ON A RESONANCE THEORY OF THOUGHT AND SPIRITUALITY

Karl Jaspers Forum ^ | August 21, 2001 | Varadaraja V. Raman

[betty boop]

ON A RESONANCE THEORY OF THOUGHT AND SPIRITUALITY

by Varadaraja V. Raman

The following theory is proposed to explain the observed phenomena of thought and spiritual/mystical experience/creativity:

PROBLEM:
(a) Thought is the subtlest emergent entity from the human brain. As of now, though it is taken to arise from complex biochemical (neuronal) processes in the brain, we have no means of detecting any physical aspect of thought.

(b) All sensory experiences (light, sound, smell, taste, sound) result from an interaction between an external agent (photon, phonon, etc.) and some aspect of the brain.

HYPOTHESIS:
(a) It is proposed that, like the electromagnetic field, there is an extremely subtle substratum pervading the universe which may be called the universal thought field (UTF). This may even be trans-physical, i.e., something that cannot be detected by ordinary physical instruments. Or it may be physical and has not yet been detected as such.

(b) Every thought generated in the brain creates its own particular thought field (PTF).

Theory based on the above hypotheses:
(a) Just as EM waves require the complex structure of the brain to be transduced into the experience of light and color, the UTF requires the complex system of the human brain to create local thoughts. In other words, when the UTF interacts with certain regions of the brain, thoughts arise as by-products.

(b) Interactions between PTFs and brains generate other PTFs. Indeed every thought is a different reaction-result to either the UTF or to a PTF.

(c) There is an important difference between UTF and PTF. UTF does not require a material medium for acting upon a brain. But a PTF cannot be transmitted from one brain to another without a material medium, such as sound, writing, signs, etc.

(d) In some instances, as with molecular resonance, certain brains are able to resonate with the UTF in various universal modes. Such resonances constitute revelations, magnificent epic poetry, great musical compositions, discovery of a mathematical theorem in a dream, and the like, as also mystic experiences.

(e) This perspective suggests that there can be no thought without a complex brain (well known fact); and more importantly, that there exists a pure thought field (UTF) in the universe at large which may be responsible for the physical universe to be functioning in accordance with mathematically precise laws.

ANALOGIES:
The following parallels with other physical facts come to mind:

(a) Phosphorescence & luminescence: When radiation of shorter wavelengths falls on certain substances, the substances emit visible light immediately or after some time. Likewise when the UTF falls on a complex cerebral system, it emits thoughts of one kind or another.

(b) One of the subtlest entities in the physical universe is the neutrino, which does not interact with ordinary matter through gravitation, strong, or electromagnetic interaction. Being involved only in the weak interaction, it is extremely difficult to detect it. The UTF is subtler by far than the neutrino, and may therefore (if it be purely physical) it may be far more difficult to detect.

---

Prof. Varadaraja V. Raman
Physics Department, Rochester Institute of Technology
e-mail VVRSPS@ritvax.isc.rit.edu

---

KARL JASPERS FORUM
Target Artcle 39
ON A RESONANCE THEORY OF THOUGHT AND SPIRITUALITY
by Varadaraja V. Raman
18 June 2001, posted 21 August 2001
 

[unspun]

...by physical laws that we've known.

[Aric2000]

My mom had ESP, she could see out the back of her head.

I couldn't get away with diddly squat with her around. ;)

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for your post and your agreement on those major issues!

So let's regard the signs. When it comes to this subject matter, we find that where there is a sign, "HERE BE DRAGONS," that sign is true and dragons have powers beyond our comprehension. Thankfully, the Lord rules, but that is not a panacea for those who disregard the terms of His contract (a.k.a., Logos, Covenant) and the safe boundaries to which it/He refers -- wheter knowingly or otherwise.

Not everyone has been given the gift of being able to discern the spirits (I Corinthians 12:10). IMHO, if a person does not have that gift, he could get into dangerous, deep water where "there be dragons" by trying to do so.

OTOH, the gifts are given for a purpose to complete the body of Christ. So if one has this gift, it ought to be used to the glory of God.

My two cents...

[js1138]

The mother's third eye is an actual physical fact, unlike the rest of this pseudoscientific crap.

Is it still the eighth?

[RightWhale]

I'v managed to live going on six decades without hearing a first or second hand report of ESP.

You may have missed some of the reports from the DNC that explain what the President is thinking.

[Aric2000]

According to some, and I have actually witnessed this, so it is me as well, just before an earthquake, most animals will A: cower in a corner, hide under a bed, or otherwise seek come sort of cover, and B become VERY quiet, just before the last quake we had, I knew it was coming because my dog tried to squeeze herself under my bed, she's half Dobie half lab, so it was not gonna work.

