|
Intent
upon self-purification and spiritual development, the hearer may find
himself being drawn closer and closer into contact with, and reliance
upon, the voices in his mind and the ambient presences that are subtly
intruded. Apparently proceeding in a manner that gives satisfaction to
his 'mentors', he might find himself being rewarded with the presence
around him of supposedly senior and powerful beings, and being told in
his mind that he has been accepted, but at a junior level. Henceforth,
he will be part of a 'team', but as a receiver of instruction and a neophyte.
Yet another step has been taken along a road that may deprive him of his
own reasoning and decision making abilities, and lead him into a state
of dependence from which he may never break free, unless he receives skilled
and understanding assistance.
He will become a 'listener' - listening within to his 'controls'; not
focussing on the people and world around, but always within. You have
perhaps been in a cocktail party or other gathering where there is fervent
conversation going on in the groups all around, and you are trying to
converse with someone who is directly in front of you, someone whose face
is turned attentively towards you, but whose eyes are seemingly vacant,
and certainly not focused on you. The conversation in the adjoining group,
the little bit of gossip half heard, is so much more interesting, riveting,
than your conversation. These are the same eyes and the demeanour of someone
who is locked into the inner mind and communication; someone who is listening
to current conversation within, or who is listening to the silence - waiting
for the next contact, which has become more real than the people around.
Still in this context, I am reminded of a woman who briefly passed through
my group of friends, who, in a similar way, exemplifies what I am trying
to convey. While, say, gardening and carrying on herself with what she
was doing, she would say "Listen, Roy...." while she thought
of something to say and hold the centre of attention, and, until I learned
to ignore the call, I would stand in suspense, waiting for the next remark.
We still
have within ourselves all of the instinctive, behavioural actions and
reactions of our mammalian evolution. The automatic and autonomic functions
are too frequently dismissed as 'flight, fight, adrenalin'. There are
very many more reactions and interactions prompted by social and instinctive
triggers. I have a book that provides instruction for budding cartoonists,
and which shows a hundred stylised cartoon faces that are designed to
illustrate an equal number of emotions and reactions. Each of the expressions,
when on the actual face of a person, would be accompanied by a range of
corresponding internal changes, involving sphincters, eye focus, blood
distribution, muscle tensions and breathing, that are, mostly, too subtle
to be observed or actually felt. A wild creature that hears a sound that
might suggest a threat, adopts a 'listening' state. In this state, and
simplistically, ears are cocked, breathing is almost suspended to enable
the hearing to become more acute, genitals are tensed and anal and bladder
sphincters are tightened, while the creature adopts a 'shoulder hunched'
posture, possibly to create a low profile. In the animal, the changes
last as long as the stimulus exists, and a quiescent state returns, or
the creature reacts to the next and different set of stimuli.
For the perpetually listening human, there is no release, as the internal
reactions become the norm. To the blank, listening gaze of the listener
will be added the hunched shoulders and shallow breathing. Invisible,
and probably un-remarked, because it has become the norm, is the tight
anal sphincter, which, in turn, is accompanied by a constriction at the
base of the throat. The latter constriction is part of an internal mechanism
that, in the threatened mammal, diverts blood supply from the digestive
organs and brain into the muscles of response, preparing the latter for
immediate action if the potential threat becomes real. In the human, the
long-term diminution of blood supply to the brain must have many consequences
that I am not competent to analyse. However, in the analysis of the brains
of schizophrenics, note is often taken of local changes in brain structure,
which are then considered to be among the causes of the schizophrenic
state. To me, it is reasonable to question whether the changes within
the brain are the result of a curtailment of the blood supply,
and are themselves, in turn, a consequence of the perpetual listening.
I am reminded of these phenomena as I sit at my computer in intense
concentration and suddenly realise that my shoulders are hunched, my
breathing is very shallow, while my thought processes are turning into
treacle and a series of aches and tensions are created in various places.
I am 'listening' intently into my mind and memory as I try to convert
my notes and experiences into a coherent narrative. Until I learned various
methods of preventing the results of my absorption from having these effects,
I used to be concerned at the persistent shallowness of my breathing.
At that time, my efforts aimed at restoring regular, deep breathing, produced
only limited results. In an effort to induce natural breathing at all
times, I went to visit someone whom I know who is a properly trained hypnotherapist,
having the idea that it should be possible, under hypnosis, for her to
programme me to breathe regularly and fully, even when in deep and persistent
thought.
