Near Death and Out of Body Experiences

But Donn…it is not a non-sequitur.

Yes, it really is.

It's the same game you always play. Running around in circles and throwing out more and more pointless red herrings is not particularly compelling as a form of argument.

The issue I was addressing is whether OBE’s violate the laws of physics (as has been claimed at various times). If they do not then that argument needs to be discarded.

Are you capable of a position on this matter? Do OBE’s violate the laws of physics?

Yes…or no?

You seem to have extreme difficulty in accepting simple answers.

If the mechanism is defined, then the answer is usually "yes", because the people who attempt to come up with such mechanisms are generally idiots; if the mechanism is undefined, then the answer is necessarily "no", in the same way that an undefined system of magic does not conflict with physics. There is simply nothing to conflict with.

This is not complicated.
 
…except that in your previous posts you made no mention of the ‘in my opinion’ part. You described the situation as if it were all but resolved (“We know enough about the physics of human scale interactions to know it's not a valid move.”).
I assumed it was understood that posts here were personal opinion unless explicitly stated otherwise - did you imagine I was somehow spokesman for the entire scientific community?

In my opinion, and many posters here, and Sean Carroll's, and a number of other well-qualified and experienced physicists, the situation at human scales is resolved beyond reasonable doubt. Better?

No doubt everyone here is truly grateful that I have introduced Maaneli’s thoughts on this challenging issue.
It's always useful to have other opinions, especially dissenting ones; but the unattributed quote you posted from a 'theoretical physicist friend' (Maaneli?) looks pretty weak.
 
...
Little point until you are able to see the pics I upload. If you could see the pic of the device, you will have some understanding of what the data might look like.
Thanks for attaching the image. That's some pretty delicate and beautiful artwork you * made there, I have to say.

* I then found your image on:
http://forum.mind-energy.net/forum/skeptiko-podcast-forums/skeptiko-haven/5585-the-ouija-principle
as I did an image of the object in your current avatar on ISF.
Description there matches the one given by you here:
http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showpost.php?p=10450658&postcount=805

Your response:


..... appears to not agree with the above mind-energy link where you describe these artworks as ouija boards.

I'll read that link and admire the pictures later, I will likely have a question for you after that.
Thanks for posting the picture though.


After seeing your ouija board picture, there is no indication whatsoever of what your 'data' looks like.
Looking at the mind-energy link:
http://forum.mind-energy.net/forum/skeptiko-podcast-forums/skeptiko-haven/5585-the-ouija-principle
... it appears that by 'data' you refer to communication with entities like deceased persons and aliens.
However, the actual 'data' is still not shown.

Could you detail by example how the symbols on your ouija board translate into 'communication'?
 
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I remember having the experiences, the salient points of them, and the associated emotions.

Do you believe there is any need to remember anything else about them or is this sufficient enough to know you had an experience?


I think that is pretty much inevitable, given how memory works - and especially for dream experiences.

Therefore in as much as you remember salient points and associated emotions, what is remembered is only a small portion of what was actually experienced.


They were lucid dreams.

From what it says in the link intro, my experiences were not the same as lucid dreams. The experiences were lucid, but I was not in a dream.
I am able to compare this experience with lucid dreaming as I have experienced lucid dreaming.


I use that technique for remembering words, especially names that temporarily escape me. It's as if conscious attempts to retrieve them block the operation of the non-conscious processes that do the job.

The process is however a conscious one. What is unconscious has to do with the ego self.
The ego self is not aware of the processes or where the object is. The true self knows exactly where the object is (is conscious of where the missing item was placed) and as you say, when attempts are made to recall, the action blocks that ability to retrieve the data. Relax and

A proven technique for finding misplaced items more quickly is to continuously repeat the name of the item as you look for it.

Acting in a similar was as not looking for it. It allows for the internal consciousness to better get the message to the external ego consciousness.
 
I conclude that you like pretty Ouija boards.

Which is to say you think my device is pretty.
:)
Anything else?

