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Illusion mimics out-of-body experiences

Camera trickery shows how easy it is to fool the mind.

Scientists have deliberately fooled people into feeling they are watching themselves from outside their own bodies, using virtual-reality technology. The achievement reveals how the brain can be confused as it struggles to integrate confusing information from the different senses.

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Posted by Mike Hopkin on August 23, 2007 07:00 PM |

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Comments

Hello.

I had just seen the ch4 news segment about "OOBE".
Interesting, though it was,
I have had experiences where I had been in two-places at once. I have done
this on more than one ocassion. E-mail me to find out what happened if you are interested,I may
surprise you with what I have to say.

Posted by: tony | August 23, 2007 07:44 PM

Hi,
Its a very interesting experiment. I am very interested in the phonomena of OBEs. I have also been actively meditating for about a year. One of the "visualization" techniques I have been working on is similar to this experiment. I form a mental image of myself as seen from above and behind. I then attempt to combine my physical sensations with this formed mental image of myself. I have had some success in doing it. I think it is important to understand that the concept that we have of what "mind" actually is strongly influences the conclusions we reach with this experiment. If we believe that mind is a byproduct of the brain then an OBE is seen as an anomaly. If, however, we see the brain as the organ through which an independent mind funtions, then we can see an OBE as a completly natural, if not the most usual, experience.

Cheers, and keep plugging!

Tom Moylan

Posted by: tom moylan | August 24, 2007 11:56 AM

Tony,

Your remark that your OOBE has been on several places at the same time, on more than one occasion, fascinates me. In the book "Autobiography of a Yogi", this is mentioned too. And on several, or lots of places, in the history of Christian Saints. Write me, please, what you have to say: I'm very interested. Johnny

Posted by: john | August 26, 2007 09:20 PM

I am new to all this, although I have been hearing about it for some time now, about three years. I also want to see if I can travel to other 'worlds' such as a giant library of knowledge??? anyways I want to try this but definatly need some guidance, advice, or pointers

Posted by: lucklight | October 29, 2007 07:34 AM

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