Popis zážitku
9/7/2014
I was working on a construction job in Puerto Rico. It was 1967. I was seventeen years old. I contracted a severe case of gastroenteritis, and was unable to afford proper medical care. I went to a clinic, got a bottle of pills, and went back to the room where I lived. To put it mildly, I had the most severe diarrhea you can imagine. I was losing water at this fantastic rate, just going to the bathroom all the time. The woman who ran the rooming house was good enough to bring me water, but I ate nothing. Oh man, I was SICK! I was getting weaker and weaker.
On the eighth day of this misery, I seemed to float right up out of my body. So I'm looking down at my body lying in the bed still as a corpse, and I said ‘Oh (beep)! I've died!!’ I was unnerved by this. But in the next second, I thought to myself ‘Hey, if I'm dead, who is thinking these thoughts??’ So then, I felt calm and very good, thinking ‘Well this sure beats being sick as a dog, this is quite okay.’ So I'm floating in the room, right? And it is daytime. Outside there was a church and the bells started ringing. This was normal. I had a strong urge to go check it out so I floated out of the window. Outside it was blindingly bright. Whoa! It was SO BRIGHT. In a word, it was hard to see. Don't ask see with what, because I don't have a clue, my eyes being back in my body. But I could see the church steeple, and made a circuit of it. At this point I'm feeling very exhilarated. I'm flying around free of my body! And two things really hit me at that moment: first, the body isn't ME, it's just a body; and second, the whole heaven and hell thing is nonsense, we all just float off peacefully, because the spirit endures. So that was a great thing to know. At last though, some part of me got lonely for my body, and I went back inside, and sort of lay down in my body. And I slept. And the next thing I knew, the illness had broken and I was recovering.
Now-- Because of this experience, I came to think at the time that the spirit endures, and we go off peacefully. This idea I have entertained ever since to a degree, but I rather think now that it was merely a biochemical sort of effect, not anything 'real' in the sense of supernatural. I accept the idea it could be a hallucination of some sort, but it seemed very genuine at the time. So on the real significance of out of body experiences, I just don't know. But I've not feared death per se during my life for which I am very grateful.
I was working on a construction job in Puerto Rico. It was 1967. I was seventeen years old. I contracted a severe case of gastroenteritis, and was unable to afford proper medical care. I went to a clinic, got a bottle of pills, and went back to the room where I lived. To put it mildly, I had the most severe diarrhea you can imagine. I was losing water at this fantastic rate, just going to the bathroom all the time. The woman who ran the rooming house was good enough to bring me water, but I ate nothing. Oh man, I was SICK! I was getting weaker and weaker.
On the eighth day of this misery, I seemed to float right up out of my body. So I'm looking down at my body lying in the bed still as a corpse, and I said ‘Oh (beep)! I've died!!’ I was unnerved by this. But in the next second, I thought to myself ‘Hey, if I'm dead, who is thinking these thoughts??’ So then, I felt calm and very good, thinking ‘Well this sure beats being sick as a dog, this is quite okay.’ So I'm floating in the room, right? And it is daytime. Outside there was a church and the bells started ringing. This was normal. I had a strong urge to go check it out so I floated out of the window. Outside it was blindingly bright. Whoa! It was SO BRIGHT. In a word, it was hard to see. Don't ask see with what, because I don't have a clue, my eyes being back in my body. But I could see the church steeple, and made a circuit of it. At this point I'm feeling very exhilarated. I'm flying around free of my body! And two things really hit me at that moment: first, the body isn't ME, it's just a body; and second, the whole heaven and hell thing is nonsense, we all just float off peacefully, because the spirit endures. So that was a great thing to know. At last though, some part of me got lonely for my body, and I went back inside, and sort of lay down in my body. And I slept. And the next thing I knew, the illness had broken and I was recovering.
Now-- Because of this experience, I came to think at the time that the spirit endures, and we go off peacefully. This idea I have entertained ever since to a degree, but I rather think now that it was merely a biochemical sort of effect, not anything 'real' in the sense of supernatural. I accept the idea it could be a hallucination of some sort, but it seemed very genuine at the time. So on the real significance of out of body experiences, I just don't know. But I've not feared death per se during my life for which I am very grateful.
Pozadí informací
Gender:
Male
Date NDE Occurred:
August 1967
Prvky NDE
Byla v době vašeho zážitku přidružená život ohrožující událost?
Uncertain Illness 'Illness, trauma or other condition not considered life threatening' I was very sick. Life threatening? Probably not.
