Tag: consciousness

Itzhak Bentov – Cosmic to Consciousness

Who Was Itzhak Bentov?
Itzhak “Ben” Bentov (1923–1979) was an Israeli-American inventor, engineer, scientist, mystic, and author best known for his pioneering work in consciousness studies. His insights blended physics, medicine, and metaphysics, aiming to understand human consciousness and its connection to the universe. Though largely self-taught in many fields, he had a remarkable ability to conceptualize complex ideas, making contributions to both science and spirituality.

Inventions and Scientific Contributions
Bentov was a prolific inventor with multiple patents to his name. Some of his key inventions include:

Cardiac Catheter (Balloon-Tipped Catheter): One of his most well-known medical inventions, the balloon-tipped catheter, became a crucial tool in cardiovascular procedures.
Harmonic Oscillator Model of the Human Body: He proposed that the human body, especially the heart and brain, functions as a resonant system, influencing consciousness and altered states of awareness.
Helicopter Stabilization System: As an engineer, Bentov also worked on improving helicopter dynamics, designing stabilization technologies.
Vibrational Theories of Consciousness: He developed theories on how micro-vibrations in the body could influence brain function and perception, an idea that aligns with later research in neuroscience and meditation studies.
Government and Military Involvement
Bentov’s research attracted interest from the U.S. government, particularly in the areas of consciousness, brainwave synchronization, and altered states of perception.

CIA and Remote Viewing (Gateway Process): His work significantly influenced the Gateway Process, a classified program run by the U.S. Army and CIA to explore consciousness expansion and remote viewing (a form of psychic espionage). His vibrational theories and understanding of brain-wave entrainment were foundational to the techniques used in the Gateway Experience, a project later detailed in declassified CIA documents.
Collaboration with Monroe Institute: Bentov worked closely with Robert Monroe, a researcher famous for out-of-body experiences (OBEs). His scientific insights helped provide a framework for how Monroe’s Hemi-Sync technology worked in altering consciousness.
Possible Involvement in Advanced Research Programs: While not confirmed, given his knowledge of physiological and neurological interactions with consciousness, some speculate that Bentov’s ideas contributed to early mind-machine interface research pursued by military and intelligence agencies.
Philosophy and Legacy
Beyond his scientific contributions, Bentov was deeply interested in the nature of reality, consciousness, and spirituality. His book Stalking the Wild Pendulum: On the Mechanics of Consciousness (1977) is a classic in consciousness studies, offering a scientific approach to metaphysical concepts. He suggested that consciousness is a fundamental force of the universe, aligning with ideas found in quantum physics and Eastern mysticism.

Tragically, Bentov’s life was cut short in 1979 when he died in the crash of American Airlines Flight 191. Despite his untimely death, his work continues to influence researchers in neuroscience, spirituality, and consciousness studies, as well as those interested in the intersection of science and mysticism.

Physicist Stephen Wolfram PROVES Space-Time Is An ILLUSION | ChatGPT, Consciousness, & Time Travel

Stephen Wolfram is a British-American computer scientist, physicist, and businessman. He is known for his work in computer algebra and theoretical physics. In 2012, he was named a fellow of the American Mathematical Society.

Quantum Physicists Are Suggesting the Multiverse Might Be the Mind of God

In this episode, we dive deep into a radical theory gaining traction in the world of quantum physics — the idea that the multiverse might not just exist… it might think. From entangled particles and holographic codes to theories of cosmic consciousness, discover why some physicists and philosophers are asking: Is the universe the brain of God?

We explore:

🔹 The latest quantum discoveries that blur the line between matter and mind

🔹 How neural networks and the cosmos might share a hidden blueprint

🔹 Why ancient spiritual insights may align with cutting-edge science

🔹 And whether your consciousness could be part of a much larger mind

Prof. Jeffrey Kripal On ‘Decolonizing’ Reality

Each week, the Essentia Foundation shares highlights from the most insightful moments of longer videos on this channel. In this video Prof. Jeffrey Kripal talks about the importance of metaphysical diversity in academia: instead of regarding other than Western ontologies as Foucauldian language games, we have to see them as valid claims on reality.

Watch the full interview: What If Science Took The Paranormal Seriously? | The Superhumanities | Prof. Jeffrey Kripal PhD

