Experience description:

Prior to the experience, I collapsed from overwhelming stress caused by conflicts at work, overworking, and severe depression. I became almost entirely bedridden for several months. In the end, I only had a few thousand yen left in my savings, and I was starving so badly that I was sure I was going to die within a week or so. The electricity and gas had already been cut off. It had gotten to the point I couldn't even pay the next month's rent.

Having decided to let myself die, I finally went out to use the last of my money for my late payments. While I was out, my mother contacted me for the first time in half a year. When I heard her voice, I couldn't stop crying. I choked out that everything was impossible to bear. I worried her. My mother helped me financially, and I was able to escape poverty. However, seeing as I intended to die, I'd already completely lost all my will to live. Just like that, I returned home, and in a state of extreme starvation I slept for days on end. It was then that I saw the warm and enormous great tree of light.

My thoughts were no longer dull, and rather than feeling empty, my heart felt peaceful. Upon just one glance at the great tree, I was filled with a profound sense of love and blessings. The great tree seemed to be moving from its roots to its trunk like a waterfall. I understood that the great tree of life which stood before my eyes was at the same time a collector of souls and their administrator. When a dead soul separates from its body and becomes one with the great tree, it returns the results of its life to the tree. Bodies are a system given by the great tree to individual souls for their own training. Until that training is completed, the cycle of reincarnation continues—and this was the starting and ending point of that. As I tried to get a better look at the great tree, I felt like I was able to zoom in on my own. On the magnified great tree of light, I realized there were a number of even brighter fruits. Each of these had a different face-like pattern on it. On Earth, these are the existences we call Gods.

I also found that, for a soul's most important training to occur, it is born in the ideal place—in proximity to souls it connected to in previous lives—the ideal body, and with the ideal relationships. I understood on a fundamental level that life is blessed because it wraps up the good and the bad together, and I have never been more moved in my life. At the moment I understood the wonder of being alive, I realized I still needed to go on living. Then, I got the sense that the great tree was telling me to go and guide other souls. That is when I woke up.

When I awoke, I was so moved that tears flowed down my face. It didn't stop for a while (maybe 30 minutes). For months, I continued to be filled with joy and compassion, and during that time I never felt depressed. Since then, I am gradually heading towards remission of my symptoms.

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes. Extreme stress and starvation.

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes. There was a sense of love and blessings towards all life.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? >From the moment I laid eyes on the great tree of light until I regained consciousness.

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. Despite how, at the time, my thoughts had been dulled by depression, I was calmer and wiser than in the real world.

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I could zoom in and out at will.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. Some sort of white noise peacefully flowed from the great tree.

Did you see or hear any earthly events that were occurring during a time that your consciousness / awareness was apart from your physical / earthly body? Uncertain. Just by looking at them, I could understand various things, but at the end it felt like I was being asked to guide other souls, too.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Love and blessings.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No.

Did you see an unearthly light? Yes. The great tree of light which is astonishingly large and warm.

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.)? Yes. The Buddha and various indigenous gods were connected to the great tree like fruit.

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? No.

Did you become aware of past events in your life during your experience? No.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm. The beginning of the universe. A place where there was no concept of time or space.

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

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? Everything about the universe. About the meaning of souls and life.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Yes. At a mere glance, I understood that the great tree of light was both a place and an existence that unified souls, and that if you become one with it, it is also the boundary of reincarnation.

Did you come to a border or point of no return? No.

Did scenes from the future come to you? No.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness suggesting that there either is (or is not) continued existence after earthly life (“life after death”)? Yes.　Regarding souls and life, the great tree of life created concepts such as the individual for their practice.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist? No.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that you either did (or did not) exist prior to this lifetime? No.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that a mystical universal connection or unity/oneness either does (or does not) exist? Yes. I understood that the great tree of light unifies all souls and controls them.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s meaning or purpose? Yes. To train one's own soul and guide the souls of others. A soul becomes an individual existence, and it can be effectively polished by engaging with others like stones on a sandy beach.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s difficulties, challenges, or hardships? No.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding love? Yes. Souls and life transcend both good and evil, and receive love and blessings from the great tree of light.

During your experience, did you encounter any other specific information / awareness that you have not shared in other questions that is relevant to living our earthly lives? No.

