Heaven and Hell really existed. The world of the afterlife I saw during my near-death experience

A mysterious experience that occurred when I was in a near-death state. My soul slipped out of my body, I saw the world of the "afterlife," and returned to "this world"; this is an event called a "near-death experience." I will share hints for life along with the near-death experience that a man actually experienced.

(H.F. / Male / Kyoto Prefecture / Reprinted and edited from 'The Evangelist' No. 199)

The first time I had a truly mysterious experience was over 50 years ago when I was 22 years old. At that time, I was working in the family business of producing and selling gyokuro in a small village south of Kyoto City.
One day, while I was working, I coughed up a large amount of blood and developed a high fever, so I immediately returned home and lay down on my futon. As my consciousness faded, that experience began.
I slipped out of my body and floated up to the ceiling, looking down at the figure of "another me" lying on the futon.

(What on earth is happening?)

As I was astonished and confused, I heard a voice from above.

"You have already died."

It sounded like a man's voice.

(No way! I'm right here. I'm feeling perfectly fine! That's it, I'll go check my grave to confirm.)

At that time, burials were done in the ground, so if I had died, there should be a grave dug for me.
Strangely, the moment I thought about going to the cemetery, my body slipped through the sliding doors and shoji screens and in an instant, I was at the cemetery.

(My body is passing through...! What on earth is this?)

The cemetery looked the same as always, and I couldn't find what seemed to be my grave. I moved again in an instant and returned to the room where I was lying.

In the room, a doctor had rushed in and was giving me an injection. It seemed to be a stimulant. Beside him, my mother was crying.

(So I really have died...)

Suddenly, my body began to ascend through a tunnel-like place. With a roaring sound, I was rising at an incredible speed. Before I knew it, I had arrived at a "different world."
There was a large screen displaying images of my life up to that point※1.
It showed even things I had completely forgotten, so I quickly realized it wasn't a made-up story.
Although I couldn't see their faces or figures, I could tell there were many people behind me watching the images together. Myself speaking ill of friends at school. Myself fighting... When I did something wrong or failed, those people would chuckle and discuss something.
I was shown my life like a revolving lantern and reflected on various things. I also deeply realized the value of my parents.

(That's right... I couldn't repay my deceased father who passed away when I was in elementary school. Thanks to my parents, I have been able to live happily...)

※1: After death, people are shown images of their lives in the afterlife and reflect on their thoughts and actions while alive. Many people have similar experiences during near-death experiences (refer to Chapter 1 of 'Living a Life That Won't Cause Trouble After Death' by Ryuho Okawa, published by Happy Science).

When the screening of the "movie of life" ended, I found myself in a place with very beautiful scenery. The sky stretched endlessly blue, and the green mountains illuminated by the bright sun shone dazzlingly. There were also beautiful valleys.
Before coming to this "different world," I had a headache that felt like my head was splitting, but it vanished as if it were a lie, and both my mind and body felt clear. I was filled with a sense of peace and happiness that I had never experienced before.

(Is this paradise...?)

Suddenly, a man dressed in white robes and holding a staff appeared above me.
He urged me, "Come up here." Then, my body felt light, and I floated up into the air. Guided by him, I flew through the sky.
After flying for a while, I arrived at a large river※2.

The water of the river was very clear, and there were many creepy things sinking to the bottom.

I couldn't see clearly what they were, but they were certainly ugly things that I didn't want to look at※3.
As I flew about halfway across the river, the man who had been guiding me suddenly disappeared.

Left behind, I panicked, thinking, (I'm going to fall into the river!) and desperately moved my arms and legs.

In the next moment, I found myself in a world that was all red.

(Is this hell...? I remember when I was little, my parents would say when they scolded me, "If you do bad things, you'll go to hell. Hell is a scary world with mountains of needles and pools of blood," but does hell really exist?)

