Luis D NDE

Experience Description

I went to Navy SEAL training January 1997 to March 1997. I didn’t make it through the program. That said, I think it would help the most people because of the surprising insight and link from what I learned after my NDE during SEAL training. I used the NDE for memory recollection during college and grad school.

We were training on inflatable, small boat races to and through the surf zone and back. My boat was hit hard by a rogue wave that came out of nowhere. For some reason, I was the only one on my boat crew who fell into the water on the starboard side. The rest of the boat crew fell in from the port side. This point is important because on my side, there was a strong undercurrent and/or a riptide that pulled me further into open water. The wave hit us so hard that I was about 15-20 feet underwater, despite wearing one of those ugly orange US Navy-issued kapok life jackets.

After popping back up to the surface, I couldn’t see which way to swim because I couldn’t see above the swells. Suddenly, the water and sky became pixel-like. A couple seconds later, I saw thousands of little pictures and videos that looked familiar, especially the ones to my left. Then I started visiting each of them at the speed of thought or maybe faster. It turned out these were all the memories of my life. I started slowing down a bit, and I could see all the memories at the same time, as if looking at a giant big-screen TV the size of the sky. Past memories were to my left, current reality in the middle, and to the right of the middle area were memories of people I didn’t recognize. These turned out to be *future* memories. They stretched as far as I could see to the right. The pictures that were furthest away were grayed out, as if I wasn’t allowed to see them.

I saw a huge water tower in the middle of the panoramic memories. This ended up being where I went to college. I also remember seeing my ex-wife’s eyes and thinking, “Wow, she is beautiful!” Then I started getting concerned about all the strangers in the middle set of memories, so I looked for familiar faces. I found my dad toward the upper left; probably memory number 8 if we were numbering them in sequence. Toward the end of the experience, it was like I was becoming my 3-year-old self. I saw my arms shrinking from adult to kid-sized, and my mind regressing from adult to teen to child. That’s when I realized what was happening. I pleaded, “God, this can’t happen. Please, I still need to make my parents proud. There’s so much left for me to do here.”

I was immediately back in our shared reality on Earth. It had been cloudy that morning, but the sky cleared to a bright blue. A new set of waves hit me, but luckily I could see which way the beach was. When I spotted the beach, I was so far out that I could see Hotel Del Coronado to my left. The rest of the class was on the beach in formation about a mile to my right. I started swimming sidestroke, barely able to move, but eventually made progress. When I could finally touch ground, the water was about six feet deep, about 100 yards from shore.

When I reached the beach, the instructor was waiting. I could hardly walk. He yelled, “D____, where have you been?” I tried to answer but couldn’t speak. It sounded like a TV crime witness distorting their voice, but in slow motion. The instructor’s usual stern expression turned to deep concern. I thought, “I must really be in bad shape for him to look that worried.” He told me, “D____, go lay down in the sun.” I was shivering uncontrollably. After a moment, he came back and said matter-of-factly, “The only way you’ll warm up is by running.” So I did.

This happened around the second week of February 1997. The water was about 45-55F degrees.

College (Fall 1997) - The Aftermath

By mid-October in Michigan, the weather cooled, and I started experiencing PTSD symptoms from the NDE. Whenever I got cold and tired (triggers), I’d hear waves, taste saltwater, and relive the NDE in vivid detail. This happened a few times walking back from the library at night and would replay in my room.

Luckily, I had a single dorm, and it wasn’t combat-related PTSD. But the precision of the recall made me wonder, “What if I paid attention in lectures with the same urgency as during the NDE? What if I could trigger memory the same way?” I started listening to professors like my life depended on it. I took notes differently by jotting down three to five key words for important points, like book annotations. When studying, those words acted like GPS coordinates, instantly returning me to that moment in the lecture.

