Charles P Possible NDE

Edited for clarity by Judy Shea 10/26/12 

EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION:

While undergoing surgery as a junior in high school, I'm pretty sure I had an OBE (Out of Body Experience.)  While breathing a combination of ether and nitrous oxide gas, I began to feel a very uncomfortable vibration developing in my head.  Following that, my consciousness seemed to shoot out into a very starry universe, with a sense of laughter (probably caused by the nitrous oxide, also called "laughing gas.")  While I was in space, I received a very strong, non-verbal, profound, clear and friendly message. It was that what was happening (my surgery) was of no significance whatsoever to my eternal existence.  This OBE and accompanying message was very short, but I remember it well, even though it occurred about 60 years ago.

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?   No  

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  Yes.     The message I received was non-verbal, that is, language was not used.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    While passing through space or the universe.

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.   The non-verbal message I received was very clear.

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   I don't believe they can be compared.

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" the message, somehow it was imparted to my consciousness.

Did you see or hear any earthly events that were occurring during a time that your consciousness / awareness was apart from your physical / earthly body?   No  

What emotions did you feel during the experience?   Probably relief – the experience was very pleasant.  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   No  

Did you see an unearthly light?   Yes.   I saw stars and there was some color – I think it was blue.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice?   I encountered a definite voice, clearly of mystical or unearthly origin.
As noted above, a clear, non-verbal message was imparted to my consciousness.

Did you encounter or become aware of any beings who previously lived on earth who are described by name in religions (for example: Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, etc.)?   No  

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

Did you become aware of past events in your life during your experience?   No  

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

Did time seem to speed up or slow down?   No

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?   No

Did you come to a border or point of no return?   No

Did scenes from the future come to you?  No 

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness suggesting that there either is (or is not) continued existence after earthly life (“life after death”)?   Yes.   The message I received was that what was happening (my surgery) was of no consequence whatsoever to my eternal existence.  That's all there was to the message.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that you either did (or did not) exist prior to this lifetime?   Yes.   Only that my surgery was of no consequence whatsoever to my eternal existence.  I had not previously ever heard of the concept of an "eternal existence."

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that a mystical universal connection or unity/oneness either does (or does not) exist?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s meaning or purpose?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s difficulties, challenges, or hardships?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding love?   Uncertain.   Only that the message I received was imparted in a very positive, loving manner.

During your experience, did you encounter any other specific information / awareness that you have not shared in other questions that is relevant to living our earthly lives?   No  

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge or purpose?   Uncertain.   Only that the message let me know that I was eternal.

What occurred during your experience included:   Content that was entirely not consistent with the beliefs I had at the time of my experience.   I don't recall having a definite religious belief at that time in my life.... I think I was largely agnostic.

How accurately do you remember the experience in comparison to other life events that occurred around the time of the experience?   I remember the experience more accurately than other life events that occurred around the time of the experience.   This was a very profound and clear, but very short, experience.

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   I have become much more spiritual, but most of this change is due to study and research on science-spiritual connections.

My experience directly resulted in:   Moderate changes in my life

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience?   Uncertain.   That OBE experience became much more meaningful to me after learning about NDEs within the past few years.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?   My OBE significantly validates for me the NDEs of people I've read about or watched on YouTube.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience?   Uncertain.   Long after my OBE, I continued to experienced dreams which have affected my life in positive ways.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?     My OBE significantly validates for me the NDEs of people I've read about or watched on YouTube.

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes.  I've shared this with a few friends within the past year.  I did not share it with anyone right after it happened, as I probably didn't think it was significant.

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 probably not real.  I did not think about it much at all, because I thought it was just a side-effect of the anesthesia.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was definitely real.   I now believe it was real, due to its being validated for me by knowing about similar NDEs & OBEs of others.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?   No  

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Yes.   My current spiritual outlook is validated by that experience.

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?   No –  this questionnaire has really covered everything!!!

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?   Yes   As noted above, I found the questions to be quite comprehensive.

What could a national organization with an interest in near death experience (NDE) do that would be of interest to you?        Maybe you could encourage more programs about NDEs on science-type TV channels.

Please offer any suggestions that you may have to improve this questionnaire.  Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience?                    I think your questionnaire is quite good.