Posts by Rapunzel

53

Survival of Human Consciousness Beyond Death

by Rapunzel in

to anyone's knowledge, has there been any scientific research into the question of whether human consciousness can survive beyond death?

i am referring to research studies conducted by neurologists, neuro-biologists, and neuro-physiologists.

as far as i know, reputable scientific studies feature such factors as control groups.

Rapunzel

Hi Casper - To preface my comments - and before eveything else that I say - let me thank you [and everyone else who has commented] again for having maintained such an intersting [and most importantly] respectful dialogue. I have shared some rather personal and painful questions [as have you]. I appreciate your honesty, integrety, thoughtfulness, and kindness, I have a couple of more "true Taiwan stories" to share, personal experiences that I had. Moreover, I am still in contact with certain students whom I taught in Taiwan. There is girl whom I remember claims to be a "ghost spotter." Aside from this one peculiarity, she seems perfectly normal, with a lovely personality and the face of an angel. If I see her on "MSN messenger," I may ask her to tell me more of her experiences. I'll ask her if she has specific ideas about the university's campus and its history.

In regard to the orbs that show up in your photos, like you, I am unable to say what they are. Like you, I have read both "pro" and "con" websites, that is to say websites which claim that these orbs are a genuine manifestation of "spiritual" phenomena, and skeptical websites that "debunk" such claims and ascribe the appearance of orbs in photos either to "natural" phenomenon such as dust/moisture, or to hoaxing.

I'll number my questions, not with the intention of composing an interrogation [or might the better word be, inquisition? ] list, but rather to facilitate your answering them [only if you choose to do so, of course].

I think my first question is my most important one, but it's not intended to be a "tough" one that puts you "on the spot." I ask you only out of curiosity.

1.) I wonder why you took a picture of a brick wall with windows in it. I'm sure that you have stories/jokes about people who go on vacation and rent hotel rooms "with a [horrible] view." A similar notion came to my mind. Why photograph a brick wall? I would expect to see nice-looking people, with gorgeous smiles included in photos. Were these photos taken as "test shots" to try out the camera?

2.) Were these orbs visible and floating around before the photos were taken? Were they noticed prior to the photos being taken? Is that why the photos were taken? Were the photos taken with the aim of getting evidence on film?

3.) Have you taken these photos to be examined by an expert? Perhaps expert techinical analysis will reveal some clues. After all, there exists the possibility that you "have something here," as they say.

4.) Does the place/area where these photos were taken have a "history"? Have there been any bizarre/violent/tragic events associated with the place/area in which the photos were taken?

5.) Does it not seem to you that the whole orbs-appearing-on film phenomenon came about with the advent of digital cameras? I mean, do you remember orbs appearing on film in the day of "roll film cameras"? Do you remember the days when you had to bring your film to a pharmacy or "fotomat" to have it developed? Do you remember the days of double [and possibly triple] exposure?

I'm wondering if this "orb" phenomenon might not be the bane and "curse" of digital cameras, just as double exposure "bewitched" roll film cameras. I remember reading somewhere, perhaps on this board, that this "orb feature" was common with digital cameras. Perhaps you could consult an expert optician. At the very least, he/she may suggest ways that you could avoid this phenomenon in the future.

6.) As a general question, I have to wonder: Assuming for moment that orbs are indeed manifestations of some spiritual energy/entity, why do these things always take the shape of spheres or orbs? Why not little squares or triangles?

7.) I have to say that the shiny sphere in the top photo looks a lot like a ping-pong ball. I know that you are an honest and sincere person. But I wonder if some prankster may have had the intent to play a trick on whoever took the photo. I am not saying it is definitely a ping-pong ball; but it looks like one. Please don't be offended. I'm not saying that you are offering the photo as a hoax.

8.) Could you say who took the photo? Could there be any possibility of someone playing a trick on someone else, not to be cruel, just to have fun?

Please feel free to answer any, all, or none of my questions. In any case, I thank you again for your sharing and your kindness.

53

Survival of Human Consciousness Beyond Death

by Rapunzel in

to anyone's knowledge, has there been any scientific research into the question of whether human consciousness can survive beyond death?

i am referring to research studies conducted by neurologists, neuro-biologists, and neuro-physiologists.

as far as i know, reputable scientific studies feature such factors as control groups.

