Experience Description

I was on a fast-moving train. I was standing on the step on the right side of the train, holding on to the bar attached to the side of the train. My right arm was extended out as I enjoyed the rush of air and I traveled along so fast. In the distance, I could see on the right: surrounded by a beautiful forest, a shining white building, with a gleaming white dome. I thought, 'If I want to visit that building, all I have to do is let go.' But then, I woke up as the doctor was telling me, 'We are just going to draw some blood gases, Nona.'

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: December 1990

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Surgery-related Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function or brain function) I was given spinal morphine for pain following a hysterectomy and my blood pressure began to decline. The last thing I remember is the Recovery Room nurse saying to the doctor, 'She has no blood pressure.'

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? More consciousness and alertness than normal I just had a feeling of joy and well-being, that nothing was wrong and all was just wonderful.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? As I was moving along with the train, feeling so alive and free.

Were your thoughts speeded up? No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? No

Were your senses more vivid than usual? More vivid than usual

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I'm not sure how to answer this. I was semi-conscious.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. The same, I guess.

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

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? No

Did you see an unearthly light? No

The experience included: A landscape or city

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? Some unfamiliar and strange place It was a brilliant day with vibrant colors, so beautiful!

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Exhilaration, joy

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? I felt united or one with the world

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? No

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? Christian- Protestant I am not a typical Christian, as I believe in reincarnation, NDE's, OOB experiences, and random precognitive events

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

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

What is your religion now? Other faiths- New age

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 I had always hoped that I would have a more spiritual experience in the event that I had a NDE. Specifically, that a spiritual being would speak with me or tell me things.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? No

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? No

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 definitely exists

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 definitely exists

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:


During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Yes I 'knew' that I would still be 'me' if I decided to enter the white building.

Did you believe that our earthly lives are meaningful and significant prior to your experience? Are 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? An afterlife definitely exists

Do you believe in an afterlife after your experience? An afterlife definitely exists Yes I "knew" that I would still be "me" if I decided to enter the white building

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? Slightly 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 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? No

Were you compassionate after your experience? Greatly compassionate toward others

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Moderate changes in my life I feel we are all on a life journey to do our best and that we should never judge others or condemn others or ourselves; try to do better every way we can. Moderate changes in my life.

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

After the NDE:


Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

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 I shared with my children and a few close friends and family after I returned home. Don't know if they were influenced or not.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes I had read books/stories about NDE's. Don't think it influenced me one way or the other.

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 I had never been too happy being here (on Earth), but evidently I decided to stay after all.

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 had always hoped that I would have a more spiritual experience in the event that I had a NDE. Specifically: that a spiritual being would speak with me or tell me things.