CLAIRVOYANCE AND OCCULT POWERS/PART 3
LESSON III.
TELEPATHY EXPLAINED.
Telepathy,
meaning Thought-Transference, bears a misleading title. Literally translated,
it means "suffering at a distance," or, perhaps, "feeling pain
at a distance." The name should really indicate "knowing at a
distance," in order to be properly descriptive. But as the term has
acquired a forced meaning by reason of years of usage, it will probably be
continued in popular favor. After all, names do not count, so long as the
meaning is accepted and understood.
While
the term itself has been generally used in the sense of conscious and
deliberate sending and receiving of thought-waves, there is a far wider field
of phenomena really covered by it, viz., the unconscious sending and receiving
of mental and emotional vibrations. I shall take up this phase of the subject
in a moment, after I have called your attention to the mechanism whereby the
waves of thought and emotion are transmitted.
In
the last chapter, you will remember that I called your attention to the fact
that there is a manifestation of energy or force (in the form of vibrations) in
every mental or emotional state. This is true not only in the case of deep
thought or vivid feeling, but also in the case of general mental
"feelings," and emotional states. During such manifestations there is
a radiation of mental or emotional vibrations from the brain or nervous centres
of the system, which flows out in all directions just as do light and wireless
electricity. The principal seats or centres of these radiations are (1) the
several brains of man, viz., the cerebrum, cerebellum, and the medulla
oblongata, respectfully; and (2) the several great centres of nerve substance
in the human system, called the plexi, such as the solar plexus, etc.
The
vibrations arising from emotional excitement are sent out principally from the
plexi, or great centres of the sympathetic nervous system. Those arising from
the more strictly mental states emanate from certain centres and points of the
brain, or brains, of the person manifesting them. Certain forms of these
vibrations constitute the real essence of what is generally called "human
magnetism," which will be treated upon in the proper place in these
lessons.
I do
not think it advisable to go into the technical details of the generation and
mechanism of transmission of these thought and emotional vibrations, in these
lessons. To understand the same would require a technical knowledge of
physiology and organic chemistry, which is not possessed by the average person.
Moreover, such details are neither interesting nor instructive to the general
student of occultism. But, I think it proper to give at least a brief
description of the receiving of such vibratory-waves by other individuals.
In
the first place, every great plexus, or groups of nerve ganglia, in the human
system is a receiving station, as well as a sending station. A person
manifesting strong emotional excitement tends to awaken similar states in the
nervous centres of other persons in whom the conditions are favorable. This
explains why the vibrations of anger, fear, panic, are so contagious. It also
explains the strong effect of the vibrations emanating from the nerve centres
controlling the reproductive system, in certain cases of strong sexual
excitation. Each human sympathetic nervous system contains many receiving
stations where emotional vibrations are received, and where they tend to be
transformed into similar feeling in the receiving system, unless neutralized by
other mental and emotional states in the person.
When
we come to consider the apparatus by which is received the vibrations arising
from what may be called "purely mental" operations of the brain, such
as intellectual thought, constructive imagination, etc., we find a more
specialized arrangement, as might be expected. There are several minor
receiving points of mental vibrations, regarding which I do not consider it
worth while to go into detail, because of the technical features involved. The
principal apparatus for receiving thought vibrations of this kind is that which
is known as the "pineal gland," which I shall now describe.
The
pineal gland is a peculiar mass of nervous substance which is embedded in the
human brain, in a position near the middle of the skull almost directly above
the extreme top of the spinal column. It is shaped like a small cone; and is of
a reddish-gray color. It lies in front of the cerebellum, and is attached to
the floor of the third ventricle of the brain. It contains a small quantity of
peculiar particles of gritty, sand-like substance, which are sometimes called
"brain-sand." It derives its scientific name from its shape, which,
as I have said, resembles a pine-cone. Physiologists are at sea regarding the
function of this strange organ, and generally content themselves with the
statement that "its functions are not understood." But occultists
know that the pineal gland, with its peculiar arrangement of nerve-cell
corpuscles, and its tiny grains of "brain-sand," is the physical
telepathic receiving instrument. Students of wireless telegraphy have noticed a
startling resemblance between the pineal gland and a part of the receiving
instrument employed in wireless telegraphy.