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge or purpose? Yes. The training of one's own soul, and the guidance of other souls in this way.

What occurred during your experience included: Content that was both consistent and not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your exp. I didn't quite believe in reincarnation. It never even occurred to me that individual gods were one of the refined forms of the soul.

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 th (sic). There was the depression, and my mother helping me, but aside from this near-death experience I don't remember much else.

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience: In the following months, I was filled with joy and compassion, and was no longer troubled by mental problems from depression. Since then, things have gotten better.

My experience directly resulted in: Large changes in my life

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience? Yes. I no longer drive myself into the corner. I consider how I may avoid worrying my parents, and I have come to rely on them more, too.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? No.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?The fact that I found meaning in living.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes. After more than a year passed. It was considered a meaningful experience. I was filled with the same joy, and I think it strengthened my compassion.

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. I believe this because, at the time, my depression always made my mind hazy, and I had perpetual nightmares. However, during this experience I felt an almost impossible sense of peace.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time: Experience was definitely real. Because even now I clearly remember that light, the situation, and the excitement I felt.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience? Yes. So I could put an end to my shut-in lifestyle, I've learned to rely on my parents.

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience? Yes. Souls exist. Therefore the cycle of reincarnation and God exist too.

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? Nothing in particular.

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience? Yes. Yes. It's as I wrote in the experience description.

What could a national organization with an interest in near death experience (NDE) do that would be of interest to you? I would be grateful if someone could develop from clinical psychology to find ways to explain the existence of souls in neuroscience, biology, and physics.

体験の内容：

体験前、過労、パワハラ、困窮で重度のうつ病になり倒れた。ほぼ寝たきりの生活を数ヶ月していた。末期には貯金は残り数千円となり、飢餓状態でもあったので一週間以内に死ぬだろうと腹を括った。電気もガスも止められていた。次月の家賃すらも支払えない状態であった。

死ぬことを決心したわたしは最後に残金を滞納支払いに使ってしまおうと出かけた。するとその途中で母親からの半年ぶりの連絡がきた。声を聞いたら涙が止まらなくなった、何もかももう無理だと弱音を吐いた。心配されていた。母親が金銭面を援助してくれることになり、困窮からは脱することができた。しかし、死ぬつもりでいたために、生きる気力は完全に失ってしまっていた。そのまま帰宅すると、極限の飢餓状態のままさらに数日間眠り続けた。そんな時に温かみのあるとてつもなく大きな光の大樹を見た。

思考の鈍りもなく、心は虚無ではなく平穏であった。大樹を一目見ると大きな愛と祝福に心が満たされた。大樹は根から幹にかけて滝が登るように動いていた。目の前の光の大樹は魂の集合体であると同時に管理者であることがわかった。死をもって魂は肉体を離れるとこの大樹とひとつになり、その一生の成果を還元するのである。肉体は個々の魂の練磨のためにこの大樹から授けられたシステムである。練磨が終わるまで輪廻転生を繰り返す、その出発点であり終着点がここであった。大樹をよく見ようとすると視野の拡大は思うがままであった。拡大した光の大樹の中にはいくつものさらに明るい光を放つ果実があることがわかった。それら一つ一つに別々の顔のような模様が浮かび上がっていた。地球では神として呼ばれる存在であることがわかった。

また魂はその魂に必要な練磨を行うために、前世でより良い関連付いた魂と身近な立場で最適な場所、肉体、関係性をもって生まれることがわかった。私は生それ自体が善も悪すらも包み込んで祝福されることを深く理解し、これまでの人生で何よりも感動した。そして生きることの素晴らしさを理解した時、私はまだ生きる必要があると理解した。そして、大樹から他の魂も導いてやってくれと言われた気がした。そこで目が覚めた。

私は起きると感動で涙が溢れていた。しばらく(30分ほど)の間止まることはなかった。数ヶ月もの間、幸福感と慈悲の心に満たされ続け、その間はうつ病で気が落ち込むことも全くなかった。その後も徐々に寛解に向かっている。

