Opis iskustva
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.
Osnovne informacije
Gender:
Male
Date NDE Occurred:
August 1967
NDE Elementi
Je li u vrijeme vašeg iskustva postojao povezani događaj opasan po život?
Uncertain Illness 'Illness, trauma or other condition not considered life threatening' I was very sick. Life threatening? Probably not.
Kako smatrate sadržaj svog iskustva?
Positive
Iskustvo je uključivalo
Out of body experience
Jeste li se osjećali odvojeno od svog tijela?
Yes Totally disembodied. I saw my body on the bed.
U koje ste vrijeme tijekom iskustva bili na najvišoj razini svijesti i budnosti?
I seemed perfectly alert.
Je li se činilo da se vrijeme ubrzava ili usporava?
No
Je li se vaš sluh razlikovao od uobičajenog?
Church bells.
Jeste li prošli u ili kroz tunel?
No
Iskustvo je uključivalo
Light
Jeste li vidjeli nezemaljsku svjetlost?
Yes It was very bright. Blindingly bright actually, like being surrounded by very bright sunlight.
Činilo se da ste ušli u neki drugi, nezemaljski svijet?
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.
Koje ste još emocije osjećali tijekom iskustva?
Initially, anxiety. Afterwards, exhilaration and a sort of curiosity.
Jeste li odjednom shvatili sve?
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.
Jesu li vam se vratile scene iz prošlosti?
My past flashed before me, out of my control I went out the window, and flew around. It was very pleasant.
Jesu li vam se prikazale scene iz budućnosti?
No
Jeste li došli do granice ili točke bez povratka?
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.’
Bog, duhovnost i religija
Jeste li imali promjenu u svojim vrijednostima i uvjerenjima zbog vašeg iskustva?
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.’
Što se tiče naših zemaljskih života osim religije
Nakon NDE-a
Je li iskustvo bilo teško izraziti riječima?
No
Imate li psihičke, neobične ili druge posebne darove nakon vašeg iskustva koje niste imali prije iskustva?
No
Postoje li jedan ili nekoliko dijelova vašeg iskustva koji su vam posebno smisleni ili značajni? Molimo objasnite.
The best part was flying. There was no bad part, really.
Jeste li ikada podijelili ovo iskustvo s drugima?
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.
Postoji li još nešto što biste željeli dodati o svom iskustvu?
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.
Jesu li postavljena pitanja i informacije koje ste pružili točno i sveobuhvatno opisali vaše iskustvo?
Uncertain
Opis iskustva 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.
Osnovne informacije
Gender:
Male
Date NDE Occurred:
Summer 1967
NDE Elementi
Je li u vrijeme vašeg iskustva postojao povezani događaj opasan po život?
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.
Kako smatrate sadržaj svog iskustva?
Entirely pleasant
Iskustvo je uključivalo
Out of body experience
Jeste li se osjećali odvojeno od svog tijela?
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.
Kako se vaša najviša razina svijesti i budnosti tijekom iskustva uspoređuje s vašom uobičajenom svakodnevnom sviješću i budnošću?
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.
U koje ste vrijeme tijekom iskustva bili na najvišoj razini svijesti i budnosti?
I would say in the sea of light part, it seemed hyper-real, extremely joyful and also peaceful.
Jesu li vam se misli ubrzale?
No
Je li se činilo da se vrijeme ubrzava ili usporava?
No
Jesu li vam osjetila bila življa nego obično?
More vivid than usual
Je li se vaš vid razlikovao od uobičajenog?
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.
Je li se vaš sluh razlikovao od uobičajenog?
I could hear. I heard church bells. There was a church nearby. Hearing seemed normal I should say.
Jeste li bili svjesni stvari koje se događaju drugdje?
No
Jeste li prošli u ili kroz tunel?
Uncertain It was not a tunnel, it was a sea of light. The light was everywhere but with no source.
Jeste li vidjeli bilo kakva bića u svom iskustvu?
No
Jeste li susreli ili postali svjesni bilo kakvih preminulih (ili živih) bića?
No
Iskustvo je uključivalo
Unearthly light
Jeste li vidjeli ili se osjećali okruženi briljantnom svjetlošću?
An unusually bright light
Jeste li vidjeli nezemaljsku svjetlost?
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.
Činilo se da ste ušli u neki drugi, nezemaljski svijet?
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.
Iskustvo je uključivalo
Strong emotional tone
Koje ste još emocije osjećali tijekom iskustva?
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.
Jeste li osjećali mir ili ugodu?
Incredible peace or pleasantness
Jeste li osjećali radost?
incredible joy
Jeste li osjetili osjećaj sklada ili jedinstva sa svemirom?
I felt no longer in conflict with nature
Jeste li odjednom shvatili sve?
