Some interesting experiments have recently been tried by Mr. F.W.H.
Myers and his colleagues of the Psychic Research Society of London,
which, if properly examined, are capable of yielding highly important
results. With the details of these we are not at present concerned: it
will suffice for our purpose to state, for the benefit of readers
unacquainted with the experiments, that in a very large majority of
cases, too numerous to be the result of mere chance, it was found that
the thought-reading sensitive obtained but an inverted mental picture of
the object given him to read. A piece of paper, containing the
representation of an arrow, was held before a carefully blindfolded
thought-reader, who was requested to mentally see the arrow as it was
turned round. In these circumstances it was found that when the
arrow-head pointed to the right, it was read off as pointing to the
left, and so on. This led some to imagine that there was a mirage in
the inner as well as on the outer plane of optical sensation. But the
real explanation of the phenomenon lies deeper.
It is well known that an object as seen by us and its image on the
retina of the eye, are not exactly the same in position, but quite the
reverse. How the image of an object on the retina is inverted in
sensation, is a mystery which physical science is admittedly incapable
of solving. Western metaphysics, too, with regard to this point, hardly
fares any better; there are as many theories as there are
metaphysicians. The only philosopher who has obtained a glimpse of the
truth is the idealist Berkeley, who says that a child does really see a
thing inverted from our standpoint; to touch its head it stretches out
its hands in the same direction of its body as we do of ours to reach
our feet. Repeated failures give experience and lead to the correction
of the notions born of one sense by those derived through another; the
sensations of distance and solidity are produced in the same way.
The application of this knowledge to the above mentioned experiments of
the Psychic Research Society will lead to very suggestive results. If
the trained adept is a person who has developed all his interior
faculties, and is on the psychic plane in the full possession of his
senses, the individual, who accidentally, that is, without occult
training, gains the inner sight, is in the position of a helpless
child--a sport of the freaks of one isolated inner sense. Such was the
case with the sensitives with whom Mr. Myers and his colleagues
experimented. There are instances, however, when the correction of one
sense by another takes place involuntarily and accurate results are
brought out. When the sensitive reads the thoughts in a man's mind,
this correction is not required, for the will of the thinker shoots the
thoughts, as it were, straight into the mind of the sensitive. The
introversion under notice will, moreover, be found to take place only in
the instance of such images which cannot be corrected by the already
acquired sense-experience of the sensitive. A difficulty may here
suggest itself with regard to the names of persons or the words thought
of for the sensitive's reading. But allowance must in such cases be
made for the operation of the thinker's will, which forces the thought
into the sensitive's mind, and thereby obviates introversion. It is
abundantly clear from this that the best way of studying these phenomena
is when only one set of inner faculties, that of the sensitive, is in
play. This takes place always when the object the sensitive has to
abnormally perceive is independent of the will of any other person, as
in the case of its being represented on paper.
Applying the same law to dreams, we can find the rationale of the
popular superstition that facts are generally inverted in dreams. To
dream of something good is generally taken to be the precursor of
something evil. In the exceptional cases in which dreams have been
found to be prophetic, the dreamer was either affected by another's will
or under the operation of some disturbing forces, which cannot be
calculated except for each particular case.
In this connection another very important psychic phenomenon may be
noticed. Instances are too numerous and too well authenticated to be
amenable to dispute, in which an occurrence at a distance--for instance,
the death of a person--has pictured itself to the mental vision of one
interested in the occurrence. In such cases the double of the dying man
appears even at a great distance, and becomes visible usually to his
friend only, but instances are not rare when the double is seen by a
number of persons. The former case comes within the class of cases
under consideration, as the concentrated thought of the dying man is
clairvoyantly seen by the friend, and the incidents correctly reproduced
by the operation of the dying man's will-energy, while the latter is the
appearance of the genuine mayavirupa, and therefore not governed by the
law under discussion.
