Experience description: 

I was standing on a drive lane (the lane to drive a car on before coming to the garage) which was covered with white gravel. The drive was planted with high trees on both sides which hung over the drive and covered it from the sun. The central reservation of the drive lane consisted of low bushes. At around 50 meters there was an opened gate. Behind the gate, the drive lane continued splitting into side lanes on the left and on the right. Was the path before the gate dim, once behind the gate there was a fantastic light. The source of this light was not visible. In front of the gate, somewhat on the left from my point of view, there was my dog who recently died on September 10^th, 2002 due to a heart attack. This dog was a Belgian shepherd (Groenendaeler) called ‘Farouche’.

It waggled and defied me by jumping back and forth. It was clear to me that my dog wanted me to come along, through the gate.  I felt a strong urge to go along with him. Yet I could not move my legs, I was nailed to the ground. Farouche made another attempt to get me going. Then I felt that the distance between him and increased slowly. Farouche also saw it, turned around and walked through the gate. Without looking backwards he walked, as proud as a dog can be, to the light in the distance. What happened to me subsequently, I do not know.

Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience:  Uncertain

      Explanation:  They gave me medication for open heart surgery

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  Yes

      What was it about the experience that makes it hard to communicate?  Not the factual circumstances, but the feeling of calmness and beauty.

At the time of the experience, was there an associated life threatening event?  Yes

      Describe:  I was anaesthetized for an open heart surgery in order to replace a malfunctioning heart valve by a metallic valve. Possibly I was also connected to a heart lung machine.

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?  I was apathetic and fascinated by the calmness, peace and beauty I experienced. At the time of being reunited with my dog, I had no emotions.

Was the experience dream like in any way?  No, man cannot dream like this.

Did you experience a separation of consciousness from your body?  No

What emotions did you feel during the experience?  I enjoyed the calmness, peace and beauty, but was apathetic for the rest.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?  No

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?  Uncertain

      Describe:  The trees hanging over the drive lane gave the effect of a tunnel.

Did you see a light?  Yes

Did you meet or see any other beings?  Yes

      Describe:  My dog who diseased shortly before my operation.

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?  No

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?  No

Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?  Yes

      Describe:  The driving lane, the gate and the landscape behind the gate.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?  No

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?  No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?  Yes

      Describe:  The gate constituted or symbolized a border and I am convinced that I would have diseased if I would have followed my dog through the gate.

Did you become aware of future events?  No

Were you involved in or aware of a decision to return to the body?  No

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?  No

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?  Yes

      Describe:  I am much more emotional and cry quickly. My social environment and direct colleguaes find that I have changed: I am more at ease and less ‘rebellious’.

Has the experience affected your relationships?  Daily life?  Religious practices etc.?  Career choices?  My relationships (wife, children, family and colleagues) have improved due to the fact that I have found rest in my life, my drive to have a career has decreased, I am convinced that there are much more important aspects in life to occupy yourself with.

Have you shared this experience with others?  Yes

      Describe:  The reactions I encountered were variable. My wife believes me but my son doesn’t, he thinks it’s nonsense. However, I can make nobody realize what I really felt, it is too all-embracing.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  Sadness about the fact that I have abandoned my dog. Bewilderment about the experience as a whole.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?  The best part: the feeling of calmness, peace and beauty. The worst part: the fact that I had to leave my dog.

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?  I know for more than a thousand percent that I have never seen this sight before my surgery. Not even until last week. But on the Internet I read a story bout the Rainbow bridge. Both the story and the depicted image of the gate corresponded to a fair amount with my own experience.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?  Yes