]]> http://surfingthetao.com/2007/08/26/mahalo/feed/ 0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ http://surfingthetao.com/2007/08/11/mind-wars-ethics-and-spiritual-ramifications-of-neuroscientific-technologies/ http://surfingthetao.com/2007/08/11/mind-wars-ethics-and-spiritual-ramifications-of-neuroscientific-technologies/#comments Sat, 11 Aug 2007 22:31:17 +0000 Angela http://surfingthetao.com/2007/08/11/mind-wars-ethics-and-spiritual-ramifications-of-neuroscientific-technologies/ “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds.” - Bob Marley

Mind control and other emerging neuroscientific technologies and weaponry constitute a frightening aspect of the future we presently inhabit. When one considers potential spiritual ramifications, as perhaps not all researchers and reporters do, it becomes [...]]]> “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds.” - Bob Marley

Mind control and other emerging neuroscientific technologies and weaponry constitute a frightening aspect of the future we presently inhabit. When one considers potential spiritual ramifications, as perhaps not all researchers and reporters do, it becomes clear that at the very least, awareness is crucial. The only question that remains is what we can do about it.

Information is not the problem. Even if we have access to only the tip of the iceberg in terms of what has been released to the public, one can write books on it. Recently, one person did; last year Dr. Jonathan Moreno, a bioethicist, published Mind Wars: Brain Research and National Defense. Granted, as a former government advisor on biodefense, and child of another Dr. Moreno, a psychiatrist known for his own questionable psychotherapeutic endeavors including human experiments with LSD in the ’50s and ’60s, one does wonder at his motives. Especially interesting is that he made a point of insisting he went as far as he could in his research (though he admits he hit a few brick walls in terms of what certain people and agencies were willing to divulge about military uses for the technologies), and then proclaimed he was ‘no conspiracy theorist’ to the extent that he didn’t quite believe the stories of people who claimed to have been victims of CIA-led mind control experiments and torture. That there are secrets too big to contain? Poppycock. In the name of national security (and perhaps threats to family, etc.) any and all can be kept quiet. Make no mistake about that.

His refusal to believe the disturbing stories is strange especially since in the ’90s, he worked on a presidential advisory committee investigating secret human radiation experiments by the US Government since the 1940s. It was during that time he learned of the CIA’s interest in LSD and other brain-altering methods – and still, in his own words, “it took the better part of another decade for me to achieve the insight that let to the idea behind this book: If national security agencies had so much interest in how the relatively primitive brain science of the 1950s and 1960s could help find ways to gain a national security edge, surely they must be at least as interested today, when neuroscience is perhaps the fastest growing scientific field, both in terms of numbers of scientists and knowledge being gained.“ (p.3) If it took someone so deeply involved in the subject matter ten years to begin questioning the ethics of new neuroscientific technologies, it does beg the (perhaps conspiratorial) thought: maybe we really are under some kind of mass hypnosis of non-knowing. Asleep we are, whilst wizards wage war right under our noses…or perhaps, behind them.

On the other hand, at least he’s bringing up the subject and beginning a dialogue on the disconcerting topic of ethics in regard to the use of these little-understood systems. He suggests that these new technologies may warrant consideration for new rules, policies, standards and treaty obligations. Dr. Moreno found it “amazing” that no one had yet analyzed the relationship between brain science technology and national defense. Personally I’m not surprised. These agencies don’t want their secrets out; that’s what national security is all about. Information is kept divided between multiple scientists and studies, the right hand never knowing what the left one is doing. However I might add, if it’s being tested, or worse, full-out used on our own population, we surely have the right to question the ethics and demand standards; but we may never really know if they would be adhered to, because the technologies themselves (many of which likely will never be declassified) could help to keep us in a state of denial or non-knowing or even not-caring. The capabilities of these technologies, even what little we know of them, can be frightening. It’s like a science fiction/horror movie come to life. And some of them are coming to a neighborhood near you.

Much of the information available comes from DARPA, which Dr. Moreno reminds us is not an espionage outfit but a science agency, and is involved with development of “dual use” neuroscientific technologies valuable to both civilian commerce and national security. Apparently there was no way to know for sure whether the CIA or other espionage agencies were also researching brain sciences, since that would remain ‘black’, or secret, explains Dr. Moreno. However what we do know seems disturbing enough to start with, if I may suggest.

Certainly one is encouraged at the idea that robotized limbs might prove useful to amputees and paralysis victims. This article about electric fields being used against cancer tumors is also interesting. However “dual use” does raise Terminator-like concerns. Move over, Bionic Woman. Imagine an army of robots, Asimov-style; or perhaps, an army of soldiers with implanted neural prostheses. A recent article informs us that the Pentagon is working on what could be the first phase of this idea by implanting chips in our soldier’s brains; do you believe they intend only to monitor their health, when we already know about Dr. Delgado’s behavior control experiments with monkeys and bulls? Long range, electronic control of animals is already a proven ability. The Augmented Cognition program, or AugCog, is an interesting offshoot of this concept, involving human-systems integration.

