Experience Description

One evening, probably late, I was coming in and out of the sleep state. I wasn't very coherent, and I recall some kind of soft singing. To this day I'm not sure if it was actually happening somewhere nearby, or if it was a part of my 'Vision', as I sometimes refer to it.

At any rate, suddenly there was this intensely bright white light, and a being who was also very bright, who had a little blue to distinguish 'her' from the light. I say her because it seemed to me, at the time, that it was a female presence. It was almost as if this 'person' was what I had known, from a bit of a Catholic background, to be the 'Virgin Mary'. Not necessarily, but someone similar. It was telepathically related to me that I had a choice: I could come over to 'her', or I could return. Now I should interject that the whole time there was an incredibly loving feeling right from the start. I immediately responded with my thoughts that I wanted to stay, even though there was a temptation to go, and a beckoning to do just that. But hey, I was 21, and really liked life!

After making that decision, the vision faded. Over the next few weeks, my condition greatly improved. I had never heard of anything like that, at the time, and even though it was a very moving experience, I didn't make a big deal out of it. I only mentioned it to a couple people over the years. Then when people started talking about NDEs, I began to realize that I had indeed had one. But as a long time searcher, avid reader, and meditator, I don't think I would be any different in my present outlook, had I not had that NDE.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: Sring of 1964

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Accident. Illness 'Illness, trauma or other condition not considered life threatening' Well, I knew I wasn't doing that well, but I thought I'd be okay. Then the one nurse who spoke English said to me, 'You know you're not doing so well.' That worried me.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Entirely pleasant

Did you feel separated from your body? No No

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

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Throughout, I don't know how to put it into words. It was just so different. I suppose one thing has become clear to me over years of travel, book readings, and life in general, that the incident may have made it more obvious, to me, that even though I am certain of nothing in this life, I do know that: Love is what it's all about!

Were your thoughts speeded up? No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? No

Were your senses more vivid than usual? No

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. More surrealistic

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. Not aware of any differences. You have to realize that this happened 50 years ago.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? No

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? No

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

The experience included: Unearthly light

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? Yes Extremely bright

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm I don't know how to describe it, any more than I already have.

The experience included: Strong emotional tone

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Love

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Incredible peace or pleasantness

Did you have a feeling of joy? Happiness

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? No

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? No

Did scenes from your past come back to you? No

Did scenes from the future come to you? No

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 I was only 21, and aside from being in a hospital, I was very healthy, athletic, and an enjoyer of life.

God, Spiritual and Religion:


What importance did you place on your religious/spiritual life prior to your experience? Slightly important to me

What was your religion prior to your experience? Unaffiliated- Agnostic Thought there was a higher power, but not sure of its essence.

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Uncertain

What importance do you place on your religious/spiritual life after your experience? Greatly important to me

What is your religion now? Other or several faiths Very "spiritual", but definitely not an advocate of any organized religion.

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was both consistent and not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? No Come on, your questions are really getting repetitious!

The experience included: Presence of unearthly beings

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 It seemed to be a female presence of great peace and love.

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? 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

During your experience, did you gain information about premortal existence? No

During your experience, did you gain information about universal connection or oneness? No

Did you believe in the existence of God prior to your experience? God probably existsÂ

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? No

Do you believe in the existence of God after your experience? God probably exists

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:


During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Yes Well, I knew that I definitely had the choice of whether to go or stay on Earth.

Did you believe that our earthly lives are meaningful and significant prior to your experience? Are possibly meaningful and significant

During your experience, did you gain information about the meaning of life? No

Did you believe in an afterlife prior to your experience? I was uncertain if an afterlife exists

Do you believe in an afterlife after your experience? An afterlife probably exists No

Did you fear death prior to your experience? I slightly feared death

Do you fear death after your experience? I slightly fear death

Were you fearful living your life prior to your experience? Not fearful in living my earthly life

Were you fearful living your life after your experience? Not fearful in living my earthly life

Did you believe that our earthly lives are meaningful and significant prior to your experience? Are possibly meaningful and significant

Did you believe that our earthly lives are meaningful and significant after your experience? Are meaningful and significant

Did you gain information about how to live our lives? No

During your experience, did you gain information about life's difficulties, challenges and hardships? No

Were you compassionate prior to your experience? Moderately compassionate toward others

During your experience, did you gain information about love? Yes There was a very strong feeling of love that permeated the entire experience.

Were you compassionate after your experience? Greatly compassionate toward others

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? No changes in my life No changes in my life. Again, I don't think this experience, as wonderful as it was, has been any more important than the accumulation of all my other life experiences in my present outlook.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No No

After the NDE:


Was the experience difficult to express in words? Uncertain

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

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? No

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Quite a while

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

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

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? Uncertain