Upplevelsebeskrivning
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.
Bakgrundsinformation
Gender:
Male
Date NDE Occurred:
August 1967
NDE-element
Vid tiden för din upplevelse, fanns det en livshotande händelse?
Uncertain Illness 'Illness, trauma or other condition not considered life threatening' I was very sick. Life threatening? Probably not.
Hur bedömer du innehållet i din upplevelse?
Positive
Upplevelsen inkluderade
Out of body experience
Kände du dig separerad från din kropp?
Yes Totally disembodied. I saw my body on the bed.
Vid vilket tillfälle under upplevelsen var du på din högsta nivå av medvetenhet och vaksamhet?
I seemed perfectly alert.
Verkade tiden gå snabbare eller långsammare?
No
Skilde sig din hörsel på något sätt från det vanliga?
Church bells.
Passerade du genom en tunnel?
No
Upplevelsen inkluderade
Light
Såg du ett övernaturligt ljus?
Yes It was very bright. Blindingly bright actually, like being surrounded by very bright sunlight.
Verkade du komma in i någon annan, övernaturlig värld?
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.
Vilka andra känslor kände du under upplevelsen?
Initially, anxiety. Afterwards, exhilaration and a sort of curiosity.
Verkade du plötsligt förstå allting?
Everything about the universe I concluded during the experience that it was a great joke on Christianity, that heaven and hell were obviously false and unreal, and this amused me and pleased me, that these people were so wrong and foolish. I was giddy with the knowledge that death was so easy and pleasant. That's how I was feeling at that time, that it was just a matter of floating away.
Kom scener från ditt förflutna tillbaka till dig?
My past flashed before me, out of my control I went out the window, and flew around. It was very pleasant.
Kom scener från framtiden till dig?
No
Kom du till en gräns eller en punkt utan återvändo?
I came to a barrier that I was not permitted to cross; or was sent back against my will Yes. I decided to go back to the body. I thought ‘Well, this is cool, but enough is enough, I'll just go lie back in the body, and if I'm dead well no problem, and if I'm not, that's fine too.’
Gud, Spiritualitet och Religion
Hade du en förändring i dina värderingar och tro på grund av din upplevelse?
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.’
Angående våra jordiska liv bortom religion
Efter NDE
Var det svårt att uttrycka upplevelsen i ord?
No
Har du några psykiska, ovanliga eller andra speciella gåvor efter din upplevelse som du inte hade före upplevelsen?
No
Finns det en eller flera delar av din upplevelse som är särskilt meningsfulla eller betydelsefulla för dig? Vänligen förklara.
The best part was flying. There was no bad part, really.
Har du någonsin delat denna upplevelse med andra?
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.
Är det något annat du skulle vilja lägga till om din upplevelse?
I do not think, after years of reflection on it, that my experience is anything that would tend to prove that the spirit or soul or mind survives death. I thought at the time that this was what my experience demonstrated, but I now tend to think it was just some sort of biochemical thing. Either way, it’s no big deal really.
Beskrev de frågor som ställdes och den information du lämnade din upplevelse korrekt och omfattande?
Uncertain
Upplevelsebeskrivning 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.
Bakgrundsinformation
Gender:
Male
Date NDE Occurred:
Summer 1967
NDE-element
Vid tiden för din upplevelse, fanns det en livshotande händelse?
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.
Hur bedömer du innehållet i din upplevelse?
Entirely pleasant
Upplevelsen inkluderade
Out of body experience
Kände du dig separerad från din kropp?
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.
Hur jämförde sig din högsta nivå av medvetenhet och vaksamhet under upplevelsen med din normala vardagliga medvetenhet och vaksamhet?
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.
Vid vilket tillfälle under upplevelsen var du på din högsta nivå av medvetenhet och vaksamhet?
I would say in the sea of light part, it seemed hyper-real, extremely joyful and also peaceful.
Var dina tankar påskyndade?
No
Verkade tiden gå snabbare eller långsammare?
No
Var dina sinnen mer livliga än vanligt?
More vivid than usual
Skilde sig din vision på något sätt från det vanliga
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.
Skilde sig din hörsel på något sätt från det vanliga?
I could hear. I heard church bells. There was a church nearby. Hearing seemed normal I should say.
Verkade du vara medveten om händelser på andra ställen?
No
Passerade du genom en tunnel?
Uncertain It was not a tunnel, it was a sea of light. The light was everywhere but with no source.
Såg du några väsen i din upplevelse?
No
Mötte du eller blev medveten om några avlidna (eller levande) varelser?
No
Upplevelsen inkluderade
Unearthly light
Såg du, eller kände dig omgiven av, ett strålande ljus?
An unusually bright light
Såg du ett övernaturligt ljus?
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.
Verkade du komma in i någon annan, övernaturlig värld?
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.
Upplevelsen inkluderade
Strong emotional tone
Vilka andra känslor kände du under upplevelsen?
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.
Kände du en känsla av frid eller trevlighet?
Incredible peace or pleasantness
Kände du en känsla av glädje?
incredible joy
Kände du en känsla av harmoni eller enhet med universum?
I felt no longer in conflict with nature
Verkade du plötsligt förstå allting?
Everything about myself or others I would not say I understood everything!! It is different from that. It's like you see things as they really are, or understand that you don't need to be concerned about the details, because it's all fine, it's all okay, you're home again.
Kom scener från ditt förflutna tillbaka till dig?
No
Kom scener från framtiden till dig?
No
Kom du till en gräns eller en punkt utan återvändo?