===============================

Dear Luis,

Thanks again for sharing your remarkable NDE! As you correctly note- your NDE was no hallucination! Here is a link to a recent article I wrote establishing the reality of NDE: https://www.bigelowinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/long-survival-consciousness.pdf

Warm regards,

-Jeffrey

===============================

Dr. Long,

I only remember Two of the middle immediate future memories. And those were the ones that came true that I consciously know of...and those are the ones that I remember the most vividly. The rest of the middle to right section (other future memories felt like strangers to me during the NDE...and all the way to the right were grayed out.,, as if I wasn't allowed to see even if I had tried or been curious enough to see.... so, as I'm shifting my sight from all the way from the right back toward the middle... I noticed a big water tower ... I believe that I noticed because in a crowd of strange people, pictures/videos/memories, there was a big water tower... it seemed odd that all of the memories were of people but the water tower was the only structure. And after taking some time look at the water tower, I popped up and out of that memory and immediately two rows up I see these big beautiful green eyes batting her eye lashes in slow motion. After that future memory, I just wanted to go to something familiar, so I looked left to the past and at the top left corner was the memory of my dad and I.. which is where I went to immediately after seeing my ex wife's eyes.

So, I only remember these two future memories. And these came true. Just as I had seen them in the NDE:

(1) The water tower at my university (Eastern Michigan University) and

(2) when I saw my ex-wife for the first time. Her eyes were the same as the beautiful woman with the green eyes in that middle immediate future section... which was close to the water tower memory.

I'll answer as much as I can. Seeing those two future memories and knowing they became real is what makes this event metaphysical for me and not just my brain firing off some hallucination... I do not know how our science at this point can reconcile or explain this scientifically. Not that I want that, but it's evidence (at least to me) that there is more than just this physical life.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date of NDE: 2/5/1997

NDE Elements:

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

How do you consider the content of your experience? Both pleasant AND distressing

Did you feel separated from your body? I clearly left my body and existed outside it
It was a panoramic setup of memories Past, preset, and future memories

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? From the middle until the very end
All senses were heightened 100x and I could move at the speed of thought

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness? More consciousness and alertness than normal

Were your thoughts speeded up? Faster than usual

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more vivid

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience Void magnify zoom in and out at the speed of thought

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience Hearing wasn’t too different from what I recall It was more visual

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Yes, but the facts have not been checked out

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 beings? Yes
All of those in my memories So family members and friends and it was like I was reliving the memories wth them as if in real time in those specific memories that I visted for longer

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

Did you see an unearthly light? No

Did you seem to enter another world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm
Panoramic life review

What emotions did you feel during the experience? All of them were magnified by 100x But the feeling of peace blanketed everything by 1000X

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 understand everything? No
Understanding everything

Did scenes from your past come back? I remembered many past events
I could see all of the memories at the same time, as if i was looking at a giant big screen tv, but the size of the sky. Past memories were to my left, current reality to the middle, and this is where it get really unbelievable, and to the right of the middle area were memories that or people that i was not recognizing. these turned out to be future memories...memories that i had yet to make... And they went to the right as far as i could see...until the future pictures all the way to the right side were grayed out...as if i wasn't allowed to see them. Anyway, I saw a huge water tower in the middle of the panoramic set of memories and pictures...this water tower ended up being where i would end up going to college. I also remember seeing my ex-wife's eyes and literally thinking during the middle of the NDE, 'Wow, she is BEAUTIFUL!!!!' Kind of funny...

Did scenes from the future come? I started slowing down a bit and I could see all of the memories at the same time, as if i was looking at a giant big screen tv, but the size of the sky. Past memories were to my left, current reality to the middle, and this is where it get really unbelievable, and to the right of the middle area were memories that or people that i was not recognizing. these turned out to be future memories...memories that i had yet to make... And they went to the right as far as i could see...until the future pictures all the way to the right side were grayed out...as if i wasn't allowed to see them. Anyway, I saw a huge water tower in the middle of the panoramic set of memories and pictures...this water tower ended up being where i would end up going to college. I also remember seeing my ex-wife's eyes and literally thinking during the middle of the NDE, 'Wow, she is BEAUTIFUL!!!!' Kind of funny... I was only 20 years old at the time so cut me some slack! But then I started getting concerned about all of the strangers that were in the middle set of memories and started looking for familiar faces. I ended up finding my dad toward the upper left. Probably memory number 8 if we were to number all of them in sequence.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Yes
Then, toward the end of the NDE, it was as if I was going into my little kid self of age 3. I could see my arms going from adult sized arms to little kid arms...and my mind slowly regressing from adult to teen to 10 year old and finally 3. That's when I finally realized what was happening. I urgently pleaded, 'God, this cannot happen. Please, I still need to make my parents proud...there's so much left for me to do here.' I was immediately back into our shared reality, here on earth. It was cloudy that morning, but the sky cleared up bright blue. A new set of waves hit me, but luckily I was able to see which way the beach was. If you are familiar with Coronado, California, when I finally saw where the beach was, I was far out enough into the water that I could see Hotel Del Coronado to my left, and everyone else from Buds class 212 on the beach in formation about 1 mile out to my right. So, I started swimming sidestroke. I could barely move. But eventually got moving enough to make some distance. The waves were also helping to push me back in...probably the same ones that pulled me in the first place. When I finally was able to touch solid ground, the water was about 6 feet deep. I had only about 100 yards to go.