Rapunzel

Casper - You ask me if I think that Paul [or one of friends] may have been speaking through as if I were an unwwitting, and unwilling, "channel." Or perhaps I was experiencing some kind of "mind melt" [God, how I hate using such a hokey, "Star Trekish" term like that!]. All I know is that it happened just as I related - while conversing with my friend, Mark, on totally unrelated topic, in mid sentence, I blurted out - "Lets's have a party." And then continued on with the same sentence that I was originally expressing. I had had absolutely no awareness of stating, "Let's have a party." That is why I was surprised to see the shock on his face.

I mean that it might have been different if I had suddenly felt the urge to say, "Let's have a party," and had resisted or "wrestled" the idea - like some sort of struggle in my head. But that was not the case. I said it without being aware of saying it.

I'm really hoping that someone may offer some clue as to what could have happened.

15

Crazy things people have been DFS for or got into trouble with.

by curlytopsUK in

what crazy or bazarre things have you heard of people getting into trouble with in the org?

could you for instance be dfs for eating lots of black pudding (blood pudding)?

have you heard of people losing there privileges over ridiculous things?

Rapunzel

Putting chocolate Ex-lax in brownies and cakes, now there's a sh***y thing to do!

53

Survival of Human Consciousness Beyond Death

by Rapunzel in

to anyone's knowledge, has there been any scientific research into the question of whether human consciousness can survive beyond death?

i am referring to research studies conducted by neurologists, neuro-biologists, and neuro-physiologists.

as far as i know, reputable scientific studies feature such factors as control groups.

Rapunzel

Casper - The only thing that I can say is - "You inspire me [for the good] Seriously though, I have always been very cautious and hesitant about sharing personal details of my biography on this forum. I am sure that you can "relate" to my notion. In spite of this reluctance, I figure, "What the hell, why not post it. It's the truth; and maybe someone can shed "new light" [pun intended] on the experiences that I relate. Having "kissed" the face of death on several occasions during my life, I ask myself - "What can be worse than that?" So, as they say, here goes nothing [or was it something?]

First of all, guess what? Big news. The following experience that I am about to relate did NOT happen in Taiwan. It happened many many moons ago when I was young, and the dinosaurs had just become extinct. It happened when I was in high school [1971 - 1975, before the "Charlie's Angels" t.v. program and before "New Coke" and the "cola wars." We just had plain old "old Coke then]. Because my family was/is Roman Catholic, my parents sacrificed a lot and made damn sure that I had a Roman Catholic education from the third grade until I graduated high school. I first went to Taiwan in the late summer of 1991, so what I describe bellow happened some 15 to 20 years before I ever set foot on the island of Taiwan.

The experience that I relate happened during a period of my life when I was using a Ouija board [Yes, the following story is one of those stories, a Ouija board story!] You have, almost without a doubt, read or heard of Ouija boards and the stories that surround these boards with their planchettes. Perhaps you have used one yorself. Perhaps you have an odd - truly inexplicable - experience while using them.

My odd experience was both frightening and utterly banal at the same time.

I don't remember the exact year, only that it happened while I was attending high school [1971 - 1975]. I very clearly remember sitting in a chair at the home of my friend mark [That is his real given name. For obvious reasons, I will omit his family name]. As I remember, Mark and I were having a conversation whose subject I forget. It was no doubt a casual conversation with no fixed subject. Just two kids talking. But I will never, never forget the look of shock and astonishment that came over his face. He was looking at me totally confused. He asked me: "Why did you just say, 'Let's have a party.'" I told him that I had not just said, "Let's have a party."

I asked my friend what happened. It seems that I had stopped speaking in mid-sentence and said, "Let's have a party." Then I proceeded to continue with the rest of my sentence. The thing is that, our conversation, whatever it was about, was NOT about a party or having a party. Whatever sentence I was uttering at the moment did NOT have the idea of having a party as a subject. I stopped in mid-sentence, interjected the statement - "Let's have a party - and then continued on with the rest of my original sentence!!!

A the thing that is even stranger is that I had NO recollection or the slightest awareness/cosciousness that I had even uttered the words, "Let's have a party. That is why I was confused when I saw the shocked expression on his face. I asked him: "Mark, what's the matter? Are you o.k.?" That's when he asked me why I had just said, "Let's have a party." I told him that I did not say that. He said: "Yes, you did."

