TELEPATHY AND TELE-MNEMONIKY
Science has not yet accepted definitely the existence of telepathy and
can hardly be said to have even begun the study of tele-mnemoniky.
But the idea of these matters is so intermingled with the subjects
of “survivals” and “communications,” and--as regards telepathy at
least--appears so frequently in psychical literature, that it is
desirable for those who contemplate speaking with the dead to become
acquainted with the general nature of the problems and facts involved
therein.
Many people are aware--and, indeed, have themselves tried the
experiment--that mind can influence mind without the intervention
of matter, such as the organs of speech and hearing operating in
a sound-conveying atmosphere. A common phenomenon is the mental
impression of a person being present who has approached without being
seen or heard. A somewhat less frequent, but still sufficiently
familiar, instance of the same order of things is to be found in the
fact that persons who are looked at intently (even behind their backs)
often become uneasy and turn to meet the gaze. So, also, it is found
that cases occur of persons suddenly, and without any apparent cause,
finding themselves thinking earnestly of certain other persons and
learning subsequently that those other persons were at, or a little
before, the time of the impression thinking of the persons impressed.
Facts such as these--which are positive and undisputed--have led to
experimental tests, conducted scientifically, for the purpose of
determining whether it is possible, at will, to establish intelligent
communications between transmitters and percipients who are at a
distance from each other; and the name “telepathy” has been given
to the kind of intercourse in question. The work has been conducted
chiefly by the Society for Psychical Research, whose Reports on the
subject have become classics. Telepathy is recognised in so far as
it is a grouping of observed facts; but it has not hitherto advanced
beyond the status of a “working hypothesis,” which, however, still
awaits precise formulation. Thus, Sir Oliver Lodge, F.R.S., in his
“Raymond,” first published in November, 1916, says--
“The fact of telepathy proves that bodily organs are not absolutely
essential to communication of ideas. Mind turns out to be able to
act directly on mind, and stimulate it into response by other than
material means. Thought does not belong to the material region,
although it is able to exert an influence on that region through
mechanism provided by vitality. Yet the means whereby it accomplishes
the feat are essentially unknown, and the fact that such interaction
is possible would be strange and surprising if we were not too much
accustomed to it. It is reasonable to suppose that the mind can be
more at home, and more directly and more exuberantly active, when
the need for such interaction between psychical and physical--or let
us more safely and specifically say between mental and material--no
longer exists, when the restraining influence of brain and nerve
mechanism is removed, and when some of the limitations connected with
bodily location in space are ended.
“Experience must be our guide. To shut the door on actual observation
and experiment in this particular region, because of preconceived
ideas and obstinate prejudice, is an attitude common enough, even
among scientific men; but it is an attitude markedly unscientific.
Certain people have decided that inquiry into the activities of
discarnate mind is futile; some few consider it impious; many,
perhaps wisely distrusting their own powers, shrink from entering on
such an inquiry. But if there are any facts to be ascertained, it
must be the duty of some volunteers to ascertain them: and for people
having any acquaintance with scientific history to shut their eyes
to facts when definitely announced, and to forbid investigation or
report concerning them on pain of ostracism,--is to imitate a byegone
theological attitude in a spirit of unintended flattery--a flattery
which from every point of view is eccentric; and likewise to display
an extraordinary lack of humour.”
It must, however, be added that, a little further on in the same book,
Sir Oliver speaks somewhat less positively. He says--
“Matter is an indirect medium of communication between mind and mind.
That direct telepathic intercourse should be able to occur between
mind and mind, without all this intermediate physical mechanism, is
therefore not really surprising. _It has to be proved, no doubt_,
but the fact is intrinsically less puzzling than many of those other
facts to which we have grown hardened by usage.”
This account of telepathy is vague, and a similar vagueness also
characterises the utterances of other authorities on the same subject.
But no good reason exists why the matter should not be dealt with in a
manner very much more clear and precise.