The actual form of the thing is immaterial to its function.

The form of a bird is material to its function. The form of a peg is material to its function. Form is material to function.


Describes every *genuine Ouija board session I've ever read about.

* ie when no-one was deliberately moving the pointer.

Well I haven't ever said anything but that it is Ouija. Apparently that is what ideomotor effect is also associated with.

So is there a point to you reiterating?
 
Yeah, it was. It's your usual loop of chasing the story round and round.

Erosics. If you don't know about this sultry science, I suggest you lather up and seek advice.

And, unless you skip, you'd have read recent conversation with Navigator et al. in which the consciousness is postulated to be free of the brain - hence allowing OBEs.

But, meh, whatever makes you feel misunderstood.

You've had several replies to your "Do OBEs violate physics" question, and they all boil down to the usual: yes, mostly aside magic which hides in the fraction of probability that always holds 100% certainty at bay.

You want to hear some other reasoning? It seems so, 'cos you keep at it.

So, is the elephant equal to the gnat?

Simple question.
If you are incapable of feeling that you might learn to dawn to begin to know how to sketch the outline of a start up the side walk to the lawn of knowing how not to answer then just say, "I don't understand the question."
(Also, post an ant :ant: so I know you're serious.)


So….somewhere in there it would seem that you are insisting that OBE’s do violate the laws of physics. I’m not going to waste my time asking ‘what laws’ cause obviously you don’t have a clue.

Basically, you are satisfied that ‘x’ is wrong even though you have no idea why ‘x’ is wrong.

Not so hard was it.

Yes, it really is.

It's the same game you always play. Running around in circles and throwing out more and more pointless red herrings is not particularly compelling as a form of argument.


Are you folks really that incapable of supporting your own claims????

Is there, or is there not, some variety of science that has the capacity to directly adjudicate / quantify the phenomenon we experience as ‘love’.

My claim is very simple: no.

You have frequently claimed that this is not so (that there IS some variety of science that has this capacity), yet you invariably fail to produce any evidence to support your claim.

I’m going to go way out on a limb here and predict that you won't produce any evidence this time either.

...of course, you could actually surprise everyone and prove me wrong. Do what skeptics always complain their opponents don't do...produce evidence to support their claims.

...evidence...evidence...evidence......evidence...evidence...evidence.....evidence...evidence...evidence......evidence...evidence...evidence.....evidence...evidence...evidence......evidence...evidence...evidence.....evidence...evidence...evidence......evidence...evidence...evidence.....evidence...evidence...evidence......evidence...evidence...evidence.....evidence...evidence...evidence......evidence...evidence...evidence.....evidence...evidence...evidence......evidence...evidence...evidence.....evidence...evidence...evidence......evidence...evidence...evidence.....evidence...evidence...evidence......evidence...evidence...evidence.....evidence...evidence...evidence......evidence...evidence...evidence...

You seem to have extreme difficulty in accepting simple answers.

If the mechanism is defined, then the answer is usually "yes", because the people who attempt to come up with such mechanisms are generally idiots; if the mechanism is undefined, then the answer is necessarily "no", in the same way that an undefined system of magic does not conflict with physics. There is simply nothing to conflict with.

This is not complicated.


…but the mechanism is not defined. Not anywhere, anyhow, by anyone. Yet we have those who insist that, yes, OBE’s do in fact flatly violate the laws of physics.

Do you agree with them?

Yes…or no.

I assumed it was understood that posts here were personal opinion unless explicitly stated otherwise - did you imagine I was somehow spokesman for the entire scientific community?

In my opinion, and many posters here, and Sean Carroll's, and a number of other well-qualified and experienced physicists, the situation at human scales is resolved beyond reasonable doubt. Better?

It's always useful to have other opinions, especially dissenting ones; but the unattributed quote you posted from a 'theoretical physicist friend' (Maaneli?) looks pretty weak.