In the heart of my hearts, I know that Mark was "putting me on." He was not playing a joke on me. It was something that I could sense. Not only was he totally dumbfounded and confused, he was also a little scared. Emotions such as those cannot be faked. More than 80% of what we communicate to others is non-verbal in personal, face-to-face interaction. In such cases, words convey only 20% of what we have to say.

This incident, again, leaves me "scratching my head," and wondering what happened.

I should say that Mark and I were not using the Ouija board at the moment this "Lets have a party" incident occured. As I recall, we had finished a "session" earlier. But I don't remember how much time elapsed, or even if we had used the Ouija board on that particular day or not. I think that we had had a session earlier, but I could not "swear" to it. I do remember that the incident happened during a period of time when Mark and I were using the board together.

I have one more strange thing to add. After the incident with Mark, I remember talking to a classmate of mine, named Paul, on the telephone one evening after the incident. It seems that he was also using a Ouija board with others. They were asking it questions such as what was my mother's birthday. I know because he told me so during our telephone coversation.

Here's the strangest thing of all. On the telephone, Paul told me that he and his friends had been discussing having a party

So, you see how the incident is both frightening and banal. I really am not comfortable with the notion of enunciating something [In this case, "Let's have a party] while being totally unaware that I had even said such a thing. I was totally unaware of what I had just said!!! That is not normal. And yet, how much more banal could it get? I mean to say that "Let's have a party" definitely lacks of profundity. Wiser words have been uttered.

So, I have to ask - Does anyone have a theory as to what might have happened? How could I possibly have a lapse in which I said something of which I was utterly unaware?

53

Survival of Human Consciousness Beyond Death

by Rapunzel in

to anyone's knowledge, has there been any scientific research into the question of whether human consciousness can survive beyond death?

i am referring to research studies conducted by neurologists, neuro-biologists, and neuro-physiologists.

as far as i know, reputable scientific studies feature such factors as control groups.

Rapunzel

Hi Roski - As I have never visited nor lived in China, I really could not say at all if there is any connection, in regard to "Ghost Month," between the rites celebrated in Taiwan and those that might be celebrated in China. I do know that people on each side of the straight participate in the Matsu [the goddess of the sea] cult. In regard to Matsu, there is a strong connection between the people living in Taiwan and those living in Fujian province, China [which is the ancestral home of many Taiwanese]. The cult of Matsu seems to be the only thing, or one of the few things, which transcends all of the political issues dividing the two places

As far as Ghost Month, I am not certain, but I believe that it is unique to Taiwan. I believe that it represents a fusion of Taoist beliefs and the local "folk religions." I believe that the rites are associated with certain strains of Taoist thought, as opposed to Buddhism.

53

Survival of Human Consciousness Beyond Death

by Rapunzel in

to anyone's knowledge, has there been any scientific research into the question of whether human consciousness can survive beyond death?

i am referring to research studies conducted by neurologists, neuro-biologists, and neuro-physiologists.

as far as i know, reputable scientific studies feature such factors as control groups.

Rapunzel

Casper - Thank you very much for your care and kind regards.

Slimboy - All that I can do is to echo Casper - "Wow!!"

Given that this tentacle-like protrusion moved "from left to right inquisitively," in a non-random manner leaves me baffled, utterly speechless. It really doesn't sound like a mole at all.

I'm wondering if you have ever considered hypnotic regresssion. Supposedly, under the guidance of a trained and ethical hypnotist, people can be "carried back" in time to a crucial/critical/traumatic period of their life. The word "ethical" is important because I have read that it is possible to "plant" or infuse false memories in people, especially children.

But I have also read that hypnosis has therapeutic and beneficial value. I really don't know. Have you ever considered "returning" to that moment in time so as to achieve some sense of awareness or clarification? Do you believe in hypnosis? Have you ever been in such a state?

For some reason, I am now thinking back to when I was a child. On several occasions, I distinctly remember lying in bed on my stomach and feeling a hand gently touching my back - almost like a parent would caress a child with their hand. Just a gentle touch. Needless to say, no one was there, and I would think to myself [rationalize?] - "It's just a muscle spasm," or something like that. When you're a kid, even a gentle touch "out of the blue" can be scary.