Anyway, some have theorized, that just before an earthquake the local magnetic fields shift slightly from the coming breakout, and the animals are sensitive to this change in magnetic field within or near the center of the earthquake.

I have no idea whether this is true, but I have come to trust my dogs instincts.

[Aric2000]

Yep, it's still the 8th, you're safe!! ;) LOL

[RightWhale]

just before an earthquake, most animals will A: cower

The recent 7.3 earthquake in Alaska, my dog did nothing for the first 10 seconds, then looked around for the next 20 seconds. After it was over, she sniffed suspiciously around her doghouse for a few minutes, caught a vole, then went back to her nap. Unusual? No, voles are naturally ingenuous.

[betty boop]

You are sooo close to an article I recently read, that I can probably find again if you are interested - though I'd have to look for it over the weekend most likely.

A-G, if it's not too much trouble, I'd love to read that article! But no hurry if you're busy with other things this weekend. Thank you so much!

[js1138]

I've heard conflicting stories about animasl and earthquakes. For example, How much time elapses between the animal warning and the quake? Are they feeling vibrations that humans don't notice? Are they actually prior to events recorded by seismographs? Do they happen at all, and has there ever been a film record with an accurate clock recorded on the film?

[betty boop]

I bet she's at the office, too.

Shhhh, Brother A! Don't tell anyone! (I'm "multi-tasking" today....)

[Alamo-Girl]

I will look for it then! The only reason I said this weekend is that I do expect quite a few posts today and tomorrow as people are getting used to "the" agreement and blowing off steam. Hugs!!!

[Aric2000]

I would NEVER claim that it is at all scientific, not EVER, do not get me wrong here.

All I know is that just before an earthquake, my dog flips her lid, maybe she does feel the vibration or whatever before I do, but when she tried to cram herself under my bed, I knew that there was a problem.

[unspun]

OTOH, the gifts are given for a purpose to complete the body of Christ. So if one has this gift, it ought to be used to the glory of God. My two cents...

Gifts are used for the glory of God when used wisely, within one's sphere of responsibility and competence, wouldn't you say? And gifts do not guarantee adequacy for all situations for which we would desire them (e.g., Jesus in was it Nazareth? Bethsaida?).

When it comes to the nine GOTS, from what I've seen it gets inherently wayward when we try to do the driving ourselves.

Also, there seem at least two kinds of "discernment" mentioned in the Bible. One may be to actually recognize spirits. Another for sure, is to be granted with wisdom so as to discern what is, how it is, why it is, etc., within our aforementioned sphere(s).

[js1138]

If you've seen animals react before an earthquake, I accept that as grounds for a scientific investigation. My questions are as before. Is there something that could be recorded that is simply to subtle for humans to notice?

[betty boop]

Whenever you get the chance, A-G. No hurry.... Thank you!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for your post!

I think we are probably fairly close to agreement on this point. I see it like the gift of Faith versus the grace of Faith.

Everyone who is a Christian has the grace of Faith - i.e. they believe. But only a few have the gift of Faith which goes way beyond the usual to answered prayers, healing, etc.

Likewise we all have the grace to discern the Spirit who indwells us. But only a few have the gift of spiritual discernment, which goes way beyond the usual enabling one to be aware of the spiritual realm.

[whattajoke]

There is tons of evidence for the efficacy of ESP.

Phaedrus, I have to admit that I have now lost all respect I had for you. "Tons?" Do please show me a micron of evidence and I will have James Randi give you a million dollars, cold hard cash. The only "unexplainable" thing regarding ESP is the fact that some people believe it exists!

what's next, you're gonna tell me you just knew I was a Taurus or something because of my attitude?

[Aric2000]

Now the problem becomes, how do you tell when there is going to be an earthquake so that you can have the correct equipment in place and monitoring before it occurs....

Talk about a catch 22..;)

[whattajoke]

Dogs and pidgeons display ESP? Well, at least if that were true we can't put them in jail for with withholding evidence like we would have to do to all the human scam artists, um, I mean psychics. (shouldn't all ESP practitioners be brought up on conspiracy to terrorism charges, since no one warned us of 9/11?)

Anyway, is it that homing pidgeons can fly home again after being blindfolded and taken miles and miles away? I urge you to accept the fact that there are things you either don't, or choose not to understand. i urge you further to dispense with any notions of ESP, which has been tested hundreds of times always with the same result: it doesnt exist. period.