The
thought vibrations coming in contact with the nervous system of the receiving
person, set up a peculiar vibration in the substance of the pineal gland and
thus the first step in the transformation of these vibrations into
thought-forms in the mind of the person is under way. The remainder of the
process is too technical, both in the physiological as well as in the occult
sense, to be taken up in detail at this place. The student will do well to get
the idea of the workings of wireless telegraphy well fixed in his mind, for
this will set up the right conception of the working of ordinary telepathy,
without the necessity of complicated technical diagrams and descriptions.
And,
now then, let us see what results from the sending forth and receiving of these
mental and emotional waves of force and energy. It is a most interesting
subject, I assure you. While the phenomena of the astral plane is probably more
fascinating to the average student, I would impress upon you the importance of
mastering the occult phenomena of the physical plane, before passing on to that
of the higher planes.
In
the first place, as all occultists know, each person is constantly surrounded
with what has been called an "atmosphere" composed of mental and
emotional vibrations which are emanated from his personality. The atmosphere of
each person depends upon the general character of the thoughts and feelings of
the person in question. Consequently, as no two persons are precisely alike in
character, it follows that no two personal atmospheres are exactly alike. Each
person has a psychic atmosphere of his or her own. These atmospheric vibrations
do not extend very far from the presence of the person, and, consequently
affect only those coming near to him.
In
the same way, every group or crowd of persons has its own psychic atmosphere,
composed of a blending of the individual psychic atmospheres of the persons
composing the crowd, group or assemblage, and representing the general average
of the thought and feelings of the crowd. There are no two group atmospheres
exactly alike, for the reason that no two groups of persons, large or small,
are exactly alike. Actors know that each audience which they face has its own
psychic atmosphere, and the actors are affected by it. Preachers, lawyers, and
speakers in general are quite aware of this fact, and freely admit it, though
they may not be acquainted with the causes or laws governing the phenomena.
Following
the same psychic law, it will be found that every town or large city, or even
every small village or section of a larger town, will be found to have its own
distinctive psychic atmosphere, which is very perceptible to strangers visiting
the place, and which affect those who take up their residence in the place. In
large cities, it has been noticed that every building has its own peculiar
vibrations which arise from the general character of those occupying it.
Different church buildings likewise reflect the character of the general habits
of thought and feeling of those worshipping in them. Likewise, certain business
streets have pleasant or unpleasant vibrations in their atmosphere, from the
same causes. Every person recognizes the truth of these statements, though but
few are able to account for the facts in a scientific manner.
The
beginner in the study of psychic phenomena often asks how these things can be,
when the thought which has occasioned the vibrations have long since passed
away. The explanation is simple, when properly explained. It is something like
this: just as heat remains in a room after the stove has ceased to throw out
heat-waves, so do the vibrations of thought and feeling persist long after the
thought or feeling has died away. Or, if you prefer a more material
illustration, we may say that if a package of perfumery has been opened in a
room, and then removed, the air will remain charged with the odor for a long
time afterwards.
So,
you see, the same principle applies in the case of psychic vibrations. The
person carries around with him the general atmosphere of his characteristic
mental and emotional vibrations. And, in the same way, the house, store,
church, street, town, or city, etc., is permeated with the psychic vibrations
of those who have frequented them. Nearly every one realizes the different
feeling that impresses him when he enters a strange house, apartment, store or
church. Each one has its own difference of psychic effect. And, so does each
person create his or her psychic effect upon those coming in contact with him
or her, or who comes into his or her presence or vicinity.
The
next question asked by the thoughtful new student is this: If persons are
constantly sending forth psychic vibrations, and if such vibrations persist for
some time, why are we not overwhelmed with the force of them; and why are they
not all so mixed up as to lose all their effect. I shall now answer this very
important question.
In
the first place, though we are constantly affected more or less by the
multitude of psychic vibrations beating upon us, still the greater part of them
do not consciously impress us. For an example, we have but to consider how few
of the sounds or sights of a busy street are impressed upon our consciousness.
We hear and see only a few of the things which attract our attention and
interest. The rest are lost to us, although our eyes and ears receive them all.
In the same way, we are impressed only by the stronger vibrations which reach
us, and then only by those which we have attracted to ourselves, or which prove
attractive to us by reason of our own likes and dislikes.