I also remember "zooming" down a steep hill on a busy avenue. Not a small suburban or rural road - a busy four-lane avenue. Of course, being the stupid kid that I was [now, at age 50, no longer a kid, but still stupid], I was zooming down this busy avenue on the wrong side of the street. I remember swerving directly into on-coming traffic in order to avoid a parked car. I can still remember the very last thing that I should have seen - the front grille of a car with its headlights and all. When I think back on it, I realize that there was no way that I could have possibly reacted quick enough. I was zooming down hill on my bicycle, directly head on in the path of an on-coming car. I can still remember that grille. It was the last thing that I should have seen. It's like they say. It's etched in my mind.

I have no explanation concerning how I ever survived that encounter. No explantation at all. Some would say - "It was your guardian angel." Well, all that I can say is, if I got one, he/she deserves the highest Medal of Commendation for pulling my dumb little ass out of that predictament.

My sister [a very devout Roman Catholic] says that "God" has plans for me.

Sometimes I wonder how it is that I am still alive. In March, 2003 I went into full cardiac arrest - total heart attack. In the hospital, they had to perform C.P.R. In real life, the survival rate for C.P.R. is only 5%. Five percent. And you know how I got myself to the hospital that night? On a motorcycle. I drove myself to the hospital on a motorcycle - a Yamaha 150, to be exact. On the very verge of full cardiac arrest. I was having :death gasps or death rasps, whatever. It took me almost forever to get DOWN one flight of stairs, and open my door.

When I tell doctors about it, they ask me: "How the hell did you manage that, on a motorcycle?' And my answer is always - I really don't know.

53

Survival of Human Consciousness Beyond Death

by Rapunzel in

to anyone's knowledge, has there been any scientific research into the question of whether human consciousness can survive beyond death?

i am referring to research studies conducted by neurologists, neuro-biologists, and neuro-physiologists.

as far as i know, reputable scientific studies feature such factors as control groups.

Rapunzel

Casper - I definitely know what it is to be in the "Twilight Zone." Perhaps, at a later period of time, I will make a post about my stay in the Intensive Care Unit [I.C.U.] of the hospital, "E-dah," that I mentioned in an earlier post [Moreover, I think that I will read over some of your earlier posts, o.k.?]. Actually I have been in an I.C.U. on several occasions. Take my word on it, they are not pleasant pllaces. I.C.U.'s are truly for the sickest of the sick. Often, the "next stop" is another room in the hospital - the morgue. And, then, to borrow a phrase, "it's from there to eternity."

For now, just let me say that during a stay in the I.C.U., I had, what I think was, a "Near Death Experience" - a N.D.E. Mine was not an out-of-body experience. Rather, I had "visitors." As I remember, they did not particularly frighten me; in fact, I was not scared at all. They were not dressed in white, and they were not adorned with wings. Their faces were more or less impassive. They were looking at me with maybe just a bit of curiosity. Their clothing was dark; they were definitely not doctors or nurses. They said nothing. I just remember how curious it was that they would seem to disappear when I blinked my eyes. Then they reappeared. This episode lasted only a brief period of time. I really could not say how long, but I know that the period of time in question was a brief one. I wish that it could have been longer. Besides the horrrible pain that I was in, I remember feeling very lonely in that I.C.U.

Their disappearing and reappearing leads me to think that they were some sort of illusion brought on by physiological and neurological trauma. I had gone into a sort of septic shock. For a while there, I was on the thin line that separates life and death. Who knows? Maybe we humans have some sort of chemical or hormone in our body, which, under certain circumstances, relieves some of the pain that accompanies death. It might be "nature's way" of giving the dying organism some measure of relief or comfort.

I really don't know. All that I do know is that I survived, to my great regret because I did not come out of it "whole." I suffered some kind of nerve damage. In Taiwan, I had to leave a job that I loved [associate professor] and so many students whom I dearly love. For all intents and purposes, my life ended there and then in Taiwan.

As I said, I like to consider myself a rationalist. Above all, I wanted to teach my students how to think so that they could live well and have a better life than my own. So, I tend to view the concept of "angelic visitors" with a whole heap of skepticism. I mean, angels are supposed to be messengers and "psychopomps," guides for the soul. They are supposed to lead humans over to the other side. That's why I ask: If those were indeed angels that I saw, why did they not take me with them? I would have gladly gone. What I suffered after that stay in the ICU was horrible. Why did they not take me? Why did they make the trip for nothing?

