Descrierea experienței
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.
Informații de fundal
Gender:
Male
Date NDE Occurred:
August 1967
Elemente ENC
În momentul experienței dumneavoastră, a existat un eveniment asociat care vă punea viața în pericol?
Uncertain Illness 'Illness, trauma or other condition not considered life threatening' I was very sick. Life threatening? Probably not.
Cum considerați conținutul experienței dumneavoastră?
Positive
Experiența a inclus
Out of body experience
V-ați simțit separat(ă) de corpul dumneavoastră?
Yes Totally disembodied. I saw my body on the bed.
În ce moment al experienței v-ați aflat la cel mai înalt nivel de conștiință și alertă?
I seemed perfectly alert.
Vi s-a părut că timpul s-a accelerat sau a încetinit?
No
A fost auzul tău diferit în vreun fel față de normal?
Church bells.
Ați trecut într-un tunel sau printr-un tunel?
No
Experiența a inclus
Light
Ați văzut o lumină nepământeană?
Yes It was very bright. Blindingly bright actually, like being surrounded by very bright sunlight.
Ați părut să intrați într-o altă lume, nepământeană?
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.
Ce alte emoții ați simțit în timpul experienței?
Initially, anxiety. Afterwards, exhilaration and a sort of curiosity.
Vi s-a părut dintr-o dată că înțelegeți totul?
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.
V-au revenit scene din trecutul dumneavoastră?
My past flashed before me, out of my control I went out the window, and flew around. It was very pleasant.
V-au apărut scene din viitor?
No
Ați ajuns la o graniță sau la un punct fără întoarcere?
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.’
Dumnezeu, Spiritualitate și Religie
Ai avut o schimbare în valorile și credințele tale din cauza experienței?
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.’
Cu privire la viețile noastre pământești, altele decât religia
După ENC
A fost experiența dificil de exprimat în cuvinte?
No
Aveți vreun dar psihic, neobișnuit sau alte daruri speciale după experiența dumneavoastră pe care nu le aveați înainte de experiență?
No
Există una sau mai multe părți ale experienței dumneavoastră care sunt deosebit de semnificative sau importante pentru dumneavoastră? Vă rugăm să explicați.
The best part was flying. There was no bad part, really.
Ați împărtășit vreodată această experiență cu alții?
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.
Mai este ceva ce ați dori să adăugați despre experiența dumneavoastră?
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.
Întrebările puse și informațiile pe care le-ați furnizat au descris cu exactitate și cuprinzător experiența dumneavoastră?
Uncertain
Descrierea experienței 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.
Informații de fundal
Gender:
Male
Date NDE Occurred:
Summer 1967
Elemente ENC
În momentul experienței dumneavoastră, a existat un eveniment asociat care vă punea viața în pericol?
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.
Cum considerați conținutul experienței dumneavoastră?
Entirely pleasant
Experiența a inclus
Out of body experience
V-ați simțit separat(ă) de corpul dumneavoastră?
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.
Cum se compară cel mai înalt nivel de conștiință și alertă din timpul experienței cu nivelul dumneavoastră normal de conștiință și alertă de zi cu zi?
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.
În ce moment al experienței v-ați aflat la cel mai înalt nivel de conștiință și alertă?
I would say in the sea of light part, it seemed hyper-real, extremely joyful and also peaceful.
V-au fost accelerate gândurile?
No
Vi s-a părut că timpul s-a accelerat sau a încetinit?
No
V-au fost simțurile mai vii decât de obicei?
More vivid than usual
Vederea ta a fost diferită în vreun fel față de normal?
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.
A fost auzul tău diferit în vreun fel față de normal?
I could hear. I heard church bells. There was a church nearby. Hearing seemed normal I should say.
Păreați să fiți conștient de lucruri care se întâmplă în altă parte?
No
Ați trecut într-un tunel sau printr-un tunel?
Uncertain It was not a tunnel, it was a sea of light. The light was everywhere but with no source.
Ați văzut vreo ființă în experiența dumneavoastră?
No
Ați întâlnit sau ați devenit conștient de vreo ființă decedată (sau în viață)?
No
Experiența a inclus
Unearthly light
Ați văzut sau v-ați simțit înconjurat de o lumină strălucitoare?
An unusually bright light
Ați văzut o lumină nepământeană?
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.
Ați părut să intrați într-o altă lume, nepământeană?
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.
Experiența a inclus
Strong emotional tone
Ce alte emoții ați simțit în timpul experienței?
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.
Ați avut un sentiment de pace sau plăcere?
