Beskrivelse af oplevelsen
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.
Baggrundsinformation
Gender:
Male
Date NDE Occurred:
August 1967
NDE Elementer
Var der på tidspunktet for din oplevelse en tilknyttet livstruende begivenhed?
Uncertain Illness 'Illness, trauma or other condition not considered life threatening' I was very sick. Life threatening? Probably not.
Hvordan betragter du indholdet af din oplevelse?
Positive
Oplevelsen inkluderede
Out of body experience
Følte du dig adskilt fra din krop?
Yes Totally disembodied. I saw my body on the bed.
På hvilket tidspunkt under oplevelsen var du på dit højeste niveau af bevidsthed og årvågenhed?
I seemed perfectly alert.
Virker det som om tiden gik hurtigere eller langsommere?
No
Var din hørelse på nogen måde anderledes end normalt?
Church bells.
Passerede du ind i eller gennem en tunnel?
No
Oplevelsen inkluderede
Light
Så du et overjordisk lys?
Yes It was very bright. Blindingly bright actually, like being surrounded by very bright sunlight.
Syntes du at træde ind i en anden, overjordisk verden?
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.
Hvilke andre følelser følte du under oplevelsen?
Initially, anxiety. Afterwards, exhilaration and a sort of curiosity.
Virker det som om du pludselig forstod alting?
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.
Kom scener fra din fortid tilbage til dig?
My past flashed before me, out of my control I went out the window, and flew around. It was very pleasant.
Kom scener fra fremtiden til dig?
No
Kom du til en grænse eller et punkt uden retur?
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.’
Gud, spiritualitet og religion
Har du oplevet en ændring i dine værdier og overbevisninger på grund af din oplevelse?
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.’
Vedrørende vores jordiske liv bortset fra religion
Efter Nær Døden Oplevelsen
Var oplevelsen vanskelig at udtrykke med ord?
No
Har du nogen psykiske, usædvanlige eller andre specielle gaver efter din oplevelse, som du ikke havde før oplevelsen?
No
Er der en eller flere dele af din oplevelse, der er særligt meningsfulde eller betydningsfulde for dig? Forklar venligst.
The best part was flying. There was no bad part, really.
Har du nogensinde delt denne oplevelse med andre?
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.
Er der andet, du gerne vil tilføje om din oplevelse?
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.
Beskrev de stillede spørgsmål og de oplysninger, du gav, din oplevelse præcist og omfattende?
Uncertain
Beskrivelse af oplevelsen 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.
Baggrundsinformation
Gender:
Male
Date NDE Occurred:
Summer 1967
NDE Elementer
Var der på tidspunktet for din oplevelse en tilknyttet livstruende begivenhed?
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.
Hvordan betragter du indholdet af din oplevelse?
Entirely pleasant
Oplevelsen inkluderede
Out of body experience
Følte du dig adskilt fra din krop?
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.
Hvordan var dit højeste niveau af bevidsthed og årvågenhed under oplevelsen sammenlignet med din normale hverdagsbevidsthed og årvågenhed?
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.
På hvilket tidspunkt under oplevelsen var du på dit højeste niveau af bevidsthed og årvågenhed?
I would say in the sea of light part, it seemed hyper-real, extremely joyful and also peaceful.
Gik dine tanker hurtigere?
No
Virker det som om tiden gik hurtigere eller langsommere?
No
Var dine sanser mere levende end normalt?
More vivid than usual
Var dit syn på nogen måde anderledes end normalt?
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.
Var din hørelse på nogen måde anderledes end normalt?
I could hear. I heard church bells. There was a church nearby. Hearing seemed normal I should say.
Syntes du at være opmærksom på ting, der foregik andre steder?
No
Passerede du ind i eller gennem en tunnel?
Uncertain It was not a tunnel, it was a sea of light. The light was everywhere but with no source.
Så du nogen væsener i din oplevelse?
No
Mødte eller blev du opmærksom på afdøde (eller levende) væsener?
No
Oplevelsen inkluderede
Unearthly light
Så du eller følte du dig omgivet af et strålende lys?
An unusually bright light
Så du et overjordisk lys?
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.
Syntes du at træde ind i en anden, overjordisk verden?
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.
Oplevelsen inkluderede
Strong emotional tone
Hvilke andre følelser følte du under oplevelsen?
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.
Følte du en følelse af fred eller behag?