As a professor, I used to teach the writings of people like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. They had a very unique view of evil. For them, or for Emerson at least, evil was simply the absence of good. They saw evil as something "negative" in that it simply represented the lack of goodness. For tjhem, evil had no "positive" or active power.

They must have led charmed lives. Emerson was a brilliant man; and I can just picture Henry David strolling around Walden pond. Thoreau was also a good man with strong principles. But, based on my experience, I view evil very differently. I cannot say anything about the existence of God. But, for me, evil is all too real, and very active. Just as there are evil people, I cannot help but believe that there are other, non-human sources of evil. I do not know from what source their rage comes. Perhaps they are "trapped" in this physical realm of ours, and resent it. I just don't know. However, there seems to be another realm that "mirrors" our own [I realize that, here, I am now beginning to sound weird and "hokey," but this has been my experience], I honestly do not know if this "realm" of which I speak is merely a psychlogical "projection." Perhaps, just perhaps, evil - or most evil phenomena - is merely a projection of what is in our own minds. I really wish that I knew. Is getting rid of evil a matter of exorcism, or simply a matter of good psycotherapy? My ambivalence is evident. I am faced with an age-old dilemma. Everything that I know, everything that I experience, comes to me through my senses. The trouble is that my senses are flawed and imperfect. And did you realize that scientists cannot even agree on the question of exactly how many senses we humans have? The only thing they agree on is that we have more than the "traditional" five. I really wih that I could make better sense of the world.

53

Survival of Human Consciousness Beyond Death

by Rapunzel in

to anyone's knowledge, has there been any scientific research into the question of whether human consciousness can survive beyond death?

i am referring to research studies conducted by neurologists, neuro-biologists, and neuro-physiologists.

as far as i know, reputable scientific studies feature such factors as control groups.

Rapunzel

Casper - The unanticipated "resonances" or correlations between your posts and mine are truly eerie. As I like to think of myself as a fairly rational person, I have to say that your posts and my posts may be said to have entered into a sort of danse macabre. You know what I mean? It leaves me a little discomfitted, I think is the word.

You mention seeing "Poltergeist," so without a doubt, you will remember one of the opening scenes when the box containing the body of the bird that had belonged to the little boy is unearthed by the bulldozer. Out of love and respect, the little boy had buried the bird. The bulldozer's unearthing it is meant to represent the callousness of the developers and their disregard. And of course, no one who has seen the movie can forget its central "premise," which is - if you show disrespect and scorn for the dead, there will eventually be "hell to pay."

I mention this fact because the university at which I taught in southern Taiwan had "displaced" a graveyard. I had it on very reliable authority that at least part of the university was constructed over what once had been a graveyard. In the year 2000, prior to the "door pounding" incident that I described in my previous post, a student - a young girl - committed suicide by jumping from the ninth floor of her dormitory building. Her dorm was distinct from, yet adjacent and connected to "A"-dorm, in which my office was located.

I remember that, after the girl's suicide, the university brought in Buddhist monks for a "cleansing ritual." I also remember that the poor girl jumped to her death at the end of the first semester. As a result, the school closed the entire ninth floor of "B"-dorm. They did not close down only that room [I can picture in my mind looking up at, because everyone on campus knew the exact room number and where it was], the university closed down the entire ninth floor for the whole second semester. It was like something out of a ghost story. Can you imagine how it looked at night? To see a huge 10-floor dormitory lit up with lights, except for floor number nine? It's hard to imagine how eerie it was. The university's "official" story was that the closing of the ninth floor had nothing to do with the suicide. The "official" story is that it was being reserve for "visiting V.I.P.'s. It's odd, then, because the school never placed one single visitor on that ninth floor.

The university finally allowed girls [it was an all-girls dorm] to move back onto the ninth floor the following Fall semester. However, the room from which the girl jumped remained closed until the next, Spring semester. As I remember, the room would be occupied for a brief time and then, for whatever reason, become vacant once again. I remember speaking to girls who llived in the room next door. They told me that one of the girls living in the rooms had taken on the mannerisms of the deceased. It was all too weird and frightening. I would hate to be an 18-year old living in that room.

