OBE Training

The M-5000 program, offered by the Monroe Institute of Applied Sciences in Afton, Virginia, was created by Robert Monroe, author of Journeys Out of the Body, an autobiography of Monroe's psychic experiences over many years. The book contains an introduction by Charles Tart, who conducted some inconclusive research studies with Monroe.

Monroe's own OBEs (out-of-body experiences) -- accompanied, he claims, by ESP and PK -- began spontaneously without any previous training or intention on Monroe's part. Before th onset of these experiences in 1958, Monroe had been experimenting with both drugs and sleep-learning tapes. In his book Monroe specifies a series of exercises for inducing OBEs These exercises were of some value to him in refining his OB talents after the initial onset of OBE events.

The basic exercises involve attaining a state of alert relaxation. This is done in four stages. "Condition A" occurs when in the process of falling asleep, one is able to remain conscious with the mind fixed on a single thought while in the borderland state between sleep and waking. Monroe states that the normal pattern is to fall asleep many times before attaining Condition A. "Condition B" is similar to A, but the mind does not hold 0 to any particular thoughts at all and sees nothing but blackness "Condition C" is a systematic deepening of consciousness from the B state. Gradually all normal sensory experience is eliminated. "Condition D" is the achievement of C when one is fully refreshed and rested, rather than tired and sleepy.

Once Condition D is attained, Monroe suggests creating a "state of vibration," which enters into the body through the forehead. Monroe states that such vibrations, like an electrical charge without any pain, always preceded his OBEs. He describes it as a "surging, hissing, rhythmically pulsating wave of fiery sparks" which "comes roaring into your head.... From there it seems to sweep throughout your body making it rigid and immobile."

A period of acclimatization follows until one can maintain this state without fear and panic. Then come attempts to control both the frequency and location of the vibrations in the body, so that they start sweeping in a wave rhythmically from head to toes and back again. As this rhythmic pattern increases in speed, the OBE is, according to Monroe, attained with accompanying psi experiences. Other techniques involve maintaining control and stability in the OBE state.

The purpose of the M-5000 program is to train individuals to have out-of-the-body experiences as well as a variety of other mental abilities. The program is taught in one weekend, during which the participants lie down on the floor and listen to specially prepared tape cassettes, with discussion following each tape. Participants are eligible for advanced weekend sessions, and an advanced program to be used at home. Intensive ten day programs are also offered.

The tapes themselves use vocal instructions, as well as particular audio effects thought to stimulate the brain (the "binaural beat effect" and the "frequency following effect"). In my experience, the sounds do produce a soothing, relaxed state. This is probably more relevant to the psychic training than any effects on the brain-which are poorly researched at best. It is possible that the sounds might even produce conditioned responses that could, with practice, evoke certain states of awareness.

Participants in the M-5000 program are asked to fill in extensive questionnaires designed to measure the effects of the program. Participants are also invited to travel out of their bodies to a special location at the Monroe Laboratories and to observe targets that have been set up. Reports are then sent in to the laboratories by the participants. As of yet, the Institute has conducted no statistical analyses of the data they have received. From personal conversations with the Institute staff, I have learned that the experiments were not thought to have yielded very much actual evidence for ESP performance. In fact, recently the Institute has backstepped from attempts to achieve measurable psi performance from its training program. An issue of the Monroe Institute newsletter, The Explorer (Vol. 1, No. 2) reports that Newsweek (May 1, 1978) was in error in stating that 1400 Monroe participants had reported OBEs. The article further stated that "the Institute does not emphasize this aspect of its programs." A letter to me from the Director of Training at the Monroe Institute stated "the Monroe Institute, despite its title is not focused on ‘scientific' knowledge."

Monroe, R. Journeys out of the body. New York: Doubleday, 1971.

Monroe, R. Far Journeys. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1985.