Scientific Approaches to Spirituality - Dr Rupert Sheldrake, PhD

Dr. Rupert Sheldrake is a biologist and author of more than 85 scientific papers and 14 books. He is a leading researcher into anomalous phenomena and was named among the top 100 Global Thought Leaders for 2013. He studied biology and biochemistry at Cambridge University where he earned his Ph.D., followed by a fellowship at Harvard where he spent a year studying philosophy and history.

In this session, we discuss Rupert’s latest work on scientific approaches to spirituality, why they work, how they improve psychological wellbeing, and how you can use them - even if you do not identify with any kind of religion.

This interview was recorded as part of our 2020 Holistic Change Summit, which featured sessions with 25 world leading psychologists, neuroscientists and authors, who shared their latest evidence based approaches to behaviour change.

[saycog]

I had vivid dreams when I was fasting. It felt so incredible. Great that he mentioned that.

[hasansahsah]

Great man; bigger than the dry materialistic science. A polite humble man who came with good theories and different paradigms to explore the world better. Both open minded scientists and mystics see his work worthy- He adds to both. Thanks Rupert.

[wizzardlately]

Agree entirely with Rupert's thoughts and considerations on the altered state of consciousness in sport. I played football (soccer) for three decades. Sometimes I played three times a week in fast paced 7-a-side games. I performed at my best when there wasn't anytime to think just act and it was when my mind was in this state that 'i' produced some action that was almost as perfect in terms of the right place and time to do them. When I was really in the zone I could score goals with the ease of shelling peas. It was when I had too much time that thoughts would come in and the results were often embarrassing, if only to myself.

[alanbrunton]

One of these days, I hope to talk with Rupert. A friend of mine in York has met with his wife. We are doing trials here in the states to measure raising cognition with specific sound frequencies.

[seabud]

Rupert Sheldrake is a National/World treasure. One of the people who will help flip the prevailing militant materialist paradigm and usher in the realisation that the Universe, in its totality is an organism. An indivisible Holon. (Uni-verse)

[TheSamuiman]

In Vedanta, the english term "mind", is understood as being of at least 4 categories, 1.) Buddhi - the intellect, not only confined to the brain but understood as working all over the body. 2.) Manas - memory, not only confined to the brain, but considered to work all over the body - f.E. as highly intelligent genetic coding.. 3.) Ahankara - gives you that sense of identity. Once your ahankara takes on an identity, your intellect functions only in that context and becomes enslaved of a bunch of random identifications with what is believed to be the "truth" - dogmatic. 4.) Chitta - the most important of them all - Chitta is mind without memory – pure universal intelligence. This intelligence is like the cosmic intelligence – simply there in everything (morphic fields). Everything happens because of that - When people touch this dimension of the mind, it is called in yoga. Also understood as Chit Shakti, it is about touching the dimension of the mind that is pure intelligence of universal consciousness, unaffected by memory, unsullied by identification. It is beyond ahankara, beyond buddhi, beyond judgment, beyond divisions, it is simply present in every thing every where, animated or unanimated, not limited by any boundary, just like the intelligence of existence that makes everything happen, as if by itself. Who understands the golden ratio, the 3, 6, 9 phenomena, the fibonacci numbers, the flower of life and so on understands what is represented by the idea of chit shakti! Highly interesting as well as enlightening stuff...!

[BasedBooksYT]

It's nice to see Rupert still active and speaking better than ever, I grew up listening to him and Terence. My old youtube account I lost access to has some old Terence videos I cut up about 15 years ago, some have hundreds of thousands of view. Listening to this takes me back to the good old days, when life was simpler.

[paulbrandon]

Rupert is brilliant, his knowledge base mind blowing.

[itzajdmting]

Rupert is a national treasure as far as I'm concerned - and even such a statement trivialises his ingenuity and boldness in the face of scorn by the scientific community.

[vincecallagher]

Look how enlightened America is from its religious righteousness. This is sarcastic, also, I don’t disagree with rupert

[DanceCat]

Dr Sheldrake's courage has always had my respect. He's kept on talking and researching, even though he's been harshly criticized. I am so glad to see he's continued doing interviews.

[scottkoshland]

Truly one of the most brilliant minds of this generation. He transcends material reductionist framework to understand our true consciousness. Amazing insight about the Near death experience as the death and rebirth. Amazing. Amazing!

[cassidyvogt]

35:00 mins in is when he speaks on the actual 14 practices, as lays down how to do each practice .. and why you would use each practice/ when to use each practice.. if your seeking to do so systematically to reach a goal or placement on journey road of mind and soul that is :)

[stylembonkers]

1. Meditation
2. Gratitude
3. Connecting with nature
4. Relating to plants
5. Singing and chanting
6. Rituals
7. Pilgrimage.

[davidmchugh-hypnotherapist]

Our spiritual perspective splits consciousness or unites it. All spiritual practises are either dualistic or unified and reinforce human material or spiritual existence.

[davidjohnzenocollins]

Santo Daime is the Brazilian Ayahuasca religion Rupert spoke of towards the end.

[Liciablyth]

I appreciate the sharing of all that gathered knowledge and wisdom. I would be very careful to not desire for myself, or for any living creature, the need to use any drug (or food for that matter) as a spiritual facilitator. We have magnificent systems that are capable of self balance and healing and of creating spiritual evolution without the need for drugs.

[MaudMargretheRex]

Wonderfully well expressed 🙏🏼🙏🏼🍂🙏🏼🙏🏼 both by the younger and the older one. Thanks

[dawnbaldwin]

Law was supposed to protect us from ourselves and others!!! That was the basis for freedom under law... all of life on earth in harmony! 🧡💚

[seastar]

Interesting talk, I saw his wife Jill purce many years ago, I attended a chanting workshop with her. Many thanks x