Psyops, or psychological operations, reportedly began sometime after World War II, first involving low-tech propaganda such as leaflets. Research into paranormal phenomena such as remote viewing followed in the 1970s with studies at the Stanford Research Institute (SRI). Dr. Moreno touched on experiments with neuropharmaceuticals, Manchurian-candidate style. Psychotronic weapons, such as electromagnetic radiation or ELF (extra-low frequency) waves and other Tesla technologies, have proven interesting since the 1970s to the Soviet and the Chinese military, among others, and were mentioned in the Space Preservation Act of 2001 along with other ‘exotic weapons’ such as chemtrails. Such technologies are known to be able to influence the psychological states of humans from great distances. fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imagery) technology could identify at a distance individuals with increased blood flow to the brain, thereby suggesting they might be prone to aggressive behavior. Imagine such use at airports, for example. Fortunately, as Dr. Moreno points out, a big problem here is a giant magnet like that would suck everyone up along with their jewelry and belt buckles! Unfortunately, it seems they are working on a way around that problem; Project Hostile Intent was reported just a few days ago in The Guardian, planned implementation being 2012. The brain fingerprinter is another development causing many to worry that the military can, or is trying to, actually read our minds, and the issue of cognitive liberties is aptly noted. I don’t think George Orwell would be very surprised.

Other DARPA programs such as PDS (Preventing Sleep Deprivation) and “Metabolic Dominance” promise enhanced abilities for soldiers, involving pharmaceuticals. Artificial intelligence programs such as LifeLog, now defunct, sought to artificially store memories and experiences; today, the Advanced Soldier Sensor Information System and Technology (ASSIST) seeks that very goal in combat situations. There’s also talk of altering soldiers’ neural circuits to lessen fear and stress. Transhumanism seems to many a natural evolution of our species; to others, the very death of it. Here the issue of spirituality seems quite threatened, in my opinion. Where does one draw the line, and where might spiritual individuality or awareness become lost? Visions of Star Trek’s Borg are marching through my head.

Non-lethal weapons are fast becoming the talk of the war room. The Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Program (JNLWP), part of the US Marines, defines non-lethals as, “weapons that are explicitly designed and primarily employed so as to incapacitate personnel or materiel, while minimizing fatalities, permanent injury to personnel, and undesired damage to property and the environment.” The Pentagon, among others, is interested in technologies that have use in “Operations Other Than War” (OOTW). Crowd control, hostage rescue, and capture of criminals or terrorists are named as such situations. Acoustic devices are among those which have caught my attention. Hypersonic sound (HSS) was first developed by a genius inventor called Woody Norris, about whom the New York Times Magazine did a fascinating story in 2003. This device can aim sounds at individuals or groups, at debilitating volumes, without affecting surrounding people or areas. LRADs (Long Range Acoustic Devices) are already in use by the military, used as information and warning devices. HIDAs (High Intensity Directed Acoustics) are more aggressive, like ‘sonic bullets’, creating intense pain and vomiting. Trapped in Matter’s blog recently commented on an emergency warning device going up in downtown Chicago; he took a picture of it, and it resembles our upgraded tsunami-warning sirens here in Hawaii, which I took some shots of yesterday. Also check out this crazy picture; we have these towers here too, purportedly cell phone towers, but in Phoenix they are disguised as palm trees! These devices are going up rapidly all over the place. It doesn’t take much imagination to understand they probably have more than one use. Certainly HAARP, which uses electromagnetic radiation to influence the Schumann resonance, and thereby our own bodies and weather systems, comes to mind, no pun intended. For more information on this technology, which is now fully operational worldwide, I suggest starting with HAARP.net or Jerry Smith. There’s enough about that to warrant the many books already written about it.

Stinkbombs, or malodorants, are another area of research. Recently in the news is the new flashlight weapon, called the LED Incapacitator, which flashes lights that make you disoriented and nauseous. Nanotechnology is also rapidly progressing; who knows the implications of that yet. Perhaps most concerning is technology, such as the so-called “Frequency Fence” which supposedly cuts of an individual’s connection with their higher self, and the Holographic Insert, which can made three-dimensional objects (alien invasion? Second coming? 9/11?) appear in the sky. I could find a lot of rumors about those but not much substantive information. What I could find is evidence that there are proven capabilities to inject words and/or images directly into people’s minds. See MindJustice for more on this.

Dr. Moreno ends his book by recommending these technologies remain within the realms of both academic and military research, so that the ethics of their uses can be controlled; but remember he did admit there is evidently quite of bit of secret research going on that even he couldn’t find out about. ‘Informed consent’ is another of his recommendations for human experimentation; yeah, that’ll happen. As if our government even abides by the Geneva Convention anymore

So what to do? It’s easy to become fearful, that’s for sure – and yet we must be careful NOT to fall into that trap; fear has a certain frequency of its own, and spiritual awareness, not to mention love, is far more difficult in that state. There are several places to find out more and/or get help if you believe you’ve been a victim; check out Center for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics, the American Cognitive Liberties Association, or even Christians Against Mental Slavery. But aside from that, here are a few practical recommendations. Take care not to consume too many food additives or chemicals; these can and do alter the brain, perhaps even resonating in concert with some of the technologies mentioned above. Take some time to connect with your higher power; whether through prayer, meditation, music, yoga, tai chi, art, sports, or whatever works for you. Just find and maintain a higher consciousness as best you can.

