The mind beyond the brain

This talk was given at the advaya event Consciousness: Re-Defining Our Parameters with Rupert Sheldrake and David Luke.

Most scientists assume that the mind is located inside the head. But there are good reasons for thinking that this view is much too limited. People can influence others at a distance just by looking at them, even if they look from behind and if all sensory clues are eliminated. People’s intentions can also be detected telepathically by animals from miles away, and some people can tell who is calling them before they pick up the phone. Our minds seem to extend stretch out beyond our brains through attention and intention. And they are also open to more-than-human forms of consciousness, both through spontaneous mystical experiences and through spiritual practices.