Exploring Mindfulness, the Cosmos, & The Fear of Death (NDE): Paul Sugar’s Journey
Apr 16, 2025Welcome to another enlightening episode of the Journey Mindfulness Podcast, where we dive deep into the realms of mindfulness, awareness, and the mysteries of human consciousness. In this episode, host James welcomes Paul Sugar, a seasoned mindfulness instructor with over 30 years of teaching experience, a pioneer in bringing mindfulness to schools, and a fascinating explorer of esoteric and cosmic experiences. Paul’s story is one of transformation, courage, and profound insights gained through decades of meditation, near-death experiences, and out-of-body adventures. Let’s unpack the highlights of this captivating conversation and explore how Paul’s journey underscores the transformative power of mindfulness.
A Life-Altering Near-Death Experience
Paul’s journey into mindfulness began with a dramatic event in 1969: a harrowing car accident that saw his vehicle flip eight times on a highway. Without a seatbelt, Paul braced for the worst, certain he would not survive. Miraculously, he emerged unscathed, but the accident triggered a profound near-death experience (NDE) that would shape his life. During the chaos, Paul experienced a “life review,” where his past, present, and future flashed before him in an instant. This moment, though not fully understood at the time, planted a seed for his lifelong exploration of mindfulness, meditation, and existential questions.
Reflecting on the accident years later, Paul realized it awakened a deeper awareness within him. Within weeks, he connected with groups studying yoga, meditation, and Kabbalah, the Jewish esoteric tradition. These encounters offered Paul a framework to confront a lifelong fear of death that had haunted him since childhood. The practices he adopted—blending Eastern and Western meditative traditions—became the foundation for his personal growth and eventual career as a mindfulness instructor.
From Psychedelics to Presence
In the late 1960s, Paul experimented with psychedelics, including LSD, seeking deeper insights into existence. Unlike his peers, who experienced vivid colors and alternate dimensions, Paul found that psychedelics brought him into a state of intense present-moment awareness. Even after taking what he describes as “heroic doses,” the outcome was the same: a heightened focus on the now. This realization led him to shift his focus from psychedelics to meditation, where he began to experience what he calls “paranormal” or “psi” phenomena, including visions, out-of-body experiences, and past-life regressions.
Paul’s meditation practice, particularly his study of Kabbalistic symbolism like the Tree of Life, opened doors to extraordinary experiences. He describes attending a cosmic “university” during out-of-body experiences, where he studied the workings of the universe and practiced confronting his fear of death. These experiences, which spanned over 25 years, were not just mystical—they were deeply practical, reinforcing the importance of attention and presence, core principles of mindfulness.
The Power of Attention in Mindfulness
One of Paul’s key takeaways from his cosmic explorations is the critical role of attention. During his out-of-body travels and remote viewing experiences (including a brief stint with the CIA’s Project Stargate), Paul learned that “where attention goes, energy flows.” This principle became a cornerstone of his mindfulness practice and teaching. When Paul trained with Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1993, earning certification in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), he connected the dots between his esoteric experiences and the structured practice of mindfulness. MBSR’s emphasis on present-moment awareness through body-centric practices like the body scan and breath awareness resonated deeply with Paul’s understanding of attention as a tool for navigating both the physical and metaphysical worlds.
Paul explains that mindfulness is an “energetic practice” that helps individuals reconnect with their bodies, the gateway to the present moment. In our modern lives, stress often triggers a fight-or-flight response, causing us to disconnect from our bodies as a coping mechanism. This disconnection, Paul notes, keeps us stuck in survival mode, contributing to physical, mental, and emotional health challenges. Through mindfulness, we can intentionally redirect our attention to the body, signaling to the autonomic nervous system that the perceived threat is gone. This process restores balance, or homeostasis, allowing us to move out of stress and into a state of flow.
Overcoming the Fear of Death
Paul’s fear of death, which he describes as a “terror” by age 21, was a driving force behind his spiritual and mindfulness practices. His out-of-body experiences, particularly those where he “practiced dying” in scenarios like nuclear blasts or falling off cliffs, allowed him to confront this fear head-on. Over time, Paul progressed from experiencing fear during these simulated deaths to passing through the “white light” into a state of pure consciousness, free of fear. These experiences taught him that death is a physical transition, not an end, and that consciousness persists beyond the body.