Jak považujete obsah svého zážitku?
Positive
Zážitky zahrnovaly
Out of body experience
Cítili jste se odděleni od svého těla?
Yes Totally disembodied. I saw my body on the bed.
V jakém okamžiku během zkušenosti jste měl/a nejvyšší úroveň vědomí a bdělosti?
I seemed perfectly alert.
Zda se čas zdál urychlovat nebo zpomalovat?
No
Lišilo se nějak vaše slyšení od normálního?
Church bells.
Prošli jste tunelem?
No
Zážitky zahrnovaly
Light
Viděli jste nadpozemské světlo?
Yes It was very bright. Blindingly bright actually, like being surrounded by very bright sunlight.
Zda se ukázalo, že jste vstoupili do nějakého jiného, nadpozemského světa?
A clearly mystical or unearthly realm Well, everything seemed normal. I could hear and see. I can't say there was any sensation of feeling. In fact, I guess I'd say there was not any sensation of feeling or touch. But it wasn't like numbness.
Jaké další emoce jste cítili během zážitku?
Initially, anxiety. Afterwards, exhilaration and a sort of curiosity.
Měli jste náhle dojem, že rozumíte všemu?
Everything about the universe I concluded during the experience that it was a great joke on Christianity, that heaven and hell were obviously false and unreal, and this amused me and pleased me, that these people were so wrong and foolish. I was giddy with the knowledge that death was so easy and pleasant. That's how I was feeling at that time, that it was just a matter of floating away.
Vrátily se vám scény z vaší minulosti?
My past flashed before me, out of my control I went out the window, and flew around. It was very pleasant.
Přišly k vám scény z budoucnosti?
No
Dostali jste se k hranici nebo k bodu bez návratu?
I came to a barrier that I was not permitted to cross; or was sent back against my will Yes. I decided to go back to the body. I thought ‘Well, this is cool, but enough is enough, I'll just go lie back in the body, and if I'm dead well no problem, and if I'm not, that's fine too.’
Bůh, duchovno a náboženství
Došlo k změně vašich hodnot a přesvědčení v důsledku vašeho zážitku?
Yes I became a more confirmed atheist and infidel. Before, I was uncertain about the claims of religion, but afterwards I thought, ‘These guys are just like scam artists, they don't have a clue about any of it.’
Pokud jde o naše pozemské životy kromě náboženství
Po NDE
Bylo obtížné vyjádřit zážitek slovy?
No
Máte po své zkušenosti nějaké psychické, neobvyklé nebo jiné zvláštní dary, které jste před touto zkušeností neměli?
No
Jsou nějaké části vaší zkušenosti, které jsou pro vás obzvlášť významné nebo důležité? Prosím, vysvětlete.
The best part was flying. There was no bad part, really.
Sdíleli jste tuto zkušenost někdy s ostatními?
Yes I don't really emphasize the supposedly spiritual dimension, and I have not told very many people, but I've told a few that death is just nothing to fear. That we all will float off peacefully.
Je něco dalšího, co byste chtěli dodat o svém zážitku?
I do not think, after years of reflection on it, that my experience is anything that would tend to prove that the spirit or soul or mind survives death. I thought at the time that this was what my experience demonstrated, but I now tend to think it was just some sort of biochemical thing. Either way, it’s no big deal really.
Popisovaly otázky, které byly položeny, a informace, které jste poskytli, váš zážitek přesně a komplexně?
Uncertain
Popis zážitku 6923
9/29/2013
On the eighth day of my illness, I seemed to just float right up out of my body. I saw my body from above. I'm looking down at my body lying in the bed, still as a corpse, and I said, ‘Oh, sh#$! I've died!!’ I was basically unnerved by this. But in the next second, I thought to myself, ‘Hey, if I'm dead, who is thinking these thoughts??’
So, then I felt calm and very good, thinking, ‘Well this sure beats being sick as a dog. This is quite okay.’
I'm floating in the room, now feeling elated, and I decided to float out the window. The windows in this rooming house where I lived were just a series of louvers. You could stick your hand right outside the building if you wanted to. I had a strong urge to go check out what was outside so I floated out of the window.
Outside it was blindingly bright, with the light everywhere, not coming from any particular source, but as if the light were a liquid and I was in a sea of light.
At this point, I'm feeling very exhilarated, completely euphoric. I'm moving around free of my body. And two things really hit me at that moment. First, the body isn't ME. It's just a body. Second, the whole heaven and hell thing is nonsense, in terms of the popular images of streets of gold and pearly gates versus the lake of fire and the eternal torment. We all just float off peacefully because the spirit endures. So that was a great thing to know.
