The U.S. Military Really Used the Monroe Institute's Gateway Program

The Gateway tapes have acquired an extraordinary internet reputation.

Listen to the correct binaural audio.

Synchronize the hemispheres of your brain.

Expand consciousness.

Leave the body.

Explore reality.

Perhaps accidentally discover that the universe is a hologram before breakfast.

The interesting part is that U.S. military intelligence genuinely investigated and used Monroe Institute training.

A declassified 1983 document associated with the Army's CENTER LANE program describes a training plan involving the Monroe Institute's Gateway program, Hemi-Sync tapes and one-on-one training with Robert Monroe.

The document states that Monroe had been paid $24,400 for this training.

Another declassified memorandum describes the Gateway experience as intended to expand consciousness and broaden perception through audio techniques designed to influence brain activity.

This is where the internet usually skips an important distinction.

A government agency investigating something does not prove the thing works.

Governments investigate possibilities because possibilities can matter, particularly when someone thinks an adversary may be investigating them too.

The Cold War funded plenty of strange ideas.

Still, there is something undeniably delightful about finding official intelligence documents discussing consciousness expansion, stereo headphones and altered perception.

The conspiracy theory does not need fabricated documents.

The real paperwork is peculiar enough.