To me, they alow me to see other realities, other dimensions, other beings, it's a mind blowing experience.
It is important to me because during an OBE I remember why I am here, and that everything is OK and as it should be. That my failures are really just learning experiences and they are actually positive.
Well i haven't OBEd yet, but i can tell you why learning to is important to me.
It's important to me because just realising that it is possible to travel to other dimensions, and, in fact, just realising that there are other dimensions has brought new meaning to my life.
Before i started learning of OBE and the likes, i had always thought life was just being there and doing stuff and then dying. Sure, i had vague thoughts of things like this, but i had never given it serious thought.
Now, with the realisation of other dimensions, i am determined to travel to those dimensions and discover secrets.
It's just so fascinating that i can't sit by and think it would be cool to be able to it. I just HAVE to do it.
I love the exploration aspect of it. Nothing beats new experiences and suprises. It's also a great way for me to tackle a lot of my fears for example it is helping me to overcome my fear of death.
Achieving it marks a milestone in your spiritual growth.
When I can Obe better, it will be a chance (or another chance) to learn and teach. What I have to offer
Why is it important to you? What does fides quaerens intellectum mean?
At first, it was a free plane ticket to meet my internet chat friends.
Then, it was my ultimate dream - a way for my daydreams/dreamlife to be real. The song with the lyrics "I'm dreaming my life away" had bothered me before.
And always, an escape from this reality to a better one.
To me, the out-of-body experience is important for many reasons (to name only a few):
1) It proves we are indeed eternal beings with a spirit body
2) It allows us to see more of reality
3) Like "waking life", there are infinite lessons to be learned
4) It opens our "eyes"
5) It's...cool!
"fides quaerens intellectum"- is a Latin phrase that basically means, "Faith comes before knowledge". This means a lot to me personally. It reminds me of the concept that one has to walk a little farther out into the darkness/unknown before the light illuminates the path ahead...
..... because i am an artist/musician and the potential for creativity and inspiration (from my brief experience and the books ive read) is infinate.
when i learn how to project at will, i want to express it through my music and tell other people about it, in the hope to make it a more mainstream concept instead of the new-age mumbo jumbo most people think it is.
also, to harness the powers we are born with, and hopefully "do my part" for the evolution of man as a species.
ahh, so many reasons, too many to say. Just imagine the scientific breakthroughs that could (and secretly have) come out of this? Imagine new scientific princibles, labled "Etherical Density Equations," or maybe a localized map of "zone 13, xrz999: 11-a" I cannot even begin to fathom the energetic/spiritual growth which developes from experience. Travel to remote locations and seek answers to questions that no one on Earth can give you. Make new friends to go on adventures with, make enemies that you'd never want to lay eyes on again. The possibilies are endless. It's up to you to decide why and how you are going to do it.[8]
Mystery without fear is incredible.
Hello all, An obe is important to me because it's like returning home(where ever that might be?) but I get the feeling that out there in the astral it is home.
OBEs are important to me because they represent freedom. My main goal is to use OBE to leave this world - body and all. I am not particularly fond of this material plane and plan on using OBE to leave (just like the naguals in the Carlos Castaneda books). I also hope that OBE can make my life easier and more meaningful while I still am here. Cheers - Linda.
I spent a year of trying for an obe before it actually happened, and when it did, I wished it hadn't. It =WAS= about finding the mystical in the mundane but after I finally achieved OBE, I realized it was more about proving something that I already knew, that there was a God.
Before that OBE, I would spend hours arguing on atheism messageboards about the existence of God. After the OBE, though my faith had strengthened, I didn't care about fighting with atheists anymore because it felt like I was arguing in favor of the obvious.
Now years after that one OBE, I can't seem to focus as much as I used to. I want to try again, but it doesn't seem as important anymore.
Simply to learn about myself.
Growth in any aspect does not come from the outside, but from within.
quote:
Originally posted by Nerezza
after I finally achieved OBE, I realized it was more about proving something that I already knew, that there was a God.
How did you prove this? I'd be interested to know. Did you encounter god in your OBE? Are you sure it was God?
