תיאור החוויה
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.
מידע רקע
Gender:
Male
Date NDE Occurred:
August 1967
מרכיבי NDE
בזמן החוויה שלך, האם הייתה אירוע מסכן חיים הקשור?
Uncertain Illness 'Illness, trauma or other condition not considered life threatening' I was very sick. Life threatening? Probably not.
איך אתה תופס את תוכן החוויה שלך?
Positive
החוויה כללה
Out of body experience
האם הרגשת מנותק מגופך?
Yes Totally disembodied. I saw my body on the bed.
באיזה שלב בחווייה היית ברמת ההכרה והערנות הגבוהה ביותר שלך?
I seemed perfectly alert.
האם הזמן נדמה שהוא מאיץ או מאט?
No
האם השמיעה שלך השתנתה בכל דרך שהיא מהרגיל?
Church bells.
האם עברת דרך מנהרה או מנהרה?
No
החוויה כללה
Light
האם ראית אור בלתי רגיל?
Yes It was very bright. Blindingly bright actually, like being surrounded by very bright sunlight.
האם נדמה לך שנכנסת לעולם אחר, לא ארצי?
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.
אילו רגשות נוספים חווית במהלך החוויה?
Initially, anxiety. Afterwards, exhilaration and a sort of curiosity.
האם נראה פתאום שהבנת הכל?
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.
האם סצנות מהעבר שלך חזרו אליך?
My past flashed before me, out of my control I went out the window, and flew around. It was very pleasant.
האם הגיעו אליך סצנות מהעתיד?
No
האם הגעת לגבול או לנקודת אל חזור?
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.’
אלוהים, רוחניות ודת
האם היה לך שינוי בערכים ובאמונות שלך בעקבות החוויה שלך?
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.’
בנוגע לחיים הארציים שלנו מעבר לדת
אחרי ה-NDE
האם היה קשה להביע את החווייה במילים?
No
האם יש לכם כישורים נפשיים, לא רגילים או אחרים לאחר חווייתכם שלא היו לכם לפני החוויה?
No
האם ישנם חלק אחד או מספר חלקים בחווייתכם שהם בעלי משמעות או חשובים במיוחד עבורכם? אנא הסבירו.
The best part was flying. There was no bad part, really.
האם אי פעם שיתפתם את החוויה הזו עם אחרים?
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.
האם יש משהו נוסף שתרצה להוסיף לגבי החוויה שלך?
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.
האם השאלות שנשאלו והמידע שסיפקת תיארו באופן מדויק ומקיף את חווייתך?
Uncertain
תיאור החוויה 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.
מידע רקע
Gender:
Male
Date NDE Occurred:
Summer 1967
מרכיבי NDE
בזמן החוויה שלך, האם הייתה אירוע מסכן חיים הקשור?
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.
איך אתה תופס את תוכן החוויה שלך?
Entirely pleasant
החוויה כללה
Out of body experience
האם הרגשת מנותק מגופך?
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.
כיצד השווית את רמת ההכרה והערנות הגבוהה ביותר שלך במהלך החווייה לרמת ההכרה והערנות הרגילות שלך ביום יום?
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.
באיזה שלב בחווייה היית ברמת ההכרה והערנות הגבוהה ביותר שלך?
I would say in the sea of light part, it seemed hyper-real, extremely joyful and also peaceful.
האם מחשבותיך היו מהירות יותר?
No
האם הזמן נדמה שהוא מאיץ או מאט?
No
האם החושים שלך היו חדים וברורים מהרגיל?
More vivid than usual
האם הראייה שלך השתנתה בכל דרך שהיא מהרגיל
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.
האם השמיעה שלך השתנתה בכל דרך שהיא מהרגיל?
I could hear. I heard church bells. There was a church nearby. Hearing seemed normal I should say.
האם נדמה היה לך שאתה מודע לדברים שמתרחשים במקומות אחרים?
No
האם עברת דרך מנהרה או מנהרה?
Uncertain It was not a tunnel, it was a sea of light. The light was everywhere but with no source.
האם ראית ישויות כלשהן בחוויה שלך?
No
האם פגשת או היית מודע ליצורים שנפטרו (או חיים)?
No
החוויה כללה
Unearthly light
האם ראית או הרגשת מוקף באור מבהיק?
An unusually bright light
האם ראית אור בלתי רגיל?
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.
האם נדמה לך שנכנסת לעולם אחר, לא ארצי?
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.
החוויה כללה
Strong emotional tone
אילו רגשות נוספים חווית במהלך החוויה?
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.
האם היה לך תחושת שלווה או נעימות?
Incredible peace or pleasantness
האם היה לך תחושת שמחה?
incredible joy
האם הרגשת תחושת הרמוניה או אחדות עם היקום?
I felt no longer in conflict with nature
האם נראה פתאום שהבנת הכל?
