Muzaffer E NDE

Experience Description

I was five or six years old, and my family and neighborhood friends took a pick-up to drive to Karatas (city) where there was an ocean beach. Even though the weather was not so good, everyone went swimming. I went into the water with my older brothers, but I couldn't swim and the waves pulled me into the open sea. I was always the shortest student in my class at school, and the water was way over my head - it was two to three times deeper than my height. From underwater, I looked up and saw the surface of the water where the waves were rolling over me. I could feel myself being pushed and pulled by the current.

I passed out in the water, and then I felt myself moving upward. At the height of about ten meters above the water. I don't remember if I was still moving upward, or whether I had stopped. I looked down and saw a hand in the water. I didn't realize at the time that it was my hand - that's where my body was floating.

I saw a young man lift me up and bring me back to the beach. The last thing I remember is, being held by the legs with my head down, and someone shaking me.

This happened thirty years ago, and I still tell my experience to everyone. I do not care if people believe it or not - I know it was real, because it was I who experienced it.

After many years, I found out that such experiences are called 'Near Death Experiences,' and I read some of them. In my experience, I did not see any bright light, but, like other NDErs, I absolutely do not fear death anymore. I am married and have two kids, but I do not fear death.

During my experience, I was very comfortable, and that's how I learned how to be more focused and at ease in life.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: 1976

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes boðulma 'Life threatening event, but not clinical death' I was a child; I could not swim and I drowned.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes I clearly left my body and existed outside it

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? More consciousness and alertness than normal

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? I got my consciousness back when someone at the beach shook me, holding my feet up and my head down.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Incredibly fast

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more vivid

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I did not hear any voices.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Yes, and the facts have been checked out

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? I actually saw them

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? No

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? A light clearly of mystical or other-worldly origin

Did you see an unearthly light? No

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? No

What emotions did you feel during the experience? I was totally relaxed.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Relief or calmness

Did you have a feeling of joy? Happiness

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? I felt united or one with the world

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? Everything about the universe

Did scenes from your past come back to you? My past flashed before me, out of my control

Did scenes from the future come to you? Scenes from the world's future

Did you come to a border or point of no return? I came to a barrier that I was not permitted to cross; or was sent back against my will

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Moderate

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Uncertain I can't really make this comparison, because I was so young when it happened - I didn't have much in the way of religious beliefs then. I do think and ponder about religions and life after death a lot. I think people can make changes in their lives which can affect whether they go to hell or heaven.

What is your religion now? Moderate

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Uncertain I can't really make this comparison, because I was so young when it happened - I didn't have much in the way of religious beliefs then. I do think and ponder about religions and life after death a lot. I think people can make changes in their lives which can affect whether they go to hell or heaven.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? I encountered a definite being, or a voice clearly of mystical or unearthly origin

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? I actually saw them

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? No

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Uncertain This comparison isn't possible because I was a five or six year old kid when it happened.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Yes After I got more information about NDEs, I looked back at my life and I realized that I have been living a positive life and have not feared death.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? My soul left my body. So when I had certain things happen during my life, I could give them a meaning.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes I get different reactions from people. My best friend Abdurrahman told me that if he were to have such an experience, he would turn away from ordinary life and spend his life serving Allah (God). Some people find my experience interesting.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? No

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real Right after it happened, I knew that my experience was definitely real. I'm the one who has lived this event and I don't care what others say. I don't think I have to prove it to others. I just want other experiencers and me as well, to relax. When I read the NDEs of others, I am calmed and relaxed, too.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real I know my experience was definitely real.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? No

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience? I wish to meet other people who have had NDEs.

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? I can't think of any other questions that you could ask about my experience. I would like you to know that I have told you about my experience with sincerity.