In the demonstrations described and explained in the previous parts of
this work, the mental impressions travel from one mind to another over
the channels of the "telegraphic wires" of the nervous system of the
Transmitter and Receiver. In other words the Mind Reading that is
employed in the feats and demonstrations given, is akin to the ordinary
"telegraphic current" travelling over the wires from sending station to
receiving station--the nervous system of the two persons furnishing a
very close counterpart to the telegraphic wire, etc. But there is a step
beyond this--many steps in fact. While the "Contact Mind Reading" which
we have described and explained is surely wonderful enough to attract
the attention of all thinking minds, still when the advanced student
passes on to the field of the Higher Phenomena he is destined to meet
with marvelous results which in some cases almost surpass belief. This
Higher Phenomena of Mind Reading, or "Telepathic Mind Reading," when
compared to the Contact Mind Reading, is as the "wireless telegraph"
when compared to the ordinary telegraph using wires.
In Lesson I, of this book, we have given you the theories held by
scientific men regarding the nature of the waves or currents that
proceed from one mind to another, and the mechanism by which these waves
are registered. We think it will be interesting to many of you to know
that certain Occultists have their own theory regarding this matter,
which while not widely known is still of the greatest interest to
earnest students of the scientific side of the subject. We allude to
what is known as "The Pineal Gland" theory.
The Pineal Gland is a small gland, cone-shaped, and of a reddish-gray
color, situated in the brain about the middle of the skull, nearly above
the top of the spinal column. It is a compact mass of nervous matter,
containing a quantity of what has been called "brain-sand," which is
composed of very small particles of gritty matter. The anatomists and
physiologists confess their ignorance of the function and purpose of the
Pineal Gland, and it remains for the Occultists to explain its real
nature, which is the receiving and registering of the waves or currents,
or vibrations of thought and Will received from another person. This
Pineal Gland is, according to the Occultists, the receiving instrument
for the "wireless Mind Reading," and in fact it resembles the actual
receiver of the wireless telegraph in more than one respect.