“...as is stated in the New Age experience...astral-projection...and believe they are actually doing so...but the reality is it’s a fantasy...”
Or, for some, like the Heaven’s Gate leader, forget his name, it was delusional thinking.
But really, what it is for people is they feel a need to fill some void in their lives, insecurity, need for love, something. So, I would say the answer is study what they feel they are missing and work from that point.
The foolishness these groups offer is loss of time accomplishing the real goal.
For others it’s an escape to start... then they get sucked in or hooked....still others simple curosity... and then they are caught at a weak moment and they are in it far more than they believed possible.
The problem starts with the meditation and going thru the dimensions they teach as possible...alot of guilt tripping and reverse psycology is used by the instructers.... and preaching the religious aspect of it...they use scripture twisted to suit their purposes as well.