I was a 20 year old who had rejected Christianity because I thought it was ridiculous. I was studying biology and becoming a materialist. I didn't see the deeper meanings of religion at the time and I lashed out at all things religious (I suppose this happens to lots of kids as they start to mature).  I now have profound respect for Christianity on a much deeper level. Because of this rejection of my childhood belief system, I thought that life was absurd, insane, meaningless and pointless. This is where I was when I had the experience.

My dream started off with me and a friend walking through a mall looking for girls to pick up. We had walked a certain ways down the mall when suddenly my innocent little dream was radically and vividly interrupted and invaded.

I found myself standing before a very plain looking short bald man who looked roughly 60 years old. I was amazed at how conscious I was. I remember thinking to myself "man, I'm really conscious of this". I was terrified. I instantly got the impression that this man knew everything about me and everything that I had ever thought or done. He knew what I was about and more than what I knew I was about.

I put my hands up in front of my face to shield myself from this embarrassment. He communicated to me "There is nothing to be afraid about". I instantly felt calm and dropped my hands. Then the lecture began.

"You have painted a very narrowed picture of the world that is all one color" (this is not a direct translation because it was non-verbal). As he said this I realized that his lips were not moving in synch with the communication. I thought to myself how weird this was that he was not really verbally speaking. "You sit above it all like a little boy". As he said this, an enormous vivid painting appeared simultaneously that was probably about 10 feet high and 15 feet wide. It was an oil painting of a barn red barn in a barn red field with barn red grass, and various shades of barn red for the sky, and there I was sitting on top of the barn, a little boy in blue overalls standing out like a sore thumb.

I remember clearly thinking to myself during the experience that this information was not coming from my own mind. I even thought to myself how amazing it was that the oil painting appeared simultaneously with the nonverbal communication, and it was clear and rational and made sense. I realized that this was no simple dream. All this analysis was happening in my mind as I was observing this.

The effect of the information was humiliating. I felt like I was being chastised. The tone of the man was blunt and straight.

Then I was ushered to another man who was sitting nearby. This man was so old I thought that he could barely be alive. But when I looked in his eyes they were young and vibrant like he was just recently born. He was smiling at me. He knew absolutely everything about me, but I didn't feel ashamed this time. He communicated without moving his lips "in order to understand what love is all about you need to be able to look through other people's eyes".

I understood this on a very deep level that seemed to penetrate me. I realized how small I was and how much I had to learn and currently did not know. This man was very excited about my life, and he really seemed to have a vested interest in it (and I was really wondering why during the experience). I felt such a close connection, as if we really weren't different people. After since learning something about NDEs and OBEs, I am to this day not sure that I was not just talking to various aspects of my own self (ala Robert Monroe's INSPEC).

A third person came onto the scene- A woman of utmost power and beauty. She looked in her 30's and had a beautiful magenta dress on. Her confidence and power were unmistakable. There was a radiating wisdom. She did not make eye contact with me. She was stern looking. I remember noticing that this woman had very chubby sides. I actually came to understand during the experience that she appeared that way so I would not get sexually distracted. All I saw were the other aspects.

She made eye contact with the old man and there was a bond between them that is indescribable. I don't know what they were doing. I feel they may have been having a private non-verbal sidebar concerning my case as a human being. I have several theories as to what was going on there. My best guess was that she came to put an end to the lecture session. I feel that she wanted to make sure I didn't receive too much help, but I do not know for sure.

Right then, the old man looked at me and gestured with his hands while speaking nonverbally (yeah I know, it's the funniest thing you've ever seen). He said "one last thing and it is extremely important that you get this�. You can tell something about people by what they would normally do but don't. "

Then they took off, and I'm not sure how they took off because I think I lost consciousness. I puzzled over that last statement for years. It wasn't until about 1 year ago that it became distinctly relevant and meaningful to my life. In fact that statement, for private reasons that I won't go into, is the very kernel of the question of my life. He did not give me an answer to the question, he just let me know that my life was a question mark. How will you answer it?

I very rarely remember my dreams. That one was so profound that I wrote it into a journal the morning I awoke and still remember it vividly. I set the journal aside and forgot about it. I was deeply humbled, and my life was impacted by that simple experience.

After a couple of years, I started to devour the literature on OBEs and NDEs and consciousness studies, meditation etc� I learned about how love was the key ingredient and how people communicate telepathically when out of body. I had forgotten my own experience until I went back and re-read my journal. The lights clicked on, I remembered every part of it in detail, and I connected the dots about what I had experienced.

Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?  No.     

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words?  Yes.  It is difficult to describe non-verbal communication and simultaneous imagery. Otherwise I believe what I was told was pretty straight forward.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?    No.     

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?  More aware than I have ever been during a dream. I could actually think clearly and rationally, whereas other dreams are irrational.

Was the experience dream like in any way?  I had a lucid dream with possible out of body elements such as non-verbal communication and imagery.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?  Uncertain.   I'm not so sure we are ever "in" a body in the first place. The experience is best described as a very lucid dream, but some may consider it similar to an OBE.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?  I felt terrified at first, like my privacy was interrupted. Then I was deeply humbled.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises? no

LOCATION DESCRIPTION:  Did you recognize any familiar locations or any locations familiar from religious teachings ie. Heaven, Hell, Hades, etc.?  Did you encounter any locations inhabited by incredible or amazing creatures?  No

Did you see a light?  No. 

Did you meet or see any other beings?  Yes.  They were in a room-like setting giving me advice and insight into my life. They knew every single thing about me, and I did not recognize them or know much about them except that they felt very close. They seemed extraordinarily wise and powerful.

Did you experiment while out body or in another altered state?  For example did you attempt to visit a family member or friend at another location?  Did you eyewitness an event that you would not have known about had you not been out of body?  Did you attempt to move a physical object while in the astral/etheric universe?  No

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later? No. 

Did you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different?  Yes.  Communication was sharp and instantaneous. It was non-verbal with simultaneous imagery. It was much more blunt and effective than verbal communication. There was no possibility of telling a lie. Everything is laid out on the table, and it can be quite embarrassing.

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?  Yes.  I learned various aspects of my own life and the value of empathy and love which were given emphasis by the older man.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? No. 

Did you become aware of future events?  No. 

Were you involved in or aware of a decision regarding your return to the body?  No.  The man said they had to go, and he seemed as if he was in a hurry. I got the impression that they weren't allowed to divulge too much information to me.

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?  Uncertain.  The more I meditate the more precognitive events I have. They are generally trivial and meaningless, and I see them as just random warps in the fabric of time and space. But, I understand that for some people they have profound meaning and value at times.

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?  Yes.  I realized how little I really knew about life, and how I was closing myself off. I really started to pay attention to looking through other people's eyes. The experience changed my life, and was profound.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices etc.? Career choices?  I live my life conscious of other people. I am easy to manipulate (I was recently bamboozled by a pathological liar for instance) because I try to see good in people. I believe that the experience was instrumental in drawing me toward a spiritual practice and the avid study of spiritual literature. 

Have you shared this experience with others?  Yes.  Most people think it was interesting.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  Deep humility.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?  The worst was being terrified by this being that knew everything about me and invaded my privacy. The best was knowing that I was cared about by very powerful beings that knew everything I have done and had an avid interest in my life.

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?  no

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?  Yes.  It led me toward a certain positive direction. I do not take myself so seriously anymore. I don't really understand this life, it makes very little sense to me at all with all it's blatant insanity. But I get the feeling that it is set up that way so we eventually realize that the only valuable aspect of it is the bonding we have with each other.

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

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