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FOR most of us Sixth Sense is either a 1999 psychological horror film directed by M. Night Shayamalan or an image of the 1990s hit science fiction television series, the X Files. What, in reality, is Extra Sensory Perception (ESP? ESP explained In black and white terms, Extra Sensory Perception (ESP) is a term thought of by Frederick Myers and adopted by J. B Rhine, of the Duke University, to explain psychic abilities. ESP involves reception of information through the mind and not through recognised physical senses. Idiomatically; ESP is referred to as a gut instinct, sixth sense or even a hunch. The branch that studies paranormal psychic phenomena, including ESP, is called parapsychology a term coined by Max Dessoirto to describe the study of paranormal phenomena such as telepathy, precognition, clairvoyance, re-incarnation etc. ESP is often characterised by the ability to see the future and predict the unforeseen. These special people are called psychics. In a world where every other person claims to have this psychic ability of reading the future, how and who is one to believe, one wonders. Truth or hype Dr Pulkit Sharma, clinical psychologist and psychoanalytical therapist, Vidyasagar Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (VIMHANS), New Delhi adds, “Intuition, sixth sense and ESP exist as potentials within us. We can develop them by an inward focus, building more self-awareness, understanding and analysing the mysteries of our mind.” ESP is a quality that all of us have but is more developed in some due to the better adjustment emotionally, socially and mentally and also in people who are less anxious and more open-minded than others. Deepak Rao, a Mumbai-based conference energiser and corporate trainer who amongst other workshops, presents a show on Extra Sensory Perception. He says, “ESP to my mind is nothing but being extremely sharp, observant and alert. It is sheer intelligence combined with wisdom and experience that takes the form of this intuitive ability. I call it ability. I do not attribute it as a power.” Extra Sensory Perception occurrences are not officially recognised by scientists. There are believers, there are non-believers and scoffers. Each one speaks out of his personal experiences and their understanding of some of the “secrets of the universe.” Talking of the predicting someone's future Rao is sceptical and says, “I have studied Western astrology, numerology and palmistry and am convinced that these are all probable sciences and not accurate sciences and hence, have tremendous limitations with scope to go wrong.” Rao hits the nail in the head when he says, “This world is full of misery and people have all sorts of issues. When they come to me for a solution to their problems most often, after hearing their problems, the advice I impart, is the same that my office-boy would give them. But when it comes from me, they feel more optimistic and go back happy. Moreover, I do not charge a penny for it!” Can ESP, precognition and clairvoyance make it possible for a person to look into the future? Dr. Natasha Ryntathiang, consultant clinical psychologist, VIMHANS, New Delhi says, “For any perception to take place, sensory input is required (vision, hearing, kinesthesis, etc.). ESP or psi as it is better known as is the unusual process of information or energy transfer that are currently unexplained by scientific mechanisms. The types of psi include the commonly heard, telepathy (a skill used by mind readers that involves direct transmission of thought from one person to another) and clairvoyance (ability to perceive unseen objects or unknowable events). Another type is precognition, the ability to foretell future events (fortune-telling).” Pure science however refutes the presence of the phenomenon of ESP because of the absence of empirical evidence, the lack of a theory which would explain ESP, and the lack of experimental techniques which can give proof of its existence. Many people are sceptical about clairvoyance as it is difficult to accept such claims without having had first-hand experience. On the other hand, most of us have, at some time, experienced an apparently bizarre happening like hearing a knock at the door and knowing intuitively who that would be. Dr Nikhil Raheja, a psychiatrist based at the National Institute of Psychiatry, New Delhi says, “Strictly speaking, science does not give credibility to ESP. Though phenomena like the oft-heard ‘déjà vu’ and the lesser-known ‘jamais vu,’ which is when one experiences a situation that one recognises but that nonetheless seems very unfamiliar and makes us believe that there is more to the issue than meets the eye!”, though, in the same breath he adds, “This is also true that some experiences can be because of the internal pressures therefore called the conjectures of the mind.” The strongest criticism against ESP is that in order for it to exist, the fundamental laws of physics would necessarily have to be broken.Talking about the dichotomy of science and the spiritual world, Dr Reddy adds, “Science works with in the gravitational force and under certain conditions only, whereas ESP and the inner senses are beyond gravitational force and physical perception.” Dr Natasha says: “Science and most psychologists remain sceptical about the existence of ESP. Many researchers have not been able to replicate findings (existence of ESP) in the laboratory settings. Repeated failure to replicate instances of psi has been one of the main reasons for doubting its existence. Further, the present-day emphasis on scientific understanding (a large part of our understanding of human behaviour is biochemical in nature) of all aspects of our behaviour make it difficult for the acceptance of psi. Although there is a section of psychologists who are deeply convinced of its existence with some of their positive findings; however these are too small to be accepted scientifically. More research is warranted in this area.” Parapsychology and its attendant research is in its nascent stage in India with a handful of universities offering courses in the subject. Till such time concrete and time-tested findings see the light of day, the lines between myth and reality will remain blurred. Till such time, one has to figure out his own way through this maze of faith and science; to find a method to this madness; to seek the truth which is 'out there'!
Extra Sensory Perception is the language of the spirit. It can be acquired when one goes beyond one’s owen physical senses. One can improve ESP when connected to the spirit in deep
silence
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Apart from the oft-heard and experienced phenomenon of telepathy; clairvoyance, the act of being able to look into the future and predict has caught the fancy of the 21st century's scientific temperament and is worth exploring.
Indian Federation of Spiritual Scientists (IFSS), with its national headquarters in Bangalore, is an organisation with one of its objectives as, “to promote research in the science of ESP,” as mentioned in their mission statement. Dr I.V Reddy, general secretary, IFSS, explains, "ESP cannot be used for telling the future but it is helpful in addressing one’s own issues. ESP is language of the spirit. It can be acquired when one goes beyond one's own physical senses. One can improve ESP when connected to the spirit in deep silence.”