| RELIGIOUS BELIEFSWhen we speak of religious | | | | that "causes" a sense of self is likewise not |
| beliefs we mean its theological tenets. | | | | yet discovered. This concept of the "brain |
| Christianity and Islam share common ideas and | | | | causes consciousness" is fundamentally the |
| beliefs having their roots in a common | | | | viewpoint of the mechanists that sees man as |
| source--Judaism. This religion in turn | | | | merely a machine. The above concept is |
| derived many of its doctrines and beliefs | | | | flawed, however, because portions of the |
| from the Persians, Egyptians, Babylonians, | | | | brain have been known to be destroyed and yet |
| Chaldeans, and the Sumerians. Perhaps it | | | | the presence of a sense of self still |
| would be true to say that almost every | | | | remained. In the condition known as |
| religion is syncretic, though they may try | | | | hydrocephalus, for instance, large sections |
| very hard to cover this up.Eastern religions | | | | of the cerebral cortex may be destroyed or |
| such as Buddhism and Taoism are more mystical | | | | missing, being filled instead with |
| in nature and differ greatly from the Semitic | | | | cerebro-spinal fluid, and yet individuals |
| religions in many basic principles; Hinduism | | | | suffering from such a condition may lead |
| comprising of many philosophical schools of | | | | normal lives without suspecting their blight. |
| thought, embraces various theological ideas. | | | | They may even have an I.Q. above average.The |
| Some schools of Buddhism teaches that there | | | | mechanists, Freud (1856-1939) among them, |
| is no permanent entity called the soul; that | | | | claim that our behavioral actions are |
| what is thought to be the soul is simply a | | | | automatic responses to external stimuli, and |
| collection of karmic tendencies transmittable | | | | that life is a result of the right |
| from one incarnation to another. Their | | | | combination of chemicals derived from food |
| extreme views are nilhilistic in nature; | | | | and oxygen. That an animating force exists to |
| however, it is doubtful whether this was | | | | vitalize the organism they may concede but |
| implied in the teachings of the Buddha. For | | | | this force is looked upon as a physical |
| instance, if there is no Self, then there is | | | | energy akin to electricity. The mechanistic |
| also no Gautama Buddha in existence; and yet, | | | | theory describes how perception takes place |
| prayers are still being directed by the | | | | through the stimulation of the senses that |
| faithful to this exalted being. | | | | creates nerve impulses, and how these nerve |
| Fundamentally, although these religions have | | | | impulses travel to the sections of the brain |
| diverse concepts regarding the soul they all | | | | related to the senses, and how they form |
| point or refer to the One where all sentient | | | | sensations; but the theory does not consider |
| beings originate. All have their own | | | | the real perceiver that tries to make sense |
| particular name or names for this Source, and | | | | of the sensations. To mechanists, the |
| all have their personal ideas regarding this | | | | perceiver is thought to be one of the |
| Divine Essence.Theological precepts are often | | | | functions of the cerebral cortex. In short, |
| tainted with the frailties of the human ego | | | | the mechanistic concept leaves no room for |
| and intellect and thus offer a poor basis for | | | | the existence of the soul. To a mechanist the |
| the study of true religion and its | | | | purported existence of the soul is considered |
| revelations concerning the soul. | | | | as an absurdity.If the eminent |
| Nevertheless, we will strive to present its | | | | neuropsychologist Karl Lashley (1890-1958), |
| beliefs with as little bias on our part as | | | | author of Brain Mechanisms and Intelligence, |
| possible. This section will be brief, for to | | | | after years of research could not discover |
| do justice to the subject would require many | | | | the seat of memory in the brain, how much |
| pages and go beyond the scope of this work.In | | | | more difficult would it be to discover the |
| Christian theology it is believed that the | | | | seat of the self or soul--not withstanding |
| soul prior to birth is devoid of any | | | | Descartes' (1596-1650) assertion that the |
| individuality or personality. It is only when | | | | pineal gland is its locus. This French |
| God breathes through the nostrils of man that | | | | philosopher and mathematician also declared, |
| the soul acquires self-consciousness, and is | | | | "cogito, ergo sum," or "I think, therefore I |
