Sex, in the absence of psychotropic drugs or esoteric or meditational techniques designed to bring about altered states of consciousness, can trigger a wide variety of altered states, most of which resemble those considered in various traditions to be signs of spiritual attainment. Kundalini, out-of-body experiences, telepathy, and various experiences of the Light, including unio mystica, are found in sex as well as in NDEs. The transformative effects of these sexual experiences closely parallel those of NDEs, including increased spirituality, personal growth, psi (psychic) experiences, improved relationships, and changed beliefs about the nature of reality, among others. The fact that sex can bring about such powerful changes suggests the need to reconsider what NDEs and contemplative altered states represent. Sacred sex is a venerable spiritual path despite its long decline as an open practice with the rise of civilization societies characterized by city-states and bureaucratic institutions rather than tribal- and clan-oriented societies. Originally, and as still may be detected in the relicts of tribal- or clan-based cultures, sex was recognized as a potential gateway to certain non-ordinary phenomena available to adults, associated with spirituality