I came to a barrier that I was not permitted to cross; or was sent back against my will I did not think I was returning to life. I thought I'd just take a rest in my body, then go back to the sea of light. Now I have to die all over again to get back there.
Gud, Spiritualitet och Religion
Vilken betydelse gav du ditt religiösa/spirituella liv före din upplevelse
Slightly important to me
Vad var din religion innan din upplevelse?
Christian- Protestant I have been educated in Episcopal Church schools, and had at the time of the experience a great deal of religious instruction including daily chapel. I was not however a believer in any deep sense.
Har dina religösa handlingar förändrats sedan din upplevelse?
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.
Vilken betydelse ger du ditt religiösa/spirituella liv efter din upplevelse
Greatly important to me
Vad är din religion nu?
Christian- Protestant From the time of the experience to the present, a period of nearly half a century, I have been subjected to divine manifestations including outright miracles. God pestered me until I surrendered. I did not want to believe. I worked in a scientific department at a university. It was not at all convenient to be a Christian. Nevertheless, I was finally forced to it. I have no idea why. It is all very strange and mysterious to me. I was not looking for this transcendent divine love: it knocked me repeatedly in the head until I accepted its reality.
Innehöll din upplevelse funktioner som överensstämmer med dina jordiska tro?
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.
Hade du en förändring i dina värderingar och tro på grund av din upplevelse?
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!
Verkade du stöta på en mystisk varelse eller närvaro, eller höra en oidentifierbar röst?
No
Såg du avlidna eller religiösa andar?
No
Stötte du på eller blev medveten om några varelser som tidigare levt på jorden och som beskrivs vid namn i religioner (till exempel: Jesus, Muhammed, Buddha, etc?)
No
Under din upplevelse, fick du information om Guds existens?
No
Under din upplevelse, fick du information om universell koppling eller enhet?
No
Trodde du på Guds existens före din upplevelse?
God probably exists┬
Under din upplevelse, fick du information om Guds existens?
Uncertain During the time of the experience I was mostly amused that the idea of hell with fire etc and heaven with pearly gates was wrong, that you just float off peacefully. I did not at that time understand that the peace and joy and love actually = God. That came much later.
Tror du på Guds existens efter din upplevelse?
God definitely exists
Angående våra jordiska liv bortom religion
Under din upplevelse, fick du särskild kunskap eller information om ditt syfte?
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.
Under din upplevelse, fick du information om livets mening?
No
Trodde du på en efterlevnad före din upplevelse
An afterlife probably does not exist
Tror du på en efterlevnad efter din upplevelse
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.
Fruktade du döden före din upplevelse
I moderately feared death
Fruktar du döden efter din upplevelse
I do not fear death
Var du rädd för att leva ditt liv före din upplevelse
Slightly fearful in living my earthly life
Var du rädd för att leva ditt liv efter din upplevelse
Not fearful in living my earthly life
Trode du att våra jordiska liv är meningsfulla och betydelsefulla före din upplevelse
Are possibly meaningful and significant
Trode du att våra jordiska liv är meningsfulla och betydelsefulla efter din upplevelse
Are meaningful and significant
Fick du information om hur vi ska leva våra liv?
Yes Don't be afraid. Death is nothing to fear. It is quite okay. You do your best in your life and the rest takes care of itself.
Under din upplevelse, fick du information om livets svårigheter, utmaningar och motgångar?
No
Var du medkännande före din upplevelse
Moderately compassionate toward others
Under din upplevelse, fick du information om kärlek?
Yes Love is limitless and a quite real thing, like air or water. We do not feel this when in the body.
Var du medkännande efter din upplevelse
Greatly compassionate toward others
Vilka livsförändringar inträffade i ditt liv efter din upplevelse?
Large changes in my life I do not know why, but my life from that time to now has consistently had strange interventions. Any way I put this will sound absurd. My life has been blessed with lots of silly little miracles. God is a great joker in my case. He always reminds me that he's with me. The Almighty has a sense of humor. I always try to rationalize what happens but really, I've given up. God acts in the everyday world. That is the miracle of God. The miracle is all around us, and we do not see it.
Har dina relationer förändrats specifikt som ett resultat av din upplevelse?
Uncertain I can't really say.
Efter NDE
Var det svårt att uttrycka upplevelsen i ord?
No It was not especially difficult except it was unlike anything else and so when I describe it, it sounds a bit silly, like something made up. So for many years I told nobody about it, because I thought they'd think I was nuts or lying.
Hur noggrant minns du upplevelsen i jämförelse med andra livshändelser som inträffade runt tiden för upplevelsen?
I remember the experience more accurately than other life events that occurred around the time of the experience I remember exactly. It is as vivid now as 46 years ago.
Har du några psykiska, ovanliga eller andra speciella gåvor efter din upplevelse som du inte hade före upplevelsen?
No
Finns det en eller flera delar av din upplevelse som är särskilt meningsfulla eller betydelsefulla för dig? Vänligen förklara.
The sea of light. I should have stayed!
Har du någonsin delat denna upplevelse med andra?
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.
Hade du någon kunskap om nära döden-upplevelse (NDU) före din upplevelse?
No
Vad trodde du om verkligheten av din upplevelse kort efter (dagar till veckor) det hände?
Experience was definitely real. It was real. It really happened. There was never the slightest doubt of that.
Vad tror du om verkligheten av din upplevelse nu?
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.
Vid något tillfälle i ditt liv, har något någonsin återgett någon del av upplevelsen?
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.
Är det något annat du skulle vilja lägga till om din upplevelse?
I am so grateful to have been chosen to have this experience.