During biblical times, individuals who could see the future, talk to angels, interpret dreams, heal the sick or simply have supernatural knowledge were called “prophets,” and were highly respected by people and even consulted by kings.
In the Middle Ages, during the infamous Holy Inquisition instituted by the Holy Roman Catholic Church, such gifted individuals were called heretics, witches or disciples of the devil, and were jailed, tortured and burned at the stake.
Today, individuals with such psychic power or ability to see the future, communicate with the spirits, read minds, hear voices or speak in strange unfamiliar language are considered by mainstream science to be mentally deranged, or suffering from either visual or auditory hallucination.
I have always wondered why the orthodox or mainstream scientific and academic communities have not studied such abilities as telepathy, clairvoyance, telekinesis, astral projection or knowing the future. They consider such things to be fraudulent or mere trickery, without even investigating them. Why is it so difficult for their minds to accept such things?
Theory
Now, I think I have an explanation for such an attitude: To accept the existence of such mental abilities or powers, which cannot be explained by scientific theory or paradigm, is to destroy belief in the very basic or fundamental principles of orthodox science.
If such phenomena cannot be subjected to scientific analysis, cannot be replicated or seen by any laboratory equipment, etc., then they cannot be real. That’s the scientific dogma.
Such severely restricted adherence to a very limited point of view has blinded science to the possible existence of planes of existence or dimensions beyond the physical three-dimensional reality.
Even the concept of time and space envisioned and formulated by the scientific genius Albert Einstein did not go far enough to explain the existence of so-called paranormal and supernatural phenomena.
People fail to realize such phenomena or paranormal events only because they fall beyond or outside the accepted norms, principles or paradigms of present-day science. In reality, there is no such thing as a paranormal phenomenon.
To insist on explaining certain phenomena that lie beyond the scientific paradigm or solely on the basis of established scientific laws or principles is to be blinded to the possible existence of higher dimensions, which can possibly explain why such phenomena happen.
The physical sciences insist on using tools not meant to be used on nonphysical things. This is just not possible.
As Charlie Brown, or was it Linus, of the comic strip Peanuts said, “You can’t solve new math problems with an old math mind.”
We cannot explain fourth or fifth dimensional realities by using three-dimensional concepts or paradigms.
The presence of so-called paranormal phenomena confirms the existence of another dimension or plane of reality other than the physical three dimensions we are so familiar with.
Conventional science just cannot explain them, simply because they have not yet discovered or invented the means to explain them. And they can never explain them from their extremely limited, materialistic point of view.
Nonphysical reality
Science cannot be blamed for not believing in paranormal phenomena because their tools or instruments were never meant to explain nonphysical reality. The scientific principles and methodology scientists have developed are perfect, and cannot be improved upon when trying to explain or prove the existence of physical reality.
But to insist that the scientific method or point of view is the only acceptable way of looking at the nature of the universe is, I think, not logical.
The history of man is replete with extraordinary phenomena that cannot be explained by mainstream science. The fact that they are there means there is another reality, or plane of existence, beyond the ordinary three-dimensional and physical reality, which a great number of people around the world have experienced or witnessed.
As the pure mathematician and mystic P.D. Ouspensky pointed out in his very important and enlightening book, “A New Model of the Universe,” published in 1930, “Many inexplicable phenomena are inexplicable only because we wish to explain them on our plane, i.e. within our three-dimensional space, while really they occur outside our plane, in the domain of higher dimension.”
ESP seminar is on Feb. 20-21, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Rm. 308 Prince Plaza I Condominium, Legaspi St., Greenbelt, Makati City. Call 8107245 or 0998-9886292. Reservation required, no walk-ins.