I would like to write about why it is NOT IMPORTANT.
It seems to make me tired.
It requires energy.. Why waste energy on this?
Information can be obtained otherwise: through meditation/dreams/people.
It may pose risk. Why to take risks???
There are many dimension/layers of the everyday world as well, just often it is not noticed.
I am afraid of that it is often about trying to running away from this world.. Sort of escapism...
There are other ways of learning than OBE.
I can remember who I am without OBE.
I dont't think it marks particular markstone of grows.
If you cannot communicate in every world, why would you be able in the astral...
Home can be right here where I am (not just in far dimension who knows where)
Anteus
OBE is important because I experience and interact with a greater extent of reality. Reality is the physical universe + The ethereal plane(s) + the astral planes(s) + ??.
It seems obvious that entities on these 'higher' planes interact with mankind (ghosts, spirits, discarnates, etc). Unless an individual makes an effort to understand and interact with these beings then that individual will always be at a loss to control and comprehend reality.
I find Greytravellers reply very meaningful. I too think we are lost without being in touch with the greater extent of reality.
If offers proof (to me anyway) that there is more to life than the square we live in...
Bindi
anteus-
quote:
I would like to write about why it is NOT IMPORTANT.
It seems to make me tired.
It requires energy.. Why waste energy on this?
Information can be obtained otherwise: through meditation/dreams/people.
It may pose risk. Why to take risks???
What makes you think you are
wasting energy? This ain't Dragonball Z! If there is any kind of effect that OBE has, it would definately be the
elevation of peak energy levels! You might as well call meditation and dreaming pointless if your gonna cap on willful OBEs like that. Willful OBE is nothing more than higher conscious awareness attained
through a trance, from, none other than....
meditation! If you think information from your dreams and Earth's people is enough, then your missing out! You are, pretty much, IN a dream state when this occures. Just imagine the unfathomable wisdom which you could only
taste from a conversation with a higher intellect! The only limitation is your own imagination.
quote:
There are many dimension/layers of the everyday world as well, just often it is not noticed.
I am afraid of that it is often about trying to running away from this world.. Sort of escapism...
There are other ways of learning than OBE.
I can remember who I am without OBE.
I dont't think it marks particular markstone of grows.
If you cannot communicate in every world, why would you be able in the astral...
That is definately
your way of looking at it. Your "escapism" is my adventure! Of course there are other ways of learning, other than OBE! No one ever said "OBE is your only means of learning!" There will always be a
YOU, you should already know that, but it can definately
change you... You are respectively entitled to you own opinions, but I must argure when you deny it marking a milestone in your spiritual growth... There are probably only a few thousand people on this
entire planet that have put themselves through the rigorous self dicipline, masterful skill practices, and constant focus to free themselves from the confinements of their body, no... the
physical plane, itself! You are locked in until you either die, or become a free spirit... But these are all only
my opinions... I hope they have some meaning. [8]
quote:
Originally posted by What Tha Phak
I find OBE dangerious...
Do you claim it is not dangerious???
What am I missing out??? Who knows??? But what have YOU gained through OBE???
What do you call OBE??? Close to physical universe "walks" or astral walks? OBE starting from dreamstate???
"Will" or control seems to be illusions.
Information content of OBE like dreams does not seem to be different from normal dreams.
"There are probably only a few thousand people on this
entire planet that have put themselves through the rigorous self dicipline, masterful skill practices, and constant focus to free themselves from the confinements of their body, no... the
physical
plane, itself"
Billions, ...everyone who dies is freed from the confinements...
But why does anyone have a body? Why were you born, if it is a confinement???
"free spirit" what is it??? Where would you be free??? Do you know what you are writing about???
Why do you think it is milestone??? How do you know it is not virtual reality??? and it does not tell you what comes after death.
Anteus
Anteus, you sure ask a lot of questions in one post!
quote:
I find OBE dangerious...
Do you claim it is not dangerious???
What am I missing out??? Who knows??? But what have YOU gained through OBE???
What do you call OBE??? Close to physical universe "walks" or astral walks? OBE starting from dreamstate???
"Will" or control seems to be illusions.