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.
Jesu li vam se vratile scene iz prošlosti?
No
Jesu li vam se prikazale scene iz budućnosti?
No
Jeste li došli do granice ili točke bez povratka?
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.
Bog, duhovnost i religija
Koju ste važnost pridavali svom religijskom/duhovnom životu prije svog iskustva?
Slightly important to me
Koja je bila vaša religija prije vašeg iskustva?
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.
Jesu li se vaše vjerske prakse promijenile od vašeg iskustva?
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.
Koju važnost pridajete svom religijskom/duhovnom životu nakon svog iskustva?
Greatly important to me
Koja je vaša religija sada?
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.
Je li vaše iskustvo uključivalo značajke u skladu s vašim zemaljskim uvjerenjima?
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.
Jeste li imali promjenu u svojim vrijednostima i uvjerenjima zbog vašeg iskustva?
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!
Jeste li se činili da ste susreli mistično biće ili prisutnost, ili čuli neidentificirani glas?
No
Jeste li vidjeli preminule ili religiozne duhove?
No
Jeste li susreli ili postali svjesni bilo kakvih bića koja su prethodno živjela na zemlji, a koja su opisana imenom u religijama (na primjer: Isus, Muhamed, Buda, itd.)?
No
Jeste li tijekom svog iskustva stekli informacije o postojanju Boga?
No
Jeste li tijekom svog iskustva stekli informacije o univerzalnoj povezanosti ili jedinstvu?
No
Jeste li vjerovali u postojanje Boga prije svog iskustva?
God probably exists┬
Jeste li tijekom svog iskustva stekli informacije o postojanju Boga?
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.
Vjerujete li u postojanje Boga nakon svog iskustva?
God definitely exists
Što se tiče naših zemaljskih života osim religije
Jeste li tijekom svog iskustva stekli posebno znanje ili informacije o svojoj svrsi?
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.
Jeste li tijekom svog iskustva stekli informacije o smislu života?
No
Jeste li vjerovali u zagrobni život prije svog iskustva?
An afterlife probably does not exist
Vjerujete li u zagrobni život nakon svog iskustva?
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.
Jeste li se bojali smrti prije svog iskustva?
I moderately feared death
Bojite li se smrti nakon svog iskustva?
I do not fear death
Jeste li se bojali živjeti svoj život prije svog iskustva?
Slightly fearful in living my earthly life
Jeste li se bojali živjeti svoj život nakon svog iskustva?
Not fearful in living my earthly life
Jeste li vjerovali da su naši zemaljski životi smisleni i značajni prije vašeg iskustva?
Are possibly meaningful and significant
Jeste li vjerovali da su naši zemaljski životi smisleni i značajni nakon vašeg iskustva?
Are meaningful and significant
Jeste li stekli informacije o tome kako živjeti svoje živote?
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.
Jeste li tijekom svog iskustva stekli informacije o životnim poteškoćama, izazovima i nedaćama?
No
Jeste li bili suosjećajni prije svog iskustva?
Moderately compassionate toward others
Jeste li tijekom svog iskustva stekli informacije o ljubavi?
Yes Love is limitless and a quite real thing, like air or water. We do not feel this when in the body.
Jeste li bili suosjećajni nakon svog iskustva?
Greatly compassionate toward others
Koje su se životne promjene dogodile u vašem životu nakon vašeg iskustva?
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.
Jesu li se vaši odnosi promijenili konkretno kao rezultat vašeg iskustva?
Uncertain I can't really say.
Nakon NDE-a
Je li iskustvo bilo teško izraziti riječima?
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.
Koliko se točno sjećate iskustva u usporedbi s drugim životnim događajima koji su se dogodili otprilike u to vrijeme?
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.
Imate li psihičke, neobične ili druge posebne darove nakon vašeg iskustva koje niste imali prije iskustva?
No
Postoje li jedan ili nekoliko dijelova vašeg iskustva koji su vam posebno smisleni ili značajni? Molimo objasnite.
The sea of light. I should have stayed!
Jeste li ikada podijelili ovo iskustvo s drugima?
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.
Jeste li imali bilo kakvo znanje o iskustvu bliske smrti (NDE) prije vašeg iskustva?
No
Što ste vjerovali o stvarnosti svog iskustva ubrzo (dane do tjedana) nakon što se dogodilo?
Experience was definitely real. It was real. It really happened. There was never the slightest doubt of that.
U što sada vjerujete o stvarnosti svog iskustva?
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.
Je li u bilo kojem trenutku vašeg života išta reproduciralo bilo koji dio iskustva?
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.
Postoji li još nešto što biste željeli dodati o svom iskustvu?
I am so grateful to have been chosen to have this experience.