Incredible peace or pleasantness
Ați avut un sentiment de bucurie?
incredible joy
Ați simțit un sentiment de armonie sau unitate cu universul?
I felt no longer in conflict with nature
Vi s-a părut dintr-o dată că înțelegeți totul?
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.
V-au revenit scene din trecutul dumneavoastră?
No
V-au apărut scene din viitor?
No
Ați ajuns la o graniță sau la un punct fără întoarcere?
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.
Dumnezeu, Spiritualitate și Religie
Ce importanță acordai vieții tale religioase/spirituale înainte de experiența ta?
Slightly important to me
Care era religia ta înainte de experiență?
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.
S-au schimbat practicile tale religioase de la experiența ta?
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.
Ce importanță acorzi vieții tale religioase/spirituale după experiența ta?
Greatly important to me
Care este religia ta acum?
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.
A inclus experiența ta elemente concordante cu credințele tale pământești?
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.
Ai avut o schimbare în valorile și credințele tale din cauza experienței?
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!
Ați părut să întâlniți o ființă sau o prezență mistică sau să auziți o voce inidentificabilă?
No
Ai văzut spirite decedate sau religioase?
No
Ați întâlnit sau ați devenit conștient de vreo ființă care a trăit anterior pe pământ și care este descrisă după nume în religii (de exemplu: Iisus, Muhammad, Buddha, etc?)
No
În timpul experienței tale, ai obținut informații despre existența lui Dumnezeu?
No
În timpul experienței tale, ai obținut informații despre conexiunea universală sau unitate?
No
Credeai în existența lui Dumnezeu înainte de experiența ta?
God probably exists┬
În timpul experienței tale, ai obținut informații despre existența lui Dumnezeu?
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.
Crezi în existența lui Dumnezeu după experiența ta?
God definitely exists
Cu privire la viețile noastre pământești, altele decât religia
În timpul experienței tale, ai obținut cunoștințe speciale sau informații despre scopul tău?
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.
În timpul experienței tale, ai obținut informații despre sensul vieții?
No
Credeai într-o viață de apoi înainte de experiența ta?
An afterlife probably does not exist
Crezi într-o viață de apoi după experiența ta?
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.
Te temeai de moarte înainte de experiența ta?
I moderately feared death
Te temi de moarte după experiența ta?
I do not fear death
Îți era teamă să-ți trăiești viața înainte de experiența ta?
Slightly fearful in living my earthly life
Îți era teamă să-ți trăiești viața după experiența ta?
Not fearful in living my earthly life
Credeai că viețile noastre pământești sunt semnificative și importante înainte de experiența ta?
Are possibly meaningful and significant
Credeai că viețile noastre pământești sunt semnificative și importante după experiența ta?
Are meaningful and significant
Ai obținut informații despre cum să ne trăim viețile?
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.
În timpul experienței tale, ai obținut informații despre dificultățile, provocările și greutățile vieții?
No
Erai plin de compasiune înainte de experiența ta?
Moderately compassionate toward others
În timpul experienței tale, ai obținut informații despre iubire?
Yes Love is limitless and a quite real thing, like air or water. We do not feel this when in the body.
Ești plin de compasiune după experiența ta?
Greatly compassionate toward others
Ce schimbări de viață au avut loc în viața ta după experiența ta?
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.
S-au schimbat relațiile dumneavoastră în mod specific ca urmare a experienței dumneavoastră?
Uncertain I can't really say.
După ENC
A fost experiența dificil de exprimat în cuvinte?
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.
Cât de exact îți amintești experiența în comparație cu alte evenimente din viață care au avut loc în acea perioadă?
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.
Aveți vreun dar psihic, neobișnuit sau alte daruri speciale după experiența dumneavoastră pe care nu le aveați înainte de experiență?
No
Există una sau mai multe părți ale experienței dumneavoastră care sunt deosebit de semnificative sau importante pentru dumneavoastră? Vă rugăm să explicați.
The sea of light. I should have stayed!
Ați împărtășit vreodată această experiență cu alții?
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.
Aveați cunoștințe despre experiența morții aproape (EMI) înainte de experiența dumneavoastră?
No
Ce credeai despre realitatea experienței tale la scurt timp (zile sau săptămâni) după ce s-a întâmplat?
Experience was definitely real. It was real. It really happened. There was never the slightest doubt of that.
Ce crezi acum despre realitatea experienței tale?
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.
În vreun moment al vieții dumneavoastră, ceva a reprodus vreodată vreo parte a experienței?
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.
Mai este ceva ce ați dori să adăugați despre experiența dumneavoastră?
I am so grateful to have been chosen to have this experience.