From: SRK106@psuvm.psu.edu (Senthil Ramas Kumar)
Newsgroups: alt.out-of-body
Subject: FAQ-First Draft
Date: 29 Dec 92 22:16:43 GMT
Organization: Penn State University

Well folkx, I have done a little work on the FAQ.  I have pinched lots of
titbits from so many pple, that I really dont know, from whom, the material
is.  Anyways, I would like u all pple, to go thru it, and give me
suggestions, as to what could be altered, deleted, added etc, in the FAQ.  I
am just a novice oobe'er, therefore some of the stuff in the FAQ, is kinda
subjective to the way, I feel, think, about the phenomena.

In case, u pple, dont know, there is a mailing list maintained by Gary, for
the sole purpose of developing the FAQ.

Kumar

                                OOBE-FAQ


1: STEPS TO ACHIEVE OOBE

There are many ways to induce an out-of-body-experience...in the end it's
up to you to experiment and figure out which one(s) work(s) best for you. It
should be strongly be emphasised that, telling someone how to oobe is like
teaching someone how to fly an airplane, when you dont even know what an
airplane is. :)

1-1: RELAXATION

1-1-1: Pre-Requisites For Relaxation:

All of the methods will involve first and foremost, relaxation.
It's a good idea to go to the bathroom first so you won't be interrupted
biologically (most people know from experience that sleeping is difficult
with a full bladder...well, oobing too).  Try not to have any
distractions around and make sure you won't be disturbed. It is a good idea
to find a *very* quiet place, so that the noises, themselves do not distract
you. Some people may use ear-plugs, in order to cut out any extranaeous
noise.

Sudden noises, etc. can cause a "repercussion" (a quick return to the physical,
usually accompanied with a start...the same feeling that you get when
you wake up from a falling dream). Repercussions are generally unpleasant,
and someone suggested they may in some cases cause physical damage.It's a
good idea to avoid them.

Loosen any tight clothing, or if you would be more comfortable, wear no
clothing.  you should be comfortable temperature-wise...so in the winter it
might be a good idea to be under a blanket...whatever is most comfortable for
you.  ideally there should be no time pressure (i.e. have to be back by 4:30
for class...) and no worry about anything else (i.e. my roommate is gonna come
back and look at me funny, or whatever)...put physical matter concerns out of
your mind.  If there are worries about being interrupted or the like, it might
be better to wait until a better time to try.

1-1-2: Ways to Relax Oneself

        There are plenty of ways to relax oneself. Everyone one has his/her
technique. Listed below are a few methods. *Experiment* with them, and find
out what is suitable for you. The usual outcome of being relaxed is that one
is quite unaware of the outside world.

1-1-2-1: Borderland Sleep State

        This is perhaps the easiest and most natural method and usually
ensures relaxation of both body and mind simultaneously. Lie in whatever
position is most comfortable for you, preferably when you are tired and
sleepy. As you become relaxed and start to drift of to sleep, hold your
mental attention on something, anything, with your eyes closed. The trick is
to hold the delicate edge between being consious and the sleep state.

1-1-2-2: Auto-Hypnosis

        The most efficent and speediest way is to learn self-hypnosis through
the training of an experienced hypnotist. S/he can set up post-hypnotic
suggestions that will bring immediate results. However, select a tutor with
care. Responssible practitioners are rare, and neophytes numerous.

1-1-2-3: Meditation

        Also a very good way to relax oneself. Find yourself a comfortable
place. The usual technique is to hold your attention onto something in
particular. The idea is to focus your consiousness onto only thing, and
withdraw your attention from the outside world.

1-1-2-4: Forced Relaxation

        Again, lie down some place that is comfortable. Then think of all
the parts of your body from head to toe or vice versa, and relax them until
they can't relax any more than they are...relax your head, your temples,
your eyes, your jaw, all the muscles that you probably never even used
to think about....relax them all.

1-2: Typical physical manifestations:

        The usual reaction of the consious mind is to fight these feelings.
It is more productive if one *gives in*, rather than try to fight back to
gain "control". A trap, most people fall into, is that they expect some
dramatic effects, in too short a time.