…interesting isn’t it. This ‘weak’ quote has got everybody running for the bunkers. Why don’t you scroll back a few pages and take a moment to count the number of ad homimen’s that have been thrown his way. Not too mention…not a single participant has made a single challenge to a single point he made. It's all just ad hom, ad hom, ad hom, ad hom, ad hom, ad hom...etc.

If the argument is so ‘weak’…why doesn’t someone here challenge it instead of taking the truly impressive approach of endlessly complaining / implying that the author is not qualified to make the argument. Not saying that’s what you’re doing…but it’s sure been done, a lot.
 
Well I haven't ever said anything but that it is Ouija. Apparently that is what ideomotor effect is also associated with.

So is there a point to you reiterating?
The point is to make yet another attempt to find out what your point is, and what (if any) relevance it has to the thread topic.

You use a kind of Ouija board to communicate with your subconscious via the ideomotor effect, as many other people have done. And?
 
So….somewhere in there it would seem that you are insisting that OBE’s do violate the laws of physics. I’m not going to waste my time asking ‘what laws’ cause obviously you don’t have a clue.
Dredd. He is the law.

Basically, you are satisfied that ‘x’ is wrong even though you have no idea why ‘x’ is wrong.
Heh, you're funny.

So, elephant or gnat, on the see-saw. Which is heavier?
 
You don't answer questions, you make claims.

That's one of the stupidest things you've posted in a while. So what you are saying is that if you ask a question, and I give an answer, you take it as a claim, don't check it or verify it, and assume that it's false. Way to stay ignorant.

It is frequently claimed that science has the ability to explain how the physical activity of the brain generates consciousness.

It isn't claimed. It's demonstrated. Science _HAS_ explained a LOT of the physical activity of the brain that generates consciousness. It just hasn't explained it ALL. _YOU_ want to hide in that gap and make it magic. It's your problem, not mine.

Nobody ever produces any evidence to support this claim

That is a lie. Myself and others have done so but you ignore the answers because they don't fit with what you already believe.

But Donn…it is not a non-sequitur. This will become immediately obvious should any of you provide actual evidence for this magical science that you all keep claiming has the capacity to directly adjudicate the phenomenon.

Love is chemical. Get over it.
 
You are wasting our time.

Only you have the power to waste your time.

I am not making you interact with me.

Cute. Equivocation. How novel. You deliberately "misunderstand" the use of "belief" in order to excuse ignoring my point. Lovely dodge.

I prefer to see the use of the word belief and believe as either exactly what the user is conveying or a type of Freudian Slip.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are not misunderstood. Use words that better reflect your position.

You win +5 Teflon points for slipperiness.

Projection.


So you claim. See how you've gone from a "personal experience" to a loud "it's true"?

You cannot use the word "true" like that. You are declaring that in the common domain where you and I both exist, that what you say (about your personal dowsing experience) is true for both of us.

It is not true for me and that is a contradiction.

Yes. It would be a vanity of the ego to assume I am the only one this process is able to work for. I am better to assume it can work the same for everyone prepared to sincerely make the effort.

While I clearly understand that it is not working for you I also understand this is because you have no interest in trying.
But that is not the context of our communication. You were saying you did not believe me, based on the fact that you have never done so and do not want to do so. I was saying your belief does not negate my own experience.

Indeed, I understand that if you were willing to give it the time and effort in a sincere and genuine manner, you may not get the same results. that alone would not mean that what I am saying about my own results would be false.

But that point has not been reached.

So I am not willing to resort to vanity by inferring that it works for me but won't work for you because I am somehow special.

You have not established the truth of your "communication" outside of your head. Sorry.

Of course I have, for my own subjective experience it has proven to be true.
I have already explained in quite simply terms why that similar truth is not available to you because you refuse to go there. That is your choice.

Well, you are the expert. :rolleyes: Who the hell else can I ask? You're the high mucky-muck here with your shot glass and your vibes.

If I want Zen, I'll sign-up for it and regard fingers and moons.

