Astral Projection and OBE

[Castillo]

I was wondering everyone's thoughts on the subject.

For those who haven't heard about it -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astral_projection

I think it is super interesting and most likely real. It's been recorded throughout thousands of years of history and religion. Although, I've never personally been able to master it. I can't get farther then partial sleep paralysis. The idea of different planes intrigues me and I don't see why it couldn't exist.

Let me know what you think about it , and please say why you do or don't believe in it.

EDIT: For those of you that would like to learn more about it, here's a short documentary on it explaining it further. This documentary has it's own opinions, but it's mostly the general consensus of what most view astral projection as.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqVV2u_1ADA

 

[Emperor Nero]

I think it is super interesting and most likely real. It's been recorded throughout thousands of years of history and religion. Although, I've never personally been able to master it. I can't get farther then partial sleep paralysis.

There is little beyond anecdotal evidence to support the idea that people can actually "leave the body"

Meaning that there is no empirical evidence and that this is all stories. The reason why you have never been able to do it is because it isn't possible. To make the assumption that you can force your consciousness to float through some sort of astral aether is a ridiculous notion that is completely pseudoscience and lacks any shred of evidence. First you have to make the assumption that there are alternate 'planes of existence' and that is the first sign of vagueness. What is an alternate plane of existence? Then you have to assume that you can make your consciousness exit your body where it is produced and travel to these planes. How can you force it out and how does it travel? Then how does it get back?

Arthur W. Wiggins, writing in Quantum Leaps in the Wrong Direction: Where Real Science Ends...and Pseudoscience Begins, said that purported evidence of the ability to astral travel great distances and give descriptions of places visited is predominantly anecdotal. In 1978, Ingo Swann provided a test of his alleged ability to astral travel to Jupiter and observe details of the planet. Actual findings and information were later compared to Swann's claimed observations. According to an evaluation by James Randi, Swann's accuracy was "unconvincing and unimpressive" with an overall score of 37 percent. Wiggins considers astral travel an illusion, and looks to neuroanatomy, human belief, imagination and prior knowledge to provide prosaic explanations for those claiming to experience it.

James Randi has offered a million dollars to anyone who can prove some sort of psychic or supernatural abilities under neutral but scientific scrutiny. If people were actually able to do this then the award would have been awarded.

http://books.google.com/books?id=SUFGnxjRbwcC&pg=PT95#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[Castillo]

Lame saying I know but,

Absence of evidence does not prove the evidence of absence.

I don't particularly like citing Wikipedia in instances like these, but most if not all backed by reputable sources.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astral_projection

This link shows many different religions and cultures that used Astral Projection in some form or another. Of course religions aren't based on fact, but I am not arguing that they are. Thousands of years of history and culture from all over the world with a common denominator isn't hard evidence, but I think it should considered when researching the subject.

The CIA has funded a "remote viewing" project that had accurate results.

http://www.biomindsuperpowers.com/Pages/CIA-InitiatedRV.html

These could have been flukes, or construed in some way, or not considered hard evidence.

It is my personal opinion that Astral Projection is real, because of personal experiences I've had with others, evidence that the CIA has shown, and thousands of years of history and culture combined, with a common denominator.

 

[auron is emo]

When I was Wicca I led myself to believe I was astral projecting through meditation, until I realized that is what it was, meditation. Astral projection is a cool aspect of certain cultures and religions, but in all is just that, meditation.

 

[Emperor Nero]

Lame saying I know but,

Absence of evidence does not prove the evidence of absence.

I don't particularly like citing Wikipedia in instances like these, but most if not all backed by reputable sources.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astral_projection

This link shows many different religions and cultures that used Astral Projection in some form or another. Of course religions aren't based on fact, but I am not arguing that they are. Thousands of years of history and culture from all over the world with a common denominator isn't hard evidence, but I think it should considered when researching the subject.

The CIA has funded a "remote viewing" project that had accurate results.

http://www.biomindsuperpowers.com/Pages/CIA-InitiatedRV.html

These could have been flukes, or construed in some way, or not considered hard evidence.

It is my personal opinion that Astral Projection is real, because of personal experiences I've had with others, evidence that the CIA has shown, and thousands of years of history and culture combined, with a common denominator.

The CIA also experimented with mind control through use of LSD and helped Ronald Reagan try to launch a space laser defense system called Star Wars. Do you know why they stopped funding their 'Psychic Warriors' division? Because of continual lack of evidence by means of useless intelligence.

http://web.archive.org/web/20080603...ificexploration.org/jse/abstracts/v10n1a2.php

You have to consider that also the culture believed for thousands of years the world was flat and that was balanced on the back of a turtle.

Read through the JREF website:
http://www.randi.org/site/

Very, very interesting stuff.


The source you use is clearly biased by the fact that he is a Scientologist.

 

[Castillo]

I can't read through the site at this moment , but I will. I appreciate your response and thoughts on the subject. I can respect your thorough and evidenced arguments.

 

[Snoopchicken]

They currently have a study that's supposed to 'prove' the validity of NDE's and OBE's... I believe it's called the AWARE study. The results should be out by the end of this year.

 

[Castillo]

Thanks Snoop , I look forward to that.

A quick google search yielded these results :

http://www.nourfoundation.com/event...an-Consciousness-Project/the-AWARE-study.html

 

[IAMKarmo]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimethyltryptamine

When ingested, DMT acts as a psychedelic drug.[7] Depending on the dose and method of administration, its subjective effects can range from short-lived milder psychedelic states to powerful immersive experiences; these are often described as a total loss of connection to conventional reality with the encounter of ineffable alien realms.[8] Indigenous Amazonian Amerindian cultures consume DMT as the primary psychoactive in ayahuasca, a shamanistic brew used for divinatory and healing purposes. Pharmacologically, ayahuasca combines DMT with an MAOI, an enzyme inhibitor that allows DMT to be orally active.[9]

Just something I found to be somewhat linked to the topic. Fun thing is DMT is released when you are born and when you die. So all the tunnels, OBE, meeting jesus, from people who have "survived death" have an explanation if you ask me.

 

[mustard2]

Wow, thank you for that article IAMKarmo, very interesting read.

Funny how even after experiments on humans explaining it all, people still believe in outer body experiences.