--Mohini M. Chatterji
"Precipitation"
Or all phenomena produced by occult agency in connection with our
Society, none have been witnessed by a more extended circle of
spectators, or more widely known and commented on through recent
Theosophical publications, than the mysterious production of letters.
The phenomenon itself has been so well described in the "Occult World"
and elsewhere, that it would be useless to repeat the description here.
Our present purpose is more connected with the process than the
phenomenon of the mysterious formation of letters. Mr. Sinnett sought
for an explanation of the process, and elicited the following reply from
the revered Mahatma, who corresponds with him:--"....Bear in mind these
letters are not written, but impressed, or precipitated, and then all
mistakes corrected .... I have to think it over, to photograph every
word and sentence carefully in my brain, before it can be repeated by
precipitation. As the fixing on chemically-prepared surfaces of the
images formed by the camera requires a previous arrangement within the
focus of the object to be represented, for, otherwise--as often found
in bad photographs--the legs of the sitter might appear out of all
proportion with the head, and so on--so we here to first arrange our
sentences, and impress every letter to appear on paper in our minds,
before it becomes fit to be read. For the present, it is all I can tell
you."
Since the above was written, the Masters have been pleased to permit the
veil to be drawn aside a little more, and the modus operandi can thus be
explained now more fully to the outsider.
Those having even a superficial knowledge of the science of mesmerism
know how the thoughts of the mesmeriser, though silently formulated in
his mind, are instantly transferred to that of the subject. It is not
necessary for the operator, if he is sufficiently powerful, to be
present near the subject to produce the above result. Some celebrated
practitioners in this science are known to have been able to put their
subjects to sleep even from a distance of several days' journey. This
known fact will serve us as a guide in comprehending the comparatively
unknown subject now under discussion. The work of writing the letters
in question is carried on by a sort of psychic telegraphy; the
Mahatmas very rarely write their letters in the ordinary way. An
electro-magnetic connection, so to say, exists on the psychic plane
between a Mahatma and his chelas, one of whom acts as his amanuensis.
When the Master wants a letter to be written in this way, he very often
draws the attention of the chela, whom he selects for the task, by
causing an astral bell (heard by so many of our Fellows and others) to
be rung near him, just as the despatching telegraph office signals to
the receiving office before wiring the message. The thoughts arising in
the mind of the Mahatma are then clothed in words, pronounced mentally,
and forced along currents in the astral light impinge on the brain of
the pupil. Thence they are borne by the nerve-currents to the palms of
his hands and the tips of his fingers, which rest on a piece of
magnetically-prepared paper. As the thought waves are thus impressed on
the tissue, materials are drawn to it from the ocean of akas (permeating
every atom of the sensuous universe) by an occult process, out of place
here to describe, and permanent marks are left.
From this it is abundantly clear that the success of such writing, as
above described, depends chiefly upon two conditions:--(1) The force
and clearness with which the thoughts are propelled; and (2) the
freedom of the receiving brain from disturbance of every description.
The case with the ordinary electric telegraph is exactly the same. If,
for some reason or other, the battery supplying the electric power falls
below the requisite strength on any telegraph line, or there is some
derangement in the receiving apparatus, the message transmitted becomes
either mutilated or otherwise imperfectly legible. Inaccuracies, in
fact, do very often arise, as may be gathered from what the Mahatma says
in the above extract. "Bear in mind," says he, "that these letters are
not written, but impressed, or precipitated, and then all mistakes
corrected." To turn to the sources of error in the precipitation.
Remembering the circumstances under which blunders arise in telegrams,
we see that if a Mahatma somehow becomes exhausted, or allows his
thoughts to wander during the process, or fails to command the requisite
intensity in the astral currents along which his thoughts are projected,
or the distracted attention of the pupil produces disturbances in his
brain and nerve-centres, the success of the process is very much
interfered with.
It is to be regretted that illustrations of the above general principles
are not permitted to be published. Enough, however, has been disclosed
to give the public a clue to many apparent mysteries in regard to
precipitated letters, and to draw all earnest and sincere inquirers
strongly to the path of spiritual progress, which alone can lead to the
comprehension of occult phenomena.
