Monroe Institute

FuzzyQuark · 3rd June 2004, 10:05 AM

http://www.monroeinstitute.org/

I'd like to get some opinions on this establishment. The Monroe Institute was founded in 1972 by the late Robert Monroe who wrote 3 books about his "OBEs". The Institute runs all these programs where they claim to be able to teach astral travel, remote viewing, rescuing "ghosts", contacting your "higher self" etc. At first glance it looks like a load of new age woffle, and when you see the cost of their programs you can't help thinking that they are onto a good money-spinner. However, they have run these programs for decades (on a non-profit basis) and claim that thousands of people have been through them and experienced incredible results. It was even mentioned in the Wall Street Journal at one point.

They don't seem to advertise much commercially, so I'm presuming the programs are just passed around by recommendation. If it is a load of baloney that they are selling, it must be good baloney if so many people are willing to shell out the money for the programs over so many years.

I emailed them asking if they intented to try and prove to the wider world that all the stuff they talk about is true, and an Institute director replied saying that it was impossible to prove their ideas objectively and they simply help people to have certain experiences themselves. I've read a few books and articles by people who have been on the programs and they are quite interesting.

Please check out the website & post your thoughts.

Anders · 3rd June 2004, 10:28 AM

The monroe institue is one of those countless organisations that's trying to separate people of thier hard earned money by giving them hours upon hours of woo-woo talk about how a better man you are going to be, by learning to do OBEs. Out-of Body Experiences is nothing more than a mild hallucination, which takes place in a persons brain, nowhere else! Often induced by drugs or sleep deprivation. I myself have experienced a mild form of OBE while in extremely relaxed situations (just before I get out of bed in the morning). Nothing supernatural about that, just pure wholesome brain activity. Robert Monroe, founder of the monroe institiure, though seem to have been severely hallucinating during his OBEs.

evilgoldtoesock · 3rd June 2004, 05:42 PM

For amusement earlier this year, I tried a friend's copy of the Hemi-Sync audio program that is offered through the Monroe institute. Hemi-Sync is a series of New-Age self-help CDs that are sold for a hefty sum of cash on the institute's website. They claim to work by using using audio effects and inserted noise to increase the amount of active theta waves in the brain. The institute makes a variety of claims about the effects of Hemi-Sync, including a claim saying that the audio program can reduce the effects of ADHD.

Some hemi-sync tracks are purely sound effects, such as running water, while others have a voice narration. The voices are soothing, and give pseudo-mystical instructions related to meditation.

I personally noticed no unusual effects after going through part of the program. The sound effects did make me somewhat sleepy, but much of the drowsiness I experienced was related to my boredom with the new-agey narration.

Hmm, it kind of reminded me of the one of the therapy sessions in the movie, "Fight Club."

FuzzyQuark · 4th June 2004, 01:47 AM

I agree that it seems like a scam. I can't help wondering though, if it is a scam how it has managed to survive so long. Many of these quack therapies just come and go, yet the Monroe Institute have been around for decades and are still pulling people through the doors. That means either there are lots of gullible people out there and the Institute excels at taking money from them, or they are genuinely onto something.

Just for the record, I read all of Monroe's books & thought that the first one was promising, but he seemed to get a bit too carried away with the others. I tried his OBE technique many times and one time experienced the "surging waves of electricity" he described as the "vibrations", so I know for certain he was being truthful about that. Unfortunately I panicked at that point so nothing else happened and I haven't managed to reproduce it since. I also bought some of the Hemi-Sync CDs but apart from putting me in a very deep state of relaxation, nothing remarkable happened.

So in summary, I think they may be genuine, but I'd like to see (or experience) some concrete evidence.

dennisb · 15th June 2004, 10:47 AM

I have tested some different Hemi-Sync CD's and I can see some effects of the CD's:

I have tested for example "Surf", "Pain Control" and some more and AFAIK I was more relaxed etc. after using it.

I have talked to some guys that trained with Mr. Monroe when he trained some of the US Military and they warned my for some of the effects that could happen with the Hemi-Sync technology, which really scared me.

I am afraid I cannot quote them since this was discussed on a private quite large mailing-list, but PM me if you are interested about it.

// d

SGT · 15th June 2004, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FuzzyQuark
I agree that it seems like a scam. I can't help wondering though, if it is a scam how it has managed to survive so long. Many of these quack therapies just come and go, yet the Monroe Institute have been around for decades and are still pulling people through the doors. That means either there are lots of gullible people out there and the Institute excels at taking money from them, or they are genuinely onto something.

Homeopathy survives for more than 200 years. Christianity for almost 2000.

Nihilanth · 15th June 2004, 06:44 PM

Sleep paralysis again. I'm sorry, but speaking as a long-time sufferer of this disorder, I can safely say that any "surging brain activity" you're feeling is the same thing, albeit triggered consciously instead of being your brain's attempt to freak itself out.