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.
האם סצנות מהעבר שלך חזרו אליך?
No
האם הגיעו אליך סצנות מהעתיד?
No
האם הגעת לגבול או לנקודת אל חזור?
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.
אלוהים, רוחניות ודת
איזו חשיבות נתתם לחיים הדתיים/רוחניים שלכם לפני החוויה שלכם
Slightly important to me
מה הייתה דתך לפני החוויה שלך?
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.
האם פרקטיקות הדת שלך השתנו מאז החוויה שלך?
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.
איזו חשיבות אתם נותנים לחיים הדתיים/רוחניים שלכם לאחר החוויה שלכם
Greatly important to me
מה היא דתך עכשיו?
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.
האם החוויה שלך כללה תכנים התואמים לאמונותיך הארציות?
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.
האם היה לך שינוי בערכים ובאמונות שלך בעקבות החוויה שלך?
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!
האם נדמה לך שנפגשת עם ישות מיסטית או נוכחות מיסטית, או שמעת קול לא ניתן לזיהוי?
No
האם ראית רוחות של נפטרים או רוחניות?
No
האם פגשת או נודע לך על ישויות שחיו בעבר על פני האדמה שמתוארים לפי שם בדתות (לדוגמה: ישו, מוחמד, בודהה ועוד)?
No
במהלך החוויה שלך, האם השגת מידע על קיומו של אלוהים?
No
במהלך החוויה שלך, האם השגת מידע על חיבור אוניברסלי או אחדות?
No
האם האמנת בקיום של אלוהים לפני החוויה שלך?
God probably exists┬
במהלך החוויה שלך, האם השגת מידע על קיומו של אלוהים?
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.
האם אתה מאמין בקיום של אלוהים לאחר החוויה שלך?
God definitely exists
בנוגע לחיים הארציים שלנו מעבר לדת
במהלך החוויה שלך, האם השגת ידע מיוחד או מידע על מטרתך?
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.
במהלך החוויה שלך, האם השגת מידע על משמעות החיים?
No
האם האמנת בחיים לאחר המוות לפני החוויה שלך
An afterlife probably does not exist
האם אתה מאמין בחיים אחרי המוות לאחר החוויה שלך
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.
האם פחדת מהמוות לפני החוויה שלך
I moderately feared death
האם אתה פוחד ממוות לאחר החוויה שלך
I do not fear death
האם פחדת לחיות את חייך לפני החוויה שלך
Slightly fearful in living my earthly life
האם פחדת לחיות את חייך אחרי החוויה שלך
Not fearful in living my earthly life
האם האמנת שחיינו הארציים משמעותיים וחשובים לפני החוויה שלך
Are possibly meaningful and significant
האם האמנת שחיינו הארציים משמעותיים וחשובים לאחר החוויה שלך
Are meaningful and significant
האם רכשת מידע על איך לחיות את חיינו?
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.
במהלך החוויה שלך, האם רכשת מידע על הקשיים, אתגרים וקשיים של החיים?
No
האם היית רחום לפני החוויה שלך
Moderately compassionate toward others
במהלך החוויה שלך, האם רכשת מידע על אהבה?
Yes Love is limitless and a quite real thing, like air or water. We do not feel this when in the body.
האם היית רחום לאחר החוויה שלך
Greatly compassionate toward others
אילו שינויים בחיים התרחשו בחייך לאחר החוויה שלך?
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.
האם מערכות היחסים שלך השתנו במיוחד כתוצאה מהחוויה שלך?
Uncertain I can't really say.
אחרי ה-NDE
האם היה קשה להביע את החווייה במילים?
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.
כמה במדויק אתה זוכר את החוויה בהשוואה לאירועים אחרים בחיים שהתרחשו בסביבות זמן החוויה?
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.
האם יש לכם כישורים נפשיים, לא רגילים או אחרים לאחר חווייתכם שלא היו לכם לפני החוויה?
No
האם ישנם חלק אחד או מספר חלקים בחווייתכם שהם בעלי משמעות או חשובים במיוחד עבורכם? אנא הסבירו.
The sea of light. I should have stayed!
האם אי פעם שיתפתם את החוויה הזו עם אחרים?
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.
האם הייתה לכם ידע כלשהו על חוויית כמעט מוות לפני חווייתכם?
No
מה האמנת על מציאות החוויה שלך זמן קצר (ימים עד שבועות) לאחר שהתרחשה?
Experience was definitely real. It was real. It really happened. There was never the slightest doubt of that.
מה אתה מאמין על מציאות החוויה שלך עכשיו?
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.
בכל זמן בחייך, האם משהו אי פעם שיחזר חלק כלשהו מהחוויה?
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.
האם יש משהו נוסף שתרצה להוסיף לגבי החוויה שלך?
I am so grateful to have been chosen to have this experience.