Did you come to a border or point of no return? I came to a definite conscious decision to return to life
I had to come back to my parents and take a different path

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Christian- Protestant

Have your religious practices changed? Yes
It’s more about spirituality than religion Although I truly admire those with deep faith without having experienced an NDE

What is your religion now? Christian- Protestant

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
There was a hint of reincarnation into a previous version of my little kid self. But there was also God the creator that listened and delivered me back to Earth

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes
I always think of the NDE in the context of decisions I know the camera is rolling and will have to watch the tape So I need to try to be a good human in as may contexts as possible

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? 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? Uncertain
The panorama did have a set of memories way out to the right tag were grayed out ..so I’m not sure what that meant.. I have more questions than answers to be quite honest

During your experience, did you gain information about universal connection or oneness? Uncertain
My thoughts were in communication with whoever was in charge of the NDE

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? Yes
Yes. I specifically asked God t give me more time. God granted it to me that very instant. I wast even done with my prayer when God had granted it

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Yes
There’s no going back once you experience an NDE. Faith is no longer needed. For you have already seen. And you will be held to account to watch the tape just like a football player after a Sunday game. So it’s all about being a good human now and in the future. And you better bring your ‘A’ game.

During your experience, did you gain information about the meaning of life? Uncertain
I was so amazed by what I was experiencing and felt so thankful and happy that there was something beyond this life… I also felt so curious about wanting to explore more of it . I felt like I was in there for hours …ad yet time was definitely not a factor

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? Yes
Consciousness continues, there is more .. Our actions are recorded, we will be held to account, Compassionately God listens to our sincere prayers

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

During your experience, did you gain information about love? Yes
Love (and/or a loving prayer) is indeed a way to communicate with God and our loved ones across time and space . Perhaps even our past and future selves.

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Slight changes in my life
The NDE is always a point of reference for me Big or small decisions

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Uncertain

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? Uncertain
COLLEGE (FALL OF 1997) The weather in Michigan started cooling in late to the middle of October. I noticed that I was starting to experience PTSD symptoms from the NDE. Anytime I became cold and tired (triggers) , I began hearing the sounds of the waves in the ocean, I could taste the salt water like I was in Coronado again and would see the entire NDE play out in a video like sequence while I was awake. This happened a few times after walking from the library back to my dorm at night; and it would manifest in video like recall when I was back in my dorm room. luckily, I didn't share a dorm lol and that the PTSD was not combat related. But the level of detail in my recall made me curious. I thought, 'What if I'm able to pay attention with the same level of urgency I did during the NDE for College lectures? What if I'm able to trigger my memory in the same way to take me to specific memories just like the NDE had taken me? I started paying attention to the professors like my life depended on it. I started taking notes differently. I would pay attention like my life depended on it; but also, would jot down 3 to 5 words whenever I found something that was important and/or truly insightful, which reminds me of a BIB note taken while you are reading a book. When preparing for exams, and when re-writing my notes, those 3 to 5 words acted like a mouse click accessing a specific window. The difference here is that when i would see those 3 to 5 words, they acted as a GPS coordinate to the specific point during a college lecture. This reminds me of the address system on your notecards. Same thing. Same way to access memories.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? All of it is significant to me. But the parts that I contour to always think about are the ones science cannot explain or account for: like the future memories that came to fruition and asking God for more time and immediately back into consciousness.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes
I shared it with my parents during the late fall of 1997… after reliving some of it through PTSD.

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
It happened so fast and I was in the middle of seal training so there wasn’t much time to think or analyze my thoughts or feelings

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? Yes
PTSD during college

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

Anything else to add? Not at this time