At last though, some part of me got lonely for my body and I went back inside. I thought it was better not to just leave my body there, though it was purely joyful in the sea of light. I went back in the room and I sort of lay down in my body to rest. The next thing I knew, the illness had broken and I was recovering, and I was not dead. I had thought that after taking a little rest in the body, now that I knew that being dead was okay, I’d be able to go back to the sea of light. This was not to be, though. Not right then anyway.
On the eighth day of my illness, I seemed to just float right up out of my body. I saw my body from above. I'm looking down at my body lying in the bed, still as a corpse, and I said, ‘Oh, sh#$! I've died!!’ I was basically unnerved by this. But in the next second, I thought to myself, ‘Hey, if I'm dead, who is thinking these thoughts??’
So, then I felt calm and very good, thinking, ‘Well this sure beats being sick as a dog. This is quite okay.’
I'm floating in the room, now feeling elated, and I decided to float out the window. The windows in this rooming house where I lived were just a series of louvers. You could stick your hand right outside the building if you wanted to. I had a strong urge to go check out what was outside so I floated out of the window.
Outside it was blindingly bright, with the light everywhere, not coming from any particular source, but as if the light were a liquid and I was in a sea of light.
At this point, I'm feeling very exhilarated, completely euphoric. I'm moving around free of my body. And two things really hit me at that moment. First, the body isn't ME. It's just a body. Second, the whole heaven and hell thing is nonsense, in terms of the popular images of streets of gold and pearly gates versus the lake of fire and the eternal torment. We all just float off peacefully because the spirit endures. So that was a great thing to know.
At last though, some part of me got lonely for my body and I went back inside. I thought it was better not to just leave my body there, though it was purely joyful in the sea of light. I went back in the room and I sort of lay down in my body to rest. The next thing I knew, the illness had broken and I was recovering, and I was not dead. I had thought that after taking a little rest in the body, now that I knew that being dead was okay, I’d be able to go back to the sea of light. This was not to be, though. Not right then anyway.
Pozadí informací
Gender:
Male
Date NDE Occurred:
Summer 1967
Prvky NDE
Byla v době vašeho zážitku přidružená život ohrožující událost?
Yes Illness Life threatening event, but not clinical death I was working on a construction job in Puerto Rico. It was 1967. I was seventeen years old. I contracted a severe case of gastroenteritis and was unable to afford proper medical care. I went to a clinic, got a bottle of pills, and went back to the room where I lived. To put it mildly, I had the most severe diarrhea you can imagine. I was extremely ill, suffering from painful cramps. I was losing water at a fantastic rate, just going to the bathroom all the time. The woman who ran the rooming house was good enough to bring me water, but basically I ate nothing. I was getting weaker and weaker.
Jak považujete obsah svého zážitku?
Entirely pleasant
Zážitky zahrnovaly
Out of body experience
Cítili jste se odděleni od svého těla?
Yes I saw my body on the bed. That is not a moment I'll ever forget. I heard the bells of the church nearby.
Jak se vaše nejvyšší úroveň vědomí a bdělosti během zkušenosti srovnává s vaším normálním každodenním vědomím a bdělostí?
More consciousness and alertness than normal Well, it is hard to explain. It is as if you suddenly understand that the physical life of the body is just a part of the reality, and the life of the spirit is more real, as if the physical world is a stage set sort of--- it looks real enough but it is just appearances.
V jakém okamžiku během zkušenosti jste měl/a nejvyšší úroveň vědomí a bdělosti?
I would say in the sea of light part, it seemed hyper-real, extremely joyful and also peaceful.
Byly vaše myšlenky zrychlené?
No
Zda se čas zdál urychlovat nebo zpomalovat?
No
Byly vaše smysly živější než obvykle?
More vivid than usual
Lišilo se nějak vaše vidění od normálního?
You can't close your eyes because you do not have eyes. I recall being able to look in a particular direction though. Vision was very sharp. The incredibly bright light in the sea of light was not painful.
Lišilo se nějak vaše slyšení od normálního?
I could hear. I heard church bells. There was a church nearby. Hearing seemed normal I should say.
Měli jste pocit, že jste si vědomi událostí, které se odehrávaly jinde?
No
Prošli jste tunelem?
Uncertain It was not a tunnel, it was a sea of light. The light was everywhere but with no source.
Viděli jste ve svém zážitku nějaké bytosti?