In
the second place, the effect of certain thought vibrations is neutralized by
the effect of the vibrations of thoughts of an opposite character. Just as a
mixture of black and white produces the neutral color of grey, so do two
currents of opposing thought vibrations tend to resolve themselves into a
neutral vibration which has little or no effect upon those coming in contact
with them. You may think of numerous correspondences to this in the world of
material things. For instance, a mixture of very hot and very cold water, will
produce a neutral lukewarm liquid, neither hot nor cold. In the same way, two
things of opposing taste characteristics, when blended, will produce a neutral
taste having but little effect upon one. The principle is universal, and is
readily understood.
In
the third place, there is that which we may call an "affinity"
between thoughts and feelings of a similar character. Not only do the
vibrations of similar thoughts tend to coalesce and combine; but, more than
this, each one of us attracts to himself or herself the thought vibrations
which are in general accord with corresponding thoughts in our own minds, or
feelings in our own nature. Like attracts like. In the same way, the character
of our thoughts and feelings act to repel thought or emotional vibrations of an
opposite or inharmonious nature. As all occultists know, everyone draws thought
vibrations in harmony with his or her own; and also repels thought vibrations
of an inharmonious nature.
These
are the general laws and principles governing the phenomena of this phase of telepathic
vibrations. There is much more to be said on the subject, of course, but if you
will note carefully the leading principles and laws of manifestation just
mentioned, you will be able to reason correctly regarding any phase of this
class of phenomena which may come before you for attention. Once you learn a
general rule, the rest becomes merely a matter of application and
interpretation. Let us now proceed to a consideration of other phases of the
general subject of telepathic influence.
We
now come to the phase of what may be called direct telepathy—that is where a
thought is consciously, and more or less purposely, directed toward another
person. We come across many interesting cases of this kind where persons find
themselves thinking intently of certain other persons, and afterwards are told
by the other persons that "I found myself thinking intently about you, at
such and such a time," etc. In some of these cases it is difficult to
determine which one started the thinking. Again, how often do we find ourselves
thinking of a person, when all of a sudden the person comes into sight. Again,
we think intently and earnestly about a certain question; and then, all of a
sudden, other folks whom we meet begin talking to us about the same thing.
These instances are too common to need more than a passing notice.
A
little more purpose is displayed in that class of phenomena in which we
intently wish that a certain person shall do a certain thing, and lo! we soon
learn that that certain person has done it. A number of years ago, a popular
writer wrote an article in which he mentioned what seemed to him to be a
curious instance of some form of mental influence or telepathy. He said that he
had found out that if he would sit down and carefully write a letter to some
person from whom he had not heard for a long time, and then destroy the letter
instead of sending it, he would be almost certain to receive a letter from that
person within a few days. He did not attempt to account for the phenomenon, he
merely called the attention of his readers to it. Many persons have followed
the suggestion, often with very wonderful results. There is nothing miraculous,
or supernatural about such occurrences. It is merely one phase of telepathy.
The concentrated thought of the writer of the letter is directed toward the
other person, and that person begins to think of the first one; then he thinks
he will write to him; then he actually does write. Distance, space, and
direction have no importance in this experiment—it is not necessary to even
know where the second person is, in fact.
There
are often found persons so closely in psychic harmony with each other that they
very often are able to ask questions and receive answers from each other, even
though great distances separate them. Some particular times there is a better
psychic harmony existing between the same persons than is found at other times.
All this, of course, affects the success of the experiment. It is surprising
what wonderful results along these lines may be obtained by almost any person
of average intelligence, after a little careful, patient, conscientious
practice.
But
there have been phenomena obtained as the result of long series of careful
experiments which are, in a way, even more wonderful than these somewhat less deliberate
experiments just mentioned. I allude to the experiments of a number of earnest,
careful scientific students, who surrounded themselves with every precaution
against over-enthusiasm, fraud, and coincidence. Prominent among this class of
investigations we find those conducted by the Society for Psychical Research,
of England, which really established a firm basis for the work of other
investigators who followed the general methods of the said society. In the
following chapter, I shall give you a somewhat extended statement of the
results of such investigations, because this information is important to every
student of psychic phenomena, not only because it establishes a firm scientific
basis for his studies and beliefs, but also because it gives him important
information which he may apply in the course of his own experimental work.
I
may mention that the investigations into the subject of telepathy, and kindred
subjects, under the auspices of the society just mentioned, were conducted by
men of careful scientific training and experience, and under the general
supervision and approval of the officers of the society, among which have been
numbered such eminent men as Prof. Henry Sidgwick, of Cambridge University;
Prof. Balfour Stewart, a Fellow of the Royal Society of England; Rt. Hon. A.J.
