OBE NEWSLETTER – February 2006
Dear OBE Members,
Happy New Year. Click here for an Astral Projection Workshop update.
Since the daily news is so often filled with negative and fear based events I thought a positive news story for the New Year would be appreciated.
A recent pole of college students published by MSNBC and Live Science offers some interesting insights into the changing perceptions and beliefs of American youth to what is widely termed as paranormal events.
In brief, a poll of 439 university students indicate that 23 percent of college freshmen expressed a general belief in paranormal concepts—from astrology to communicating with the dead—31 percent of seniors did so and the figure jumped to 34 percent among graduate students. It's interesting to note that the poll results were contrary to the researchers' expectations. A significant increase was observed based upon the levels of higher education.
The researchers, Farha and Steward state, “As people attain higher college-education levels, the likelihood of believing in paranormal dimensions increases.”
It's important to realize that we are not alone in our interest and acceptance of metaphysical and paranormal topics. In fact, there is growing evidence that we are currently experiencing an important shift and opening of the group consciousness within the U.S. and the world as well. In general, an increasing percentage of people and especially the younger generation are becoming more open minded toward non-physical realities and topics. This, I believe, is an important if not critical step to self-knowledge and ultimately to positive global change.
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Every year I receive hundreds of letters expressing concerns and questions. It's amazing to me how many archaic beliefs, myths and assumptions continue to flourish in the 21st century. Most of these concerns are based on a serious lack of valid information, superstition and the continuation of cultural fear-based beliefs. During the next three newsletters I will address some of these important issues. As always, knowledge is the antidote for fear.
Widespread OBE falsehoods and myths:
1) The best place to practice OBE methods is in the comfort of your own bed. False
We are conditioned from birth to sleep soundly in our beds given that the established perception of a good night sleep revolves around total or near unconsciousness. Common phrases such as “I slept like a rock” and “I was out like a light” are an indication of the depth of this conditioning. Because of this ingrained sleep conditioning, our bed is often the worst place to do altered state, OBE and meditation methods. Looking back over the years, I would estimate that 85% of my fully conscious OBEs have occurred when I was lying on a sofa in the middle of the day. Since 1972 I have designated my sofa as my inner exploration and meditation area. I fully expect conscious results when I lie down and relax in this area. By results, I am referring to conscious out-of-body experiences, the vibrational state and all the related phenomena associated with my OBEs, this includes sounds, energy surges, numbness, floating, voices, vibes and all the sensations such as being touched or moved. I recognize that my personal intention and expectations centered on my designated meditation area had an important impact on the results that I experienced over the past thirty years. The bottom line, this approach has proven to be effective so why not designate your own exploration area?
2) You must acquire extensive training or be advanced. False
The belief that you require extensive training or knowledge is completely false. Based on research and the results obtained from my ten-year survey of over 19,000 people, a high percentage of all reported OBEs are experienced by children under the age of twelve. As a group, children possess no conscious knowledge, training or opinion of the subject. In fact, the opposite appears to be the truth; children are more open to natural out-of-body experiences because they are not yet contaminated by the countless fear based beliefs that saturate our society and culture. In addition, most OBEs are spontaneous events and are not self-initiated, as many seem to believe. I possessed little knowledge and no real belief in OBEs when I self-initiated my first one. It's clear that being open-minded and free from fear based and limiting beliefs is an important key. Motivation and perseverance is far more important than training.
3) You must consciously activate or stimulate your chakras. False.
Knowledge of the chakras is helpful but not required. In the early 70s I experienced my first dozen or so self-initiated OBEs with absolutely no knowledge of chakras. As I progressed, I learned slowly from experience about the energy dynamics of my OBEs. Though knowledge of the function of chakras is extremely helpful in understanding the energy surges and other vibrational state phenomena that we experience during the onset of an OBE, it is not a prerequisite to self-initiation.
4) You require a special teacher, master, book or Guru. False.
I would be the first to agree that accurate information and guidance is helpful. Today, more then ever before, there is a selection of valid information and books that can be extremely helpful. However, it is important to be discerning for there is no shortage of bogus information also available. After thirty years I continue to learn from personal experience, from trial and error.
In addition, if you are waiting for a sage to personally escort you beyond your body, you will be waiting an eternity. The purpose of life is to learn and grow from your experience. What are you waiting for?
5) You must be a believer or knowledgeable in a certain philosophy or body of information. False.
All beliefs can create potential blocks for they are universally based on a severe lack of verifiable knowledge. What is a belief but the absence of knowing? Our spiritual goal is to acquire self-knowledge and insight from personal experience and grow beyond the mental slavery of man-made beliefs.
Many new facts and insights have emerged in the past decade. Based on thirty years of personal OBEs and extensive research, I was shocked to discover that only a tiny percentage of popular beliefs are accurate or factual on any meaningful level. Most beliefs are constructed like a house of cards. If the basic assumption is false, the totality is contaminated beyond repair. Based on my research, beliefs are not an effective foundation or prerequisite for spirituality as many believe. Many atheists and agnostics report profound spiritual out-of-body and near death experiences. In fact, I was a confirmed agnostic when I had my first OBE. The evidence is mounting that man-made beliefs can create substantial baggage and potential blocks to our progress. The facts strongly suggest that the less indoctrinated you remain the more open to experiencing the truth you become.
The stark reality of this knowledge can be shocking for those that continue to cling to beliefs for answers. It has become crystal clear to me that a life based upon man-made beliefs is a life based on self-deception. The critical importance of self-initiated OBEs is centered in our natural ability to obtain profound first hand answers based on personal spiritual experience. This is why self-initiated OBEs will continue to be invaluable in our spiritual and intellectual development. The founders of every great religion today based their lives on personal spiritual experiences not man-made beliefs, why would you do different?
6) Your head must be pointed magnetic north or your body must be in a certain position. False.
If you believe this you have made it so. People report OBEs occurring in every imaginable body position. However, research indicates that the majority of experiences occurred when the person is lying on their back in a deeply relaxed state of mind.
Next month we will explore this topic in more depth.
All my best,
William Buhlman
IMPORTANT NOTICE: We are changing the way we will be delivering the Newsletter to you in the future. We will be posting all future Newsletters to the website. After we have posted the Newsletter to the website, we will send a link to our Yahoo Group message board. Join our Yahoo Group and don't miss a single Newsletter. The next two Newsletters will be the continuation of this topic from William Buhlman.
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