Lehal Library

Since birth each of us has received the most extensive conditioning that our society and culture can muster. We have been conditioned to accept the assumption that we are physical creatures—mammals with a mind. This physical indoctrination is largely the result of a single undisputed conclusion passed down generation after generation: since we experience and observe ourselves as physical beings, it’s only natural to conclude that we are our bodies. Based on physical perceptions, this appears to be a rational conclusion. What else could we be? As we grow, we are repeatedly told that we are physical creatures. Every day of our lives this conclusion is reinforced by family, friends, the mass media, and society in general. Eventually we are taught a few non-physical concepts, usually in the form of religious beliefs. These non-physical concepts are normally passed to us in a very ambiguous manner. Most religions teach that we possess a soul or spirit of some kind—an invisible, indescribable form of energy. We are told to believe this mysterious concept without question, but are offered nothing as evidence—no facts, no logic. We are told to have faith, for the answers are in God’s hands. Many religious leaders would have us believe that we are practically powerless to obtain the answers to the mysteries of our existence and of life. The end result is a massive, double indoctrination. First we are taught that we are mammals with a mind; then we are taught that we are powerless creatures of God, unable to obtain the answers for ourselves. There’s only one problem with these conclusions—they’re built entirely upon the limited range of our physical senses. As any physicist will tell you, we see only a tiny fraction of the energy around us. Basing our entire concept of reality on physical perceptions alone is a formula destined to create incomplete conclusions, not only about ourselves but about everything around us. A classic example is the early perception that the earth was the center of the universe. For thousands of years it was obvious to everyone that the sun revolved around the earth. In more recent times, we were taught in science that the atom was constructed of tiny particles spinning in harmony around a solid, stable nucleus. Today, according to quantum mechanics, this neat, orderly picture of subatomic reality is inaccurate and incomplete. One of the current universal conclusions taught in schools around the world is the scientific assumption that the biological brain is the origin of consciousness. Medical science concluded long ago that the brain is the obvious source of all consciousness. What else could it be? Yet today, tens of millions of out-of-body and near-death experiences provide clear evidence that our state of consciousness continues even when we are separated from our physical body. The first step in breaking free from our physical conditioning is to recognize its existence. From now on, begin to pay attention to the many assumptions and conclusions that make up your life. Notice all the subtle things that are built into our society and everyday life. For example, listen for all the statements referring to you and those around you as physical creatures: my hair, my skin, his arms, her legs. This may sound trivial, but we hear these kinds of statements countless times every day. Each statement referring to us as a physical body acts to condition us to this self-concept. In hypnosis this is called a suggestion. It is proven that when suggestions are repeated daily over a period of time, they will generate an extremely effective conditioning of our minds. Every year millions of people are conditioned by hypnotic suggestions to alter their daily habits or behavior patterns— often in one or two sessions. For decades, suggestions have been used successfully to stop smoking or alter eating habits. If the human mind can be conditioned in one hour to change a lifelong habit such as smoking or overeating, just imagine how powerful a lifetime of social conditioning can be. In effect, the constant reference to us as physical creatures molds our self-image to accept this assumption as reality. This is especially powerful when modern scientific and medical experts repeatedly reinforce the same assumptions. The result is clear: we accept the self-image that we are indeed physical creatures. This is without a doubt the greatest single falsehood dominating our species. In truth, the physical body is simply a temporary biological vehicle that we are using for expression in a dense environment. This is the primary reason that millions of people who have had near-death and outof-body experiences are so profoundly changed by their experience. Often for the first time, they personally discover (not believe or hope) that they are a spiritual being inhabiting a temporary physical vehicle. This is a powerful, life-changing realization that is difficult to convey with words alone. Just think for a moment of your entire self-concept being radically and instantaneously changed forever. Many people don’t talk about such experiences at all because they simply go far beyond current physical concepts of reality. I believe that the underlying purpose of near-death and out-of-body experiences is to give each of us a personal glimpse into our spiritual nature. Only by experiencing our non-physical spiritual self can we completely overcome the restrictive influence of our physical and social indoctrination. Only by stepping free from our dense, physical limits can we know the truth of ourselves and our universe. Anatomy of an Out-of-Body Experience Just as specific elements are often present in near-death experiences, so the out-of-body experience has several commonly reported stages. The following are the most often mentioned. 1.Vibrational Stage. At this stage, energy vibrations flow throughout the body. Buzzing, humming, or roaring sounds, along with occasional numbness and catalepsy (inability to move), often accompany the vibrations. The variation and intensity of reported vibrations and sounds are immense; they can range from mild and soothing to intense and startling. During the vibrational stage, our consciousness is shifted to our non-physical energy-body. The vibrations and sounds (inner signals) are not physical events, as some believe, but the conscious recognition of our higher frequency body as it separates from (moves out of phase with) our physical body. 2. Separation Stage. When the subtle energy-body separates from the physical body, there is generally a distinct feeling of lifting, floating, or rolling out of the physical. After separation is complete, the vibrations and sounds immediately diminish. 3. Exploration Stage. Once we move away from and consciously exist independent of the physical body, we can begin to explore the non-physical environment. The energy-body is often experienced as a duplicate of the physical body but consisting of a higher-frequency form of energy. Because of its subtle structure, the energy-body is extremely thoughtresponsive. The method of mobility we use is completely unlimited; we can walk, run, fly, float. To maintain our exploration, we must continue to focus our attention within the new environment and energy-body we are experiencing. 38