--Anon.
"How Shall We Sleep?"
It appears that the opinion of Mr. Seeta Nath Ghose and of Baron Von
Reichenbach are in direct conflict on the subject of this paper, the
latter recommending the head of the sleeper to be northward, the former
entirely condemning that position.
It is my humble opinion that both writers are right, each from his own
standpoint, as I shall try to show. What is the reason that our
position in sleep should be of any consequence? Because our body must
be in a position at harmony with the main magnetic currents of the
earth; but as these currents are not the same in all parts of the world
the positions of the sleeper must, therefore, vary.
There are three main magnetic currents on our earth--viz., in the
northern hemisphere, from north pole towards the equator; in the
southern hemisphere, from south pole towards the equator; these two
currents meeting in the torrid zone continue their combined course from
east to west. So the position of the sleeper must vary according as he
finds himself to the north or south of the torrid zone or within it.
In the north frigid or temperate zone, he has to lie with his head
northward; in the southern, southward; in the torrid zone, eastward--
in order that the magnetic current may pass through him from head to
foot without disturbance, as this is the natural position for
magnetization.
The following diagram may give a clearer view of the case, and thus help
us to answer the second part of the question, whether and when we ought
to lie on the right or the left side, on the stomach or on the back:--
[[Diagram here]]
The able writer of "How Shall we Sleep?" shows, in his cross diagram,
that he thinks the head to be entirely positive and both feet negative.
I think that this is not the case, but that the right side of the head
and the left foot are positive, and the left side of the head and the
right foot negative, and similarly the right hand is negative and the
left hand is positive.
As the north pole is positive and the left side of the head negative,
the natural position in sleep for those living within the northern zones
would be on the right side, head northward; and it is obvious that in
the southern zones the position must be exactly the reverse. As to
those who live under the tropics, lying on the stomach seems to me to be
the most natural position, since the left, or negative side of the head,
is turned to the north or positive current, and vice versa.
For many years I and my family have been sleeping with our heads either
to the north or the west (the right position in our hemisphere, in my
opinion), and we had no occasion to regret it; for from that time
forward the physician has become a rare visitor in our house.
Mr. Seeta Nath Ghose says, in his interesting paper on "Medical
Magnetism," that Mandulies (metallic cells) are worn to great advantage
in India on diseased parts of the body. The curative properties of
these cells I have seen verified in authentic instances. When, years
ago (I believe about 1852), cholera was devastating some parts of
Europe, it was remarked at Munich (Bavaria) that among the thousands of
its victims there was not a single coppersmith. Hence, it was
recommended by the medical authorities of that town to wear disks of
thin copperplate (of about 2 1/2 inch diameter) on a string, on the pit
of the stomach, and they proved to be a powerful preventive of cholera.
Again, in 1867, cholera visited Odessa.
I and my whole family wore these copper disks; and while all around
there were numerous cases of cholera and dysentery, not one of us was
attacked. I propose that serious experiments should be made in this
direction, and specially in those countries which are periodically
devastated by that disease: as India, for instance. It is my
conviction that one disk of copper on the stomach, and another of zinc
on the spine, opposite the former, will be of still better service, the
more so if the disks are joined by a thin copper chain.
--Gustave Zorn
In the first place it is necessary to say that the rules laid down by
Garga, Markandeya and others on the above subject, refer to the
inhabitants of the plains only, and not to dwellers on mountains. The
rule is that on retiring a man should first lie on his right side for
the period of sixteen breathings, then turn on his left for double that
time, and after that he can sleep in any position. Further, that a man
must not sleep on the ground, on silken or woollen cloth, under a
solitary tree, where cross-roads meet, on mountains, or on the sky
(whatever that may mean). Nor is he to sleep with damp clothes, wet
feet, or in a naked state; and, unless an initiate, should not sleep on
Kusha grass or its varieties. There are many more such rules. I may
here notice that in Sanskrit the right hand or side and south are
signified by the same term. So also the front and north have one and
the same name. The sun is the great and chief source of life and
magnetism in the solar system.
