Ervaringsbeschrijving
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.
Achtergrondinformatie
Gender:
Male
Date NDE Occurred:
August 1967
NDE-elementen
Was er op het moment van uw ervaring een levensbedreigend voorval?
Uncertain Illness 'Illness, trauma or other condition not considered life threatening' I was very sick. Life threatening? Probably not.
Hoe beschouwt u de inhoud van uw ervaring?
Positive
De ervaring omvatte
Out of body experience
Voelde je je gescheiden van je lichaam?
Yes Totally disembodied. I saw my body on the bed.
Op welk moment tijdens de ervaring was uw bewustzijns- en waakzaamheidsniveau het hoogst?
I seemed perfectly alert.
Leek de tijd sneller te gaan of langzamer?
No
Verscheen je gehoor op enige wijze anders dan normaal?
Church bells.
Bent u door een tunnel gegaan?
No
De ervaring omvatte
Light
Heeft u een onaards licht gezien?
Yes It was very bright. Blindingly bright actually, like being surrounded by very bright sunlight.
Leek u een andere, onaardse wereld te betreden?
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.
Welke andere emoties voelde je tijdens de ervaring?
Initially, anxiety. Afterwards, exhilaration and a sort of curiosity.
Leek je plotseling alles te begrijpen?
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.
Komen er scènes uit uw verleden naar boven?
My past flashed before me, out of my control I went out the window, and flew around. It was very pleasant.
Kwamen er scènes uit de toekomst tot je?
No
Kwam je bij een grens of punt van geen terugkeer?
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.’
God, Spiritualiteit en Religie
Had u een verandering in uw waarden en overtuigingen vanwege uw ervaring?
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.’
Met betrekking tot ons aardse leven buiten Religie
Na de NDE
Was de ervaring moeilijk in woorden uit te drukken?
No
Heeft u na uw ervaring enige paranormale, bijzondere of andere speciale gaven die u voor de ervaring niet had?
No
Zijn er één of meerdere delen van uw ervaring die speciaal betekenisvol of belangrijk voor u zijn? Gelieve uit te leggen.
The best part was flying. There was no bad part, really.
Heeft u deze ervaring ooit met anderen gedeeld?
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.
Is er nog iets anders dat u zou willen toevoegen over uw ervaring?
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.
Beschreven de gestelde vragen en de verstrekte informatie uw ervaring nauwkeurig en volledig?
Uncertain
Ervaringsbeschrijving 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.
Achtergrondinformatie
Gender:
Male
Date NDE Occurred:
Summer 1967
NDE-elementen
Was er op het moment van uw ervaring een levensbedreigend voorval?
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.
Hoe beschouwt u de inhoud van uw ervaring?
Entirely pleasant
De ervaring omvatte
Out of body experience
Voelde je je gescheiden van je lichaam?
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.
Hoe vergeleek uw hoogste niveau van bewustzijn en waakzaamheid tijdens de ervaring met uw normale dagelijkse bewustzijn en waakzaamheid?
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.
Op welk moment tijdens de ervaring was uw bewustzijns- en waakzaamheidsniveau het hoogst?
I would say in the sea of light part, it seemed hyper-real, extremely joyful and also peaceful.
Waren uw gedachten versneld?
No
Leek de tijd sneller te gaan of langzamer?
No
Waren je zintuigen levendiger dan normaal?
More vivid than usual
Verscheen je gezichtsvermogen op enige wijze anders dan normaal?
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.
Verscheen je gehoor op enige wijze anders dan normaal?
I could hear. I heard church bells. There was a church nearby. Hearing seemed normal I should say.
Had u de indruk dat u zich bewust was van wat er elders gebeurde?
No
Bent u door een tunnel gegaan?
Uncertain It was not a tunnel, it was a sea of light. The light was everywhere but with no source.
Zag u wezens in uw ervaring?
No
Heeft u overleden (of levende) wezens ontmoet of ervan bewust geworden?
No
De ervaring omvatte
Unearthly light
Heeft u een schitterend licht gezien of voelde u zich eromheen omringd?
An unusually bright light
Heeft u een onaards licht gezien?
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.
Leek u een andere, onaardse wereld te betreden?
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.
De ervaring omvatte
Strong emotional tone
Welke andere emoties voelde je tijdens de ervaring?
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.
Had je een gevoel van vrede of aangenaamheid?
Incredible peace or pleasantness
Had je een gevoel van vreugde?
incredible joy
Voelde je een gevoel van harmonie of eenheid met het universum?
