Friday, August 19, 2005
More on The Field
Recently I mentioned an intriguing book I am now reading called "The Field," by Lynne McTaggart. One of my friends warned me that the book did not "hold up" well. He felt that in the last fourth of the text the author relied too strongly on materialistic science, and abandoned her earlier more metaphysical approaches. At this point, I can make no judgment on his criticism, since I have read only the first half of the book.
However, I continue to be impressed by flashes of insight and fascinating information she offers along the way. For example, she includes a long discussion (perhaps too long) of recent investigations continuing the esp studies of the Rhine Institute, famous for its efforts to show that it was possible to affect results of "random chance" experiments by thought alone. With the use of computer technology, the experimenters can cover as much territory in one day as Rhine did in a lifetime (he wrote out his results by hand, and the experiments took a great deal of time.) The results (of recent studies) are impressive--the subjects did clearly influence the results in a statistically significant manner. Moreover, when those who were closely connected in a personal way (such as husbands and wives) worked as a team, the results increased dramatically.
But--there is more. Some experimenters devised a mechanical device to test the responses of chickens and rabbits to this improvised "thing." The chickens imprinted on it as if it were a mother, and the result was that the robot(programmed to approach and retreat from the chicks in random order) actually approached more than chance could account for. The rabbits, however, were fearful of the frightening object. The results in their case were just the opposite. The robots actually avoided the rabbits more often than chance would explain.
So it would seem that when we say that we can influence our environment by our thoughts, we must include animal consciousness and feelings as well as human responses.
Who knows what further mysteries will be unlocked as we move ahead in our studies of consciousness?
And, to add a kundalini note, is it not possible that the very presence of someone balanced in kundalini energies can help establish an overall atmosphere of joy and positive feelings? And, if enough people are captured by this web of bliss, will they not resonate together to effect widespread, perhaps universal, transformation? Once again, I reflect, anything is possible, anything at all. As the film asks, "What the (bleep) do we know?"
However, I continue to be impressed by flashes of insight and fascinating information she offers along the way. For example, she includes a long discussion (perhaps too long) of recent investigations continuing the esp studies of the Rhine Institute, famous for its efforts to show that it was possible to affect results of "random chance" experiments by thought alone. With the use of computer technology, the experimenters can cover as much territory in one day as Rhine did in a lifetime (he wrote out his results by hand, and the experiments took a great deal of time.) The results (of recent studies) are impressive--the subjects did clearly influence the results in a statistically significant manner. Moreover, when those who were closely connected in a personal way (such as husbands and wives) worked as a team, the results increased dramatically.
But--there is more. Some experimenters devised a mechanical device to test the responses of chickens and rabbits to this improvised "thing." The chickens imprinted on it as if it were a mother, and the result was that the robot(programmed to approach and retreat from the chicks in random order) actually approached more than chance could account for. The rabbits, however, were fearful of the frightening object. The results in their case were just the opposite. The robots actually avoided the rabbits more often than chance would explain.
So it would seem that when we say that we can influence our environment by our thoughts, we must include animal consciousness and feelings as well as human responses.
Who knows what further mysteries will be unlocked as we move ahead in our studies of consciousness?
And, to add a kundalini note, is it not possible that the very presence of someone balanced in kundalini energies can help establish an overall atmosphere of joy and positive feelings? And, if enough people are captured by this web of bliss, will they not resonate together to effect widespread, perhaps universal, transformation? Once again, I reflect, anything is possible, anything at all. As the film asks, "What the (bleep) do we know?"
