1. I was a scholar of religions - studying and
comparing the Gospels, Bhagavad Gita, Buddhist
sutras and so on.
2. I was a student of esotericism - mostly that
embodied by P. D. Ouspensky.
3. I was a student of mysticism - studying the
writings of John of the Cross, Evelyn Underhill, Teresa of Avila, Rumi, and
Patanjali.
4. I was a student of asceticism - studying the
writings of John Climacus and the Desert Fathers.
5. I was a student of philosophy - studying the
teachings of Plato and Socrates.
6. I was a student of meditation - with Jeff Brooks
being my primary teacher here.
Only after all this have I gotten to the topic of
the OOBE.
It is also not only the above learning, but the extreme
senses of rigor, self-discipline, and self-knowledge gained through the above. I
also experienced a unique path of personal martyrdom which facilitated my
growth in wisdom and unselfishness.
I am starting to realize that I am more
authoritative on these topics than most of the people I am encountering. That
said, I do not feel it is appropriate for me to be a teacher at present. The need for additional direct experience is required before I can say
the work is "finished" and the goal achieved.
