Jerry Gross' Out-of-Body Experience Research 

The concept of astral projection has been around for a long time, but until today, it has been hidden from most of humanity. Now, with the aid of astral projection, new levels of knowledge and power enable us to discover the answer to Man's eternal question about life in the physical body. Death takes on a new meaning as we begin to realize that it is only a transition to another dimension, or place of existence. By learning to astral project, we can learn many things about ourselves, and unlearn many things that were previously thought to be true. This leads us to the realization that our physical bodies are only a part of our entire selves, and there is more to our existence than meets the eye!

In our limited awareness, the reality we live and breathe on Earth, with its beautiful landscapes, mountains, rivers, streams, animals and insects, can be compared with the petals on a flower. What we see is not the whole flower, but only a part. This is because man has lost touch with the use of his own mind. He concludes, erroneously, that the physical world is the only reality there is. He believes that his life as an individual has only to do with the flesh body of himself, and concludes that the physical world is solid and real because his senses tell him it "feels" solid and real. The mind has abilities that go beyond the five senses of the physical world. The petal of the flower that we now experience is the material world or physical realm of existence. It has a specific vibration, just as all creatures on this level vibrate at the same rate. Because of this, regardless of where we go on this level, all things take on the appearance of being solid, material objects. Just as the colors of the rainbow show the effects of the different vibrations of light, and the melodies on the piano show the effect of the different notes, so, too, does the entire universe contain various octaves, or rates of vibration. These universal harmonics comprise the different levels of existence.

So the Earth realm we live on is only one of many realms. There are other spheres that we describe as being above or below us. Actually, they are not really above or below us, but rather at all times around us, permeating all things. Astral projection allows us to discover that the people and objects existing on these other realms can be just as solid and real as any object on the Earth terrain. And if we happened to be in another level, looking back "down" into this region, we would view an Earth that was not solid. Right now, at every instant, we are living, coexisting with, and walking through people and objects of another dimension! When a person astral projects, he or she can see these other frontiers.

When we were born into this physical world, we were provided with a physical body to carry out our duties. Astral projection allows us to project "out of the body" and into the next realm of existence, which is the astral realm. When we do this, we are in another body, which is called the "astral body." We already possess this astral body, just as all other people, animals, creatures and everything on Earth possess an astral body.

The astral body has some amazing properties. Unlike the physical body, which is held down by gravity, the astral body can overcome this limitation by the effort of thought alone. While out of the body, we can not only walk around as if in the physical, but also soar above the trees, or go out into space. Another property of the astral body is that it cannot be injured. One of the greatest fears while on Earth is pain or injury. While out of the body, this normal human reaction can be unlearned, because there is absolutely nothing that will cause damage to the astral body!  In the next dimension, fire, knives, guns, falling from great heights, electrical shocks, disease, wild animals or being run over by a steam roller can do no harm. Many people receive lessons about this in their dreams. Watch for them, because you'll discover that you always survive - don't you?

In this next level of existence, which all of us can visit, there are many familiar things, such as cars, trains, planes, and highways. Everything that is on this Earth right now comes from the astral realm. Many people get this backwards. They think the astral dimension was molded from Earth. The truth is, the Earth was fashioned from the ideas and discoveries which originated on the astral.

When we are out of the body, communication is accomplished by thought. Another word for this is telepathy. In other words, it is not necessary to move our lips in order to be heard, although we can do this if we wish. Sometimes, when we hear what we think is just a thought, this could actually be someone communicating to us from the astral.

This next realm of existence has been sought after, researched, and argued about by philosophers and religious people from time immemorial. Until now, it has remained elusive and has evaded discovery to all but the most diligent. The individual who looks within instead of without, who looks to correct his own imperfections, and who treats others as he wishes to be treated will have the door of discovery swing wide open for him.

When we begin to explore this, we must first overcome the obstacle of fear, which will present itself in many forms. The fear of death, pain, injury, the unknown, evil, devils, hell and Satan may loom up before us. We must conquer our own fears head on, and they will rapidly disappear.

We are mental creators, and out of the ether of the next dimension, we can create that which we wish around us. If we are convinced a devil is out there to trick or deceive us, and if we have already pictured in our minds what this devil looks like and what he plans on doing, we should really not be surprised when our worst fears are confirmed. The devils we create become real and solid in the next dimension because we created them.

In the astral realm, we can meet those we love, or that which we fear. If we have no fear, we won't meet fear. It's as simple as that. So we can save ourselves trouble by putting nonsense like that out of our mind. Remember there is nothing that can harm us while we are out of our bodies. This teaching of fear has held people in mental bondage long enough! Its exposure is sure to cause a fury in those who have become trapped in the habit of their own thinking. We must release ourselves from the death grip of fear and set ourselves free.

In the astral realm, we can also visit our loved ones who have passed on before us. We can then ask them face-to-face how they like their new surroundings. We can see schools and universities, and may even find ourselves in a classroom, listening to a lecture.