Information content of OBE like dreams does not seem to be different from normal dreams
No, I am not claiming it is not dangerous, there are obviously meangingfully harmful entites out there in the vast universe that have negative intentions... Just as it is equally the same in our world today.
Well, I would answer you are missing out on a lot, but on the other hand, you would not be missing out a single bit if you have the mentality to not want to go through with it, why would it even matter then? Yes, would call dreams miniature OBEs, you are, after all, in a self-created virtual reality...
You see will and control and mere illusions..? Tell me, if I were a terrorist and in the middle of a crowd of a hundred people and then using the bombs attached to my chest, blew my self up, killing 75 people and wounding the 25 others... would that be an illusion..? I don't think so. Will is will and it's the truth. Some people see
God as the
will to do anything at all.
Finishing off your last sentence, one might draw the conclusion that dreams and OBE are not that much different at all. (what is a "normal dream?")
quote:
Billions, ...everyone who dies is freed from the confinements...
But why does anyone have a body? Why were you born, if it is a confinement???
"free spirit" what is it??? Where would you be free??? Do you know what you are writing about???
Why do you think it is milestone??? How do you know it is not virtual reality??? and it does not tell you what comes after death.
Yes, I agree that everyone does and is freed of their physical confinements, but I was speaking of Willful Conscious Projecting.
Well, speaking of my own personal beliefs, I think everyone is re-incarnated with a physical body because our intelligence/awarness/inner, higher-self/consciousness must have some sort of physical vehicle to accomodate for its existance in the physical universe. I can't answer the meaning of life.... but you can give your own reason and purpse for existance. Yes, I know what I am talking about.. do
you? I nickname a free spirit one who can leave the constraints of their body, willfully.
I think it is a definant milestone because... well just think about all the effort and focus you must go though to do this without the aid of psychedelic drugs (cheats)! Well, it in a sense kind of is a virtual reality, but not
all of the astral is... The
real time zone is absolutely not a virtual reality, nor are the kingdoms/civilizations/communities in the astral personal virtual realities.
OF COURE IT TELLS YOU THAT THERE IS LIFE AFTER DEATH! Experiencing and OBE would prove that your awareness can operate
external of its physical (temperary) counterpart.
OBEs are important to me because when I experiance an OBE I feel like I'm reconnected to something I've lost long ago. I simply feel OBEs are a part of me, something natural and beutifull.
Hi, folks!
Once you opened the door of obes, there is no way back, you can not get enough of them. Could call it OBE-dependency [^]
Anteus, I think you are completely wrong.
> It seems to make me tired.
If you can reach trance state, you will have a good sleep,
8 hours of good and well resting sleep in 2 hours.
> It requires energy.. Why waste energy on this?
Yes, actually it does. But there is no limit of how much energy
you "waste". Here the "waste" word losts it's meaning.
> Information can be obtained otherwise: through meditation/dreams/people.
> It may pose risk. Why to take risks???
What risk are you talking about?
Risk of ascension? [:(!]
I think you are simply not as patient as to take the lectures [:D]
Have you read Robert Monroe's books?
I am sure that there is nothing can tell you the way it works, because you are blind, and you don't even want to hear about sight.
I hope you know how I meant it.
You are right in one thing: it could be an escape - all time wondering on how to get out of the limits of the physical world. All of us have been out of this system for loooong times. Actually, there is no time, so the time word loses it's meaning, also ... [:D]
Well, take care, and have a success with your life! [xx(]
Pe
P.s.: it was good to hear from a hungarian guy, but these thoughs lead you nowhere. If you allow me to tell you my opinion.
quote:
Originally posted by Pe-
Hi, folks!
Once you opened the door of obes, there is no way back, you can not get enough of them. Could call it OBE-dependency [^]
I think you are simply not as patient as to take the lectures [:D]
Have you read Robert Monroe's books?
You are right in one thing: it could be an escape - all time wondering on how to get out of the limits of the physical world. All of us have been out of this system for loooong times. Actually, there is no time, so the time word loses it's meaning, also ... [:D]
Well, take care, and have a success with your life! [xx(]
Pe
P.s.: it was good to hear from a hungarian guy, but these thoughs lead you nowhere. If you allow me to tell you my opinion.