Hey - I get it. You are free to choose!

Well, I'm glad you are using some of my terms, it shows some facility to adapt. If you are indeed mapping the space, that's great. I have not seen anything like it in your posts. Perhaps you are working in seclusion before sharing your map.
Oh? So, your work is visible but I cannot see it for some reason? Is it shy? I won't hurt it, bring it forth a little more into the light.

What would you like to know? You seem to be swinging from open contempt to curiosity.

Most science starts with individuals. Do you think everyone agreed that feathers and balls fell at the same rate and then voted Galileo to go study it?

Back to contempt? I have given you the basics. What specifics do you require?

[Be the Galileo of Psychonauts. (Don't get stuffed in prison!) Start the ball rolling. Create a synthesis of all the mystics who have gone before you. Write an ebook. Something!

I am sure that you can agree that giving my account of what is involved in communicating with real self (might) be a fascinating read but how will that in itself change your skepticism about the process? How will that be 'evidence'?

Here's the same truth problem again. It's your truth; not a common truth, just a parochial one.

Can you see that? Does that make sense?

And yet you tell me I should write an ebook about my experiences and what I have discovered using this process.
I have already told you what I discovered.

Yes, it is truth - I have experienced it and know it to be so. I am not at liberty to assume that I am special, more special than you. We are human consciousness and that is our common ground. We are equals.

Meh. I didn't say "all". The problem is who to trust. The problem is each is an enclave of private knowledge.

Ah the perceived 'problems' of the individuate ego self. The solution is not to be so private that you are a 'mystery'.
Don't you think it more prudent to discover for yourself than for me to tell you the extent of the data communicated to me?
Would it not be better for me to keep as much of it to myself in order that opportunity is given for that data to come through your own communication with real self?
Then we can compare data knowing that we cannot easily be accused of cooking the books as it were or that your own experience and subsequent data was affected by your having access to mine beforehand?


Fine, I don't have a problem with that - as long as some introductory effort it put in and the question of trust is handled. I'd be hard pressed to teach someone how to play a guitar if all I did was lay it down and say, "stare at it."

So what are you asking? How to go about it? How I went about it?
The most efficient way to go about it?
Those things I can share.


I'll just repeat what I said before:
When you tighten your techniques, open the process to critical overview and bow to it, begin to record objective data, start to develop experiments that can show other people reporting what you predicted, then you'll be doing science.

I am not sure as to exactly what you mean about 'prediction' but I have shown an image of the type of device and explained the medium used etc.
Apart from a comment about it being 'pretty' I have seen no obvious interest...even in how my device is so obviously not your average garden variety 'Ouija board'.

I can show how the data looks but anyone can simply look at the device to get some good understanding of how the data looks.
There is no necessity that I can see in sharing what the data says.

You can see by the nature of the design, that unusual and unknown symbols have been used.
Obviously those symbols have a meaning and I can say that they are specific to me in relation to ego self /true self communication process.

I can say more on this if you are interested.


Stare at the guitar and it will tell you how to play it. See how silly that is?

I have mentioned in a previous post how I used the device. It sounds to me like you did not see that.
In order to learn one must apply oneself. If I want to learn guitar I must pick it up and learn chords and finger positions practice practice practice.
Using the device is a bit less complicated as far as technique goes. Very little is required.
As to the learning, this is done through your interaction with the teacher, which as I have explained, is that which you will be communicating with through the device you create and simple technique you apply.

Would you like to know the technique I used?
This post explains it.

If upon reading that you still have questions about it, let me know.

A pattern of experience that is supported by many observers. A codifying of the terrain in to a standard language. A means to objectify the subjective experience.

More hands. More feet. More candles. More maps. Less implication, more explanation.

Okay so I am 1 individual. What you ask for requires many. I know I already explained that to you.



I do see, this is standard mystical (aka spiritual) dogma. Sam Harris is a fan. I'm not averse, it's just too fuzzy to know where to start or who to trust.