The students told me many stories. Many believed that the entire place was under some sort of "curse." In addition to the girl's suicide, there were - I felt - a statistically higher number of students involved in fatal or near fatal accidents. But I admit that this is simply my entirely subjective opinion. In regard to the campus itself, there were many stories - stories of disembodied heads floating around; stories of a "ghost" carrying her own head under her arm; stories of students going to the campus pond for a walk and being followed back to the dorm by a ghost. Some of my students claimed to be "ghost-spotters;" they claimed the ability to see ghosts. One girl told me that she had seen a ghost on her web-cam. In regard to that "B"-dorm from which the girl jumped, that building had an elevator. Many students said that, late at night, the elevator would go to the ninth floor and then stop, as if called. It would then come straight down to the lobby without stopping [there was a L.E.D. light that showed where the elevator was and where it stopped], and when the doors opened, no one was aboard.

Of course, I am well aware of "urban legends," and what I call the "campfire effect" or "campfire syndrome." People love to tell each other ghost stories. So, no doubt there is an "imaginative" effect at work. And yet, there definitely were strange things that occurred at that university.

I don't know if you have heard of what Chinese call feng shui. Literally it means "wind [and] water," but in English, it is translated as geomancy. It involves the positioning of things such as buildings; rooms within buildings; and objects within rooms. And an absolutely crucial aspect involves the location and positioning of grave sites. Chinese put great stock in this idea, especially in regard to grave sites. In my opinion, a lot of geomancy is hokum. And yet, I cannot help but wonder if perhaps a mistake was made when that university was constructed. I personally find it hard to understand how the dead - who have, after all, "passed on" to another realm - could possibly be concerned with where their for earthly remains lie. What concern is it of theirs?

But because I was a teacher at that school, I have a deep, abiding love for students, especially for those whom I knew and taught. I could tolerate the idea that someone or some thing might harm them. If there exists anything evil there, I hope that someone will confront it and send it elsewhere. Perhaps someone should call those Buddhst monks back. If there is some bad thing there, someone should use good to get rid of it. For the sake of the students. After all, some are still in their teens.

53

Survival of Human Consciousness Beyond Death

by Rapunzel in

to anyone's knowledge, has there been any scientific research into the question of whether human consciousness can survive beyond death?

i am referring to research studies conducted by neurologists, neuro-biologists, and neuro-physiologists.

as far as i know, reputable scientific studies feature such factors as control groups.

Rapunzel

While I'm relating strange events that happened to me while in Taiwan, I have another one. I suppose that this experience could be classified under the category of "poltergeist activity." In German, poltergeist literally mean "noisy ghost." I'm sure that most of us are familiar with the concept; and that a lot of the people here have seen this now "classic" film.

In any case, because I taught at a university in Taiwan, I enjoyed the benefit of having my own office, or, as they used to call it, "study room." Of course, I had a personal computer in my office, a computer that allowed me to play c.d.'s and d.v.d's. I did not play music in my office very often because I found that I often needed to totally concentrate when doing research, correcting exams. However, on occasion, I would play music c,d.'s , with my door closed and at a low volume, so as to not bother my colleagues workng in other offices. My colleagues would do the same. As professionals, we all respected each other's rights. After all, these were offices, and we went to our offices primarily to work at research or class preparation. There were generally no problems.

I will never forget one night. It was rather late - 9 or 10 p,m. I was the only one in my office. In fact, I was the only person working on the entire first floor of the building. The building in question had previously been a student dormitory - "A" dorm, it was called. As I said, my office was on the first floor. This first floor consisted simply of one 25-30 meter hallway, with offices [previously dorm rooms] on each side of the hallway.

It was always easy to know when someone else entered that first floor. You always hear peoples' footsteps in the corridor, even if you had your door closed. The floor was of tile, and anyone's footsteps would make an echo. So, if anyone entered on to corridor, they would usually be heard before being seen. It was very easy to hear anyone's footsteps.

As I said, I was working late one night. I was listening to some music at a very reasonable volume level [not once did I ever blare or "crank up" my music so that it would atttain an offensive or bothersome level]. Suddenly, I heard a very loud and violent pounding on my door. The pounding was so violent that my door was shaking nearly off its hinges. In other words, not only could I hear the pounding, I could the door shaking.

I was very distressed. I expected to find a very irate, and possibly enraged person when I went to open the door.

