Transpersonal Sacred Science

From mystical experience to cognitive neuroscience

Introduction

The brain is a fascinating organ that clearly has a role to play in consciousness and how we experience consciousness. However, there are many opposing theories that create division and cause divisive misunderstandings. As an example, the materialist Daniel Dennet’s position is that consciousness and the experience of awareness is produced solely in the brain and within the functions of the brain. Another example examines that the brain is not the seat of consciousness (Woolacott, 2015) because of the near-death experiences when the brain neurons are not active. In fact, in a recent video interview, Dr. Ian McGilchrist suggests that consciousness can be experienced without the neurological process of the brain.

Mystical experiences can help us understand the brain and consciousness from an experiential point of view. These experiences are often transpersonal and result in a deeper connection with the self that causes personal transformation.

A potential sacred science research experiential approach helps enhance our comprehension of the mind and brain. This is especially prevalent when there’s a neurological correlation. In his groundbreaking research, Dr Jeff Tarrant identifies potential experiences that have correlation between the mind and brain and reveal areas of the brain that are active during the mystical experiences. This is also supported by Dr. Lisa Miller who postulates the brain is a receiver of the spiritual experience. The research suggests the brain is therefore acting as a receiver and is therefore not the architect of consciousness as suggested by mainstream materialist beliefs.

The evidence shows that mystical experiences can help us understand the mind and brain relationship at a deeper level. The limits of measurement have always been a problem in science, which requires objective analysis. An evidential experiential approach is better and explores the limitations of the measurement of mystical experiences. Therefore, there needs to be a synergy between experiences, spirit and science.

Experiential consciousness and the hard problem

Experiential consciousness is often understood as a phenomenal consciousness, which is how we are aware of who we are or the subjective quality of our experiences in the moment. For instance, how we experience emotions or pain or taste and the quality of those experiences is how we can experience life. According to David Chalmers, this is exactly what makes up the ‘hard problem of consciousness’ as opposed to the easy problem, which is measurable by cognitive science such as neural mechanisms. What we think or perceive in mystical experience is the hard problem of consciousness.

Materialist assumptions

Scientific materialists suggest that consciousness is a product of the brain biologically ‘orchestrated’ coherent quantum processes in brain neurons known as the orchestrated objective reduction (Orch OR) theory. These firing neurons then allow awareness of the environment and experience. As an example, one may have the experience of touch, taste, or visual acuity.

Science claims this is the foundation of all consciousness, which derives from the biological processes of the brain. However, that is a challenged way of thinking. How does the firing of neurons lead to the rich tapestry of the felt experience or mystical experience? This question lies at the heart of the hard problem and continues to challenge scientists and philosophers alike. Neuroscience relies on the ability to measure what is objective. Subjective experiences are mystical and are often considered unmeasurable.  However, mystical experiences could be the key to the hard problem as a clear correlation exists between felt experiences and discerning the experience subjectively. This results in measurable evidence from non-local consciousness as opposed to local consciousness.

Neuroscientific mystical experiences

Whilst materialist science continues to postulate the theory that consciousness is local and is seeded in the brain. There are other theories and research that refute this premise and suggest that non-local consciousness exists and is not a property of the brain. Further postulating the brain is not needed for awareness or experience. In a recent article on consciousness theories, it was postulated that non-local consciousness does not assume it is based on materialist theories or require that consciousness can only be experienced by the brain. There are examples of individuals perceiving information across distance and time or the ability to feel into the future. There is further gathered data from experiences that preclude normal brain function such as when the brain is severely degenerated or from a near-death mystical experience.

Mystical experiences

Mystical experiences are more common now than ever before. The experience of spiritual awakening or spiritual awareness has a direct correlation to cognitive neuroscience, offering a deeper insight into a transpersonal pathway through a sacred science. In a study at the Columbia University Medical School, brain activity was measured along with evidential neuro correlates and mapped. It suggests a potential for further research by bringing mystical experience and neuroscience into a new avenue of sacred science research. It will help us understand psychology and offer a bridge between modern psychology and the human condition.

To understand this correlation, we must investigate what mystical experiences are in relation to the mind and brain. The mystical experience is considered a supernatural experience that is reported throughout history and in every belief system, culture, or religious system. Therefore, a mystical experience is an experience of union with a divine source and a sense of oneness and complete differentiation from the material world. This experience can be induced by creative pursuits or meditation and contemplation or the feeling of interconnectedness with nature. Equally, the experiences can be brought about by trauma or when in an altered state. This union hypothesis is also shared by other researchers who posit that a mystical experience is a union with God.

Mystical experiences have a particular pattern and can be categorised based on three differing aspects, such as God, the void and lesser religious experience. To further develop the categorisation of the experiences and the neural correlates it is suggested a further categorisation of neuropsychological models of the brain to understand the need for an academic and scientific approach to the religious mystical experiences.

Perhaps one of the greatest examples of mystical experiences are near-death experiences (NDEs). These experiences are often the result of a traumatic episode which brings the experiencer close to death or at the time of death. The experiencer is then catapulted into a fresh experience that involves a new level of consciousness and interconnectedness within a higher dimensional existence. This is perhaps one of the best examples of the existence of consciousness and is echoed in the following statement by Dr. M. Woolacott.

“For me some of the most compelling evidence supporting the idea that consciousness can exist without the brain comes from the scientific literature on near-death experiences (NDEs).”