No it is not 'dogma'

"Something which can be done fairly simply and intelligently by most individuals" is simply the truth of it.

What comes form the process is a datum - but unless it can be replicated it is not data.

Okay - information then.


Well, yes - it is not science and it is not "true" in the sense that it's a confirmed truth. It is, in fact, only you. Other individuals have had similar experiences but it's hard to say to what degree they overlap or share any set with each other.

Most likely because the datum has not been collected into data.

...
 
The point is to make yet another attempt to find out what your point is, and what (if any) relevance it has to the thread topic.

You use a kind of Ouija board to communicate with your subconscious via the ideomotor effect, as many other people have done. And?

Discovered that in doing so I the ego self am able to commune with the true self. That what is communicated by the true self aka 'subconscious' etc is intelligent, insightful, wise, ...hey I mentioned this already!

:D

What it has to do with the thread topic is related to consciousness and indeed, the process of biological evolution.

But then again, everything where consciousness is involved, is by that fact related.

Not obviously so, especially to the individuate ego, which explains a great deal as to why the human expression appears so dysfunctional and at odds with its environment. That in itself is also 'another topic' but still related.
 

I linked to an image of what is referred to as 'Ouija board'.

My device is obviously very different. It works on the same principle, which is referred to as 'ideomotor'. I use it in the same fundamental way that Ouija boards are used, however Ouija boards (as they are commonly thought of and understood to look like) are extremely limited in there design and thus in their usefulness in relation to communication.
 
If you agree with that, and you seem to, then you should know why you can't speak of things you experience as being true.

The only alternative is to say that they are false. Unless you have a better way to explain my experiences, or for that matter your own.
 
…as usual, told by the argumentatively challenged, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Complaints, excuses, ad hominemns, strawmen, bare assertions, and hand waving. Perhaps the topic of this thread is beyond the abilities of those participating.




But Donn…it is not a non-sequitur. This will become immediately obvious should any of you provide actual evidence for this magical science that you all keep claiming has the capacity to directly adjudicate the phenomenon.

You seem ever eager to mount a challenge….perhaps you can answer the question then Donn. What variety of science has the capacity to quantify the condition we experience as ‘love’. No need for yet another demonstration of your scintillating humor. Just answer the question.

If you don’t know the answer, just say…”I don’t know.”




…here’s a hint Donn. Where the ‘mind’ is ‘seated’ is a different issue. If you want to address that feel free to do so. The issue I was addressing is whether OBE’s violate the laws of physics (as has been claimed at various times). If they do not then that argument needs to be discarded.

Are you capable of a position on this matter? Do OBE’s violate the laws of physics?

Yes…or no?

If you don’t know how to understand the question…just say “ I don’t understand the question.”




…except that in your previous posts you made no mention of the ‘in my opinion’ part. You described the situation as if it were all but resolved (“We know enough about the physics of human scale interactions to know it's not a valid move.”). Others, including Nonpareil have, in the past, made similar definitive statements (or agreed with those who have made them).

Fortunately we have an individual with relevant skills who can set the record straight (interesting that both Dinwar and Nonpareil have strenuously complained that Maaneli is not relevant to the discussion). No doubt everyone here is truly grateful that I have introduced Maaneli’s thoughts on this challenging issue.

Why do you keep dragging out this strawman to pummel?
 
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I linked to an image of what is referred to as 'Ouija board'.

My device is obviously very different. It works on the same principle, which is referred to as 'ideomotor'. I use it in the same fundamental way that Ouija boards are used, however Ouija boards (as they are commonly thought of and understood to look like) are extremely limited in there design and thus in their usefulness in relation to communication.

OK, your board has more devices on it but it's still a Ouija board.

Why is the unconscious more knowledgeable than the conscious.
 
Discovered that in doing so I the ego self am able to commune with the true self. That what is communicated by the true self aka 'subconscious' etc is intelligent, insightful, wise,
Some schizophrenics say the same thing about the voices in their head. Are they communing with their 'true self'? What about the ones whose voices are cruel and abusive?

