The Out-of-body experience

An artist's depiction of the separation stage

of an out-of-body experience

(borrowed from - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoscopy)



An out-of-body experience (OBE) involves the sensation of floating outside the body. In some cases this is considered autoscopy (a Greek term meaning ‘seeing self’) which is the experience in which the individual while seeming to be awake sees his or her body outside of the physical self.

Scientists know little about the phenomenon. A few researchers have managed to recreate OBE in a laboratory setup by stimulating a specific part in the brain. One in ten people are believed to have had at least one out-of-body experience and more commonly such an experience occurs several times in their life. OBEs are sometimes reported following during a “near-death experience”; people who have experienced this type of OBE, often claim to have observed details or events which were unknown to them before having had the experience.

Perhaps the best documented or well known such case that has been reported is the Pam Reynolds Lowery case who was from Atlanta, Georgia. She had gained recognition as a reasonably well known singer-songwriter.   In 1991, at the age of 35, she claims to have had a near-death experience (NDE) during a brain operation. Her claim of the NDE is one of the best documented in NDE research to date because of the circumstances under which it occurred.  Reynolds was under close medical monitoring throughout the entire surgical procedure.  For a short time during the operation she had no brain-wave activity and in addition had no blood flowing in her brain, this left her clinically dead, as medical experts may say. Yes she recovered, but after the procedure, she described in detail several observations about the operation which was later confirmed by medical personnel who were present, as being very accurate.  In this “Pam Reynolds” case she described a surgical instrument she had not seen previously, as well as the contents of a conversation that occurred while she was under anesthesia.

In addition, Pam reported floating around in the operating room and watching the doctors during the operation. She related that she felt more aware than normal and her vision was more focused and more clear than normal. Additional observations, for example:

She noticed that one of the doctors was using a drill to open her skull. She said that it surprised her that the drill that was used looked like an electric toothbrush. Later it was confirmed that the drill used by the doctor was in fact similar in appearance to an electric toothbrush.

She also said she heard a female voice say, "We have a problem. Her arteries are too small." It was later confirmed that the doctors first tried to connect the heart-lung machine to the right leg; however, the arteries were so small, the doctors switched to the left leg.  Such examples appear to show that she was able to see and hear during the operation.

This famous near-death event claim is considered or has been submitted by many as proof of the survival of consciousness after death, and therefore of "a life after death". It is also one type of out-of-Body-Experience.

Other types of OBE experiences which occur may include those that are: Spontaneous or Self Induced; during or near sleep; and sometimes by utilizing some type of Chemical induction.

 

In many cases the phenomenon occurs spontaneously; in other cases it is related to a physical or mental trauma such as dehydration, sensory deprivation, sensory overload, the use of psychedelic drugs, or when in a dream-like state.  A lot of techniques aiming to induce the experience deliberately have been developed, for example visualization while in a relaxed, meditative state.  As recently as 2007 studies have shown that experiences that are somewhat similar to OBEs can be induced by electrical brain stimulation.  

Some of those who experience OBEs claimed to have willed themselves out of their bodies, while others report having found themselves being pulled from their bodies. Typically this event is preceded by a feeling of paralysis of the entire body. In other accounts, the feeling of being outside the body was not realized until after the fact, and the OBE participant saw their “remote” / physical bodies by accident.

Another name often used when speaking of the out-of-body-experience is "astral projection", but there is a slight difference.  These terms are typically used when referencing the paranormal.  In this sense, the OBE is assumed to exist on one or more non-physical planes.

Evidence for astral projection is also (much like OBEs) suggested when people, such as patients during surgery, describe OBEs in which they see or hear events that are outside their range of sensory perception.

Post Script:  As I mentioned in a previous Critique / Post about past lives, I had a very good friend who was completely convinced that he could induce an OBE whenever he so choose to do so. He once described what he called a “Spiritual Cord” attached to the navel area of his physical body and the spiritual entity. He described the cord as becoming thinner or smaller as distance from the physical body increased … Another interesting point which he described was that his Spiritual Self considered his Physical Self extremely ugly, so ugly he often routinely considered just not returning to the physical body.  On the other hand, when he looked into a mirror while in the physical state, he considered himself as attractive / pleasing to the eye as most other men.  

Sources …   

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pam_Reynolds%27_NDE                     

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out-of-body_experience        

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