Dependency is a dependency???
How can you call dependency ok??
"If you can reach trance state, you will have a good sleep,
8 hours of good and well resting sleep in 2 hours."
But when do you OBE then???
"Yes, actually it does. But there is no limit of how much energy
you "waste". Here the "waste" word losts it's meaning."
Really??? How long can you maintain OBE without your body getting tired? If I OBE, I don't sleep.. If I sleep I don't OBE.
> It may pose risk. Why to take risks???
"What risk are you talking about?
Risk of ascension? [:(!]"
Dropping dead...
"I am sure that there is nothing can tell you the way it works, because you are blind, and you don't even want to hear about sight.
I hope you know how I meant it. "
Closing down that kind of perception seems to be a safe option.
Anyway I did't like the very clear too real "as if I were there forever" type of OBE like dreams... I had so long OBE, I was worried if I ever come back.
Snowy roads... Deserted cities, childhood scenes....
in better quality then "solid reality".
"I am sure that there is nothing can tell you the way it works, because you are blind, and you don't even want to hear about sight.
I hope you know how I meant it. "
I am not always "blind". I jump among darkness and light and watch the show. I am an experimenter.
I try to keep the old ways. How can you keep your foot on the ground?
I don't know how can anyone handle this... This was not just not tought in the primary school.
Actually these journeies don't seem to be independent of usual reality. Anyone really met something independent of physical reality on astral??? (not desires/thought structures)
And can you prove it to me?
A.
anteus,
quote:
Dependency is a dependency???
How can you call dependency ok??
you should try doing some more research. Dependency is OK, you depend on so many things in your life, it is countless. You depended on you mother as you were an infant to take care of you and as an adolencent depended on family income to support you. But other dependencies are not "ok" like dtugs or alcohol. It all depends on how you look at it. Who ever said once you OBE you depend on it? He probably means that once you experience it, you wanna do it again and again and explore more and more.
quote:
I am not always "blind". I jump among darkness and light and watch the show. I am an experimenter.
I try to keep the old ways. How can you keep your foot on the ground?
How could you make ground breaking discoveries if you try nothing new...
quote:
Really??? How long can you maintain OBE without your body getting tired? If I OBE, I don't sleep.. If I sleep I don't OBE.
Your body
IS sleeping when you OBE, your mind is just more aware....
gotta go... my lunch break is over..
OBE is important to me because I can master another skill. I can have fun, and verify things that I want to verify- such as to whether there is life on other planets. Which planets? Where? It is a major part of my spiritual path. I like it. It is fun and interesting.
Celestial Sounds
hhmmmm... why is learning to have obe's important to me? The questions within me are endless, and I see the OBE as a TREMENDOUS way to seek answers! (not to mention... flying has GOT to be the COOLEST thing EVER!!! [:D])
I've had a few oobe's but I had little control of the but I now they were real.
1. Doing it a few times has proven life after death.
2. Knowing what it's like will help me advance more when I die cause I will be in a permanent oobe and I don't plan on reincarnating.
3. Learning.
4. Exploring, fun, meeting others.
OBE is a way to PROVE for yourself the existence of soul and most importantly existence of consciousness outside the physical body.
The subsequent questions that follow are most interesting.
Why are we here in this physical body? We are spirit and what the need of physical body? Material possesion cannot enrich the spirit. Wisdom, knowledge and truth can enrich the spirit and bring it with you after you die physically. It is process that give a kick to find out the Purpose of the Universe.
http://www.thiaoouba.com
Does anyone OBE for a specific purpose, such as trying to communicate with someone who has died? (I don't recommend this) but I wonder.
Does anyone OBE for a specific purpose, such as trying to communicate with someone who has died? (I don't recommend this) but I wonder.
This may sound weird and im not even sure it will work but one reason im doing it is to try and view a persons energy i know.
Ive read some of the articles about healing in the astral and i'd like to see if i can do energy work for someone better in that state.
