There was complete love.  I just stopped and gasped. I looked up swathed and surrounded by complete and utter, deep and abiding love.  I also knew everything there was to know.  Everything was completely clear. All my questions were answered, all knowledge was there.  It was very powerful. I was in a dimension that was pure love.  In front of me was a broad golden path and at the end of it on a golden throne I knew was the 'omnipotent power'.  I couldn't see him except for a glow and a wonderful presence because I was just at the beginning of the golden road.  I 'knew' in a way that was incredibly empowering and that I cannot possibly explain, that if I spent my whole life sweeping that golden road and never got further than just the beginnings it was enough.  My life would not have been in vain - in fact my life had just begun.  I was on the path.

When I 'returned' to the present I was in shock.  It was a hugely humbling experience and with it came the acute awareness that we lived in a shadow world.  That there was somewhere else that was infinitely brighter, clearer, more loving.

I mourned that place that I had been in and felt like I was in shock for days, weeks, months.  I couldn't speak about it.  I would say strange things like 'We're not where we're supposed to be.  There is somewhere else. This is just a shadow world." Most people ignored me, probably rolled their eyes as they walked away. If I tried to describe it in any detail I would start crying.  I would get to 'Oh it's so beautiful ....' and just break down.  I was also depressed because I knew I had no idea how to return to that place or if I ever would. I felt displaced - the experience of that place was more real than the reality I was living.

In the end, over time, the whole experience got shoved to the back of my consciousness and ordinary life resumed.  Reading these accounts has brought it all back, the joy and the sadness.

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

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  Yes     There are no words - no vocabulary to describe such emotions and feelings.  We say love but no way does it describe the amazing beautiful reality.

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

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   I can't except to say I remember it 40 years later with absolute clarity and have forgotten just about everything else in that period

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   I was taken out of my everyday world and could see vast realms, worlds, everything.  Impossible to explain

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   Wasn't aware of hearing anything

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?   Overwhelming awe, love, humility, wonder  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   Uncertain   It was more like a golden road

Did you see an unearthly light?   Yes   Bathed in a loving light, so warm I never wanted to leave it.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice?   I encountered a definite being, or a voice clearly of mystical or unearthly origin
I was aware of a wonderful light filled presence seated on a throne at the end of the golden road

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?   A clearly mystical or unearthly realm
I was in another dimension.  It was filled with light and love and I knew I was where I was supposed to be.  It was home.  I was devastated when I returned

Did time seem to speed up or slow down?   Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning
It was a timeless place.  I might have been there minutes or eons.

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   Everything about the universe
All my questions were answered.  I knew everything

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�)?   Yes   Knew with absolute certainty that this new dimension I was in was eternal, and was where I was one day going to be forever.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?   Yes   There was a wonderful, light filled divine presence which I knew was the One.

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   Knew everything, knew we were all one, knew there was a divine purpose, knew my purpose and everyone else's was to return to this dimension I was in.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life�s meaning or purpose?   Yes  

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   We are love, everything is made up of love.  We return to pure love.  The absolute power is love

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?   Uncertain  

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge or purpose?   Yes   Absolutely.  I knew everything, all questions were answered. I gasped, I was startled. I was in a realm where all was known.  Impossible to describe

What occurred during your experience included:   Content that was entirely not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience   I was a big question mark.  Brought up as a Christian but rejected it all as hogwash as a young adult.  To be suddenly in the presence of the One, bathed in love and light and having all my questions answered was completely overwhelming.  I was confused and bereft after the experience for a long time.

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   The experience is more real than any experience I have had in this realm. Although it took place 40 years ago it is etched in my memory and I am reliving it as I write about it.  I am feeling the mixed emotions of awe and wonder and the sadness that I had to step back into this realm.

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   Since my experience I have lived in ashrams and pursued a spiritual life.  Explored alternative healing and volunteered to help in the community - things I would never have done previously.

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 knew there was another dimension filled with love and a powerful being of light and love.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience?   Uncertain   I am slightly psychic and have a healing ability.  Greater empathy and compassion.    

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes  Tried to share it immediately but there were no words and I would get too emotional.

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   Totally real.  Not dreamlike or hallucinatory.  More real than this existence

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was definitely real   Still nothing to compare to it.  More real than anything else.  This is the dream

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Yes   I don't have time for shallow materialistic people.  Avoid big social gatherings full of meaningless chatter.  Have few friends, would rather be with myself.

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Yes   Try to meditate, explore the world within.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience?   Yes   Have had a few instances in meditation and other situations that have been powerful and shown me another reality but never quite like the first time.

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience?   It's there, we have to believe in it and strive towards it.

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