| An out-of-body experience or OOBE can be defined | | | | a striking resemblance to the physical world, but does |
| as a paranormal phenomenon in which consciousness | | | | not experience it via the senses. According to |
| or spirit or soul separates from the physical body and | | | | Blackmore, this happens because of the brain's ability |
| observes the physical body as well as the physical | | | | to create fascinating pictures of the world even in the |
| world from outside. An out-of-body experience can be | | | | absence of sensory input. |
| mistaken for a dream or daydream. However, an | | | | Many people who have experienced an OOBE might |
| out-of-body experience is much clearer than a dream | | | | disagree with Susan Blackmore because she almost |
| and cannot be mistaken for one. | | | | implies that an OOBE is nothing but a dream. People |
| Most OBEs are spontaneous, that is, people do not | | | | who have experienced OOBEs say that the |
| consciously have them. Spontaneous OBEs take place | | | | experience is more vivid and clearer than a dream. |
| when people are in a traumatic situation, sick, under the | | | | They claim that they really felt as if they were out of |
| influence of alcohol or drugs, or close to death. | | | | their bodies. Their consciousness was housed in a |
| Some people induce OBEs for a number of reasons. | | | | body similar to the physical body, but which had |
| They could be just curious about the experience and | | | | immense quantities of energy. They report feeling |
| might want to know more about it. Or they might want | | | | vibrations or hearing noises. Sometimes, they even |
| to have an OBE just to find out if it is true. They might | | | | experience physical paralysis just before the OOBE. |
| desire power or knowledge or they might want to help | | | | They report feeling totally different from their bodies, |
| someone or they simply want to have some fun. | | | | hearing roaring or buzzing sounds in their heads, rushing |
| OOBEs have the tendency to move people deeply. | | | | experiences, hissing sounds in their ears, and much |
| You cannot just have an OOBE and brush aside the | | | | more. |
| experience. The OOBE will transform your life in some | | | | To find out for sure whether an OOBE is real, you |
| way or the other. The experience might disturb you, | | | | must study, analyze, and experience OOBEs in detail. |
| move you, or transform you completely. | | | | Ancient texts and spiritual books claim that the physical |
| Susan Blackmore, the eminent English psychologist, has | | | | world, which we can easily perceive via our senses, is |
| an interesting view of OOBE. She says that people | | | | not the only thing in existence. An OOBE might or |
| have OOBEs when they completely lose touch with | | | | might not be a real separation of the body and soul; |
| the physical body. The people having an OOBE know | | | | however it successfully gives us a glimpse of the |
| that they have physical bodies, but do not receive any | | | | beyond. It offers a glimpse of the inner world, which is |
| sensory data from them. On the contrary, the astral | | | | so vast, varies, weird, and unknown that it is almost |
| double outside the body perceives a world that bears | | | | impossible to know it. |