Distant Mental Influence: Its Contributions to Science, Healing, and Human Interactions

by William Braud, Larry Dossey MD (Foreword by)

Overview

Professionals in modern psychology, behavioral medicine, and psychoneuroimmunology are exploring ways in which we can "mentally" influence our own bodies through hypnosis, imagery, visualization, attention, intention, and other forms of self-regulation—for fostering physical and psychological health and well-being.

• Is it possible for us to use such techniques to influence others, even at a distance, for purposes of healing?
• Is it possible for us to influence the images, thoughts, behaviors, and physiological reactions of other persons—separated by distance—without conventional sensory means of interaction?
• Can these abilities extend to animals and even to cells (e.g., human red blood cells)?
• Might these abilities be involved in the efficacy of distant, mental, or spiritual healing and intercessory prayer?
• Might these influences even extend to events distant in time—even "backwards in time?"
• Do these influences have major implications for our scientific theories, our human identity, the interconnections between ourselves and nature, and our relationships with others?

Careful laboratory work—described in detail in this book—suggests that the answer to all these questions is a resounding "Yes!"

A personal introduction and 12 detailed chapters describe the evidence that support these important claims. The book also describes the factors that make such distant mental influences more or less likely, so that anyone might use these distant influence skills more effectively and consistently for their own benefit and for the benefit of others.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781571743541
Publisher:	Red Wheel/Weiser
Publication date:	12/10/2003
Series:	Studies in Consciousness
Pages:	263
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

William Braud, Ph.D. lives in Palo Alto, California, where he is currently professor and research director at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. Since receiving his doctorate in experimental psychology from the University of Iowa, Braud has been a respected researcher, professor, and author in the fields of mystical, psychical and altered consciousness.

Table of Contents

	Foreword	xi
	Acknowledgments	xv
	Introduction	xvii
1	Transpersonal Imagery Effects: Influencing a Distant Person's Bodily Activity Using Mental Imagery	1
2	Calming other Persons at a Distance	24
3	Mentally Protecting Human Red Blood Cells at a Distance	46
4	Mental Interactions with Remote Biological Systems	71
5	Distant Mental Influence of Physiological Activity: New Experiments and Their Historical Antecedents	109
6	On the Use of Living Target Systems in Distant Mental Influence Research	118
7	Reactions to an Unseen Gaze (Remote Attention): Autonomic Staring Detection	150
8	Additional Studies of Bodily Detection of Remote Staring	166
9	Empirical Studies of Prayer, Distant Healing, and Remote Mental Influence	183
10	Helping others Concentrate Using Distant Mental Influence	196
11	Distant Mental Influence and Healing: Assessing the Evidence	209
12	Health Implications of "Backward-in-Time" Direct Mental Influences	233
	Index	257