 1
2024
Impact of children’s purported past-life memories: a follow-up investigation of American cases
https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=5jXodo4AAAAJ&citation_for_view=5jXodo4AAAAJ:5nxA0vEk-isC
M Pehlivanova, PJ Cozzolino, JB Tucker
Frontiers in Psychology 15, 1473340
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@Adam-h6l7g
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
1:04:07
@Donaleigh222
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
Quantum mechanics are here to stay, Science needs to deal with it.
@Disclosureguru
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
This was an extremely thought-provoking interview. I understand Dr Phillips methodological approach to these ideas but can't help to feel a type of nihilism. Maybe I am too forward in believing these ideas. But astrology in its deepest studies show placements for a past life and how they lead to conditions of this current one. Showing a continuation of the soul. The idea that death should be feared in a way that he frames it which isnt to fear it but to acknowledge almost goes in vain to the absolute contributions he gives us. I am having a hard time making sense of it but I love this topic and want to see if maybe reincarnation studies can one day take into account these aspects of astrological placements as they show a past life in the lens thats magnified in a sense. Astrocartography and astrology may be a huge missing link to further understanding and validating of children who come forth. Again. I love this presentation 👏 ❤❤
@eyadnassar2780
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
If you ask any human what words are related to death, they would say words like sadness, killing etc.
I believe we need to either change the word death or reevaluate the whole meaning of it.
These topics should be an essential part of our curriculums. Imagine new generations growing up with such beliefs, paradigms like Atheism, individualism, materialism, consumerism and capitalism would vanish.
@MichaelJones-ek3vx
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
Ever since I was a child, I would look to the boundaries of things. When I was 17, I was in a coma for 3 months in the army. Over the next 59 years, I have been at the boundary of life six times more. I'm very aware of the inevitable transition out of biology. I worked in critical care with an understanding of death. My family thinks I'm morbid at times, I just see the edges of things. Last year, on 7 g of psilocybin, went into pulmonary edema, but survived. I've completely, viscerally, lost any sense of finality at the end of biology, after that experience.
@chrisallard1819
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
Fantastic! Thank you
@DavidF-eu6ti
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
Probably one of the most profound interviews I've ever listened to
@CANNIBoy
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
For me, the key is in definitions. Logically, how can “something” even be defined without “nothing”?
Also, I know it anecdotally varies between people, but personally I have an eternity of nothing before I was born.
I remain open spiritually on what may come after death, but again personally I think that if it’s anything, it’s unimaginable to us- but my empirical belief is that I shall return to how I was before I was born. Eternity of nothingness.
I’m not a nihilist though. Our short existence on the planet should be enjoyed as much as possible, without ruining it for others. Golden rule: do unto others as you would have done unto you.
Be well!
@JasonGooljar1
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
I don't see a point to anything and it's because we die. I don't really care about being fully alive and engaging. I'm just here I didn't ask to be here why would I want to be in a world where I"m mortal? I have anger at this world and anger because we are mortal. I just enjoy what I can but I don't fully pursue anything. I have my rage.
@AP-us8jf
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
read and understand "BHAGWAD GITA" and you will understand everything….. almost.
@bethanyhunt2704
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
I believe this life on Earth is about being able to create in the physical realm. We are here to experience. The "learning lessons" idea is too punitive and judgemental to me.
@thisricardopalma
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
Of course is not the end. There is no end or beginning. We leave our physical body when our heart chakra or biofield, completely disconnects. Our essence or that that animates this vessel is immortal.
@DaveTerrasidio
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
amazing
@ShiverHinge
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
If we are infinite, how could we not also [need] to have the experience of the finite?
Consciousness would also need to forget itself in a separated place in order experience everything.
@mitchelljacky1617
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
I spent the whole of my life simultaneously afraid of and pursuing death. I was a morbid child, suffering an array of traumas and severe abuse and because of that I developed severe depression and suicidality. A serious suicide attempt in 2022 left me with 2nd-4th degree burns spanning 75% of my body. I have since made a miraculous recovery and the experience of my own mortality, including the many serious accidents, overdoses, and suicide attempts habe resulted in a complete shift in my perspective on life and death. Really, my whole ontology shifted essentially overnight. I went from a materialist/physicalist atheist to questioning consciousness and seeing the broader physical picture as a seamless continuum in which everything is an aspect of a single divine creator (later, I learned this framework was called "dual aspect monism").
But I am no longer afraid of death, rather, I am excited for the transition and to learn what comes next. I no longer believe that there is nothing after death, there simply cannot be any true death and that some essence of the person survives bodily death.
It is a remarkable thing to consider and I think I am very lucky and very grateful to be in this position.
@danielblac
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
The science of contemplating impermanence, central to Buddhism
@jilltyrrell7525
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
Nice one 👍🏻
@KevinC-o1i
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
Wow. This idea of a collective intelligence sending tenticles out is a very interesting theory and answers a lot of questions.
@KevinC-o1i
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
Home, that's where I was, only briefly, and that is how I always refered to it. I wanted to stay and got sent back. The intermission period, is that what it is called? I need to know more abourt the intermission period. Any resources?
@Steven360dog
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
Has anyone considered that maybe past life memories could be a carryover of information from recycled particles. If consciousness is a quantum process… I don’t know I’m too tired to think
@charlespancamo9771
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
0:00 Literally, from every process and facet of this reality, it's the MOST logical conclusion. Wake, sleep. Night, day. Man, woman. Hunger, satiation. Our entire everything is ruled by duality and they are all opposites. Now imagine what death is compared to life. Like I said, the most logical. Stop it with the 'comforting truths' they only hold us back
@LizafromWhere
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
I live in Myanmar and I know Ian Stevensons work. I see those birthmarks all the time here. Its real normal and accepted in the culture as fact.
@MoonstrollerRexrino
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
Strange but, Nothing plus nothing equals nothing. To get around this you at least need: something plus nothing equals something -which implies that something was around all the time.
@greenstar3411
August 9, 2025 at 4:36 pm
Other views of death are very important- what an interesting study indeed!
Comments are closed.