OBE can help overcome fear of death and help confirm that we are immortal beings. While we should not get carried away by OBE because we are physical for a reason, they are a great tool for exploring and fulfilling human potential!
The most important reason would be spiritual growth. After that, knowledge, I guess.[8D]
I was contacted in my OBE just immediately my grandmother passed away even without me knowing her just passed away. Interesting....
vesselinpeev:
I agree with you fully. There is a VERY important reason that we have physical bodies in this life.
bomohwkl:
Would you mind sharing more about this experience. Did she commuincate with you, etc.?
Regarding the importance of the body and not getting too carried away with OBE, there is this short article:
I Struggle to Stay In!
by Phylameana lila Desy
Vast numbers of individuals and clustering groups of people are seeking ways to experience out of body, never mind that several of these people seeking to be out of their bodies are actually seldom in their bodies in the first place - more than 50 percent of their energetic fields are hanging out in the ethers....
My personal experience is that for a major part of my life I had been out-of-my-body more than in it. And even now making conscious efforts to be more aware of my body and to actually be IN MY BODY continually I struggle with yanking myself back in. My spiritual nature is floaty. Grounding exercises help tremendously with maintaining a balance of our physical and spiritual bodies.
For years I thought that being out-of-body equated with being an enlightened or more spiritual being. I have since learned (urr...remembered) that I AM already a spiritual being. Being here on the planet means that I have this unique opportunity to be housed within a physical shell. Why discard or disdain the physical house? Without our bodies we wouldn't be able to enjoy the physical pleasures such as eating or sexual intimacy among many other physical sensations. After all, how could the spiritual body devour chocolate??
Out of body experiences done in a controlled fashion are safer and more fulfilling. Cherish your physical body as a place to return safely home to after the spiritual journey, not as a place to run away from.
Yes, she did. And I had the most vivid and clearest vision of OBE with no difficulty going anyway I wanted. Thanks to my grandmother assistance.
Thanks for sharing that. I think it's amazing how OBE can be used to help us communicate with those who have passed on. In fact, I thnk it's the natural way this occurs and I think any other way or means to attempt to communicate with the dead can lead to deception. I am thinking specifically of spiritual mediums and that kind of thing (like the movie Ghost and some of the new tv shows)
Anyway, I think this thread is great.
I have another question for people:
What practical aspects of OBE could be helpful to society as a whole?
Could/should OBE and other spirit practices be taught in school (university level)?? Maybe even just meditation??
Between the ages of 9-12 years old I used to lucid dream 4-5 times a month on a regular basis. The lucid dreaming experience was so fantastic and exciting to me, then I suddenly stopped doing it and forgot about it. I don't know why I lost the ability it just happened.
Recenty I found OOBE and have discovered that its fairly easy for me to do WITH the same excitment and rush that lucid dreaming had for me 20 years ago.
So I guess its getting me in touch with my youth and at the same time is a good chance for spiritual growth.
[^]
That's very interesting...you are not the first person who has told me that as a child you were more prone to lucid dream. I wonder if we all lucid dreamed at some point but lost the ability as we got older. Same for OBE.
Children's "psychic" potential is so much higher than that of adults. Sometimes, as a teacher, I ask children questions about if they see colors or have imaginary friends and the responses range from comical to jaw-dropping.
What's the Use of an Out of Body Experience?
Robert Peterson is an author and a pioneering out-of-body traveler. He has written three books on OBE. When he is not out of body travelling he likes to ride his motor bike and travel abroad. In this interview Robert gives us some clues on what to expect and what the benefits may be from "non-physical travel".
Text: The following is an online interview featured by Amazon.com.
Courtesy of Amazon.com, Inc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Amazon.com: What made you decide to write Out of Body Experiences?
Robert Peterson: There were really three main reasons for writing the book.
First, my out-of-body experiences have changed my life dramatically, and in a very positive and spiritual way, and I feel that this world needs more positive, spiritual influences. I felt extremely indebted to Robert Monroe for his books that led me to this path, and if my book can have that positive effect on someone else, then it will be worth it.
