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by New Age practices tend to center around ancient customs and legend, typically of Indian Hindu or Eastern Buddhist origin. One commonality between the two is a belief in energy centers within the human body called chakras. Each of the seven main chakras serves a different purpose in awakening or stimulating the human body and are activated via meditation and physical activity. The practice of yoga and its link to chakras and human physiology is a topic in and of itself.
Of particular note is a peculiar organ known as the Pineal Gland found in amphibians, reptiles, avians and mammals. Reacting to light, the pineal gland produces melatonin which instigates various biologic functions such as reduction in blood pressure and regulation of Circadian Rhythms. The gland has other peculiar properties such as the production of Dimethyltryptamine, a psychadelic chemical linked towards human dreaming and mystical states.
This mysticism is known as the Third Eye by New Age proponents. The Third Eye is believed to be the conduit, called a Siddhis, whereupon living beings possess a magical or spiritual power for the control of self, others and the forces of nature. The siddhis described by occultists and yogis are in actuality supernormal perceptual states available to all human beings. The popular term 'Third Eye' comes from the Pineal Glands former state as a more prominent, and sometimes external, gland that resembles an undeveloped optical organ. Combined with its occasional psychadelic tendancies, the New Age leap is not difficult to understand. Detailed writings have been written about the similarities between LSD trips and meditative trances achieved via Pineal Gland stimulation.
Two core questions arise from the mixture of hallucinogenic drugs, medical science and New Age musings. Could our [human] perception of divine miracle, nirvana and enlightenment really only be a powerful chemical stimulation in our brains to bring us peace? Or perhaps are the ancient traditions of our ancestors now re-emerging as an alternate facet of reality that our rigid reliance on logic and science has caused mankind to overlook?
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Involuntary Control Of Others
I'm curious if the properties of the Pineal Gland can be exploited to 'control' other people. Primarily in terms of interrogation. With the US Senate poised to ban all forms of torturous interrogation, it may become rather difficult to extract answers from suspects. Perhaps a combination of sensory deprivation and Pineal Gland stimulation could create various effects on a subject by which they are more open to suggestion. A constant lulling of the senses through an altered Circadian Rhythm. A hallucination through excessive Dimethyltryptamine production and words of suggestion. If the gland is really tied in with a human dream cycle, perhaps it can even be altered to produce a stream of nightmares in the individual being interrogated. There are other possibilities for exploiting New Age practices than just achieving nirvana or relaxing trance-like meditation.
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I don't get it!! by Rhodizzle :: NR5 :: Show
I don't really see any evidence of there being a massive New Age movement. I think it's just getting more exposure due to the abundance of information that is exchanged today compared to the past.
The only thing my Pineal Gland does for me is friggin wake me up at the first sign of light. I can't sleep past like 7:30, and I'm forced to play World of Warcraft for a few hours.