Jean-Louis R Probable NDE

Experience Description

At the beach with my parents - in the summer - I was playing in the water.

I was immersed in it up to my waist, approximately.

I slipped on a layer of silt.

I don't remember falling into the water, nor the return to the beach.

The only lasting memory: the vision of a large patch of white light in a very dark environment. Like the sight of moonlight on a cloudless summer night.

I felt no fear, heard no message, no being, I was in no form whatsoever.

I regained consciousness while lying on the beach; people all around me, reassured by my recovery of consciousness, were moving away while talking as I gently raised myself to sit on the sand.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: Summer 1970

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Drowning. Life threatening event, but not clinical death. In sea water up to my waist, in the Arcachon basin, I slipped on a layer of silt.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Neither pleasant NOR distressing

Did you feel separated from your body? No I lost awareness of my body

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? I have no idea.

Were your thoughts speeded up? No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning No concept of time. Between the moment I slid in the water and the moment arms picked me up and dropped me on the beach, how long did it take? A minute or more? No idea.

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. Same

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I didn't have hearing underwater.

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

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? Uncertain I don’t think so. I was probably only at the entrance.

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? An unusually bright light

Did you see an unearthly light? Uncertain White light, but like an electric spotlight. I couldn't see through.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? No

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Calm.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Relief or calmness

Did you have a feeling of joy? No

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? No

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Christian- Catholic At the age of 10, mass on Sunday, only because my parents attended.

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Christian- Catholic Non-practicing for more than three years. Too much incoherence in biblical texts, when one begins to study and reflect.

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was entirely not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience. At the age of 10, my sole knowledge came from school and with a strong taste for truancy.

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

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

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? No

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

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? No

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? No

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? When I started working - and therefore to be financially independent - I bought and immersed myself in the books of Professor Moody, as well as other authors published afterwards, even some dealing with the soul of animals. Was it an aftereffect to my vision???

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

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. When I was very young and not steeped in beliefs, I perceived things as they happen.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real. My father, who is now deceased, as well as my mother and a friend of a friend, told me about their experience. This could be a story that I could develop as needed.

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? No