| a "living" being--and this condition of being | | | | am" thus implying that the Self arises into |
| alive is believed to remain with the soul | | | | existence as a result of thought, or as a |
| after death. In the Book of Genesis it is | | | | function of the mind. Nevertheless, mystics |
| recorded that,"God made man out of the dust | | | | have proved to themselves the possibility of |
| of the earth, breathed the breath of life | | | | transcending thoughts and yet remaining in |
| into his nostrils, and made man a living | | | | existence, and possessing an exalted sense of |
| soul." (Gen 2:7)The phrase "living soul" is | | | | Self, unified with the Cosmos. The mystic's |
| equated to the state of being self-conscious. | | | | standpoint is supported by Jean-Paul Sartre |
| According to this notion unless there is an | | | | (1905-1980), French philosopher and writer. |
| awareness of the existence of an ego, or a | | | | To Sartre, existence does not depend on the |
| self, a person or being does not truly have a | | | | functions of the mind, that a being does not |
| soul. Such a creature is "soulless." A person | | | | exist simply because it thinks. According to |
| may be alive imbued with the soul-essence, | | | | Sartre, existence precedes the mind--or |
| the life-force, and yet remain soulless, in | | | | thinking.Rene Descartes' statement is |
| the sense that it is not self-aware. Some | | | | therefore erroneous, or perhaps our |
| states of insanity may represent beings who | | | | interpretation of his statement is wrong. "I |
| are "soulless." While the living soul is | | | | think, because I am" would be closer to the |
| associated with the awareness of the ego, | | | | truth. In spite of this, Descartes was |
| immortality is associated with the awareness | | | | somewhat accurate in believing that the |
| of the superego, the Higher Self. This idea, | | | | pineal gland plays an important role in man's |
| though, falls in the province of metaphysical | | | | occult physiology as we shall see later when |
| thought.Basically, theology consider the soul | | | | we discuss the metaphysical |
| to be a substance implanted in man. It is | | | | purview.Mainstream science may disavow the |
| believed to be an entity divinely created and | | | | existence of the soul on the pretext of its |
| bestowed upon man when man takes his first | | | | immateriality, undetected by their |
| breath. Christian theology formulated the | | | | instruments; and yet, matter in its actual |
| idea that man is a divine creation, the | | | | state in similarly immaterial. This was the |
| highest of all beings, and that the whole | | | | proposition of Leibniz (1646-1716), the |
| universe was created for man alone in support | | | | German philosopher, who considered matter as |
| of his existence.In Christianity the terms | | | | a manifestation of Mind--"a stupid variety of |
| "lost souls" or "degraded souls" are often | | | | mind." To explain this graphically, for |
| expressed. The moral quality of a person's | | | | instance, what we call concrete matter is |
| life is believed to be able to affect the | | | | actually made up of moving molecules. |
| soul. However, from the metaphysical point of | | | | Molecules in turn are made up of whirling |
| view soul-essence is immaculate, perfect, | | | | atoms, and these are composed of even smaller |
| immutable and divine. What may be affected is | | | | particles. Should these sub-atomic particles |
| not its essence but its conscious expression. | | | | be magnified "nothing" would be found. |
| The consciousness arising from soul essence | | | | Matter, is therefore, made up of "emptiness." |
| is that which evolves and strives to reflect | | | | We may call this void "energy," "mind," or |
| the image, archetype or blueprint that God | | | | "spirit," but whatever we call it, the fact |
| created for man. This is stated emphatically | | | | remains that matter is actually as |
| in Genesis; however the statement is often | | | | insubstantial as the soul. If the reality of |
| interpreted literally. This blueprint is the | | | | one is accepted why not the other? The many |
| image or divine qualities of God. It does not | | | | particles composing matter are filled with |
| refer to form but to the inner nature of the | | | | this "nothing," or space. Another curious |
| life-essence.The Hindus, generally speaking, | | | | fact is that if we were to remove the space |
| believe the soul to be an entity that resides | | | | inherent within a human body, for instance, |