This is also where we can discover the history of the world, and the history of our lives. The "Hall of Records" contains our present lives as well as our past. In it, are recorded our accomplishments and our failures. We can meet our spiritual teachers - which the churches have termed our "guardian angels" - and we can ask them for advice and guidance on our problems.

The astral realm is a vast dimension of existence, and contains life in abundance. It does not operate by the very same laws of the Earth realm, and so many things that are quite impossible on Earth, are quite commonplace in the astral. Mind over matter is common. Colors are more beautiful, and we may experience endless fascination with new and exciting things that there are to see and discover.

For many centuries, the teachings of certain churches have been that some things are mysteries and are not to be questioned. Eve eating from the tree of knowledge and the subsequent expulsion from the Garden of Eden was sighted as proof. This erroneous interpretation was made by those who were ignorant, or by those who wanted to keep the masses of people in subjugation. Man's redemption in the final analysis will come from his knowledge of himself and his love of his neighbor, not from his ignorance.

The astral realm contains many things that are not on Earth at this time. Some of them may appear in the future on Earth, and some are from the Earth's past. Many different types of animals that have become extinct on Earth exist in the astral. Remember, there is no death.

Astral projection enables us to use the part of our mind that has been dormant or sleeping. We can wake up this part and put it to work. It is called the subconscious, and it can be used to give us the knowledge we need to find out more about ourselves, our purpose on Earth, and our relationship with God. Most people think of their mind as only that portion they recognize as their conscious mind, or waking mind. It has been said that the mind is ten percent conscious, and ninety percent subconscious. We can learn to expand this ten percent.

Everyone goes to the astral realm at night while they are asleep. Think of this!  Astral projection takes place without a person even being aware of it!  As strange and hard to believe as this sounds, it is true. To begin exploring astral projection, pay attention to your dreams each night. Eventually, you will come to the realization that you were in the astral realm, but did not realize it.

When we take the first step, of allowing for the possibility of multiple realms and astral projection as realities, we can then focus on ways to understand, explore, and actually experience these things. In doing so, we can open the door to an amazing and expansive existence that was heretofore beyond our wildest imagination!

When noted out-of-body teacher and practitioner Jerry Gross wants to travel long distances, he doesn't bother with the time and expense of catching a plane. He just uses a different kind of plane, and travels there astrally. Unless, of course, he is teaching one of his many classes and workshops on astral projection, also known as OOBE or out-of-body experience.

According to Gross, the ability to leave the body has been with him since childhood. Yet, rather than regarding this as a special gift, he believes that this is an inherent ability that can be developed by anyone. In the following article, Gross discusses the out-of-body experience with freelance writer and former workshop participant Sandy Jones.

One of the most moving experiences I had while out of the body involved a teenager who drowned. About six months later his mother called me and asked me to come over and talk to her. When I arrived she wanted me to find out whether her child was in heaven or where he was. She showed me his room and I went there to see all of his clothes, his drivers license, his billfold and everything else he owned, all laid out. There was a big picture of him with a candle burning on a table below it.
 
I said to her, "Well, you don't have to worry about where he went because he's here."
 
So I went out of the body and communicated with him to get his feelings. He was so depressed that he went swimming that day and drowned, and caused such sorrow for his mother. He just couldn't leave her and took it upon himself to feel all the guilt and blame for what happened. He was very sad because of what he was putting his mother through. So I told him I'd talk to his mother and let her know what to do. Maybe I could make her understand that he was fine and wanted to move on.
 
He said to me, "I sure would appreciate it."
 
I said to him, "You have nothing to feel guilty about because those days you were in the body that was given to you. But it was time for you to leave."
 
The reason he only lived to seventeen years was because he took his life in the life before and had to come back and finish those years that were cut off from a previous life so he could continue on his way.
 
A day or two later I returned to the mother's house to visit with her again. I explained to her what her son had told me. She cried and cried and asked me what to do. I told her to get rid of all his things from that room because this wouldn't do her any good. She could keep a few things but to just give away all the other things in that room. Another thing I told her was that instead of feeling sorry for herself because he was gone she should be feeling joyfulness within herself. I said he was on his way to a better life and that she had performed her duty to him by allowing him a physical body to be in, in this physical world. So I told her that when she thinks of him to just think of love and that this would bring her peace. That way she'd find out just how much more peaceful her life on Earth would be.
 
A few years later I accidentally met this woman again and she said things were just going wonderful for her. She had cleaned out the room and when she did this immediately a certain peace came over the whole house. She felt such love and the guilty feelings all left her.
 
"Once in awhile," she said, "I get a glimpse of him and know he comes down to Earth to see how I am. I also know this, when it is my time to leave this Earth he'll be waiting for me to help me over to the next realm of existence."

There are many such stories such as this but somehow people are hesitant to talk about them. But these things happen to many people so the best thing to do when a loved one must leave is to grieve for a moment and then wish them well as they go on their way.