1. I will try to come to my working conclusions. Of course, these will need more direct experience in order to verify.
2. Based on all of the above, it seems the most likely conclusion is that both the dualists and nondualists are correct.
3. First, let's consider the state Gary has attained. He is in a state of "no self" or a state of "universal I." I feel that this state is the equivalent of what we in history would traditionally call "enlightenment."
4. Gary's state seems consistent with what the Buddha would describe as the "blowing out" or Nirvana; or with what the Christian mystics would call the spiritual marriage, union, or deification. It is the state in which one "loses to find and dies to live."
5. There are many intellectual methods to explain this state - consult Underhill for more on this. I can think of the "cloud of unknowing" here, or the state of divine darkness described by figures like John of the Cross.
6. It is highly probable that approaching this state is what Bodhimind was referring to, and it is likely also the state that Jeff Brooks is in.
7. At the same time, there are some complications here. First, it remains a surprise to me that Gary dismisses karma, reincarnation, and the nonphysical; he denies a continuity of self and he does not speculate much on his fate after death. It seems
improbable that one could attain this state and never achieve intuition
on these important topics. But, I guess it is possible.
8. The above lends some credence to my earlier speculation: that we may well have had many mystics over the centuries who achieved this state but did not experience the OOBE.
9. Here I recall the earlier comment I recounted from Jeff: that the OOBE was required for enlightenment. It is clear that Gary is "enlightened" though he lacks this.
10. This also affirms the earlier comment I made that one can be enlightened and indeed still have holes in one's knowledge.
11. I enjoy Gary very much, but find a contradiction here. Gary recounts finding himself OOB when meditating (?) - I did not follow that part.
12. Here I think of the idea Gary mentioned of "fate." As this may well be his destiny: to be enlightened with this uniquely secular model. It may well be what helps many people.
13. Based on the above, the plan of action for myself should be twofold: first, carry on with the experiments on the OOBE; second, to resume the practice of self-enquiry in pursuit of the "no self" state with renewed intensity.