※2: Many people who say they have seen the afterlife report seeing a river. This river has been called the "Sanzu River" since ancient times.
※3: After death, people drop their "attachments" from this world when crossing the Sanzu River and become residents of the afterlife. Therefore, at the bottom of the river, there are items symbolizing attachments to this world, such as business cards and money (refer to Chapter 1 of 'The World of Eternal Life' by Ryuho Okawa, published by Happy Science).

The moment I thought that, I found myself standing on a "mountain of needles."
Rather than a mountain, it was a slope with many large needles protruding. Every time I walked, the needles pierced my feet, going through them and causing blood to flow. However, strangely, there was no pain at all.

(Please, I want this to stop!)

As I trembled in fear, suddenly the scene changed again, and this time I was in a dim forest lined with many trees.
Upon closer inspection, each tree had people trapped in them, unable to move and suffering.

I saw a shadow of a person high up in one tree, beckoning me, "Come here," so I began to climb the tree to go to that person.
However, as I tried to climb, each leaf of the tree turned into sharp blades like razors, injuring my body, preventing me from going up.

Listening closely, I heard a voice from somewhere saying, "Help me!"

I desperately jumped down towards the ground where the voice was coming from, trying to help that person. And I fell straight down, hundreds of meters, no, thousands of meters.
Finally, I reached a place that was truly the bottom of the abyss. A pitch-black world. An oppressive darkness――.

That darkness was much deeper and more terrifying than the mountain of needles or the forest I had just been in.
I couldn't see an inch ahead, but somehow I sensed that there was a monk there※4.

That monk was seeking my help. However, I had no way to help him, and I could only pray, (God, Buddha, please help me!)
My prayer was answered, and a light leaked from a corner of heaven, and I was rescued by angels and brought back to the shining world.

※4: Thinkers and religious figures who have misled many people with incorrect ideas are isolated in a deep hell called "Avici Hell." This is to prevent the harmful influence of incorrect thoughts from spreading further (refer to Part 1 of 'The True Story of the Spiritual World' by Ryuho Okawa, published by Happy Science). The monk that F saw is presumed to have fallen into Avici Hell due to erroneous thoughts and beliefs.

There, it was even more radiant than the "paradise" I had seen before, with beautiful flowers blooming everywhere. Each flower was inhabited by a small fairy with wings, dressed in different costumes.
Suddenly, a large, magnificent statue of Buddha appeared, enveloped in dazzling light. Its divine presence was so overwhelming that I could only prostrate myself before it.

Overwhelming light. A dignity that allows no excuses.

This must be the real Buddha――.

I asked, keeping my head on the ground.

"Who are you? Please tell me your name."

I cannot reveal who I am. However, you should not be here. Go back to the original world and train.

As soon as a majestic voice echoed, the large Buddha statue rose at an incredible speed and disappeared in an instant.
When I realized it, I was back in my room at home. I returned to my body lying on the futon.
At that moment, I saw something like a long string coming out of my head, swaying gently.

You came back to life!

I heard the surprised voices of my mother and some relatives far away.

In fact, at that time, I had tuberculosis. After I came back to life, I was immediately hospitalized and forced to live in treatment for a year and a half.

After being discharged, I quit my job in tea and started working for a company.

At work and everywhere I went, I shared my experiences with everyone I met. Some mocked me, saying, "If you die, it's over!" while others whispered, "That guy has gone crazy," but I was unfazed by what anyone said.
Because the world I had seen was more colorful and substantial than anything in this world, and no matter what anyone said, it was the very essence of 'reality'.
Since that experience, I have not feared death.

On the contrary, if such a wonderful world exists after death, I felt I could overcome any hardship in this world, and I gained hope for life.
I was also taught the importance of living a 'good life' by being kind and sincere to others.

Until then, I thought, 'I haven't done anything wrong,' but in the life movie shown to me in the afterlife, I felt a lot of embarrassment and regret.
After several job changes, I obtained qualifications and got a job at an automobile company. Since I couldn't drink alcohol, I worked diligently every day, avoiding conflicts with others, and led a regular life.

