Experience description:
I was invited to the baseball diamond to drink some beer, as teenagers do. When
I arrived, I was confronted by an (at the time) 28 year old man who was a well
respected member of this social circle. He explained that I would not be
drinking any beer with them and, instead, I was going to receive a beating that
I couldn’t even imagine. I informed him that he could say whatever he wanted but
I was leaving. I attempted to turn around and walk away, when another teenager
grabbed me, spun me around, and threw me back at the instigator.
I was immediately hit with a fist to my face at the moment I knew what was
happening. I fell to the ground where the mob swarmed me and began beating me. I
was taking hits and kicks to every part of my body, as well as a baseball bat
and steel toed boots to my face and skull. The beatings continued for what felt
like an eternity (I was later told it was approximately 5 minutes). After the
first minute or so, I had maintained consciousness but lost all feeling of the
attack taking place, instead, strategically hitting people back when the
opportunity to do so presented itself. This continued as I was screaming and
choking on my own blood. Eventually, I did lose consciousness.
When I had come back to full awareness, I was in the middle of sprinting, full
speed, across the field. At this point, I looked behind me. I saw that the
people beating on me were still hitting the ground, and both my brother and
friend were completely unaware that I had gotten out of the situation and
somehow got past them.
In the years that followed this incident, I have asked my brother, friend, and
even some of my assailants how I managed to get away. Nobody can explain it,
with the common description being that I was there one moment, and instantly on
the other side of the field, in the next.
To this day, nearly 17 years later, I have not encountered anyone who could
explain this incident, using any sort of rational reasoning.
At the time of your
experience was there an associated life-threatening event?
Yes
I was invited to drink with
people I thought were friends. When I arrived, approximately 15 of them threw me
on the ground and started beating me senseless with weapons, steel toe boots,
their fists, etc.
My younger brother and a friend were present at the incident, attempting and
failing to intervene.
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?
Immediately prior to the attack, and
immediately following the realization that I was sprinting.
How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience
compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness?
Normal consciousness and alertness
When I was in full sprint, it seemed like
time had slowed almost to a halt, but there are no additional aberrations to
think of.
Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that
you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.
I cannot recall any vision associated with the incident.
Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that
you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.
Extremely sharp.
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?
No
What emotions did you feel during the experience?
Raw fear and panic.
Did you pass into or through a tunnel?
Uncertain
If I could recall the moment, it’s
possible.
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.)?
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?
Time seemed to go faster or slower than usual
My responses were heightened to a level never achieved before or since this
incident.
Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?
No
Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?
No
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”)?
Uncertain
During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness
that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?
Uncertain
During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness
that you either did (or did not) exist prior to this lifetime?
Uncertain
During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness
that a mystical universal connection or unity/oneness either does (or does not)
exist?
Uncertain
During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness
regarding earthly life’s meaning or purpose?
Yes
I felt like it was my mission to do better
and never cause such pain to another. As if I was tasked with bearing the pain,
to know the deepest cruelties, and to try and help people escape them.
During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness
regarding earthly life’s difficulties, challenges, or hardships?
Yes
I had a moment of pure, visceral
elucidation that this was the human experience and that this was our nature. My
case was not anything special.
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?
Yes
I felt that it was my duty to experience
this pain, to suffer, and to use the knowledge of it to help people live better
lives.
What occurred during your experience included:
Content that was entirely not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of
your experience
I have always been well rooted in science.
I effectively teleported that night, according to many different testimonies. I
still don’t understand or necessarily believe what happened.
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 as accurately as other life events that occurred
around the time of the ex
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
Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your
experience that you did not have before the experience?
Uncertain
I believe I have the ability to describe
or ascertain simple details of objects and surroundings that are located
anywhere, and that I have never personally encountered.
Have you ever shared this experience with others?
Yes
Immediately following the experience. They
were confused by what I explained, largely unaffected, if not remorseful.
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 probably not real
What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:
Experience was definitely real
Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?
Yes
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
Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and
comprehensively describe your experience?
Yes