No
Setkali jste se nebo si byli vědomi jakýchkoli zesnulých (nebo žijících) bytostí?
No
Zážitky zahrnovaly
Unearthly light
Viděli jste nebo se cítili obklopeni jasným světlem?
An unusually bright light
Viděli jste nadpozemské světlo?
Yes If you just imagine being deep in the ocean and every molecule of water is radiating light that will give you an idea of what it was like.
Zda se ukázalo, že jste vstoupili do nějakého jiného, nadpozemského světa?
Some unfamiliar and strange place It was sure not anyplace earthly. Though I did not sense other beings, it still was not a lonely place. It was strange, but also like home. So you feel, oh good, I'm home, everything is okay. Death is not what folks think. It's okay.
Zážitky zahrnovaly
Strong emotional tone
Jaké další emoce jste cítili během zážitku?
First, fear. I was dead, and if you could die twice seeing my body on the bed would have scared me to death again! Then, immediately thereafter, I was able to reason that I was really okay, because I could think and see things. Then I was very joyful. In the sea of light, it was wonderful, joyful, and peaceful. I should not have left.
Měli jste pocit míru nebo příjemnosti?
Incredible peace or pleasantness
Měli jste pocit radosti?
incredible joy
Měli jste pocit harmonie nebo jednoty s vesmírem?
I felt no longer in conflict with nature
Měli jste náhle dojem, že rozumíte všemu?
Everything about myself or others I would not say I understood everything!! It is different from that. It's like you see things as they really are, or understand that you don't need to be concerned about the details, because it's all fine, it's all okay, you're home again.
Vrátily se vám scény z vaší minulosti?
No
Přišly k vám scény z budoucnosti?
No
Dostali jste se k hranici nebo k bodu bez návratu?
I came to a barrier that I was not permitted to cross; or was sent back against my will I did not think I was returning to life. I thought I'd just take a rest in my body, then go back to the sea of light. Now I have to die all over again to get back there.
Bůh, duchovno a náboženství
Jaký význam jste přikládali svému náboženskému/duchovnímu životu před vaším zážitkem?
Slightly important to me
Jaké bylo vaše náboženství před vaším zážitkem?
Christian- Protestant I have been educated in Episcopal Church schools, and had at the time of the experience a great deal of religious instruction including daily chapel. I was not however a believer in any deep sense.
Změnily se vaše náboženské praktiky od vašeho zážitku?
Yes Well, not as a direct result, but over time I've had religious experiences that I finally integrated with the near death experience. I do not know, Why me? It is a great puzzle. I suppose some are chosen or something. I guess we'll find out later on.
Jaký význam přikládáte svému náboženskému/duchovnímu životu po vašem zážitku?
Greatly important to me
Jaké je vaše náboženství nyní?
Christian- Protestant From the time of the experience to the present, a period of nearly half a century, I have been subjected to divine manifestations including outright miracles. God pestered me until I surrendered. I did not want to believe. I worked in a scientific department at a university. It was not at all convenient to be a Christian. Nevertheless, I was finally forced to it. I have no idea why. It is all very strange and mysterious to me. I was not looking for this transcendent divine love: it knocked me repeatedly in the head until I accepted its reality.
Zahrnoval váš zážitek prvky, které byly v souladu s vašimi pozemskými vírami?
Content that was both consistent and not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience I was not understanding about what love means. It is not something you earn by being a good person.
Došlo k změně vašich hodnot a přesvědčení v důsledku vašeho zážitku?
Yes Be good. Do the right thing. Read scripture. Pray for help, understanding, and forgiveness. Keep trying. Try to do better. Do not be afraid. It's all okay!
Zda jste se setkali s mystickou bytostí nebo přítomností, nebo slyšeli neidentifikovatelný hlas?
No
Viděli jste duše zesnulých nebo náboženské duchy?
No
Setkali jste se nebo si byli vědomi bytostí, které dříve žily na Zemi a jsou popisovány jménem v náboženstvích (například: Ježíš, Muhammad, Buddha, atd?)
No
Během vašeho zážitku jste získali informace o existenci Boha?
No
Během vašeho zážitku jste získali informace o univerzálním spojení nebo jednotě?
No
Věřili jste v existenci Boha před vaším zážitkem?
God probably exists┬
Během vašeho zážitku jste získali informace o existenci Boha?
Uncertain During the time of the experience I was mostly amused that the idea of hell with fire etc and heaven with pearly gates was wrong, that you just float off peacefully. I did not at that time understand that the peace and joy and love actually = God. That came much later.
