David D's Experience
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Experience description:

I had learn the Prayer of Centering while on a retreat at a Trappist monastery the prior.  I had been practicing it, but this was the first time I was outdoors engaged in it. I am not sure if the bright sun had something to do with it but I was much deeper in meditation than I had been previously.  I then realized that although I was sitting on the chair on the porch, I was also looking down on myself from above.  It dawned on me that I was "out".  I found that I could move and look around.   

I saw a bright white tunnel and went toward the light.  I could see at the far end "forms" whom I identified as deceased friends and relatives.  At the mouth of the tunnel was a bright white form whom I identified as Christ.  I started to move toward the tunnel, but the Christ-form told me it was not yet my time.  I had the sense that if I did travel down the tunnel I would die, so I turned around.   

I went back to the porch and looked at myself again.  I then heard muted talking inside the building.  The doors were shut, but I tried and realized that I could pass through the closed doors.  Inside was the house treasurer and Superior talking about the budget.  I then left and went back outside. 

I decided to see how far I could go, so I floated to the top of a tall tree that was along the side of the road about 50' from the porch.  I found that I could see far distances very clearly.  Looking around from that vantage point I saw two of the other Brothers walking along the beach which was about a quarter of a mile away.  I went down and floated behind them as they walked.  Although I forget what they were talking about now, at the time I remembered.  I then returned to the porch. 

At this point I knew I had to come out of the meditation.  But I had to struggle a great deal to remerge my spirit with my body.  It was as if my spirit did not want to go back.  Finally, I slowly regained control and came out of the meditation. 

As I opened my eyes, I saw the two Brothers who were walking along the beach enter the driveway.  I asked them if they were walking on the beach talking about what they were talking about.  They said yes, and was wondering how I knew that.  I then went inside and found the treasurer and asked him if he was talking to the Superior about the budget in the room next to the rear porch.  He confirmed this and was upset that I was listening in to their conversation.  

Because of the struggle I had to remerge myself frightened me somewhat, I did not attempt that sort of meditation for a number of 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?          No      

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    While I was out of my body I could see and hear everything far clearer.  Everything looked and sounded better.

 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:            While I was out of my body I could see and hear everything far clearer.  Everything looked and sounded better.

 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.)?  Yes     Everything seemed clearer.  I could see far distances as if I were looking through a telescope.

 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.)?
            Yes     I could hear far better.  I could hear the ocean from a quarter of a mile away.  I could hear muted talking inside a closed room.  Bird songs were unreal.

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

 What emotions did you feel during the experience?            I felt a tremendous sense of joy as I was free.  I felt as though I had met Christ, and that gave me an incredible sense of peace.  I also felt some fear as I struggled to remerge myself.

 Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?          No       I saw it, but I did not pass through it.

 Did you see a light?           Yes     There was a bright white light with a tunnel.  Brighter still was the figure which I thought was Christ.

 Did you meet or see any other beings?           Yes     I did not communicate with the other beings other than the Christ-figure.  I did sense that they were friends and family, and I did feel their joy.

 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?          Yes     I listened to, and was able to repeat both the conversation of the two Brothers discussing the budget and two other Brothers walking along the beach.

 Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?           No           

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? No      

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?     No      

Have you shared this experience with others?         No      

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?    No      

How did you view the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:            Experience was definitely real    The experience was definitely not a dream... I would not have been able to repeat the conversations had it been.  Also unlike a dream whose details fade as soon as you wake up I remember almost all the details even now, 35 years later.

 Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?    I thing the part that had the greatest meaning for me was meeting the Christ-figure.  I carried away the sense that when it is my "time" that bright tunnel will be waiting for me and that has given me a tremendous sense of peace.

 How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real            Real event.

 Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           No      

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            Yes     Since this event I have not had any sense of uncertainty about my beliefs.

 Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         No      

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?        Not that I can think of.

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