We should consider, in the first place, that the word “mind” really
means “soul,” and is used merely for the sake of convenience as
concentrating attention upon the soul’s faculty of intelligence apart
from its sentient, emotional, volitional and ethical attributes.
Accordingly, when a telepathist speaks of mind communicating directly
with mind, it is the same thing as saying that soul communicates
directly with soul; and this, in its turn, implies the corollary that,
whether spirits be incarnate or discarnate, the idea of telepathic
intercourse is admissible.
In the next place, it is to be borne in mind that, as shown in Chapter
I of this book, every soul has always some definite location in space.
Nothing certain is known as to whether the shape and volume of a soul
correspond exactly in form and size with those of the human body that
is associated with the soul during life on earth. It is sometimes
thought, in a speculative way, that the soul extends beyond the
confines of the body, which thus becomes invested with an “aura,”
as it is termed, and can come into contact with other souls even
when the respective bodies are more or less apart in space; but no
facts have been observed that give serious support to this view. The
probabilities, indeed, are in favour of the something--which may or may
not be akin to ordinary physical matter--that constitutes a soul having
a volume approximating to the space occupied by its earthly body.
A third fundamental consideration is that the actual experiences
of every day consist in a large measure of the most astounding
instances of communication between widely separated bodies--or bulks
of matter--and souls. The sun is distant some 93,000,000 miles from
the earth, and yet it can impart sensations of illumination and
warmth to a soul on the earth’s surface, to say nothing of more
subtle influences conveyed by what are known as “dark rays.” The fact
is indisputable, but it is not yet clearly understood. Physicists
have felt themselves compelled to form the hypothesis of an “Ether”
pervading interstellar space and serving as a medium or vehicle for the
passage of radiant energy from place to place. This Ether has to be
conceived of as possessing a nature and attributes quite as wonderful
and incomprehensible as anything narrated in the “Arabian Nights” or
set forth in the Church doctrine of the Holy Trinity. It is understood
to be the means by which the marvels of wireless telegraphy become
possible, by which glances are exchanged between human eyes, by which
newspapers are read, and by which an artillery observer at the front
becomes aware whether the gunners are or are not hitting their mark.
Yet there is not any certainty that the particular Ether imagined by
modern science exists at all. For anything that is known and proved
the medium of communication may in the end turn out to be something
quite different. When, therefore, telepathy is spoken of, no scientific
man is entitled to reject the idea merely because it involves the
existence of some as yet unknown means of interaction. If the fact of
telepathy be established he must accept it, even though it may be as
yet inexplicable. The knowledge possessed by Science from time to time
does not set limits to the realities of the universe.
A soul that formulates a thought is obviously not in quite the same
state as was the case before the occurrence of the thought; and if
there be in existence some kind of space-filling “X,” corresponding to
the imagined “Ether,” it is conceivable that this change of state may
affect or disturb the X in a way analogous to the supposed affecting
of the Ether by a change of temperature in a heat-emitting substance.
In like manner if some other soul located elsewhere be in contact
with the X, it is conceivable that the disturbance of the latter may
cause such other soul to experience a corresponding change of state
and thus to become impressed with, as it were, a facsimile of the
original thought. The myriad complexities of the supposed changes of
state and disturbances involved in the communication of a train of
thought need not be regarded as an insuperable difficulty. Let anyone
study what takes place in the course of a telephonic message. A disk of
sheet-iron is caused to vibrate by the air-shaking human voice: these
vibrations cause corresponding fluctuations in the electric current
flowing through the wire uniting the transmitter with the receiver; and
the varying current sets up varying magnetic impulses which cause the
receiving disk of sheet-iron to vibrate in a manner exactly similar to
what happened in the case of the transmitting disk, so that the air
impinging on the listening ear is shaken in the same way as the air
affected by the original speaker’s voice. It all seems simple enough
until the character of the “vibrations” and “fluctuations” is looked
into. They are so varied, complex and multitudinous as to defy analysis
or even comprehension. The human mind desists from the attempt to
really understand them. But telephony remains an acknowledged fact;
and its existence lends a high degree of probability to the reality of
telepathy.
