From: janice@mailinator.com   
      
   In article <5PGpe.1933$m4.48@newsfe3-gui.ntli.net>,   
   TheGardenOfToads@nospam.yahoo.co.uk says...   
      
   >I find it hard to accept that OOBE's are achievable by only a select   
   >number of people.  Rather, I think that everybody can develop (or   
   >awaken?) this ability to a greater or lesser degree.  I believe that any   
   >individual who puts in the time and effort will ultimately achieve   
   >something (albeit, that 'something' may not be that which they expected!!).   
      
   That's for sure.  I expected my OBEs to take place in the physical world,   
   but it didn't turn out that way.   
      
   >Some people do tend to be naturals - but I don't think a spiritual and   
   >enlightened mindset is a prerequisite.  I am evidence of that!   
      
   Me too.  I was so far from enlightened that for several years, after I   
   first started having OBEs and related states, I thought I was being   
   attacked by demons. :(   
      
   >I think that more than one individual has made that claim.  At the end   
   >of the day, I think it is best to focus on 'universal' skills that will   
   >serve you well in whatever method you may use.  For example, try to   
   >learn to quieten your own mind (or rather, the brain).  If you can sit   
   >and focus without being disturbed by the usual cacophony of the brain,   
   >then you have an ideal 'base' from which to explore.   
      
   On the other hand, encouraging that cacophony can lead you into audio   
   hypnagogic hallucinations and from there into sleep paralysis and OBEs.   
   I don't recommend going that route, though, because if you get into a   
   habit of listening for such hallucinations you may end up being prone to   
   hearing voices all the time, which can get very disturbing.  I speak from   
   experience here.  They're much harder to get rid of than they are to   
   create.   
      
   --   
      
   "I'm also not very analytical. You know I don't spend a lot of time   
   thinking about myself, about why I do things."   
   --George W. Bush   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)