The NDE is a subjective experience that is uniquely personal to the individual who is clinically dead, near death, or in a situation that could cause death. In science, this presents a problem in objectively measuring the experience. Nevertheless, what is interesting and supports the theory that consciousness is not in the brain is when the brain is considered clinically dead, yet the individual who is considered dead returns with evidence of conscious experience that is veridical in nature.

Measuring mystical experience

Measuring the experience is one of fundamental limitations of sacred science, because measurement is normally qualitative or quantitative. An individual who claims to have a mystical experience will normally fill out a form and the information put in the form would become the basis of the data that measures the experience. The data often forms a suggested theory. There are several issues with this approach. No real evidential information is brought forth to support the claimed experience and the data which is subjective in nature becomes rather superficial. This is one of the major limitations in understanding mystical experiences and how the mystical episodes can help us understand consciousness. Nevertheless, there does exist a potential path to measure brain, mind and evidence from the mystical experiences.

We can measure the activity in the brain and not only identify parts of the brain that are active during mystical experiences, but also correlate that information with verifiable evidence gained from the Induced mystical experience. This induction of the altered state is possible from a mediumistic approach.

Research into mediumistic experience with professional mediums revealed various areas of the brain that are active during mediumistic tasks and reiterates the theory posited by neurotheology. The measured induced altered states brought forth evidence that had to be verified with further research and further corroborated and validated.

When the mediums reached the altered state, the brain waves were measured using biofeedback sensors and software that could map the waves during the induced mystical experience. At the beginning of each study a baseline reading of the brain was taken with the medium in a normal state using EEG (electroencephalogram) which measures electrical activity in the brain. Each state of brain activity is measured in Hertz and correlates to a particular function.

During the altered state the brain responded differently than expected according to the brain waves being measured within the medium. There was an increase in theta activity in the frontal lobes of one of the mediums. The research medium was channelling information in a language that was unknown to the medium and the researcher. Later, this language was corroborated and proven to be an ancient language in the Americas, thus providing an evidential correlation between the brain, the experience and the resulting evidence.

In another research session, the second medium was asked to move into the altered state. The experience of this state could be discerned by the medium who could identify the various areas of the brain that were being used during the session and reported that phenomenon before any measurements were taken. Areas of the brain showed an increase in activity when the medium was carrying out tasks when in the altered state. There was a distinction and change in the waves when the medium was operating psychically, which was faster in the visual cortex and a change when operating in a mediumistic capacity, which resulted in much slower waves in the same area. This suggests that each mystical ability had a different effect on the brain.

These two examples of this research stand out due to the verifiable evidence that was resultant from the altered states of consciousness within the medium’s brains. Though it may have its limitations in terms of measuring evidential correlates, it suggests an avenue for further research. Moreover, the study demonstrates a difference in brain waves between psychic information and working mediumistic and connecting to another level of consciousness. The mystical experiences of both these mediums in altered states brought forth evidence that was corroborated.

Sacred science, the new paradigm for consciousness research

Sacred science is a method of inquiry that honours the interconnectedness of life and consciousness, incorporating elements of spirituality and especially mysticism and mystical experiences. Incorporating the sacred and scientific research is an approach to bridge the gap between the empirical methods of conventional science and the deep, often subjective insights derived from spiritual practices and experiences. Several areas of sacred science are transpersonal yet maintain a scientific approach including:

• Transpersonal psychology
• Integral psychology
• Psycho-spiritual research
• Parapsychology
• Ecopsychology
• Quantum consciousness

Whilst a sacred science is considered a transformational integrative research process and practice through spiritual experience, it is focused on integration and transformation in transpersonal psychology. There is perhaps the potential to look towards more evidence-based approaches to sacred science and practice from an altered state within the parapsychological framework during mystical experiences. Taking a transpersonal approach to mystical experiences, from creativity to altered states, could unlock deeper wisdom and offer a deeper understanding of consciousness. Mystical experiences are often reported and then measured qualitatively, which makes it limited.
There is a missing link in the approach to sacred science between a neuropsychological approach and mystical experience in an altered state, such as the deep trance condition, which can be measured.

Trance mediumship as a transpersonal sacred science

Neuroscience requires objective measurements to be taken seriously and, therefore, that makes it difficult for subjective experience. It is clear there is misunderstanding. When measuring subjective experiences, it is more directed toward a qualitative than quantitative analysis.

The evidence that can be validated and corroborated not only validates the evidence but corroborates the neuro correlates of brain activity. Therefore, an altered state such as deep trance, would agree a connection between neuroscience, experiential consciousness and evidence-based results.

Conclusion

Mystical experiences offer valuable insights into the mind and brain, highlighting the role of the brain in spirituality and consciousness. Integrating mystical perspectives with neuroscience can bridge the gap between sacred science and materialist approaches. This could pave the way for deeper inquiry into consciousness, using both experiential and evidential methods. By embracing a new paradigm that combines neuropsychological and parapsychological research, sacred science can expand its understanding through the lens of mystical experiences.

Jock Brocas is a renowned evidential spiritual medium, best-selling author and respected paranormal researcher. With an unwavering commitment to authenticity, Jock blends his rich spiritual experiences with extensive scholarly study, inspiring thousands across the globe. His intuitive abilities and dedication to truth have fuelled his popular books, such as Deadly Departed and Powers of the Sixth Sense. Jock uses his deep understanding of the afterlife to support those grieving, providing comfort through afterlife education. An influential figure in his field, Jock continues to captivate audiences with his fascinating insights into the spiritual realm and the unexplored corners of the human psyche. His work reshapes our understanding of life, death and what lies beyond, offering us a unique lens into the extraordinary.