The term “thought-reading” is often employed to indicate telepathic
communication, and is very convenient by reason of its association
with what is understood by the common action of perusal. In so-called
“spiritualistic sittings” a medium sometimes mentions a name or
a circumstance known only to the sitter; and this is frequently
considered to be a complete proof of information derived by the medium
from some spirit. But it may just as well be a case of thought-reading.
The sitter’s soul, thinking of the name or circumstance, disturbs the
X accordingly. The medium’s soul, which is in contact with the X, is
affected by the disturbance and becomes conscious of the name or
circumstance. In simpler, less cumbrous language, the medium reads the
sitter’s thoughts.
It is not, however, merely a question of “mediums.” Telepathy is
important throughout the whole range of communication with the
spirit-world. Whenever and wherever a soul--whether still invested
with a human body or discarnate--is thinking, it is affecting the X
and thereby rendering it possible for other souls to be impressed
with the thoughts. For the most part the phenomena are of so faint a
character and the minds to be communicated with so “untuned” that the
incipient telepathy remains unnoticed and disregarded; but occasionally
it commands attention. This view of the case is borne out by ample
evidence. Second-sight, dreams, presentiments, “inspiration,” and such
mental impulses as are commonly considered inexplicable are undoubted
facts that fall within the scope of telepathy. In saying this it is
not asserted that the phenomena in question are always real. They are
frequently delusions due to an overwrought nervous system, to cerebral
disorder or to emotional disturbance; but in other cases they are as
actual and genuine as the common occurrences of human life.
Turning, now, to tele-mnemoniky, or “memory-reading,” it is to be
remarked that although everyone is familiar with the fact that memory
exists, and though everyone quite understands the signification of
the word, no one as yet has succeeded in giving even a rudimentary
explanation of the faculty of remembrance. The most eminent
psychologists have found the matter to be quite beyond the limits of
their understanding; as indeed is essentially the case with every
faculty of the soul, and--it may be added--with every attribute of
matter. The old saying remains as true as ever: “A child can ask
questions which a wise man cannot answer.”
For practical purposes, however, partial knowledge suffices. Thus the
existence of memory as a faculty of the soul is known, and it is also
known that this implies the possession by each soul of a store of
information. Whatever may be the nature of the storehouse, the doors
can be opened and the information set free or rendered subject to
inspection. It is conceivable, therefore, that a soul other than the
memory-owner may under certain unknown conditions have access to the
store.
This is what is meant by tele-mnemoniky--the state of things that
exists when not only current thoughts but also the accumulated
knowledge resulting from past experience and observation are read
by some outside soul. And as every memory contains much that is
“pigeon-holed” and out of use for the time being, a very notable
result is occasionally met with. Information is elicited as to facts
and circumstances of which the person subjected to tele-mnemoniky is
no longer conscious; and he, or she, becomes firmly and genuinely
convinced that the particulars mentioned must have been derived from
some supernormal source.
A word remains to be said regarding the speed of communication in
telepathy and tele-mnemoniky. Many persons hesitate to credit the
reports of experiments showing that two persons at a considerable
distance from each other--located, say, in London and Manchester
respectively--are able to exchange thoughts without any appreciable
delay. When, however, it is remembered that the velocity with which
light travels is 186,000 miles per second, there should not be any
difficulty in supposing that thought-vibrations, or whatever they may
be, are propagated through space at an equal or even greater rate of
speed. It is not a question, in either case, of any substance being
transmitted, or of the absolute simultaneity of emission and reception.
And to believe that thoughts may be communicated from soul to soul with
the velocity of light does not compel the belief that souls are able to
travel from place to place in an equally speedy manner.