Hence to the world the east is positive as the source of light and
magnetism. For the same reason, to the northern hemisphere the south
(the equator and not the north) is positive. Under the laws of dynamics
the resultant of these two forces will be a current in the directed from
S.E. to N.W. This, I think, is one of the real causes of the prevailing
south-east wind. At any rate, I do not think the north pole to be
positive, as there would be no snow there in such a case. The aurora
cannot take place at the source of the currents, but at their close.
Hence the source must be towards the equator or south. The course of
life, civilization, light, and almost everything seems to be from E. to
W. or S.E. to N.W. The penalty for sleeping with the head to the west
is said to be anxiety of mind, while sleeping with the head to the north
is considered fatal. I beg to invite the attention of the Hindus to a
similar penalty of death incurred by any but an initiate (Brahman)
pronouncing the sacred Pranava (Om). This does not prove that Pranava
is really a mischievous bad word, but that, with incompetent men, it is
fraught with danger. So also, in the case of ordinary men of the
plains, there may be unknown dangers which it would not be prudent for
them to risk so long as they do not know how to meet them, or so long as
they are not under the guidance of men who can protect them. In short,
ordinary men should move on in their beaten course, and these rules are
for them only.
As an instance of the infringement of the rule the following anecdote is
given:--
After Ganesha (Siva's son) was born, all the Devas (gods) came to
congratulate the family and bless the child. Sani or Saturn, was the
last to come, and even then he came after he had been several times
inquired after. When he went to see the infant, it appeared headless!
This at once created a sensation, and all the Devas were at their wits'
end. At last Saturn himself approached Mahadeva with folded hands and
reminded him that it was due to his presence, and the child having been
kept in a bed with its head to the north. For such was the law. Then
the Devas consulted together and sent out messengers to find out who
else was sleeping with the head to the north. At last they discovered
an elephant in that position. Its head was immediately cut off and
placed on the shoulders of Ganesha. It need not be said that Ganesha
became afterwards so learned and wise that if he had not had an
elephant's head, a human head would never have been sufficient to hold
all he knew. This advantage he owed to the circumstance of his sleeping
with head to the north, and the blessing of the Devas. To the elephant,
the same position but minus the blessing of the Devas proved absolute
death.
--Nobin K. Bannerji
Reading Mr. Seeta Nath Ghose's paper on "Medical Magnetism" and having
studied long ago Baron von Reichenbach's "Researches in Magnetism," I am
sorely puzzled, inasmuch as these two authorities appear to clash with
each other most completely--the one asserting "head to north never,
under no circumstances," the other "head to north ever and under all
circumstances." I have pursued the advice of the latter, not knowing of
the former for many years, but have not found the effect on my health
which I had hoped for, and what is of more importance, I have not found
a law of certain application to humanity and bringing health to all. It
seems to me on carefully reading this article that a most important
point has been omitted or passed over--i.e., the position of the
sleeper, whether on his face or on his back? This is most important, for
a correct answer may go far to reconcile the two theories, which, be it
remembered, claim both to be supported by experiment and by observation.
I cannot conceive that a one-sided position is a natural one for man,
and thus leave two alternatives. Is the proper position in sleep lying
on the back or on the stomach? Not one word has been said as to the
position in which experiments were tried on either side.
Now the one thing which seems clear in all this is, that positive should
be toward negative and negative toward positive. Let us then draw a
diagram and these positions will follow with these results--taking the
north as positive and south as negative, east as negative and west as
positive.
Position I.--Lying on the Back.
A. Head to East ............ Accord in all
B. Head to North .......... Discord--Head and feet
Accord--Hands.
C. Head to South ........... Accord--Head and feet.
Discord--Hands.
D. Head to West ............ Discord in all.
---529
[[Diagram here]]