What it has to do with the thread topic is related to consciousness and indeed, the process of biological evolution.

But then again, everything where consciousness is involved, is by that fact related.

Not obviously so, especially to the individuate ego, which explains a great deal as to why the human expression appears so dysfunctional and at odds with its environment. That in itself is also 'another topic' but still related.

Why are you always so vague and evasive? Just explain what you mean. Unless, as I strongly suspect, you don't have the faintest idea what you mean.
 
The only alternative is to say that they are false. Unless you have a better way to explain my experiences, or for that matter your own.

Last post before sleep. I have all along been trying to communicate humility to you in your use of the definite things you say.

So, you need not say "false", you can still speak of your experiences, but do two things:
1. When others correct your terms, try to start using the more standard terms. Maverick nouns are painful.
2. When you want to say "What I say is true," say instead, "What I say is true as far as I can see it."

That's it. Too trd for else.
 
After seeing your ouija board picture, there is no indication whatsoever of what your 'data' looks like.Looking at the mind-energy link:
http://forum.mind-energy.net/forum/skeptiko-podcast-forums/skeptiko-haven/5585-the-ouija-principle
... it appears that by 'data' you refer to communication with entities like deceased persons and aliens.
However, the actual 'data' is still not shown.

This is what the data looks like. (attached image file)

Could you detail by example how the symbols on your ouija board translate into 'communication'?

When I first started this communication process, I was not aware I was communicating with the real aspect of consciousness. I was not even aware that the ego self with all its costume and makeup altogether being the dominant aspect of self identification, even had another 'part' to it.

Also, while I used a glass mirror as the medium, the original design consisted of the same symbols as any other Ouija board, albeit configured differently.

Through the continued interaction I was instructed to add symbols. My avatar is an image of a section of that first device. You can see a geometric shape. Where the lines of that shape cross over are points which also were consigned meaning. Many of the symbols had points where meaning was attached to these. during this process I was instructed to create another device and cover it with symbols. The image of that particular device is the pic I attached to this post

How the symbols translate into intelligent communication is in their collective meanings. Some individual symbols may mean just one word (translated into English) others mean whole paragraphs (also translated into English.)

The process thus involves the necessity to pause and write down the symbols as they are selected throughout the sessions. Also any communication I expressed verbally was recorded in the same way (writing down)

Once the end of the session was reached I could then begin the process of translating the symbol strings into English and from that, determine the content of the communication.

I recognized some of the symbols through memorizing, so sometimes got the gist enough to interact as I went along but more often than not I simply allowed that which was communicating to do so without interruption, and translated the message afterwards and then from that, formed more questions etc.

Note: [I was ignorant at that time that this method produced that 'blindfold' type test which I later found out about, - perhaps through being informed of it on this message board... ]

Apart from that, the content of the messages themselves are not relevant to the fact that it works. Obviously I have divulged some information, such as that I was made aware that the process connects the individual ego personality with an aspect of itself considered to be sub conscious, unconscious etc...obviously the process indicates that this aspect is quite able to communicate intelligently and as such is conscious, self aware.

The 'dead persons', 'alien's etc were part of the process all sourced as the one consciousness. A little necessary play acting on the part of the true self in order to accommodate the beliefs of the ego self until such a time as the ego self could let such things go, as it were....until a relationship was established in which that information could be divulged without any serious risk of ego self severing the connection/communication process and resorting to prior state of blissful ignorance through conveniently forgetting anything ever happened.

Thus, the true self desires the communication with the ego self, but - while accommodating, is nonetheless the more intelligent of the 'two' and is worthy of being taken seriously and listened to etc.

The 'dead' entities aka humans that had experienced human life and 'died' were part of the normal Ouija association. The 'aliens' were part of the experiences I had had many years prior to using this communication process, which I have already spoken of in this thread.
Both were thus necessary requirements from ego self perspective.
 

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