I wanted to know what my experience was, so I went to bookstores searching for books about the afterlife.

Years after the experience, I read books by a person named Swedenborg*, as well as works by Kazusaburo Asano* and Tetsuro Tanba*, and I realized that what I experienced is called a 'near-death experience', and many people throughout history and across the world have had similar experiences.

(I can't believe that both Japanese and foreign people are all writing books based on the same lie. The fact that so many people have had similar experiences means that it is indeed a 'fact.')

I became more and more convinced about my experience.

And as time passed, at the age of 54.

One day, while searching for books at a bookstore, I noticed books written by Ryuho Okawa, titled 'The Law of the Sun open_in_new', 'The Law of Gold open_in_new', and 'The Law of Eternity open_in_new', and I promptly purchased and read them.

"Human beings are hearts. They are souls. Therefore, the only thing you can take with you to the afterlife is your own heart. The heart is everything. (Omitted) If you can only take your heart back, then at least you should return with a beautiful heart." (From the book 'The Law of the Sun open_in_new')
All of the author's works were filled with powerful words, explaining that although there are various sufferings and sorrows in this world, if you strive to beautify your heart, you can return to heaven, regardless of your circumstances.
The descriptions of the afterlife and the soul were more vivid than any book I had read before, and I was truly amazed and impressed.
The string connecting the soul and the body that I saw is called the 'spiritual thread', and the moment it breaks is the moment of 'death'.

The afterlife is a 'world of thoughts', where you can move to the world you think of at the moment.

(I see... So, the moment I thought of the 'mountain of needles' that my parents told me about, I was standing on the mountain of needles. How can President Okawa write about such things? Surely this person must know everything.)

I decided to follow President Okawa and soon became a believer in the Science of Happiness.

*Emanuel Swedenborg (1688 – 1772): A scientist, theologian, and mystic from Sweden.
*Kazusaburo Asano (1874- 1937): A central figure in the Japanese spiritualism movement, with many writings on the spirit world.
*Tetsuro Tanba (1922 – 2006): An actor, entertainment promoter, and spiritual researcher (Reference: Ryuho Okawa, 'Message from the Great Spirit World' published by the Science of Happiness).

After that, I worked at the automobile company until retirement and then retired.

Currently, I visit each house in my hometown and neighboring areas almost every day, delivering the Science of Happiness's missionary magazine.
I have diabetes as a chronic illness, but thanks to walking a lot, I have become healthier than before.

"It's not 'over when you die.' If you live with a pure heart in this world, you can go to heaven. Even if you do bad things, if you sincerely reflect on them in this world, you can return to heaven. The Buddha sees everything."

"I see. Then, living with a good heart is important, isn't it?"

When I convey the truth, some people respond like that, but others laugh and say, "He's saying that again." However, I continue to share the teachings without hesitation.
The family and relatives who have taken care of me since childhood, and the friends in the community who always support me from behind.

I sincerely wish for all those connected to me to return to the wonderful world of heaven.
As taught in the Science of Happiness, everyone you meet in this world has a deep connection and has made promises in the afterlife to be born together.

Each person living in this community is surely a soulmate* with whom I made a promise to 'let's do our best together' in the afterlife.

As we age, memories of the past gradually fade.

However, that experience from that time remains vividly alive and never fades.

The world I saw, shining brilliantly and filled with joy, was so wonderful that it cannot be expressed in words.
In this world, which also has its hardships, I want to do my best to live with the same heart as the world of light in the afterlife.

With such a way of living, I want to illuminate the hearts of those connected to me.

And someday, I want to return to that wonderful world, reunite with my parents and friends who have already departed to the afterlife, and convey this Buddhist truth*.

Wishing for that, I will use this life to continuously convey the 'truth' with unwavering dedication.

*Soulmate: A soul with a deep connection that is reborn together in every era to undergo soul training.
*Buddhist truth: The teachings that Ryuho Okawa expounds, showing the laws and ways of thinking of the heart for all people to achieve happiness.