Balfour, the eminent English statesman; Prof. William James, the eminent
American psychologist; Sir William Crookes, the great chemist and discoverer of
physical laws, who invented the celebrated "Crookes' Tubes," without
which the discovery of the X Rays, radio-activity, etc., would have been
impossible; Frederick W.H. Myers, the celebrated explorer of the astral planes,
and writer upon psychic phenomena; Sir Oliver Lodge, the popular English
scientist; and other men of international reputation and high standing. The
character of these men at once gives the stamp of honesty and scientific
accuracy to all the work of the society.
In
order that you may understand the spirit which animated these scientific
investigators in their work of the exploration of this new and strange region
of Nature, I ask you to carefully read the following words of the presidential
address of Sir William Crookes, before the Royal Society, at Bristol, England,
in 1898. Remember, please, that this address was made before an assemblage of
distinguished scientists, many of them rank materialists and, quite skeptical
of all occult phenomena—this was nearly twenty years ago, remember. Sir William
Crookes, facing this gathering, as its president, said:
"Were
I now introducing for the first time these inquiries to the world of science, I
should choose a starting point different from that of old (where we formerly
began). It would be well to begin with Telepathy; with that fundamental law, as
I believe it to be, that thoughts and images may be transferred from one mind
to another without the agency of the recognized organs of sense—that knowledge
may enter the human mind without being communicated in any hitherto known or
recognized ways. * * * If telepathy takes place, we have two physical facts—the
physical change in the brain of A, the suggestor, and the analogous physical
change in the brain of B, the recipient of the suggestion. Between these two
physical events there must exist a train of physical causes. * * * It is
unscientific to call in the aid of mysterious agencies, when with every fresh
advance in knowledge it is shown that either vibrations have powers and
attributes abundantly able to any demand—even the transmission of thought.
"It
is supposed by some physiologists that the essential cells of nerves do not
actually touch, but are separated by a narrow gap which widens in sleep while
it narrows almost to extinction during mental activity. This condition is so
singularly like a Branly or Lodge coherer (a device which led to the discovery
of wireless telegraphy) as to suggest a further analogy. The structure of brain
and nerve being similar, it is conceivable that there may be present masses of
such nerve coherers in the brain, whose special function it may be to receive
impulses brought from without, through the connecting sequence of ether waves
of appropriate order of magnitude.
"Roentgen
has familiarized us with an order of vibrations of extreme minuteness as
compared with the smallest waves with which we have hitherto been acquainted:
and there is no reason to suppose that we have here reached the limit of
frequency. It is known that the action of thought is accompanied by certain
molecular movements in the brain, and here we have physical vibrations capable
from their extreme minuteness of acting direct upon individual molecules, while
their rapidity approaches that of internal and external movements of the atoms
themselves. A formidable range of phenomena must be scientifically sifted before
we effectually grasp a faculty so strange, so bewildering, and for ages so
inscrutable, as the direct action of mind upon mind.
"In
the old Egyptian days, a well known inscription was carved over the portal of
the Temple of Isis: 'I am whatever has been, is, or ever will be; and my veil
no man hath yet lifted.' Not thus do modern seekers after truth confront
Nature—the word that stands for the baffling mysteries of the Universe.
Steadily, unflinchingly, we strive to pierce the inmost heart of Nature, from what
she is to reconstruct what she has been, and to prophesy what she shall be.
Veil after veil we have lifted, and her face grows more beautiful, august and
wonderful, with every barrier that is withdrawn."
You
will notice that this address made nearly twenty years ago, and from the
standpoint of physical science is in full accord with the ideas of occultism as
old as the hills. And yet, the speaker had worked out the idea independently.
He also investigated higher forms of psychic phenomena, with results that
startled the world. But, you will notice that he does not attempt to give any
other than purely physical laws the credit for the ordinary phenomena of
telepathy. And he was thoroughly right in this, as we have seen. He escaped the
common error of confusing physical-sense phenomena with the phenomena of the
astral-senses. Each plane has its own phenomena—and each class is surely
wonderful enough. And, again, remember that both physical and astral phenomena
are purely natural; there is no need for seeking any supernatural agencies to
account for these natural facts.
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