Having heard
me through, my friend said firmly that her training would not allow her
to do what I asked: she would need, over a number of sessions, to find
out why my breathing was shallow, and then try to change
the pattern. Disappointed, as we live some distance apart, I nevertheless
accepted her offer of simple hypnosis aimed at inducing deep relaxation.
In all, I am acquainted with five qualified hypnotherapists, three of
whom are also G.P.s, and had then already experienced hypnosis induced
by two of them. Among other motives, I was interested in comparing my
friend's technique with that of the other two.
While I still remember that her approach was different from those that
I had experienced previously, it is sufficiently long ago for me to have
only a vague recollection of the actual details. What I do remember is
going through a series of stages of 'induction' and becoming mentally
detached, and on the verge of losing awareness. At this point, and yet
still capable of thought, I experienced a strong physical, spiritual intrusion
into myself, while my rational mind helped me to hold onto consciousness.
Within my state of residual awareness, I had been able to realise that
had I allowed myself to continue into deep hypnosis, there was
a strong possibility that I would have been taken over and spoken through,
as is a trance medium. This is not only my assertion. I formerly had many
discussions with one of my G.P. friends, who, with the patients' permission,
used to let me observe his technique at work. On one occasion that I remember,
my friend had recently returned from a conference of medical hypnotherapists,
and related how one of the speakers had cautioned members about the very
things of which I am writing.
In increasing flow, Eastern religious, philosophical and esoteric practices
have made their way westward - concepts of reincarnation, past lives,
karma - almost, one might say, in a 'pick and mix' combination with aspects
of Buddhism, yoga, martial arts, Qi gong and many more. I am not drawn
into this world of belief myself, although I have many friends who have
a greater or lesser interest, and some who are ardent practitioners, and
I read much of what is accessible to the non-participant. There is a common
thread that seems to link many, and that is a belief in past lives, reincarnation
and the possibility of regression into a past life while under hypnosis.
I do not intend to get drawn into a discussion about other peoples' sincerely
held beliefs and practices; however, my own experience while being hypnotised
makes me question most strongly the merits and reality of alleged past
life regression. I see it as being fraught with danger for the vulnerable
- and even for the apparently stable.
Several
years ago, someone who stayed at my home for about two years, used to
like to be taken to local group meetings of a national healing organisation.
I did not stay for the actual proceedings, but returned for the social
chat and refreshments with which the meetings ended. Almost the entire
group of very delightful people believed that each had a persona derived
from a past life. What struck me forcibly was that some appeared to be
acting out a version of the personality that they believed that they once
had. Of itself, this activity is for the individual and not me to choose.
In the context in which I am writing I am concerned, for within
this belief and practice there is the mechanism by means of which a person
can be taken over and controlled. There is the distinct possibility that,
under hypnosis, intrusion may have occurred, and that the perceived change
in attitude and function may be interpreted as being a reflection of the
character of the supposed previous incarnation. Often, the earlier status
is presented as having been important or desirable for some reason, and
the person is flattered and consciously or unconsciously adopts a new
role and personality. In time, the 'real' person, i.e. the one in this
life, may become dominated completely by the inner, and unable to function
normally.
The ability to hypnotise is easily achieved, but is not necessarily accompanied
by the responsibility or awareness that should pervade the practice. The
Web lists numerous courses, many controlled by responsible bodies whose
aim is to produce competent medical hypnotherapists. However, the Web
also lists others of dubious probity and responsibility, offering 'training
and qualification' by distant learning, as indicated by the following
extract from one advertisement:
HYPNOTHERAPY
IS THE CAREER OF THE FUTURE
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY
"It
has really taken off in the last few years. Now is the time to get in,
before it becomes strictly regulated. You too can discover the joy of
taking control of your life, your future. If you are interested in enhanced
income, life enjoyment, success, financial independence then this is the
career for you! A qualified hypnotherapist can earn between $75-$150.00
an hour! Many practitioners working part time with 4 or 5 clients at their
convenience, can earn an extra $350-$500.00 a week. Full time professionals
are earning $75,000+ a year. With some reporting much higher earnings.
You too can discover the joy of taking control of your life while promoting
your own health and wealth. Jump-start your Career for the Millennium!
We offer a no nonsense approach to education.
There is no previous educational experience required at this time to take
these courses. Anyone with a desire to succeed and excel can enrol in
our courses. We are only interested in your knowledge and ability in this
field. You must however possess a positive attitude and a willingness
to succeed, a test score of 75% or higher and a taped session to become
Certified."
|