(TMI-ARMY Files) 1983 - Analysis and Assessment of Gateway Process

D E PA RT M E N T OF THE ARMY us ARMY O P E R AT I O N A L GROUP US ARMY INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY COMMAND FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, MARYLAND 2075S I A G P C - O ‘J June iyU3 S U B J E C T: Analysis and AssessmiMiL of Gateway Process TO: C o m m a n d e r US Army Operational Group Fort Meade, MD 20755 1 . Yo u t a s k e d m e t o p r o v i d e a n assessment of the Gateway Experience in terms of i t s m e c h a n i c s a n d u l t i m a t e p r a c t i c a l i t y, A s 1 s e t o u t t o f u l fi l l t h a t t a s k i n g i t soon became clear that in order to assess the validity and practicality of the process Ineeded to do enough supporting research and analysis to fully understand liow and wtiy the process works, F r a n k l y, s i r, that proved to be an extremeiy involved and d i f fi c u l t business. I n i t i a l l y, based on conversations with a physician who took the Gateway training with me, Ihad recourse to the biomedical models developed by Itzhak Bentov to obtain information concerning the physical as£)ects of tlie x^Focess. Then j found it necessary to delve into v a r i o u s sou tees for information concerning quantum mechanics in order to be able to describe the nature and functioning of human consciousness, Ihad to be able to construct a s c i e n t i fi c a l l y v a l i d a n d r e a s o n a b l y l u c i d m o d e l o f h o w c o n s c i o u s n e s s funct ions under the influence of tlie brain liemisxihere synchronization technique employed by G a t e w a y, Once this was done, the next step involved recourse to theoretical p h y ' j i c s i n order to explain the character of the time-space dimension and the means by which expanded human consciousness transcends it in achieving Gateway's objectives.Finallyv Iagain found it necessary to use physics to bring the whole phenomenon of out-of-body states into the language of physical science to remove the stigma of its occult connotations, and put it in aframe of reference suited to objective assessment. 2 . I b e g a n t h e n a r r a t i v e b y b r i e fl y p r o fi l i n g t h e f u n d a m e n t a l b i o m e d i c a l f a c t o r s a ff e c t i n g s u c h r e l a t e d t e c h n i q u e s a s h y p n o s i s , b i o f e e d b a c k a n d t r a n s c e n d e n t a l meditation so that their objectives and mode of functioning could be compared in the reader's mind with the Gateway experience as the model of its underlying mechanics was developed, A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h a t i n t r o d u c t o r y m a t e r i a l i s u s e f u l i n s u p p o r t i n g t h e c o n c l u s i o n s o f t l i e p a p e r, Iindicate that at times these related techniques may provide useful entry points to accelerate movement into the Gateway Experience. 3 . Niels Bohr, the renowned physicist once responded to his son's complaints about the obtuse nature of certain concepts in physics by saying: Yo u a r e n o t t h i n k i n g . you are merely being logical, The physics of altered human consciousness deals with some conceptualizations that are not easily grasped or visualized exclusively in the context of ordinary "left brain"linear thinking. So, to borrow Dr. Bohr's mode of expression, parts of this paper will require not only logic but atouch of ^ i right brain intuitive insight to achieve acomplete comfortable grasp of the concepts involved, N e v e r t h e l e s s , o n c e t h a t i s d o n e , I a m c o n fi d e n t t h a t t h e i r construction and application will stand up to the test of rational critique. 4. Paradoxically, having gone to such great lengths to avoid trying to render judgements based on an occult or dogmatic frame of reference in the end Ifound i t necessary to return, at least briefly, to the question of the impact of the Gateway Experience on conution belief systems. Idid so because although it was essential to avoid attempting to render an assessment in the context of such systems, Ifelt that it was necessary after having completed the analysis to point out that the resvslting conclusions do not do any violence to the fundamental mainstream of either eastern or western belief systems, U n l e s s t h a t p o i n t i s c l e a r l y established. the danger exists that some people will reject the whole concept of the Gateway Experience in the mistaken belief that it contradicts and is therefore alien to all that they hold to be right and true. 5. This study is certainly not designed to be the last word on the subject but I hope that the validity of its basic structure and of the fundamental concepts upon which it is based will make it auseful guide for other USAINSCO.M personnel who are required to take the Gateway training or work with Gateway materials. WAYNiy M. MCDONNELL LT C , MI Commander, Det O Jf The Gateway Experience: Brain Hemisphere Synchronization in perspective. 1. Introduction. In order to describe the Monroe Institute technique for achieving altered states of consciousness(the Gateway Experience") involving brain hemisphere synchronization or "Hemi~Sync", the most effective way to begin is to b r i e fl y p r o fi l e t h e b a s i c m e c h a n i c s w h i c h u n d e r l a y o p e r a t i o n o f r e l a t e d m e t h o d s such as hypnosis, transcendental meditation, and biofeedback, It is easiest to effectively describe what Gateway is by beginning with ashort description of those a s s o c i a t e d t e c h n i q u e s t h a t s h a r e s o m e common aspects with the Gateway Experience but which are nevertheless different. In this way we can develop aframe of reference at the outset which will provide useful concepts to explain and understand Gateway by comparison, as we proceed. 