体験する前または直後に、生死にかかわる出来事がありましたか？    いいえ     極限のストレス状態と飢餓

体験は言葉に表すことが難しかったですか？    いいえ     存在全てに対する愛と祝福であった。

日常の意識状態・覚醒度と比較して、臨時体験中の最高レベルでの意識状態・覚醒度はどのようでしたか？    通常時よりも高かった     光の大樹を目の前にした時から目が覚めるまで。    当時はうつ病で思考が鈍感になっていたにもかかわらず、現実の世界以上に頭が冷静で聡明であった。

臨時体験する直前の視覚状態と、最中の視覚状態を比較してください。    拡大縮小が自在にできた

臨時体験する直前の聴覚状態と、最中の聴覚状態を比較してください。    大樹からホワイトノイズのような音が心地よく流れていた

身体から離れていると感じましたか？     不明    見るだけで様々なことが入り込むように理解できたが、最後に他の魂も導いてほしいと言われた気がした。

体験中、どのような感情を抱きましたか？    愛と祝福  

トンネルを通過しましたか？    はい     

奇妙な光を見ましたか？    いいえ     とてつもなく大きく温かな光の大樹

神秘的な存在に会ったり、見たりしましたか？正体不明の声を聞きましたか？     はい     

亡くなった方との再会、または存在に気づきましたか？    はい     

過去の出来事が蘇りましたか？    はい     

地球とは何か違う別の世界に行ったように感じましたか？     地球ではない神秘的な世界    宇宙のはじまり、時間も距離の概念もない場所。

時間が過ぎるのは速かったですか？遅かったですか？     全ての出来事が同時に起こったように感じた；または時間が静止したか失われたかのように感じた    時間の概念がなくなる

突然全てを理解したと感じましたか？宇宙のすべてを理解した     魂や生の意義について

境界まで行きましたか？それとも物理的なものによって制限されましたか？    いいえ     光の大樹が魂を統合した場所であり存在であり、ひとつになれば輪廻転生の境界でもあると一目で理解した

未来の出来事を見ましたか？    はい     

体験中、自身についての生きる目的や特別な知識を得ましたか？     いいえ     自己の魂の錬磨と、他の魂をそう導くこと。

体験後、あなたの人生はどのように変化しましたか？   Large changes in my life    数ヶ月もの間、幸福感と慈悲の心に満たされ、うつ病による精神的な問題がでなかった。その後も良くなってきている。

体験を通して、信念や価値観は変わりましたか？    いいえ     自分を追い詰めなくなった。親に心配かけないように考え、頼ることもするようになった。

体験後、以前持っていなかった超能力・超自然的な力、またはその他能力を授かりましたか？    はい     

今までその経験談を誰かに話しましたか？    いいえ     一年以上経った後。意味のある経験だと考えてもらえた。

同じように幸福感で満たされ、慈悲の心がより強くなると思う。

体験する以前、臨時体験についての知識はありましたか？    はい     

臨時体験をした直後（1日～1週間の期間）、あなたはそれが現実に起きた出来事だと信じましたか？    体験は本当に起きた     その時はうつ病で常に頭にモヤがかかったような状態で、夢に見るのは悪夢ばかりだったが、この体験の中ではあり得ないほどとても平静であったから。

あなたの臨時体験について、今現在どう思いますか？    体験は本当に起きた     いまだにあの光と、状況、得た感動をはっきり思い出すことができるから。

体験をしてから人間関係に変化は起こりましたか？    いいえ     引きこもっていた生活をやめることができるようになり、親に頼ることも覚えた。

体験後、宗教習慣は変わりましたか？    いいえ     魂は存在する。そして輪廻転生も神も。

生活をしている中で、体験時に経験した出来事が再び起きたことはありますか？    はい   

以上の質問とあなたの回答は、自身の臨時体験を正確に説明しいていました？    いいえ     自由描写に書いた通りです。   

他にあなたの臨時体験をもっと正確に理解するために必要な質問はありますか？    今のところは日本語版の質問に、時制がおかしいところがあることと、サイトのテクニカル上の問題(Prevで前に回答したものが消えるなど）が解決されればいいかと思います。

体験中、一度または何度かあなたにとって意味があり重要な経験をしましたか？    生きる意義を見つけられたこと。   

あなたの臨時体験について、何か他に伝えたいことはありますか？    特になし。