I now almost wish that this had been the case; I wish that I had found an extremely irate person when I opened the door. Instead, what I found was nothing. Nobody was there. The hallway was completely dark, except for the light coming from my office. I did notice that the area immediately outside my doorway was significantly colder than in my office and in other parts of the hallway [After opening my door and finding no one there, I walked to the end of the hallway and turned on the corridor lights.]

So, again, I'm left wondering what the hell happened. If some person had been so angered by my playing music, why did they not stay around and tell me so?

I should mention that my office was in the miidle of the corridor, just about halfway. I should think that if someone had knocked on my door, only to run away, I certainly would have heard the footsteps, but I heard no footsteps. Was it a colleague or a student playing a prank on me? Perhaps, although if that was the case, I suppose it had to have been a naughty student. And yet, given the "culture" of that school, this does not seem like something a student would do.

And they must have been in stocking feet and had the ability to run like the wind, as they say.

Then there was the coldness. Was it due to my fear? I don't know. I simply know that when I opened the door, no one was there. And no other colleague appeared to be in their office.There was no light coming from any other office.

Just to make an absolutely huge rational leap [or is it a suspension of rational thought?], it still boggles my mind why a "ghost" would do something so puerile and banal. I mean, the "theory" is that these poltergeists somehow "tap into" thermal force to manifest themselves. To use an analogy, it's kind of like gasoline [petrol] for them. That's all well and good. But why would a ghost go through all that trouble just to pound on my door, scare me, and make itself a "pain in the ass." I mean, why not stay around and give me a wallop, beat "the hell" out of me?

What shocked me most of all was the rage that "informed" the pounding on my door. This went way beyond "hard" or merely irrate knocking. It was an expression of rage. So, I have to ask, why was who/whatever it was so angry? Perhaps my music was not "demonic" enough? Was this a way of requesting something by "Marylin Manson" or "Slipknot" ?How about a song by "Korn"?

What strikes me as odd about the whole "poltergeist" phenomenon is that they go through the trouble of manifesting themselves, and then proceed to do the most banal of things. Pound my door nearly off its hinges, and then leave it at that? Why not stick around for a chat, or a real good scare?

I suppose that I have to assume that it was a prank. Maybe a drunk kid got it into his mind to play a joke on teacher. Maybe he was so drunk that he could not control his pounding. Because whoever [or whatever] it was was way out of control. Whoever was that angry would have stuck around, either with the intention of screaming at me or with the intention of violence.

Yet, it comes to my mind that I should have heard something...running footsteps...anything. Very odd.

Another question that comes to my mind is - If these poltergeists do exist, what are they doing in our world, in our realm, our "plane" of existence. I would think that theirs is a very frusrating lot or condition. They must feel trapped in a realm that is not their own, like fish out of water as it were. I'm still not totally convinced that they exist, but if they do, what are they doing in our realm? Presumably, they have their own realm..

And as I asked above, why do they spend so much time and energy doing essentially banal and puerile things like hiding this or that object, or pounding on doors? It makes no sense. It's about as stupid as making a phone call, and hanging up when the person answers. It's all so childish, to the point of absurdity. I'll stop rambling now.

53

Survival of Human Consciousness Beyond Death

by Rapunzel in

to anyone's knowledge, has there been any scientific research into the question of whether human consciousness can survive beyond death?

i am referring to research studies conducted by neurologists, neuro-biologists, and neuro-physiologists.

as far as i know, reputable scientific studies feature such factors as control groups.

Rapunzel

Casper - I am so sorry to hear about your great uncle and first husband. I want to give you "hugs" too.

I had no idea, when I wrote my first post, that the scene that II saw would so closely resemble what you expreienced. The correlations are very eerie.

I should say that there were other people in the van with me at the time, but for a couple of reasons, I kept silent and said nothing.

1.) I was so shocked as to be speechless.

2.) I lacked the Chinese-language ability to say: "Hey! Look! Do you see that man and woman standing there? Am I seeing things, or does that man lack eyes?

3.) Even if had been able to ask it, I could not very well yell out and distact the driver. It could have caused an accident.

So, unfortunately, I was unable to get any "thrird-party" observations or confirmation of what I saw. I really wish that I had been able to bring to the attention of those others in the van, but I was unable to do so. I guess I will never know for sure.

Sorry if I have opened up a can of worms here. Originally, it was in fact simply my intention to ask about scientific research in regard to the possibility of the survival of human consciousness beyond death.