Essentia Foundation’s Hans Busstra interviews Prof. Jeffrey Kripal, PhD, who holds the J. Newton Rayzor Chair in Philosophy and Religious Thought at Rice University in Houston, on his new book: ‘The Superhumanities, Historical Precedents, Moral Objections, New Realities.’ What if the humanities would open their horizon to more metaphysical possibilities? Prof. Kripal has written a book about a future in which the humanities study the full human. In these superhumanities, the weird, the psi—in short, the impossible—is taken seriously metaphysically: anomalous phenomena are not only regarded as subjective truths, but also as objective claims about reality. In his book, Prof. Kripal clearly shows how the nineteenth century ontology of materialism reigns in almost all of the humanities, which limits our scientific understanding of who we are as humans: there is no transcendence, the individual is nothing but a social body in spacetime, shaped by society. As Prof. Kripal likes to quip: “if there is one dogma in the humanities, it is that the truth has to be depressing.” The humanities need to expand beyond this depressing view, not because it’s depressing, but because it’s simply a half truth. We are conditioned social animals and transcendent beings. We are human and superhuman, as he argues. Interestingly, the superhumanities can build on the same foundational thinkers as the humanities. When we read the full Friedrich Nietzsche, William James, or Jacques Derrida, for instance, we see that these thinkers very much acknowledged the super. It is only the postmodern reading of their texts in academia that filters out the ecstatic. When it comes to Nietzsche, Prof. Kripal convincingly argues that the ‘crazy’ Nietzsche was perhaps the real Nietzsche, at the pinnacle of his thought. But here’s the thing: did he think his way to the vision of the Übermensch—which later unjustly got contaminated by fascism—or did he somehow receive it as a vision? According to Prof. Kripal, Nietzsche’s vision should be taken much more literally than we now take it: he was talking about an actual superspecies, with superhuman capabilities. What if the humanities could scientifically investigate what happened when, for instance, Nikola Tesla had the visions that led to groundbreaking inventions? What happened when Einstein saw the principles of general relativity in a dream? Perhaps the key takeaway from Prof. Kripal’s book is that, if the humanities would only dare to turn into the superhumanities, they would again become relevant for the other disciplines in academia.

Beyond Metaphor: Is Our Universe Literally a Brain? | Full Documentary

What if the sprawling cosmic web of galaxies, spanning billions of light years, shares striking similarities with the neural circuitry in our heads? In this video, we delve deep into recent research showing that the “cosmic filaments” binding galaxy clusters might parallel the intricate networks of neurons and synapses in our brains. Join us as we unpack how these two vastly different scales—microscopic neural tissue and a universe-sized lattice of galaxies—can exhibit comparable statistical patterns, structural motifs, and even “self-organizing” behaviors. We begin by exploring why the universe looks “networked,” discussing how gravitational interactions form cosmic filaments linking superclusters. We then compare this to neural connectivity, where billions of neurons form complex circuits of short- and long-range synapses. Along the way, we examine tools like high-resolution imaging, cosmological simulations, and graph theory—methods that let us treat both the human brain and the universe as interconnected networks. We’ll see how “nodes and bridges” are crucial in each system: neurons form local clusters bridged by long axons, just as galaxies clump into clusters connected by filaments. Next, we tackle the concept of self-organization: in the brain, synaptic plasticity continually reshapes circuits based on use, while in the cosmos, gravitational collapse sculpts voids and filaments from early quantum fluctuations. We also discuss information theory, where the brain balances order and entropy during perception and learning, while the cosmos develops “local pockets of order” (galaxy clusters) in a largely expanding universe. Finally, we address the hotly debated notion of “cosmic consciousness”—whether the universe “thinks” as a brain does or whether these parallels simply highlight universal design principles in nature, rather than any form of cosmic mind. If you’re curious about how cutting-edge simulations, entropy analyses, and network science bridge neuroscience and astrophysics, this video is for you. Get ready to see both the cosmos and your own brain in a whole new light! Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more deep dives into the science connecting our minds to the mysteries of the universe.

Information vs. Meaning: Top Biologist & Neuroscientist Explain | Michael Levin Λ Karl Friston

Curt Jaimungal is joined by Michael Levin and Karl Friston. This conversation incorporates insights from physics and information theory, particularly regarding self-organization and the significance of entropy and free energy.

The nature of reality – With Darius J. Wright

Darius J. Wright explains how he started to have out of body experiences since childhood, and how he experiences the other side. He explains what the different dimensions are beyond our 3D reality, and how our memory has been erased to make us forget where we are and who we are as souls. His website: https://dariusjwright.com/my-mis…

A Book So Dangerous It Exposes the Hidden War on Intelligence (no bs)

Everything is energy. Are you highly intelligent but feel trapped, misunderstood, or disconnected from the world? You’re not alone. Society wasn’t built for deep thinkers—it was designed to reward mediocrity, suppress critical thought, and keep the most capable minds distracted, isolated, and financially dependent. In this video, we uncover the hidden war on intelligence, breaking down the three key ways society suppresses high-IQ individuals, why The Curse of the High IQ by Aaron Clarey explains this phenomenon, and most importantly—how to escape ‘The IQ Trap’ and leverage your intelligence for true success.

Giulio Tononi on Consciousness and Integrated Information Theory

First and foremost this is a promotional clip pointing you in the direction of the original creators of the material. Secondly this is Educational in a way that could Save Lives. For original video see:Christof Koch and Giulio Tononi on Consciousness at the FQXi conference 2014 in Vieques    • Christof Koch and Giulio Tononi …  

New Evidence for Out-of-Body Experiences & Perennial Wisdom | Neuroscientist Marjorie Woollacott PhD

In this wide-ranging interview with Natalia Vorontsova, Professor Marjorie Woollacott draws remarkable parallels between 9th-10th century Kashmiri Shaivism and modern idealism, pointing to the fundamental and irreducible nature of consciousness. Moreover, her study of near-death experiences empirically supports this very hypothesis of the existence of a fundamental consciousness without neurons and beyond our five senses. This is an open conversation about life, death, and who we really are as ‘points of consciousness.’