Tom K Probable NDE

edited for clarity by Judy Shea 10/22/11

EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION:

I was greeted by four guides on a well-worn path in a field of the most beautiful golden colors I had ever seen.  My guides appeared to be Mayan Indians. We all walked down the path together, with the leader out in front, and the others flanking me, either beside me, or in front and in back of me.   Although we spoke different languages, we all understood what the others were saying. I was told that there was nothing to worry about and that I should follow them on this path. The weather was perfect; the sky was the bluest blue I have ever seen, with scattered puffy white clouds. I don't remember what I was wearing, but I do know that everything felt perfect. I did encounter a friend of my son's, who had taken his life the year before. He was on the far side of the field, standing on a stone wall, on the other side of which was a very thick forest. He told me how sorry he was for what he had done, and asked me to come with him. My guides directed me to end my conversation with him, because it would be best for me to move on with them. I explained to Jim that I would continue to pray for him, but that I had a different path to follow. We continued walking until we came to a huge pile of boulders.  As we reached this pile, I remember trying to take a short cut –  and the next thing I knew, I was in intensive care with wires and tubes sticking out of me everywhere. I discovered from speaking with my nurses that it was Friday. I had gone in for my "one to two hour operation" two days before, on Wednesday at twelve noon. 

This experience brought me the most all-encompassing feelings of peace that I have ever experienced.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?  Yes.  I am not sure what you mean by this question. The experience took place when a surgery went completely wrong.

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  No

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    While I was speaking with Jim. And I was aware at the same time that my guides were conversing with each other.

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.   I was aware of every movement, every conversation and every activity around me, while at the same time I was very focused on my discussion with Jim.

Did your vision during the experience differ in any way from your normal, everyday vision (in any way, such as clarity, field of vision, colors, brightness, depth perception degree of solidness/transparency of objects, etc.)?   No  

Did you have any visual impairment during your normal everyday life immediately prior to the time of the experience?   No  

Did your hearing during the experience differ in any way from your normal, everyday hearing (in any way, such as clarity, ability to recognize source of sound, pitch, loudness, etc.)?         Yes.   It was perfect!!!  When Jim called out my name, I had the same reaction as if I were somewhere that I did not expect anyone to know me, and yet I heard my name called out. My first thought was, "Who would be calling my name? No one here knows me."

Did you have any hearing impairment during your normal everyday life immediately prior to the time of the experience?   No  

Did you experience consciousness / awareness apart from your physical / earthly body?   Yes.   I was filled with the most fantastic all-encompassing peace I have ever experienced.

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

Did you see or hear any earthly events that were occurring during the time that your consciousness / awareness was apart from your physical / earthly body that you later (after your experience) verified really happened or was real?   No  

Did you see or hear any earthly events that were occurring during the time that your consciousness / awareness was apart from your physical / earthly body that you later (after your experience) verified did not really happen or was not real?   No  

Did you see or hear any earthly events that were occurring during the time that your consciousness / awareness was apart from your physical body that were located far beyond any possible physical sensory awareness of your physical / earthly body?   No

What emotions did you feel during the experience?   Complete peace and love.  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   No  

Did you see an unearthly light?   No  

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 beings who previously lived on earth, but whose earthly lives had ended prior to the time of your experience (they were deceased)?   Yes   My son's friend Jim.

Did you encounter or become aware of any earthly beings who were alive at the time of your experience (they were not deceased)?   No      Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence? My guides seemed to be other-worldly in origin.

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

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world?   It was earthly, but also unearthly. It was "unearthly" to me because it was perfect. There was nothing there that did not please the senses.  And my feeling of well-being was complete.  

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   It wasn't that that I understood "everything," but it seemed to me that "everything" didn't matter anymore.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?   Yes, a grouping of rocks (boulders.)  

Did scenes from the future come to you?  No

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness suggesting that there is continued existence after earthly life (“life after death”)?   Yes.   My experience confirmed to me that there is life after death.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness suggesting that there is no continued existence after earthly life (“no life after death”)?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being really does exist?   Yes.   Experiencing a total all-encompassing peace is proof to me.

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

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness suggesting that some or all of us currently living our earthly lives did have some type of existence prior to our current earthly lives?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness suggesting that some or all of us currently living our earthly lives did not have some type of existence prior to our current earthly lives?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness suggesting that there exists a mystical connection, oneness, or unity that connects some or all of us currently living our earthly lives with something else, such as other being(s) or other thing(s)?   Yes.   I really don't understand this question totally, but I would think the presence of others (such as Jim) in that place confirms a connection between us.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness suggesting that there does not exist a mystical connection, oneness, or unity that connects some or all of us currently living our earthly lives with something else, such as other being(s) or other thing(s)?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s meaning or purpose?   No.  Aware nesses like that were not part of my experience, except that perhaps when Jim seemed to have realized his error and was trying to make up for it – that could have indicated something about life having meaning or a purpose.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s difficulties, challenges, or hardships?   No.   As a matter of fact, I had no memory of any difficulties, challenges, hardships or relationships in my life. 

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding love?   Yes.   I consider the all-encompassing feelings of peace to be love. 

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?   Yes.   Not all who experience death will experience what I did. Prime example: Jim, who took his own life, realized his error and was trying to make up for it. 

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge or purpose?   No    

What occurred during your experience included:   Content that was both consistent and not consistent with the beliefs I held at the time of my experience:   I always thought there would be a light, or a tunnel, or fanfare with trumpets or something that would signify a transition to a continued life. 

How accurately do you remember the experience in comparison to other life events that occurred around the time of the experience?   Do I remember the experience more accurately than other life events that occurred around the time of the experience?   I do not remember anything between August second and August fourth, other than what I have described above – along with the memory of waking up again. 

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   Dramatic changes have taken place. I divorced after twenty-seven years of marriage. I no longer work in the finance/healthcare profession. I have relocated to Europe. I have remarried. I have a completely different outlook on life. 

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience?   Yes.   I believe I am a better person, whose values have changed from material values to real, spiritual, and worthwhile values. 

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?   No    

Are there one or several parts of the experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?   The meeting/conversation with Jim was very significant. He was close to our family and he always cared about us. 

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes. Within 12 hours of waking up, I discussed it with my mother and a family friend, who also happens to be a priest. 

I shared with them that I feared that I might not have been sufficiently worthy to stay in that other world, and also that maybe I had not been worthy enough to see my departed Dad. I very depressed about that for awhile. 

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.   (See my answer to 60.) 

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was definitely real.   The all-encompassing feeling of peace and love was real and it's something I try to share with all I meet. 

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Yes.   Dramatic changes have taken place. I divorced after twenty years of marriage. I no longer work in the finance/healthcare profession. I have relocated to Europe. I have remarried. I have a completely different outlook on life. 

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Uncertain.   I still feel I have the same strength in my religious beliefs. 

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 seem to have a much clearer understanding of the differences between right and wrong. I have corrected every wrong I have had control over and do not want to make any more wrong choices in my life. I also have a keen appreciation for the value of time. 

Did the questions asked and information you provided so far accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?   Yes