| in the physical body and is subjected to | | | | and all the "particles" united, the total |
| reincarnation in accord with its karma. The | | | | compaction would result in a piece of matter |
| Upanishads says that, "The Supreme Person, of | | | | no larger than a mite of dust. Leibniz's |
| the size of the thumb, dwells forever in the | | | | theory is also paralleled by the thoughts of |
| heart of all human beings." Its esoteric | | | | Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), the American |
| wisdom, moreover, tells us that the | | | | Trancendentalist. According to Emerson matter |
| immaterial man is constituted of various | | | | is "a phenomenon, not a substance." He also |
| principles each having their own particular | | | | considered the material world to be,"a divine |
| function. The highest principle within the | | | | dream, from which we may presently awake to |
| microcosm of man is the Atma, or according to | | | | the glories and certainties of day."Science |
| others, the Paratman.In the Bhagavad Gita, | | | | informs us that nothing is destroyed. That |
| the microcosm is represented by Krishna, | | | | matter is just energy possessing a certain |
| Arjuna, the carriage, and the horses. Krishna | | | | structure and magnetic-field. It is |
| is the Spirit, the highest aspect of man; | | | | acknowledged that everything in existence is |
| Arjuna the evolving soul; the carriage the | | | | made up of energy. Now as the existence of |
| mind; and the horses the senses. Graphically | | | | consciousness and a sense of self are |
| five horses are often represented. They | | | | undeniable, they should be thought of as |
| represent the senses of man through which the | | | | indestructible as well, for Science has |
| vital force escapes and runs uncontrolled. In | | | | already implied the idea in its equations. So |
| yoga and esoteric practices the senses are | | | | why then does Science not accept the possible |
| subdued so that the vital force may be | | | | existence of disembodied consciousness--the |
| directed within to awaken the sluggish | | | | soul?--because it cannot be perceived? Quiet |
| Arjuna. Krishna is the guide that assists | | | | an absurdity, really--even while embodied the |
| Arjuna in this project.ANCIENT BELIEFSAs we | | | | Self cannot be seen. Can you see your |
| mentioned before, the belief in the survival | | | | Self?From whence does the sense of |
| of the soul after death goes way back to the | | | | self-identity come? It seems that mainstream |
| earliest development of humankind. Primitive | | | | science is still a long way in finding this |
| Neanderthal tribes, for instance, would bury | | | | one out. However, new paradigms are being |
| food, tools, and weapons along with the | | | | formulated by open-minded scientists who are |
| corpses of their departed in order to provide | | | | now considering the world-view of eastern |
| them with the bare necessities in the | | | | mystics in conjunction with the new |
| afterlife. This custom still survive in some | | | | developments and discoveries in the field of |
| cultures and is a clear indication that not | | | | physics and psychology. The theories of |
| only is soul survival believed in but that | | | | quantum physics and transpersonal psychology |
| the afterlife as a continuation of the sort | | | | are closing the gap between essential |
| of life lived in the physical world is | | | | religion and conventional science. Regarding |
| likewise presumed.Animism was the prevailing | | | | the mystery of the Self in relation to the |
| belief among prehistoric man. Everything was | | | | brain we are reminded of the words of the |
| considered alive and pervaded with a | | | | researcher and scientist George Buletza who |
| soul-force that even gave inanimate objects a | | | | said in the Rosicrucian Digest (Sept. 1983) |
| consciousness and an intelligence of some | | | | that,"Rather than the brain producing Self, |
| kind. Stars in particular were believed to be | | | | it is the other way around. The brain is a |
| souls long dead and living in heaven. To the | | | | product of Self, of Being ever striving to |
| primitive mind, the sky or firmaments were | | | | be. The brain is the incredibly fine |
| considered to be heaven, just as hell was | | | | instrument created by Self in the process of |
| thought to lie beneath the earth.That the | | | | expressing its own nature . . ."It has been |
| soul "resided" and functioned in the physical | | | | observed in many laboratory experiments all |
| body, a location was sought for its | | | | over the world that human consciousness |
