Posted on 08/02/2003 4:43:59 PM PDT by betty boop
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.
It's already being studied extensively in China, Japan, and California.
Oh, don't exaggerate. You didn't really have any respect for her to start with, did you?
Tons?" Do please show me a micron of evidence and I will have James Randi give you a million dollars, cold hard cash.
Randi has been offering that cold, hard million dollars for an awfully long time. No ESP demonstrated yet.
The only "unexplainable" thing regarding ESP is the fact that some people believe it exists!
The poor will be with as always. Same with the gullible.
what's next, you're gonna tell me you just knew I was a Taurus or something because of my attitude?
Scorpio!
There is a little town in California that has 24/7/52 monitoring by cameras, laser devices to pick up microtremors, etc., just to answer that very question.
I don't know if all this equipment is still in place.
Well, here's a possibility: "If consciousness works through EM fields, its activity in every step involves changes in its EM field and the interaction of its EM field with another EM field -- outer or of an inner subsystem. It means that EM induction results, which generates naturally a higher level of electromagnetic activity besides the overlapping and superposition of the two interactive EM fields. Consequently, the interactive EM fields when they are active, generate a subsidiary EM field, a 'daughter' field. This induction effect is suggested to be the physical basis of the 'group effect,' the enhancement of the basic activity level when entering into interaction with another human being, consciously or without being aware of it.... Consciousness develops through the phenomenon of 'emotional infection,' widespread among children, and also present in rituals and when masses of people form a community. In new-born children, the movements originate from spontaneous emotional reactions.... The propensity to interact originates from the nature of emotions, of their mutuality...and field nature, which is the basis of the well-known phenomenon of 'transference,' the easy transfer of emotions in the trance- [hypnotic] state from one person to another. This is the basis of the transference of emotions, its epidemic character, as well as the wide range phenomena of mass psychosis and collective impulses...." -- A. Grandpierre, "The Physics of Collective Consciousness," 1996.
BTW, it is likely animals also participate in these EM fields.... Animals are conscious, though seemingly not self-aware.
That certainly seems like one which could be tested. A lot of animals and fish act as a "collective consciousness" in defense, etc.
Tell that to my mother's poodle, especially when I accidentally step on her foot and she thinks it may have been because I'm angry with her. 8-o Such self pity.... Dogs are also quite easily embarrassed when master or mistress confuses them things just too much for them; their eyelids become half-closed and they don't like to look master in the eye.
But thank you bb, for offering an explanation of why yawns are so doggone contageous --even when we don't know that the other person in the room has just yawned. ;-`
Not sure how to answer waj and js here, since I've had so much to do and haven't read as much Rupert as I've wanted by this time, but interested in what you two may eventually find there.
Aren't you interested in the (a-hem) scientific challenge here?
Hmm... if we can't call extra-sensory perception ESP, then what should we call it, bb? Electromagnetic qualia sense? EMQS?
Substitute BS for "big words" and we're on the same page.
Reminds me of the Far Side cartoon, something like "What a dog hears" (mentinoed here)
No trans-species insult intended, just a pique.
And not to go too far afield, it seems that the Scriptures often (and it must be for good reason) use the word "spirit" where classic types might use the word "nature" or modern dudes would say "attitude," or "core response." That is also something to consder about that phrase "discernment of spirits."
I can live with that.
I can match your six decades and I've heard, and read, plenty of reports. I refer you to a wonderful book, Expecting Adam, by Martha Beck. Every word, I believe, is true.
Oh, O.K., Brother A. The higher animals can be "self-aware." What I meant by that term is that, unlike humans, they do not seem to be capable of conducting a self-reflected thought process. "Ratio" apparently is not an "issue" for them.
Geez, if you want me to read Rupert Sheldrake, I'd be happy to do it! Got a title for me? Or a link? I'd go into "rapid response mode" to your suggestion!
Yes! And check out ant behavior (for instance)....
That's what I thought you meant. You better ask Coco (the ape who communicates in sign language) about this. But it's likely someone already has. She's grown past adolescence by now, so her answer is probably quite apt.
Before my father died a couple of years ago, I had a dream that told me he would be departing soon and the approximate timeframe. It enabled me to tell my daughter, who wanted to visit while he was still alive. She had had a quite similar dream the same night that I did, drew conclusions identical to mine and visited soon thereafter. The dream occurred in late November and Dad died the following March, of kidney failure.
I have had such dreams on very rare occasion and in all instances I knew they were "special".
The dream about my father conveyed knowledge and I knew that it was significant at the time. And I acted on it. Whatever explanations or rationalizations others may offer are bogus. I know myself and I know what I know, and this from one of your more "hard-headed" posters on FR. I am sure at least that I will not get an argument on this final assertion.
Why... now that you mention it... how about:
Journal of Parapsychology , or...
Journal of the Society for Psychical Research , which tend to be referred to in papers such as this...
How Widely is Blind Assessment Used in Scientific Research? by Rupert Sheldrake , and this...
"Experiments on the Sense of Being Stared At: The Elimination of Possible Artefacts," by Rupert Sheldrake
More of course may be found at...
http://www.sheldrake.org
But of course, when looking into his Web site, you'll be tempted to read transcripts of his discussions or a theoretical nature, with other scientists and theorists. ;-)
But avoiding that for awhile, you might see that toward the bottom of his front page are two links that read as follows:
Announcing Two New Papers on Telephone Telepathy Publication of new work by Rupert Sheldrake and Pamela Smart provides solid evidence for the most common form of Telepathy.
VIDEOTAPED EXPERIMENTS ON TELEPHONE TELEPATHY Journal of Parapsychology 67, 187-206, June 2003 64, 224-232 (June 2003)
EXPERIMENTAL TESTS FOR TELEPHONE TELEPATHY Journal of the Society for Psychical Research 67, 184-199 (July 2003)
As to that allegation, Brother A, I would definitely need to see your evidence.
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