James H SOBE
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EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION:

In 1992 I was driving along a mountain road in a very winding portion. My automobile was a 1989 Mercury Cougar RX7 that has a center console with the gear shift at this location. My experience was very vivid visually. I do not believe it was personality disassociation for several reasons. Because I have always had an intense interest in science, I look at this experience from that viewpoint. All I can say is it was very real and have never had that experience before or since. Nor do I want to have it again.

I am glad to have found your site so I can tell of my experience. As I was driving on the mountain road, Highway 128, on the winding often sharp curved portion before reaching Cloverdale, California, I noticed what I was seeing was slowly shifting away from my head to the right. As it progressed I was seeing things from the passenger portion. Then I was looking at myself wondering how I could be still steering and functioning without crashing the car and I was on the other side of the center console looking at it. At this time there was no sense of emotion, no sounds, no sense of body except somehow I realized I was still connected to my body, but the connection was getting thin. It was at that time I realized if the connection was completely gone there would be no return.

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?   No 

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  No    

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

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness?      Normal consciousness and alertness   no change

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   really no change

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   during the partial out-of-body experience I was not aware of sounds

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?   Yes   Just that I was looking at myself, seeing the sides of trees and the hill as if I was looking only to my left as a driver would except my body at the time was looking straight ahead.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?   none  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   No  

Did you see an unearthly light?   No  

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  

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?   No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down?   No

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?   Uncertain
It was the realization that I could become totally disconnected and as a result I could not return to my body.

Did you come to a border or point of no return?   I came to a definite conscious decision to return to life
Just that there would be no return if I became totally disconnected from my body.

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”)?   No  

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?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s meaning or purpose?   No  

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?   No  

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?   No  

What occurred during your experience included:   Content that was both consistent and not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience   I look at the experience from a scientific viewpoint. Curious.

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
 
My experience directly resulted in:   No 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?  
No  

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?  
Yes  It was shortly after. Their reaction was they have heard of NDE's before and this might be somehow related.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?   Yes   Curiosity. Had read a few articles on the possibility.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:   Experience was definitely real   I look at it from a scientific viewpoint. During the experience I was analyzing what I was seeing. I looked at the center console to make sure I was really on the other side and looking at myself driving.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was definitely real   All I can say from observation it was real.

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

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?   No  

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?   I think I covered it well.

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