| residence. Some believed the heart to be the | | | | reveals an ability to extend itself beyond |
| organ of the soul, others pointed to the | | | | the boundaries of the brain and body, that |
| head. Some primitive cultures thought that | | | | somehow it may perceive or influence events |
| the blood was the vehicle of the soul--that | | | | at distant places. Such mental activities |
| the blood carried soul-substances to every | | | | suggests to some scientific observers that |
| part of the body. The demon Mephistopheles in | | | | consciousness may exist independent of the |
| a play written by Goethe (1749-1832) declares | | | | corporeal form.Many branches of science such |
| the blood to be a "curious thing." The belief | | | | as physics, psychology, astrophysics, and |
| that the blood is the vehicle of the soul is | | | | biology, are investigating the soul, and each |
| not without foundation, however. If the soul | | | | has their own particular methods of inquiry. |
| in this context is considered to be the | | | | Perhaps the most important branch of science |
| life-force, prana, chi, or even oxygen, one | | | | that has been developed in recent times, |
| can only surmise how the primitive mind | | | | relatively speaking, is |
| intuited this scientific fact. | | | | parapsychology.ParapsychologyParapsychology |
| Scientifically, it has been noticed that | | | | is that branch of science that studies the |
| blood-transfusion often causes a temporary | | | | nature of psychic or paranormal phenomena. |
| change in character in the person receiving | | | | Its scope of investigation covers a wide |
| the donor's blood. Could it be that blood is | | | | range of subjects: for instance, ESP, |
| impregnated with one's soul-characteristics? | | | | hauntings, poltergeist activity, Near-Death |
| As the blood was associated with the soul, | | | | Experience, Out-of-the-Body Experience, UFOs, |
| many primitive tribes such as the Scythians | | | | Strange Creatures, Weird Phenomena, etc. |
| evolved the custom of drinking the blood of | | | | There are now many institutes investigating, |
| their enemies or victims in order to absorb | | | | studying, and teaching this branch of |
| their courage, strength, power, and | | | | science. The word "parapsychologist" is often |
| abilities. The custom of forming | | | | misunderstood. Many people seem to think that |
| blood-brothers is also based upon the belief | | | | being a parapsychologist is synonymous to |
| in the importance of the blood as related to | | | | being psychic. This is erroneous. A psychic |
| the soul, and its transcendence over fleshly | | | | may not be a parapsychologist, and vice |
| ties. Members forming blood-brothers would | | | | versa. A psychic is someone who perceives |
| drink the blood of fellow members thus | | | | impressions through higher senses not |
| forming a soul-bond overriding the normal | | | | ordinarily registered by the physical senses. |
| flesh-and-blood relationships.The ancients | | | | Psychics may not generally understand the |
| often depicted the soul as a bird often human | | | | impressions that they register, and may |
| headed, perhaps referring to its ability to | | | | simply believe and be fooled by illusions and |
| fly. The Aztecs, ancient Greeks and Egyptians | | | | appearances. A parapsychologist seeks to |
| among the many ancient races, for instance, | | | | understand unusual phenomena through |
| often portrayed the souls of their dead in | | | | scientific analysis, and by using empirical |
| murals and pottery as a winged bird taking | | | | methods with the aid of carefully devised |
| flight from its lifeless corpse. Eagles, | | | | instruments. A mystically inclined |
| hawks, doves, peacocks and phoenixes were | | | | metaphysician, on the other-hand, basically |
| often used to represent the soul.Not only the | | | | strives to understand phenomena with the aid |
| head, heart, and blood were believed to be | | | | of his intellect, intuition, and other higher |
| the seat of the soul, but likewise the | | | | faculties. The parapsychologist's basic |
| breath. Believing that the breath is | | | | methods are three-dimensional, the psychic's |
| associated with the soul and life, the | | | | four-dimensional, and the |
| aborigines of Papua New Guinea would breathe | | | | mystic-metaphysician's, five-dimensional, or |
| through tubes into effigies of their | | | | even higher.To illustrate the difference |
| forefathers in order to confer a certain | | | | between a paranormal and a metaphysician's |
| vitality to their departed souls. This is a | | | | understanding of phenomena, we will just |