Second, after reading scores of books that other people have written about the subject, I still felt that there were major gaps of understanding that needed to be filled in. Rather than rehash old material, I felt it was my duty as an experiencer to try to document what I've found that wasn't covered in other books.
Last, I felt that I had discovered some key factors that would allow people to leave their bodies too, and I wanted to make those public so that the out-of-body experience can be studied further. After all, the key to scientific study is reproducibility. If I can teach other people to induce the experience, then mankind as a whole can gain from their findings.
Amazon.com: Have you had any out of body experiences that left you with fairly concrete proof that you had left your body?
Peterson: Well, as I stated in the book, I tried for a while to obtain concrete proof that my OBEs were objective and not just hallucinations.
Unfortunately, most of my efforts to establish "proof" were done in my first few years of having OBEs, so I wasn't too coordinated or adept at it. Consequently, I didn't get as much proof as I wanted. I did have a few experiences that were convincing enough to me, but they wouldn't hold any water with the scientific community. Eventually, I decided that I no longer needed to prove anything to myself. I'd been doing it long enough to be convinced they were real.
I also decided that I could never convince the skeptics, because they are too closed-minded and can always come up with reasons to invalidate a test. Likewise, I knew that scientists wouldn't be satisfied unless my experiments were predefined tests done under laboratory conditions. So far, I haven't found anyone doing serious scientific study under those conditions, but I'd gladly be the first person in line to try to reproduce the OBE under laboratory conditions if anyone asks me to.
Amazon.com: Many accounts of out of body experiences seem to include the ability to travel instantly from one location to another, but your reports indicate that you haven't had much luck with astral flight and teleportation, which is a testament to your honesty. If you've managed to improve on this skill since you wrote the book, could you share some of your new experiences?
Peterson: Actually, I've gotten much better at "astral teleportation" since I submitted the original text for the book more than two years ago. Since I figured out how to do it, I've been able to transport myself to specific people and locations. Most of these experiences have been mundane and uneventful, and not very worthy of mention. The main problem is that most books over-simplify the process of mind-travel and don't give very good instructions. Unfortunately, I'm also at a loss for words as to how to describe the process. It's more than just thinking about a person or saying their name; it's most like pulling myself to that person with my mind.
Amazon.com: In chapter 14 you meet three other astral beings when you call for help from astral guides. Do you feel that these were other travelers, like yourself, or the spirits of deceased people, or do you think they were some type of creatures native to the astral plane you were visiting? Have you made contact with these or other beings since then?
Peterson: I've always been very cautious and reserved about "spirits" so in the past, I tended to try to experiment "on my own," in other words, without trying for too much contact. Lately I've been more confident and adventuresome, occasionally calling for help during my OBEs. So far it's worked well--I've felt gentle hands helping to tug me away from my body.
I've also heard some voices too during OBEs, but the strange thing is that except in rare instances, I never seem to see these helpers, they're always invisible. Perhaps it's because their vibrations are so much higher than mine. At any rate, I don't know if the helpers are deceased people or not, but they seem to be primarily residents of the astral plane rather than physical people who are also having OBEs.
Amazon.com: In chapter 10, you discuss one of the side effects of your journey into the realm beyond the physical--contact with "the small still voice within," and you reveal some of the astounding guidance you have received from this voice, which you describe as a link to your higher self. Do you have a more specific idea of what this voice is? Are there any other experiences you've had with your inner voice that you wouldn't mind sharing?
Peterson: I believe that my inner voice is my subconscious relating the thoughts of a "higher self" or "oversoul" back to me. I've had long talks with my inner voice, but most of the material is personal. I'm convinced that the majority of today's "channeling" is merely the same natural process of communication, but they make it out to be something more mysterious and mystical than it really is. I'm sure I could do the same sort of channeling, but I'm not interested. My interests lie elsewhere.
Amazon.com: There are people who would say, "So what? What good is an OBE?" Have your out of body experiences had a significant impact on your physical life, and can you argue that OBEs are more than just an entertaining experiment?
