Those who are not yet familiar with the work by Michael Ruiz http://www.miguelruiz.com/ it could be facinating to notice the correlation between this discussion and his work.

For example >>>a thoughtless uncorrupted state, with no pre-conceptions or ideas, just pure perception<<< & >>>People in near death or death experiences mention that they had no fear and there was a beautiful feeling. In fact they regretted having to come back here after experiencing that.<<<

He had near death experience, descibed here by jeffdengr. What he decided(due to his family background), was to start practicing how to enter this state already during the living... and he succeeded.

Miquel´s work is very facinating and what is grate is that he´s actualy living today. Yet there is clear correlation to the teachings of persons like Buddha... + he´s work is grate companion with the AFL, they speak about the very same issues (at least from my perspective).

His latest book is called The Voice of Knowledge and it's about thoughles uncorrupted state and why we tend to avoid this as humans...