I felt no longer in conflict with nature
Leek je plotseling alles te begrijpen?
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.
Komen er scènes uit uw verleden naar boven?
No
Kwamen er scènes uit de toekomst tot je?
No
Kwam je bij een grens of punt van geen terugkeer?
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.
God, Spiritualiteit en Religie
Welke betekenis hechtte je aan je religieuze/spirituele leven vóór je ervaring
Slightly important to me
Wat was uw religie voor uw ervaring?
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.
Zijn uw religieuze praktijken veranderd sinds uw ervaring?
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.
Welke betekenis hecht je aan je religieuze/spirituele leven na je ervaring
Greatly important to me
Wat is nu uw religie?
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.
Bevatte uw ervaring elementen die consistent zijn met uw aardse overtuigingen?
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.
Had u een verandering in uw waarden en overtuigingen vanwege uw ervaring?
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!
Leek u een mystiek wezen of aanwezigheid tegen te komen, of een onidentificeerbare stem te horen?
No
Zag u overleden of religieuze geesten?
No
Bent u wezens tegengekomen die eerder op aarde hebben geleefd en die bij naam genoemd worden in religies (bijvoorbeeld: Jezus, Mohammed, Boeddha, enz.)?
No
Heeft u tijdens uw ervaring informatie gekregen over het bestaan van God?
No
Heeft u tijdens uw ervaring informatie gekregen over universele verbinding of eenheid?
No
Geloofde je in het bestaan van God vóór je ervaring?
God probably exists┬
Heeft u tijdens uw ervaring informatie gekregen over het bestaan van God?
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.
Geloof je in het bestaan van God na je ervaring?
God definitely exists
Met betrekking tot ons aardse leven buiten Religie
Heeft u tijdens uw ervaring speciale kennis of informatie gekregen over uw doel?
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.
Heeft u tijdens uw ervaring informatie gekregen over de betekenis van het leven?
No
Geloofde je in een hiernamaals vóór je ervaring?
An afterlife probably does not exist
Geloof je in een hiernamaals na je ervaring?
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.
Had je angst voor de dood vóór je ervaring?
I moderately feared death
Vrees je de dood na je ervaring
I do not fear death
Was je bang om je leven te leven vóór je ervaring
Slightly fearful in living my earthly life
Was je bang om je leven te leven na je ervaring
Not fearful in living my earthly life
Geloofde je dat ons aards leven betekenisvol en belangrijk is vóór je ervaring
Are possibly meaningful and significant
Geloofde je dat ons aards leven betekenisvol en belangrijk is na je ervaring
Are meaningful and significant
Heb je informatie gekregen over hoe we ons leven moeten leven?
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.
Heb je tijdens je ervaring informatie gekregen over de moeilijkheden, uitdagingen en ontberingen van het leven?
No
Was je meelevend vóór je ervaring
Moderately compassionate toward others
Heb je tijdens je ervaring informatie gekregen over liefde?
Yes Love is limitless and a quite real thing, like air or water. We do not feel this when in the body.
Was je meelevend na je ervaring
Greatly compassionate toward others
Welke levensveranderingen vonden er plaats in je leven na je ervaring?
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.
Zijn uw relaties specifiek veranderd als gevolg van uw ervaring?
Uncertain I can't really say.
Na de NDE
Was de ervaring moeilijk in woorden uit te drukken?
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.
Hoe nauwkeurig herinner je je de ervaring in vergelijking met andere levensevenementen die rond de tijd van de ervaring plaatsvonden?
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.
Heeft u na uw ervaring enige paranormale, bijzondere of andere speciale gaven die u voor de ervaring niet had?
No
Zijn er één of meerdere delen van uw ervaring die speciaal betekenisvol of belangrijk voor u zijn? Gelieve uit te leggen.
The sea of light. I should have stayed!
Heeft u deze ervaring ooit met anderen gedeeld?
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.
Had u enige kennis van bijna-doodervaringen (BDE) voordat u uw ervaring had?
No
Wat geloofde je over de realiteit van je ervaring kort (dagen tot weken) nadat het gebeurd was?
Experience was definitely real. It was real. It really happened. There was never the slightest doubt of that.
Wat geloof je nu over de realiteit van je ervaring?
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.
Heeft op enig moment in uw leven iets ooit een deel van de ervaring gereproduceerd?
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.
Is er nog iets anders dat u zou willen toevoegen over uw ervaring?
I am so grateful to have been chosen to have this experience.