Peterson: Boy, you really touched a hot spot of mine here. I could ramble on for hours about that topic, but I understand your space is limited. Let me ask you this: Why does the United States Government (i.e. NASA) spend millions and millions of dollars on space exploration but not one penny on out-of-body exploration? Ask yourself this: Would you rather spend a few hours looking at pictures transmitted from the face of Mars by Pathfinder (as millions of people did in 1997), or would you rather stand on Mars yourself and view the landscape in person?
Although I've never done it, I believe it's possible through OBEs, if serious researchers can learn to induce and control the experience. Besides the obvious practical applications, such as finding lost children and solving crimes, there is an enormous potential for religious exploration and spiritual growth. With OBEs, we have the potential for changing our religious beliefs, which are mostly superstitions at this point, into true knowledge of the afterlife.
Amazon.com: Dr. Charles Tart wrote the forward to your book, and I noticed that you mention some of his works in your bibliography. Have you read the recently published Body Mind Spirit (another Hampton Roads book) that he edited?
Peterson: Charles Tart has always been a big hero of mine. I really loved the part in Susan Blackmore's book, "In Search of the Light", where she's going on about meeting the Charles Tart. Hampton Roads asked Tart to do the foreword to my book without my knowledge. When I first learned about it, I was in shock for days. I felt so surprised and honored that I was beside myself with excitement. I just bought Body Mind Spirit last weekend, so I haven't started reading it yet.
Amazon.com: You are a computer programmer, someone with a logical view of things, yet you seem to have a firm belief in the paranormal (things such as clairvoyance, telepathy, and precognition) tempered with a healthy skepticism. The general message of Body Mind Spirit (mentioned above) is movement toward a reconciliation of the rift between science and spirituality. As you seem to have bridged this gap on a personal level already, where do you envision things going if science breaks free of traditional dogma and begins to explore the paranormal realm in earnest?
Peterson: Good question! For nearly ten years I worked on the operating system of the IBM System/36 and IBM AS/400. Now I mostly do C++ programming for Linux and Windows 95. I'm still very logical and very skeptical, even when it comes to my own experiences.
Bridging the gap between science and the supernatural has always been one of my dreams (thus, Charles Tart being one of my heroes). I've always felt that if science and the supernatural can be reconciled, then many of the illusions that we live with (such as separation from loved ones when they die and various religious superstitions) will be eliminated. When science can seriously explore and establish facts on issues such as (1) the nature of psychic experiences and psychic powers, (2) the nature of the soul and afterlife, and (3) the nature of God, then perhaps we can agree on "what to believe" and do away with all the fighting over religious differences.
Maybe we can all agree that we are spiritual beings first and foremost (and that spirit transcends all race and sex boundaries), and we must work toward the spiritual growth of everyone. Maybe we can also learn to set aside our materialism for more spiritual pursuits. And if science can't establish these things as facts, at least OBEs can help each of us learn these things at a personal level.
To learn, grow and to understand better the world we live in, to visit other dimensions, to meet other creatures, to travel and feel the wind, to become aware of life, to become better and cleverer
freedom and knowledge.
OBEs are an important part of self growth on all levels. It allows you to explore different planes and come into conact with many different spiritual people.
It's fun, it's fascinating, it's helped me grow spiritually, it's given me a completely different perspective on life and the universe, it's something I'm proud of that I can say I've done and not too many other people have, I like the feeling I get when I pass through solid objects and I've always wanted to fly. :)
It's also helped me with my creativity. :)
I think that I have always had a sort of interest in things like psychic phenomena and the mystical/spiritual. I've learned about dowsing, auras, lucid dreaming etc ... and so far, with the exception of lucid dreaming, all of my learning has been theoretical and not practical. I am looking to gain some actual experience.
I, of course, would dearly love to gain spiritual wisdom and growth but I have to be honest in saying that a large part of my personal potivation lies in the prospect of having fun. My interest in lucid dreaming is mostly fueled by the possibilty of being able to fly or turn effortless handsprings, teleport to wherever I might feel like.
I guess I just want to know that there is a sort of magic in the universe and not just believe it.
Spiritual growth and acquiring knowledge of the astral realms.
I am interested to know what specific things people have learned from AP...
Please share you feelings by answering this question:
OBE is important to me because....