Incredible peace or pleasantness
Følte du en følelse af glæde?
incredible joy
Følte du en følelse af harmoni eller enhed med universet?
I felt no longer in conflict with nature
Virker det som om du pludselig forstod alting?
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.
Kom scener fra din fortid tilbage til dig?
No
Kom scener fra fremtiden til dig?
No
Kom du til en grænse eller et punkt uden retur?
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.
Gud, spiritualitet og religion
Hvilken betydning tillagde du dit religiøse/spirituelle liv før din oplevelse?
Slightly important to me
Hvad var din religion før din oplevelse?
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.
Har dine religiøse praksisser ændret sig siden din oplevelse?
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.
Hvilken betydning tillægger du dit religiøse/spirituelle liv efter din oplevelse?
Greatly important to me
Hvad er din religion nu?
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.
Inkluderede din oplevelse elementer, der var i overensstemmelse med din jordiske overbevisning?
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.
Har du oplevet en ændring i dine værdier og overbevisninger på grund af din oplevelse?
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!
Mødte du et mystisk væsen eller tilstedeværelse, eller hørte du en uidentificerbar stemme?
No
Så du afdøde eller religiøse ånder?
No
Mødte du eller blev du opmærksom på væsener, der tidligere har levet på jorden, og som er beskrevet ved navn i religioner (for eksempel: Jesus, Muhammed, Buddha osv.)?
No
Fik du under din oplevelse information om Guds eksistens?
No
Fik du under din oplevelse information om universel forbindelse eller samhørighed?
No
Troede du på Guds eksistens før din oplevelse?
God probably exists┬
Fik du under din oplevelse information om Guds eksistens?
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.
Tror du på Guds eksistens efter din oplevelse?
God definitely exists
Vedrørende vores jordiske liv bortset fra religion
Fik du under din oplevelse særlig viden eller information om dit formål?
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.
Fik du under din oplevelse information om meningen med livet?
No
Troede du på et liv efter døden før din oplevelse?
An afterlife probably does not exist
Tror du på et liv efter døden efter din oplevelse?
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.
Frygtede du døden før din oplevelse?
I moderately feared death
Frygter du døden efter din oplevelse?
I do not fear death
Var du bange for at leve dit liv før din oplevelse?
Slightly fearful in living my earthly life
Var du bange for at leve dit liv efter din oplevelse?
Not fearful in living my earthly life
Troede du, at vores jordiske liv er meningsfulde og betydningsfulde før din oplevelse?
Are possibly meaningful and significant
Troede du, at vores jordiske liv er meningsfulde og betydningsfulde efter din oplevelse?
Are meaningful and significant
Fik du information om, hvordan vi skal leve vores liv?
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.
Fik du under din oplevelse information om livets vanskeligheder, udfordringer og strabadser?
No
Var du medfølende før din oplevelse?
Moderately compassionate toward others
Fik du under din oplevelse information om kærlighed?
Yes Love is limitless and a quite real thing, like air or water. We do not feel this when in the body.
Var du medfølende efter din oplevelse?
Greatly compassionate toward others
Hvilke livsændringer er der sket i dit liv efter din oplevelse?
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.
Har dine forhold ændret sig specifikt som følge af din oplevelse?
Uncertain I can't really say.
Efter Nær Døden Oplevelsen
Var oplevelsen vanskelig at udtrykke med ord?
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.
Hvor præcist husker du oplevelsen sammenlignet med andre livsbegivenheder, der fandt sted omkring tidspunktet for oplevelsen?
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.
Har du nogen psykiske, usædvanlige eller andre specielle gaver efter din oplevelse, som du ikke havde før oplevelsen?
No
Er der en eller flere dele af din oplevelse, der er særligt meningsfulde eller betydningsfulde for dig? Forklar venligst.
The sea of light. I should have stayed!
Har du nogensinde delt denne oplevelse med andre?
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.
Havde du kendskab til nærdødsoplevelser (NDE) før din oplevelse?
No
Hvad troede du om realiteten af din oplevelse kort tid (dage til uger) efter den skete?
Experience was definitely real. It was real. It really happened. There was never the slightest doubt of that.
Hvad tror du nu om virkeligheden af din oplevelse?
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.
Har noget på noget tidspunkt i dit liv reproduceret nogen del af oplevelsen?
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.
Er der andet, du gerne vil tilføje om din oplevelse?
I am so grateful to have been chosen to have this experience.