From: mcgrath@cs.uiuc.edu (Robert McGrath)
Subject: Re: how to have an OBE (was: Re: OBE tests that prove it DOESNT occur)
Reply-To: mcgrath@cs.uiuc.edu
Organization: University of Illinois, Dept of Computer Science
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 17:19:31 GMT

In article <19470@optima.cs.arizona.edu>, tzf@csl.biosci.arizona.edu (Theron Friedman) writes in part:
|> In article <1992Jul22.205529.16934@m.cs.uiuc.edu>, mcgrath@cs.uiuc.edu (Robert McGrath) writes:
|> |> In article , mchalmer@mcs213a.cs.umr.edu (Matthew Chalmers) writes in part:
|> |> |> I don't really
|> |> |> care at this point if OBEs are proven, fact, fiction, imagination, or
|> |> |> whatnot -- I just want to ask if anyone can post instructions on how to
|> |> |> induce one.
|> |> 
|> ......
|> |> Seriously, I have found no information about how to induce and OBE
|> |> on demand..........
|> 
|> (Disappointing Robert. I expected you to be better read than this.)
|> 
|> Well, maybe not "on demand", but the appendix to Robert Monroe's first book,
|> "Journeys out of the Body" (I hope I have that right) has fairly extensive
|> instructions about how to try to have an OBE. I no longer have a copy so I
|> can't post the instructions, but the book is still in print.
|> 	As far as I can remember the trick was to catch yourself just as
|> you were about to fall asleep, then try to "roll out" of your body. My
|> paraphrase, which may not be quite right .... go read the source before
|> you post flames. Monroe's instructions were more extensive. But it took
|> time & work to reach the OBE state.
|> 
|> 	After writing this book Monroe started playing around with pacing
|> brain activity using controlled sound frequencies, presenting different
|> frequencies to the right & left ears & thereby presumably inducing
|> different activities in the right & left hemispheres of the brain. He put
|> together the inevitable weekend course to teach people to have OBEs
|> using this technique, called something like "Gateway ...". It may still
|> be around. Other people offered cassette tapes for home use based on
|> the same principles - I used to see them advertised in New Age magazine
|> (aka New Age Journal - I'm not sure what name they're using or even if
|> they're still publishing these days)
|> 	I've seen other books besides Monroe's which have instructions
|> on how to induce an OBE. Matthew: if the purpose of your post was to
|> learn the techniques & try to have an OBE for yourself, go find a "new
|> age" or "aquarian" bookstore & see if they have anything on the subject. Or
|> get a copy of the abovementioned New Age (Journal) & scan the ads.
|> 
|> 	terry friedman

As you note, Monroe doesn't tell how to have an OBE "on demand", as
I said.  But that is nit-picking.  

The real reason I ignored Monroe and the numerous other people who
claim to tell how to have an OBE is because I don't think they know
what they are talking about.  Monroe proposes some pretty far-fetched
and bogus theories, such as the idea you mention:
 |> brain activity using controlled sound frequencies, presenting different
 |> frequencies to the right & left ears & thereby presumably inducing
 |> different activities in the right & left hemispheres of the brain.
which is pretty much total nonsense.

If someone wants to point me to some method that can be shown to
induce OBE's on demand (or even increase their frequency) please do.

-- 
  Robert E. McGrath
  Urbana Illinois
  mcgrath@cs.uiuc.edu
Newsgroups: alt.paranormal