Interestingly, Paul discovered a “lag time” between his fear-free state in the “light body” and his physical body, which retained residual fear. This insight underscores the gradual nature of transformation, as every cell in the body must adapt to new understandings. Through consistent mindfulness practice, Paul fully overcame his fear of death, a liberation that now informs his teaching and inspires others to explore their own existential fears.
Mindfulness as a Path to Flow States
Paul’s journey didn’t end with overcoming fear—it opened the door to what he calls “flow states,” moments of peak performance and effortless presence. Drawing on examples from sports, Paul highlights how mindfulness training, notably introduced to the Chicago Bulls by coach Phil Jackson in the 1990s, enabled athletes like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant to access flow states intentionally. Beyond elite performers, Paul emphasizes that flow states are available to everyone through mindfulness. By weaving mindfulness into daily activities—eating, walking, even brushing teeth—we can bridge the gap between formal meditation and everyday life, preventing meditation from becoming an escape and instead making it a tool for living fully in the present.
Paul’s work with school mindfulness programs, including a pioneering research project with Arizona State University in the late 1990s, further demonstrates the universal applicability of mindfulness. He encountered “Indigo children,” young learners who quickly grasped mindfulness and benefited from its calming, focusing effects. These experiences reinforced Paul’s belief that mindfulness should be a foundational practice, especially for younger generations navigating an increasingly complex world.
A Cosmic Perspective on Everyday Life
What makes Paul’s story so compelling is how his extraordinary experiences—cosmic classrooms, angelic encounters, and multidimensional travels—ultimately grounded him in the here and now. His out-of-body adventures, while awe-inspiring, served a practical purpose: to help him and others live more fully in their bodies, free from fear and stress. Paul’s focus on MBSR reflects his commitment to making mindfulness accessible, offering a structured, evidence-based approach to cultivating presence and resilience.
As Paul shared, all his experiences were spontaneous, unfolding as part of a “sequential, logical curriculum” that felt guided by a higher intelligence. This perspective invites us to trust our own journeys, recognizing that our challenges and insights are part of a larger tapestry of growth. For Paul, mindfulness is not just a practice—it’s a way of aligning with the flow of life, whether we’re navigating earthly routines or exploring the stars.
Takeaways for Your Mindfulness Journey
Paul Sugar’s story offers several powerful lessons for anyone seeking to deepen their mindfulness practice or explore the mysteries of existence:
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Attention is Your Superpower: Cultivating focused attention allows you to direct your energy intentionally, whether in meditation, daily tasks, or even cosmic exploration.
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The Body is Your Anchor: Reconnecting with your body through mindfulness practices like MBSR can release stress, heal trauma, and bring you into the present moment.
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Fear of Death is Transformable: By confronting existential fears through mindfulness and self-awareness, you can find peace and live more fully.
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Flow States are Accessible: Consistent mindfulness practice opens the door to flow states, enhancing performance and presence in all areas of life.
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Trust the Journey: Whether spontaneous or intentional, your experiences are part of a meaningful path of growth and discovery.
Final Thoughts
Paul Sugar’s appearance on the Journey Mindfulness Podcast is a testament to the profound interplay between the mystical and the practical. His cosmic adventures and decades of mindfulness teaching converge on a simple yet powerful truth: by paying attention to the present moment, we can transform our lives, overcome our deepest fears, and tap into the limitless potential of our consciousness. Whether you’re new to mindfulness or a seasoned practitioner, Paul’s story is an invitation to explore the depths of your own awareness—and perhaps, like him, discover that the universe is not just “out there” but within you.
To learn more about Paul’s work visit stressbeaters.com or to explore MBSR, visit journeymindfulness.com for resources on mindfulness and personal growth. And don’t forget to tune in to the Journey Mindfulness Podcast for more inspiring conversations that bridge the earthly and the cosmic.