Finally, I’d like to end with a little telling test of hope.

Point to yourself.

That’s right; point to yourself.

Where did you point? In my experience I’ve found that most people place their finger or hand on their chest or heart, rather than their head. And this is a good thing. It tells me that what makes us us, our I AM so to speak, resides not in our brains but somewhere else. The essence of our spirit, and I believe we are spirit beings riding around temporarily in physical bodies, is connected to and resonates with a certain frequency that could remain outside the purview of our military if we simply know and practice this awareness. And TUNE IN to the frequency of LOVE. This seems simple and obvious but can actually be the most difficult thing to do, considering all the non-love we get bombarded with every day.

So am I horrified at these new technologies? Yes. Am I afraid? No. Don’t stick your head in the sand; and yet, don’t let them rule your life or get you down. I believe it’s simply part of what is meant to happen, before we can take ourselves to the next level of being – or frequency. Our present dimension is not the end, nor is it the only one; quantum physics can teach us that already. What the powers-that-be may not realize is that they are increasing our awareness and understanding of the frequency of being to the extent that many more of us may indeed be able to escape their control one day. I personally have had the experience, in mediation, of touching a higher place (certainly I’m not the only one, either); I’m not going to preach to you about heaven, but I do believe in higher dimensions and our ability to get to a place where love rules the day. Can’t prove it, but I’ve been there, and I plan on going back as soon as I can pass on the info to a few more souls

So keep the faith. All is not lost – not by a long shot.

“Your mind should be in harmony with the functioning of the universe; your body should be in tune with the movement of the universe; body and mind should be bound as one, unified with the activity of the universe.” -The Art of Peace

It has come to my attention, through various conversations of my own as well as some that other people have related to me, that the Tao Te Ching remains unknown to a very large portion of the population. Several people have asked me recently, which book has influenced me most in my life; my response is always the TTC and often I get blank looks. I realize that my path is less traveled, and I suppose we all get caught up in our own research; however, it’s a shame that this small collection of verses takes a back shelf in today’s world. The Tao is an enigma, no doubt; but regardless of one’s religion or personal philosophy, I highly recommend picking up a copy and giving it a read.

It doesn’t matter what religion you follow; this tiny volume is densely packed with honest, down-to-earth wisdom. Often particular religions are strict about avoiding any texts aside outside of their own particular manual; Christians often fall into this category, to my endless disappointment. Frankly it’s a big reason why I tend not to associate myself with this particular organized religion, even though I do happen to retain some of their basic beliefs. God is greater than any religion, I always say. It’s not Lao Tzu’s fault he lived thousands of years before Christ. Unfortunately, as well-meaning and kind as they can be, Christians are often the most close-minded of all religious groups in terms of their unwillingness to investigate beyond what their sect has dictated to them. Personally I think many Christians would be surprised how similar Lao Tzu’s words are to those of Jesus, and there is a great book, “Jesus and Lao Tzu: the Parallel Sayings” which describes this most succinctly. Another enlightening book is “Christ, the Eternal Tao”, which was written by a monk.

It’s imperative that all people of all faiths open their hearts and minds in order to avoid deception in the future. Truly this is part of my mission – perhaps the most important part. Real truth comes from within yourself, not from any outer source – therefore not even the TTC contains the ‘whole truth’, though it does provide a wider scope with which one’s inner self could expand awareness. All books, including the Bible, are tools, not ends in themselves. But putting limitations on the information and understanding we allow ourselves is exactly what the powers-that-be want us to be doing. If you think standard Christianity hasn’t been usurped by power-mongers and a suspicious elite, starting with the ‘compiling’ of the Bible in the fourth century, you have quite a bit of research ahead of you. (For that matter I take modern Taoism with a grain of salt as well; many sects have now become more like cults and one must always be on guard.)

Non-spiritual people also tend to neglect the TTC. But in truth it’s more a book of philosophy, or Way of Life, not a religion. FYI the book is not a long read, nor is it controversial – it’s a small collection of 81 verses, all of which touch your spirit uniquely and lovingly. Often I open to a random page and look for whatever wisdom Lao Tzu gives me that day; I do the same thing with the Bible at times, as well as the Upanishads, The Art of Peace, and other spiritual texts. I’ve read them all cover-to-cover by now, and though some might scorn me for using them as oracles; too bad. It works for me, and I don’t hesitate to recommend the method to others. If you’re looking for spiritual awareness and don’t know where to start, the Tao Te Ching is probably the softest touch.

If I can do anything with my blog, perhaps the single most important thing is to pass on this recommendation. If you’re curious about the Tao; if you’re stuck in your religion and want to get into your spirit; if you have no spiritual inclinations at all but are looking for inspiration – this is the book for you. If interpretation proves difficult, send me a note and I’ll help as much as I can – but I will say, each person is going to absorb the wisdom differently, and it’s actually an excellent tool for awakening your own spirit and sense of discernment.

Happy reading!!