| magical practice based on the law of | | | | illustrate one out of many. As an example, |
| similarity. Many tribal cultures practiced | | | | supposing a psychic were to receive |
| the placement of obstructions in the nostrils | | | | impressions of an impending disaster, he |
| of their dying ones as a last effort to | | | | would consider it to be truth and proclaim it |
| saving their lives. This they believe would | | | | to others. He would make all sorts of |
| effectively prevent the soul from escaping | | | | predictions anent the impressions that was |
| and causing the death of the body.It is | | | | registered in his mind. He would consider it |
| believed among ancient and savage people that | | | | as a revelation of God.The metaphysician on |
| the soul being associated with the life | | | | the other hand, knowing Cosmic and natural |
| force, illnesses or feebleness of the | | | | laws, understands the impressions received to |
| physical body are caused by the escape of the | | | | possibly be thought-forms-mind creations of |
| soul from the gross form. In extreme cases | | | | fearful beings. Man radiates thoughts, and |
| the soul force was "captured" by some evil | | | | these thoughts, perhaps without a basis of |
| spirit and it was the task of the shaman, the | | | | truth, are received by psychics. The |
| tribal witch-doctor to recapture the soul and | | | | unfortunate thing in all of this is that |
| restore it to the corporeal body. The ability | | | | thoughts are creative. What we habitually |
| of the shaman to dissociate his incorporeal | | | | think about with intense emotion have a |
| aspect from the gross form supposedly | | | | tendency to materialize. So dire predictions |
| facilitated this sort of work.The Ancients' | | | | often come true; however it does not have to |
| concept of the soul has evolved throughout | | | | be. We have to learn to eliminate fear. When |
| the ages, and even now our scientific | | | | psychics make predictions they are instilling |
| understanding is constantly in a state of | | | | and intensifying fear among the masses. Now |
| change. Our conceptions regarding the soul is | | | | this is a vicious cycle. When people are made |
| associated with our various notions regarding | | | | fearful by psychics they begin to imagine |
| God. As man evolves so does his awareness of | | | | more catastrophic horrors and these thoughts |
| the soul and his Source. Man has formed many | | | | radiate out again to susceptible psychics who |
| ideas regarding the nature of his creator. In | | | | repeat the whole procedure over again. The |
| this context it can be seen that the phrase, | | | | momentum eventually grows until it manifests |
| "God creates man, and man creates God" has a | | | | physically.However, let us not digress too |
| basis in truth.Among the ancient cultures, | | | | far and return to our subject: Parapsychology |
| the Egyptians and Hindus were the most | | | | has established various avenues of research |
| advanced in their understanding of the soul. | | | | for determining the reality of the soul and |
| We in particular refer to their mystics, | | | | the survival of personal consciousness. |
| hierophants, and sages. They regarded man as | | | | Although the results of their research are |
| a microcosm with many aspects, both material | | | | inconclusive by the standards of mainstream |
| and incorporeal, with each aspect having its | | | | science, parapsychologists have been |
| own function to play in the life and destiny | | | | successful in acquiring evidence and vital |
| of the soul. Their many teachings live on | | | | knowledge that when analyzed seemingly |
| today in contemporary metaphysico-occult | | | | validates the age-old belief in the existence |
| philosophy. The ancient Greek philosophers | | | | of the soul and its survival of bodily death. |
| and sages such as Thales, Plato and | | | | Nevertheless, parapsychologists have |
| Pythagoras derived much of their occult | | | | formulated various theories as to their |
| knowledge from these wise priests of the | | | | findings, not all of which aligns with the |
| Orient.SCIENTIFIC VIEWSAlong the scientific | | | | traditional view of the soul. It is also |
| vein, certain schools of thought believe the | | | | important to note that the term "soul" is |
| self or ego to be a by-product of a brain | | | | rarely used in mainstream science or |
| function, and yet what gives rise to this | | | | parapsychology. The terms "mind," |
| function is not known, and only given an | | | | "consciousness," and "personality" are often |
| educational guess. The section of the brain | | | | used instead. |