Michael G NDE

EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION:

My name is Michael.  I was nine when this happened.  I had all the usual preoccupations of an average child this age.  None of it was religious, even though I was raised Catholic, but religion wasn’t discussed, as my parents felt we were too young to comprehend. 

As it was 1976, there was a greater freedom one could take in public schools with people’s children.  My school took ALL the children to the giant, indoor pool for swimming lessons.  I don’t even remember if I had to provide a “permission slip.”  For about 45 minutes, there were lessons, which exhausted us to no end, but the last 15 minutes were for us to play, freely. 

I was with my friend, Alfred, in the twelve-foot end, jumping from the low diving board.  The children lined up, we all took turns throwing ourselves, and with the lack of swim instruction, we’d dog-paddle back to the rails so we could repeat our jump.  By the second attempt, I was so tired, leapt into the pool, regardless, and found Alfred throwing himself on top of me, creating disorientation.  That, mixed with my exhaustion, began the drowning. 

I was spinning in circles, gasping, and eventually gave up.  I sank and gulped water, seeing my limbs suspended in blue murk.  At this point, I passed out.  Immediately, I snapped awake, but the blue murk was gone.  Instead, the pool was empty, yet I was suspended above the tiled floor.   Arms and legs out before me.  My “life review” began.  It was like watching a film in fast-forward.  Everything, I saw.  Going to the bathroom, eating, sleeping, school, playing, climbing trees…anything.  It flashed so quickly, yet it was all me, and I comprehended it. 

Instead of soaring through tunnels, it was as if someone pulled a veil off my head…as if I blinked…and I was no longer suspended above the pool.   I was in the middle of the sky.  My arms and legs were no longer in front of me, and I recall, perfectly, looking below me for my legs.  They were gone.  The sky bent around me, like a globe.  It was above me, below me, and on both sides. 

Then I saw this large, golden orb in front of me, suspended in the blue.  It was close enough to touch, but I didn’t.  Its surface undulated, like the sea…rising and falling.  Immediately, I thought, “This is the sun,” but then remember saying, “I am so sorry.”  Instantly, without word, I was corrected.  This “orb” in front of me was no “thing,” it was a personality.  I don’t know what it was.  It didn’t speak to me.  It just was so beautiful to look at and be with, I didn’t want to leave its presence.   

Moments later, I’m vomiting water and in complete shock as some teenage boy is giving me mouth-to-mouth.   

We were thrown on the school bus, with our wet swimming suits beneath our clothing, as it was done is such hysterics because of what happened, and were forbidden to speak to each other. 

The funny thing is this.  I didn’t tell my parents until I was 40.  I would answer the phone, as a child, BEFORE it rang…long before “caller-id” and knew who it was.  It would disturb my mom, so it stopped.  I didn’t think it odd, but it created in me a fascination with religious life, so I became a Catholic Benedictine Monk for many years.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? No      

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Yes     I was drowning in a public pool.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    after this started happening

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

If your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience was different from your normal every day consciousness and alertness, please explain:            after this started happening

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

Did your hearing differ in any way from your normal, everyday hearing (in any aspect, such as clarity, ability to recognize source of sound, pitch, loudness, etc.)?            No      

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Yes

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Bliss.  I didn't want to leave.  I was actually angry I had to go back.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?          No      

Did you see a light?           Yes     Instead of a "light-source," it was a golden orb

Did you meet or see any other beings?           No      

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?    Yes     All I know is this....one day, I will be back there.

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    

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes    

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     Yes     I realized, without turning this into a novel, that "life" isn't the most precious gift.  We all think it is, but it isn't.  Life is given to EVERYTHING...plants, bugs, animals, humans, bacteria. 

Free Will is only given to us.  That is our greatest gift.  To "love" or not to love.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Yes     This golden orb thing that was in front of me wasn't "Jesus."  It never addressed me.  It never spoke to me.  I assume it was my guardian angel.  It is there to comfort me, but isn't allowed to converse with me, unless directly told something by God.

Did you become aware of future events?       No           

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?     Yes     but, again, they passed away in my childhood

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     my parents, but it happened in 1976.  It is now 2010.  I told them in 2009

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?    Yes            in college, as I was a psychology major and a monk

How did you view the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:            Experience was definitely real    THEN, I was certain it was real

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?   

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was probably real            Now, I don't know.  It might have been lack of oxygen to my brain, as I was drowning.  I don't know, but then again, something life altering happened.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           Yes     They are SO meaningful, that most can't "hide" from me.  I desire truth.  Without it, I am not interested.

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            Yes     I'm WAY more liberal.  I didn't think I would be, but I am SO liberal, it's like I don't know "who" God is.   Buddha?  Jesus?  Everything?  Nothing?