Věříte v existenci Boha po vašem zážitku?
God definitely exists
Pokud jde o naše pozemské životy kromě náboženství
Během vašeho zážitku jste získali zvláštní znalosti nebo informace o svém účelu?
Yes Well, I know something of great value, that most people do not know, for which I am eternally grateful. How can I tell you? It is so simple, but folks hear it and ignore it. Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself, and don't do to others that which you hate, and trust in God, and do not be afraid. Do your best, do the right thing. It's all okay.
Během vašeho zážitku jste získali informace o smyslu života?
No
Věřili jste v posmrtný život před vaším zážitkem?
An afterlife probably does not exist
Věříte v posmrtný život po vašem zážitku?
An afterlife definitely exists Oh yes, consciousness and personality continues after bodily death. To that extent there is no death really. The body dies. You do not die. You are not equal to your body. Mind is not the same thing as brain.
Báli jste se smrti před vaším zážitkem?
I moderately feared death
Bojíte se smrti po vašem zážitku?
I do not fear death
Byli jste vystrašeni životem před vaším zážitkem?
Slightly fearful in living my earthly life
Byli jste vystrašeni životem po vašem zážitku?
Not fearful in living my earthly life
Věřili jste, že naše pozemské životy jsou smysluplné a významné před vaším zážitkem?
Are possibly meaningful and significant
Věřili jste, že naše pozemské životy jsou smysluplné a významné po vašem zážitku?
Are meaningful and significant
Získali jste informace o tom, jak žít naše životy?
Yes Don't be afraid. Death is nothing to fear. It is quite okay. You do your best in your life and the rest takes care of itself.
Během vašeho zážitku jste získali informace o obtížích, výzvách a trápeních života?
No
Byli jste soucitní před vaším zážitkem?
Moderately compassionate toward others
Během vašeho zážitku jste získali informace o lásce?
Yes Love is limitless and a quite real thing, like air or water. We do not feel this when in the body.
Byli jste soucitní po vašem zážitku?
Greatly compassionate toward others
Jaké životní změny nastaly ve vašem životě po vašem zážitku?
Large changes in my life I do not know why, but my life from that time to now has consistently had strange interventions. Any way I put this will sound absurd. My life has been blessed with lots of silly little miracles. God is a great joker in my case. He always reminds me that he's with me. The Almighty has a sense of humor. I always try to rationalize what happens but really, I've given up. God acts in the everyday world. That is the miracle of God. The miracle is all around us, and we do not see it.
Změnily se vaše vztahy konkrétně v důsledku vašeho zážitku?
Uncertain I can't really say.
Po NDE
Bylo obtížné vyjádřit zážitek slovy?
No It was not especially difficult except it was unlike anything else and so when I describe it, it sounds a bit silly, like something made up. So for many years I told nobody about it, because I thought they'd think I was nuts or lying.
Jak přesně si pamatujete zážitek ve srovnání s jinými událostmi v životě, které se staly v době vašeho zážitku?
I remember the experience more accurately than other life events that occurred around the time of the experience I remember exactly. It is as vivid now as 46 years ago.
Máte po své zkušenosti nějaké psychické, neobvyklé nebo jiné zvláštní dary, které jste před touto zkušeností neměli?
No
Jsou nějaké části vaší zkušenosti, které jsou pro vás obzvlášť významné nebo důležité? Prosím, vysvětlete.
The sea of light. I should have stayed!
Sdíleli jste tuto zkušenost někdy s ostatními?
Yes Oh years and years went by! I'd say thirty years. Finally I heard of these near death experiences, and I said ‘Oh yes, that's like what happened to me.’ I don't think people are much influenced by hearing the experiences of others. If it had not happened to me I would not believe it myself.
Měli jste nějaké znalosti o zážitku blízkém smrti (NDE) před vaším zážitkem?
No
Co jste si mysleli o realitě vašeho zážitku krátce (dny až týdny) poté, co se to stalo?
Experience was definitely real. It was real. It really happened. There was never the slightest doubt of that.
Co si nyní myslíte o realitě vašeho zážitku?
Experience was definitely real. Well, it was more real than anything in my life. I could sooner believe my whole life is a dream. The experience was just very, very real.
Někdy ve vašem životě se něco reprodukovalo jakoukoli část zážitku?
No I've had very many drug trips and similar things, but nothing is even remotely like the near death experience. On some drugs you do feel the oneness though. That is similar.
Je něco dalšího, co byste chtěli dodat o svém zážitku?
I am so grateful to have been chosen to have this experience.