1-2-1: Feelings of vibrations

        This is something, you will attain, sometime or the other. It might
feel as if electricity is flowing thru your body. The first times it happens
it is scary to most people. further, it seems to be an unreasonble consious
fear, something akin to seeing a slithering snake, u just want to kill it,
doesnt matter if it is doing u no harm.

        There is the chance that the first few times, when one is indeed
fully relaxed, the consious mind automatically shuts out the vibrations, due
to the unexpected nature of the phenomena, whatever.

        One trick, some people use is to let the vibrations start,
when not consious. Tell yourself before hand that your consiousness will
waken up when the vibrations occur. This way, you will find yourself in the
middle of the phenomena.

1-2-2: Paralysis:

        This is also a very common thing to happen. It feels as if your body
has suddenly become very heavy, and made of lead. and one is really unable
to move a limb, even with utmost summoning of will power.

        It seems that, when we go to sleep, the brain de-activates the
mechanism by which we are able to use or limbs, so that we dont go about
doing the things *physically* when we dream. Quite a few people have
found themselves in this paralysis state, as soon, as they have gotten up
after a sleep.

        The first type, known as type A paralysis, is a condition encountered
when approaching a deeper layer of consciousness from a light trance state,
in the performance of magick, OOBE, LD etc.

        The second, type B paralysis, is the reverse of type A, in that it
happens during the return home to physical reality, assuming, of course,
the experient has a physical body to return to in the first place :-).

        The first type A "paralysis" goes something like this:-

        "Mmmmmm.... I know I am awake; I can think .....Mmmmmmm but my body is
asleep ... (Robert Monroe labelled it Focus 10 consciousness)

        "Wait a minute here, there is something going on here, I just can't seem
to....

        "Yes, I can't seem to move my limbs; they seemed to be laden with lead,
why can't I move at all? Hey, what's happening here! (Panic!)"

        A typical type B "paralysis" goes something like this:-

        "Mmmmm... I am feeling groggy, absolutely. What was that just now,
oh, it must be some dream...

        "Mmmm.... hang on a minute, was that a noise I heard? It must have
come from the door... I need to check it out, could be a burglar....
but I am so tired... and sleepy...

        "I need to wake up, it could be important... Hey, I can't seem to wake
up, why are my legs not waking up, why can't my hands respond?

        "PANICK!!! I need to wake up! I don't want to die... I need to exert
more will on this... Hey, body, wake up, eyes open, ... WAKE UP!

        "Gosh, NOW, I can move my limbs, I am awake now, body covered with
perspiration, sitting at the edge of the bed, wondering why just now I
simply couldn't wake up...

        "Phew--Thank goodness, it is finally over. Am I glad to be back to the
familiar physical environment."

        However, type A paralysis is the type that should not be resisted;
(I wished somebody told me this earlier) if the experient can allow himself
to "go with the flow", then some kind of altered state of consciousness is
bound to happen, which is what the experient is hoping to achieve anyway.
BTW, type A paralysis is the one mentioned by Robert Monroe, Sylvia Muldoon
et al.


1-3: I think I am Relaxed. Now What ?

        Very good clues, indicative of the oncoming oobe state, are the
physical manifestations described above. But, it should, quickly be mentioned
that, they are not a neccessity to obtain an oobe.

1-3-1: Diassociation From The Phyisical Body:

        After you feel that you are ready for some action, the first thing to
do, is to obviously disassociate from your physical body.

1-3-1-1: Lift-Out Technique:

        The simplest method to seperate from the physical seems to be the
"lift-out" procedure. *Think* of getting lighter, of floating upward. Be sure
to think how *nice* it would be, as the *subjective* associated thought
is most important.

1-3-1-2: Rotation Technique:

        A second method is the "rotation" technique. Try to slowly turn over,
just as if you were attempting to turn over in bed, to make yourself more
comfortable. Make no attempt to help yourself rotate with either arms or
legs. Start turning by twisting the top of your body, your head and shoudlers
first. By all means, move slowly, exerting gentle but firm pressure.

