Experience description:

I work as an Auditor in a leading audit firm and was on vacation from the 16th of June to the 21st of July- I traveled with my sister to the United States after which we went to London, Paris and Spain and got back to Muscat, Oman on the 21st of July. The next day my grandmother called and was crying saying that she wont survive and that she wanted us to go see her- especially my Mom. My mother took a flight to India the same day and my sister and I took a flight a night. When we came into land in India it was about 6:00 AM in the morning and we headed straight to the hospital. I saw my grandmother in a condition that I have never seen her before in...she seemed so weak and frail and that multiple tubes inserted all over her body ....it made me very depressed and I count stop crying...I was praying constantly to God for a chance to be with her and she felt better in a couple of days....I felt reassured but worried about the end of our lives- my family members ,mine. I took a flight back to Muscat on the 31st of July and slept very little the night I arrived. I met several friends the next morning and couldn't stop crying every time I spoke about her....

I slept through the afternoon and woke up at 2:00 AM...I searched the internet for Buddhism teaching( though we are Hindus ) to read about the cause of suffering....I then tried to meditate as per what was written on the site and I was kind of scared because I felt really lonely (my sister was in her own room)....then I decided to sleep but I couldn't stop thinking about the universe and astral world and where we go after we die...I had thoughts like my sister is my spiritual sister and I should be nice to her...just then my heart started beating really quickly my hands began to vibrate really quickly and my entire upper body was vibrating and I felt that I am going through a black tunnel. it was like a passage upwards and I felt someone was holding my hand and taking me higher and I was smiling. I wasn't scared at all...my guide was higher than me and although I couldn't see my body I had a sense of leaving it and I opened my eyes because I wasn't prepared to leave.....I don't know about light or meeting loved ones...but I did see the black tunnel and that it didn't seem painful because I was smiling....I have no idea how my upper body started quivering but it was very reassuring the fact that I knew I wasn't alone...somebody held my hand taking me upwards. My experience was very brief and lasted only for a few seconds.

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

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words?          No     

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Uncertain     I felt that I need to open my eyes because I am not prepared to leave yet.

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?            very alert, very aware.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?  I slept for twelve hours...through the whole day and it was not a dream.

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience?          I was smiling in my experience but I quickly opened my eyes out of fear of not coming back...I didn't want to go higher...

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?          no

LOCATION DESCRIPTION:  Did you recognize any familiar locations or any locations from familiar religious teachings or encounter any locations inhabited by incredible or amazing creatures?        No     

Did you see a light?         No     

Did you meet or see any other beings?         No     

Did you experiment while out of the body or in another, altered state? 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    yes...I could see and experience the whole thing as I would as a normal human being but I could fly and rise higher.

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 am/was terrified of death...it seemed that the universe was telling me that dying isn't painful...I was smiling and someone held my hand while we went higher.

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?          Yes    I felt I was going away and I didn't want to ...so I quickly opened my eyes..

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?           No     

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?          Uncertain     not really sure...but its reassuring to know I wont be alone after I die...

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       I don't know...it was very very brief .

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?       No     

Have you shared this experience with others?        Yes    my mum was happy for me and my dad suggested that I write it down so that it could be put up on a website. my sister said she had a dream three days ago where she was in a another country and her spirit was talking to me in Finland. Strange because both of us haven't been to Finland.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  reassured- in a way and grateful.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?    I was soaring higher and smiling....it was the best part and the fear of leaving my body and going too far was the worst part.

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?       I m very tolerant of other beliefs and like to read texts from other religions such as Christianity and Islam...I believe God is one...I could not see the force that was holding my hand ...it seemed that the force was holding my left hand but I could see below....I mean that wouldn't happen as a human being unless my hand crossed my body...

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   

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.          great questionnaire- covers everything I want to write.