3rd June 2004, 10:05 AM	#1
FuzzyQuark New Blood Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 14	Monroe Institute http://www.monroeinstitute.org/ I'd like to get some opinions on this establishment. The Monroe Institute was founded in 1972 by the late Robert Monroe who wrote 3 books about his "OBEs". The Institute runs all these programs where they claim to be able to teach astral travel, remote viewing, rescuing "ghosts", contacting your "higher self" etc. At first glance it looks like a load of new age woffle, and when you see the cost of their programs you can't help thinking that they are onto a good money-spinner. However, they have run these programs for decades (on a non-profit basis) and claim that thousands of people have been through them and experienced incredible results. It was even mentioned in the Wall Street Journal at one point. They don't seem to advertise much commercially, so I'm presuming the programs are just passed around by recommendation. If it is a load of baloney that they are selling, it must be good baloney if so many people are willing to shell out the money for the programs over so many years. I emailed them asking if they intented to try and prove to the wider world that all the stuff they talk about is true, and an Institute director replied saying that it was impossible to prove their ideas objectively and they simply help people to have certain experiences themselves. I've read a few books and articles by people who have been on the programs and they are quite interesting. Please check out the website & post your thoughts.
FuzzyQuark New Blood Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 14

3rd June 2004, 10:28 AM	#2
Anders Muse Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 752	The monroe institue is one of those countless organisations that's trying to separate people of thier hard earned money by giving them hours upon hours of woo-woo talk about how a better man you are going to be, by learning to do OBEs. Out-of Body Experiences is nothing more than a mild hallucination, which takes place in a persons brain, nowhere else! Often induced by drugs or sleep deprivation. I myself have experienced a mild form of OBE while in extremely relaxed situations (just before I get out of bed in the morning). Nothing supernatural about that, just pure wholesome brain activity. Robert Monroe, founder of the monroe institiure, though seem to have been severely hallucinating during his OBEs.
Anders Muse Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 752

3rd June 2004, 05:42 PM	#3
evilgoldtoesock Scholar Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 82	For amusement earlier this year, I tried a friend's copy of the Hemi-Sync audio program that is offered through the Monroe institute. Hemi-Sync is a series of New-Age self-help CDs that are sold for a hefty sum of cash on the institute's website. They claim to work by using using audio effects and inserted noise to increase the amount of active theta waves in the brain. The institute makes a variety of claims about the effects of Hemi-Sync, including a claim saying that the audio program can reduce the effects of ADHD. Some hemi-sync tracks are purely sound effects, such as running water, while others have a voice narration. The voices are soothing, and give pseudo-mystical instructions related to meditation. I personally noticed no unusual effects after going through part of the program. The sound effects did make me somewhat sleepy, but much of the drowsiness I experienced was related to my boredom with the new-agey narration. Hmm, it kind of reminded me of the one of the therapy sessions in the movie, "Fight Club."
evilgoldtoesock Scholar Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 82

4th June 2004, 01:47 AM	#4
FuzzyQuark New Blood Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 14	I agree that it seems like a scam. I can't help wondering though, if it is a scam how it has managed to survive so long. Many of these quack therapies just come and go, yet the Monroe Institute have been around for decades and are still pulling people through the doors. That means either there are lots of gullible people out there and the Institute excels at taking money from them, or they are genuinely onto something. Just for the record, I read all of Monroe's books & thought that the first one was promising, but he seemed to get a bit too carried away with the others. I tried his OBE technique many times and one time experienced the "surging waves of electricity" he described as the "vibrations", so I know for certain he was being truthful about that. Unfortunately I panicked at that point so nothing else happened and I haven't managed to reproduce it since. I also bought some of the Hemi-Sync CDs but apart from putting me in a very deep state of relaxation, nothing remarkable happened. So in summary, I think they may be genuine, but I'd like to see (or experience) some concrete evidence.
FuzzyQuark New Blood Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 14

15th June 2004, 10:47 AM	#5
dennisb New Blood Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 4	I have tested some different Hemi-Sync CD's and I can see some effects of the CD's: I have tested for example "Surf", "Pain Control" and some more and AFAIK I was more relaxed etc. after using it. I have talked to some guys that trained with Mr. Monroe when he trained some of the US Military and they warned my for some of the effects that could happen with the Hemi-Sync technology, which really scared me. I am afraid I cannot quote them since this was discussed on a private quite large mailing-list, but PM me if you are interested about it. // d
dennisb New Blood Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 4

15th June 2004, 12:28 PM	#6
SGT Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rio de Janeiro Posts: 345	Quote: Originally posted by FuzzyQuark I agree that it seems like a scam. I can't help wondering though, if it is a scam how it has managed to survive so long. Many of these quack therapies just come and go, yet the Monroe Institute have been around for decades and are still pulling people through the doors. That means either there are lots of gullible people out there and the Institute excels at taking money from them, or they are genuinely onto something. Homeopathy survives for more than 200 years. Christianity for almost 2000.

15th June 2004, 06:44 PM	#7
Nihilanth Thinker Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 131	Sleep paralysis again. I'm sorry, but speaking as a long-time sufferer of this disorder, I can safely say that any "surging brain activity" you're feeling is the same thing, albeit triggered consciously instead of being your brain's attempt to freak itself out.
Nihilanth Thinker Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 131	__________________ I think perhaps the most important problem is that we are trying to understand the fundamental workings of the universe via a language devised for telling one another when the best fruit is. -- (Terry Pratchett, alt.fan.pratchett)