1-3-1-3: Visualization Technique:

        The intent, here is to try to visualize a particular place you would
like to be. The more familiar the place is to you, more easy it is, to
visualize the scenario in your "minds eye", so as to speak. It is therefore,
a good idea, in the initial stages, to try to visualize places or people,
with whom you are very familiar with. For example, you might think of a far
off friend/lover, and think how you would love it, if you were in that
persons vicinity etc.


3: Books On OOBE:  (From: Tarzan)

Astral Journeys (The)                   Greenhouse, Herbert B.

Auras                                   Cayce, Edgar C.

Being Alive Is Being Psychic            Stevens, Sandra J.

Case Book of Astral Projection:
545 - 746                               Crookall, Robert Dr.

Chakras (The)                           Leadbeater, C.W.

Explore Your Psychic World              Worrall, Ambrose A. and
                                        Olga N. with Will Oursler

Far Journeys                            Monroe, Robert A.

Genuine Mediumship or the
Invisible Powers                        Swami Bhakta Vishita

Have an Out of Body Experience
in 30 Days: The Free Flight Program     Harary, Keith Ph.D. and
                                        Weintraub, Pamela

Inner Worlds of Meditation              John-Roger

Journeys Out of the Body                Monroe, Robert A.

Leaving The Body; A Complete
Guide to Astral Projection              Rogo, Scott D.

Llewellyn Practical Guide to
Astral Projection (The)                 Denning, Melita and Phillips, Osborn

Mysteries of the Unknown:
Psychic Voyages                         Editors of Time Life Books

Out of Body Adventures: 30 Days
to the Most Exciting Experience
of Your Life                            Stack, Rick

Out of the Body Experiences             Crookall, Robert Dr.

Pojection of the Astral Double (The)    Muldoon, Sylvan and
                                        Carrington, Heward

RA Material (The):
An Ancient Astronaut Speaks             Elkins, Don; Carla, Rueckert;
                                        and McCarthy, James Allen

Secrets of Shamanism:
Tapping the Spirit Power Within You     Stephens, Jose Ph.D. and
                                        Stevens, Lena S.

Seership                                Swami Bhakta Vishita

Study and Practice of
Astral Projection                       Crookall, Robert Dr.

Surfers of the Zuvuya                   Arguelles, Jose

Biofeedback: Turning On the             Karlins, Marvin and Andrews
Power of Your Mind                      Lewis M.

Lucid Dreams In 30 Days;
The Creative Sleep Program              Harary, Keith Ph.D. and
                                        Weintraub, Pamela

Handbook of Hypnotic Techniques         Fross, Garland H. D.D.S.
                                        Past President,
                                        American Institute of Hypnosis

Self Hypnosis:
A Contitioned Response Technique        Sparks, Laurance

Finding Your Soul Mate                  Michael, Russ

Past Life Therepy In Action             Sutphen, Dick and Taylor,
                                        Lauren Leigh

Past Lives Future Loves                 Sutphen, Dick

Reincarnation:
Five Keys To Past Lives                 Brennen, J.H.

Tao of Pooh (The)                       Hoff, Benjamin

Building Blocks of the Universe         Asimov, Isaac

Stars and Planets                       Moore, Patrick

Vitamin Bible for Your Kids             Mindell, Earl

Herbs:  The Magic Healers               Twitchell, Paul

Art of Vegetarian Cookery (The)         Wason, Betty

The Holographic Universe                Talbot, Michael
                                        (c) 1991 Harper Collins Publisher
============================================================================
Hypnagogia: The Unique State of         Andreas Mavromatis
Consciousness Between Wakefulness       Routledge and Kegan Paul, Ltd.(1987).
and Sleep                               ISBN 0-415-05794-9.

   It discusses both hypnagogic (pre-sleep) and hypnopompic (post-sleep)
imagery, and their possible relationship with other state of consciousness
and creativity, as well as their possible function.  The book contains
numerous illustrations and is quite worthwhile, in my estimation.

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