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.'

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00:00:00 Interview intro
00:02:15 Marjorie's life-changing experience: shift in research focus, and metaphysics
00:09:20 The beauty of integrating intellect and intuition
00:13:09 What is consciousness: Kashmiri Shaivism & modern idealism of B. Kastrup & F. Faggin
00:19:54 Parallels and differences: Kashmiri Shaivism, Advaita Vedanta, modern idealism
00:25:58 How does it contrast with materialism?
00:27:47 Consciousness beyond the 5 senses: new research on children with autism
00:30:04 New understanding of consciousness: a remarkable NDE case & AHA moments
00:41:27 Why do so few people remember their NDE?
00:48:02 NDE cases and the power of transformation
00:51:03 How and where to study consciousness? Meditator vs. scientist.
00:55:35 How Nobel Prize-winning discoveries have often been made
00:56:21 Why to advance post-materialist paradigm in science?
01:00:42 C.G. Jung, our belief system and the future of humanity
01:02:46 A shift towards expanding consciousness
01:05:08 Recommended books and reference sources
01:06:42 Terminal lucidity & end-of-life experiences
01:08:15 What happens after death? Religions and perennial beliefs.

Reference literature and online resources:
Books:
Motor Control: Translating Research into Clinical Practice, by A. Shumway-Cook, M.H. Woollacott
Infinite Awareness: The Awakening of a Scientific Mind, by M.H. Woollacott
Spiritual Awakenings, ed. M.H. Woollacott, D.Lorimer
Irreducible: Consciousness, Life, Computers, and Human Nature, by F. Faggin
Return to Life: Extraordinary Cases of Children Who Remember Past Lives, by Jim B. Tucker
Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation, by Ian Stevenson
Papers:
Williams, B, Woollacott, MH. Conceptual cognitions and awakening: Insights from non-dual Saivism and neuroscience. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 53: 119-139, 2021.

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[parusha]

I was a Buddhist monk for over 15 years - this woman makes total sense - we need more like her.

[bunberrier]

I want to comment but there is nothing but emotion instead. I feel love and gratitude.
My people! I wish you two all the best.

[krillep]

This is becoming the best youtube channel when it comes to science, spirituality, consciouness. Its straight to the point, its not overtalking. Its going right to the point we want to hear.

[anitastewart]

Marjorie, fantastic conversation, bravo for being at the forefront of these dynamic changes in the materialistic scientific community. Your passion radiates throughout the entire interview. ❤

[MahimAmaan]

Big shout out to Natalia - I think you're a wonderful interviewer and I look forward to your conversations with various researchers. I valued this conversation very much, just recently I was having a discussion with friends regarding the validity of NDEs and was met with a lot of doubt, thank you for sharing your wisdom Marjorie!

[marcoscunha]

I appreciated her comment about keeping the word "spirituality" out of the discourse.
There are experiences. All experiences, from the most trivial to the most subtle all of them permeated with potential to gain insight, , even those that mislead the unaware. Creating the division between spiritual and mundane is a sure way to get lost in fantasies. So, kudos for pointing it out.

[PANOP]

I feel like many of us are recognizing, aligning with Who We Are and our “part” in this Evolving Play. And right now this Play fortunately has Marjorie in it. Very grateful.

[susannayeung]

Marjorie and host, wonderful conversation. Marjorie's presentation is very precise and communicative. Please do it more often and the world needs your knowledge and wisdom. Thank you, both of you, for your great efforts!

[Dreymayne]

What a wonderful video and great guest/interviewer! We really need more credibility in this space so people will start taking these ideas seriously. Thanks for all you do!

[charlesfaull]

I Feel an entangled connection to you Marjorie Wollacott as I also started meditation in 1976 and my experience twice daily of transcending to the void has been exactly the same as yours - a plug-in into the unified field of Consciousness (big C) - "freedom, totality ( ONE ) and cause" - the Fountainhead Of Nature's Intelligence ( FONI ) - all Essentia interviews are so enriching, for me this one was my best ❤ QUITE REMARKABLE, Please could Essentia interview you again

[rexodeuce]

What a mind! And what an amazing communicator!

[Stevendog]

I love people who are passionate about their interests and never give up.

[onelifematters]

I love this! 1:03:53 I came to this realization over this past year and it is so freeing and loving.

[JohnnyKarlitch-gd]

Passionnant ! Quelle grande chercheuse ! Et l'intervieweuse est très pertinente dans ses interventions (et ses réactions sont adorables).

[profcharlesflmbakaya]

Amazing. Awesome! Not heard of such clear thinking and presentation on the subject before. Boy, xoxo coherent. Even the interviewer is simply excellent! Some similarities with my own views of reality in the universe are stunning!!!!

[annaelle_d]

Thank you very much for this wonderful interview.
It encouraged me to go back to my stopped reading of Jung's book about his life.
I think we have to overcome our fear to speak openly about all this because it is essential for our future. The Paradise is here, if we want it to be so.
♥

[Killane]

I always sense the energy of a strong desire to convince people of alternates to materialism, especially from scientists who have opened up to alternative perspectives.

You are pushing against ego and dogma

Thanks for setting the truth free❤

[Non-Dualite]

Thank you for this so profound and essential talk. I came across lot of consciousness experiences, too, and confirm all what was said here, and, as M.D. the importance of exhausting consciousness in our science, and our lifes.

[calliebelwayns]

Yes my NDE experiences support the depth of your sharing here. Thank you for this important and grounded discussion. ❤

[LizafromWhere]

I love that Majorie triangulates what Bernardo, Federico and Advaita Vedanta are saying. Kashmiri Shaivism is a new one by me too. Great interview as the ones by TOE Curt Jumaingal are a bit too technical for my mid curve brain. Thank you again. Really nice talk