2. Hypnosis. According to the theories of psychologist Ronald Stone and the biomedical engineering models of Itshak Bentov, hypnosis is basically atechnique which permits acquisition of direct access to the sensory motor cortex and pleasu r e centers, and lower cerebral(emotional) portions(and associated pleasure centers) of the right side of the human brain following successful disengagement of the stimulus screening function of the left hemisphere of the brain. The left hemisphere of the brain is the self-cognitive, verbal and linear reasoning component of the mind. I t f u l fi l l s t h e f u n c t i o n o f s c r e e n i n g i n c o m i n g s t i m u l i b y categorizing, assessing and assigning meaning prior to allowing passage to the right hemisphere of the mind. The right hemisphere, which functions as the noncritical, holistic, nonverbal and pattern-oriented component of the brain appears to accept what the left hemisphere passes to it without question. C o n s e q u e n t l y, i f t h e l e f t h e m i s p h e r e c a n b e d i s t r a c t e d e i t h e r t h r o u g h b o r e d o m o r t h r o u g h r e d u c t i o n t o a s o p o r i fi c , s e m i - s l e e p s t a t e , e x t e r n a l s t i m u l i t o i n c l u d e hypnotic suggestions are allowed to pass unchallenged into the right liemisphere where they are accepted and acted upon directly, T h e r e s u l t m a y i n v o l v e a n emotional reaction originating in the lower cerebral region, sensory/motor responses requiring involvement of the cortex, and so on. Both the sensory and the ^motor cortices of the right cerebral portion of the brain contain asequence of points known as the "homunculus" which corresponds to points in the body(see Exhibit 1, next page), Stimulation of the corresponding area on the cortex causes intermediate response in the associated portion of the body. Consequently, induction of the suggestion that the left leg is numb, if it reaches the right hemisphere unchallenged and is referred to the appropriate area of the sensory cortex, will result in an electrical reaction being generated that will induce the f e e l i n g o f n u m b n e s s . S i m i l a r l y, t h e s u g g e s t i o n t h a t t h e p e r s o n i s e x p e r i e n c i n g a general feeling of happiness and well being would be referred to the appropriate pleasure centers located in the lower cerebral portion or in the cortex of the r i g h t h e m i s p h e r e , t h e r e b y i n d u c i n g t h e s u g g e s t e d f e e l i n g o f e u p h o r i a . F i n a l l y, suggestions such as one that informs the hypnotic subject that he enjoys enhanced concentration or powers of memory would be responded to in the right hemisphere by accessing unused information storage capacity normally held in reserve as aresult of left, hemisphere selection and control processes. This aspect will become s i g n i fi c a n t i n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h e G a t e w a y p r o c e s s w h e n a t t e n t i o n i s g i v e n t o examining the way that hypnosis may be used to accelerate progress in the early stages of the Gateway Experience. 3. Transcendental Meditation. On the other hand, transcendental meditation works in adistinctly different fashion. In this technique, intense and protracted single minded concentration on the process of drawing energy up the spinal cord ultimately results in what appears to be creation of acoustical standing waves in the cerebral ventricles which are then conducted to the gray matter in the cerebral f The Cortex and the Homunculus r i CUKIi^K HonuNCUL ui ilfIMULt/S m m n . w r / i / i V5 C'i < C * « r * . r f “ ru/Ki> A-.^i orcKtu Iyovf/oei&i I F i g u r e AT h e H o m u n c u l u s ’ M Hof»K COHfAX !iCAfSH^r Cok!^X ■1/if^Ki‘U. V'd/V/Wl^S 1906 Figure Byiie Motor and Sensory Cortex and the Tliird and Lateral Ventricles V Contral sulcusi ^ i (Motor Cortex)I'lrioior) \ Posu-enln.l gyru.s (sonsory I^(SenSOry CortCx) Anlcfior horn of '' — bo or down). Without these points of rest, an oscillating wave pattern would be impossible since the points of rest are required to permit the energy to change direction and thus continue vibrating between rigid limits. But it is also true t h a t w h e n , f o r a n i n fi n i t e s i m a l l y b r i e f i n s t a n t , t h a t e n e r g y r e a c h e s o n e o f i t s t w o p o i n t s o f r e s t i t " c l i c k s o u t " o f t i m e - s p a c e a n d j o i n s i n fi n i t y ( s e e E x h i b i t 3 , n e x t page). That critical step out of time-space occurs when the speed of the oscillation drops below 10~33 centimeters per second(Planck's Distance), To use the words of Bentov: "...quantum mechanics tell us that when distances go below Planck's Distance, which is 10~33 e n t e r, i n e ff e c t , a n e w w o r l d , T o return to our case in point, the human consciousness wave pattern reaches such high frequency that the pattern of "clickouts" comes so close together that there is virtual continuity in it. Then, aportion of that consciousness is actually postulated to establish and maintain its information collection function in those dimensions located between time-space and the Absolute. Thus, as the almost continuous "clickout" pattern establishes itself in continuous phase at speeds below Planck's Distance but before reaching the state of total rest, human consciousness passes through the looking glass of time-space after the fashion of Alice beginning her journey into wonderland, The Gateway experience, with its associated Hemi-Sync technique, is apparently designed, if used systematically and p a t i e n t l y, t o e n a b l e h u m a n c o n s c i o u s n e s s t o e s t a b l i s h a c o h e r e n t p a t t e r n o f p e r c e p t i o n i n t h o s e d i m e n s i o n s w h e r e s p e e d s b e l o w P l a n c k ' s d i s t a n c e a p p l y. T h i s holds true irrespective of whether the individual is exercising his c o n s c i o u s n e s s while in his physical body or whether he is doing so after having separated that consciousness from the physical body(i.e. the so called out-of-body state mentioned e a r l i e r ) .