It is the largest in 90% of the planet. It is not surprising - death is associated for most of us with an inevitable end, with the end of life and the transition to a new incomprehensible and frightening state. In this article we will talk about whether it is possible to get rid of such fear in principle, and how to stop afraid of death.
We sing your life
Imagine spring. Flowering trees, fresh greens, returned from the sguards of the bird. This is the time when even the most gloomy pessimists feel ready for any feats and obey a general good mood. Imagine the end of November. If you do not live in warm edges, it is not the most irrelevant picture. Naked trees, puddles and dirt, slush, rain and wind. The sun sits early, and at night is uncomfortable and uncomfortable. It is clear that in this weather, the mood, what is called, the prepare - but in any case we know that the autumn will pass, then the snowy winter will come with a bunch of holidays, and then nature will come back again and we will be genuinely happy and happy life.
If it were so easily and understood with the understanding of life and death! But it was not there. We do not know, and the unknown instigates horror in us. of death? Read this article. You will get simple to fulfill the recommendation that will get rid of you from the controversial fears.
What is the cause of fear?
Before answering the question about death, we will analyze from what it happens.
1. Man peculiar to assume the worst. Imagine that a close person does not come home in the last time, and the phone does not raise and does not respond to messages. Nine people out of ten suggestion the worst - something bad happened, since he could not even answer the call.
And when a close person finally appears and explains that he was busy, and the phone "sat down", we splash on it a bunch of emotions. How could he make us worry and nervous? Familiar situation? The fact is that people most often suggest the worst, then to exhale with relief or adopt the inevitable already doomed and prepared. Death is no exception. We do not know what she carries, but already tuned to the worst outcome.
2. Fear of unknowns. We are frightened by what we do not know. Our brain is to blame, or rather, how it works. When we repeat the same effect day after day, a steady chain of neural connections is built in the brain. For example, you go to work every day of the same way. Once you need for any reason to go to another - and you will experience discomfort, even if the new road is shorter and more convenient. It's not about preference, it's just that the device of our head will also scare us for this reason - we did not experience it, do not know what will happen next, and the brain is alien, it causes rejection. Even people who do not believe in hell are discomfort when hear about death.
3. Presentations about the ADE and RAE. If you rose in a religious family, then you probably have your opinion about the device of the afterlife. The most common religions today promise to the righteous and hellish flour to those who lead a lifeless life. Given the modern realities of life, it is very difficult to be righteous, especially as required by strict religious canons. As a result, each believer understands that, perhaps, after death, he will not see the gates of Paradise. And boiling boilers are unlikely to cause enthusiasm as soon as possible to learn what is hidden behind the threshold of death.
Do not think about the white monkey
Then we will tell about several proven ways to stop afraid of death and start living. First step - Take the fact that you are mortal. This is inevitable, and as they say, no one else left alive. However, fortunately, we do not know when our care happens.
This may happen tomorrow, in a month or many decades. Is it worth working in advance about what happens is unknown when? They are not afraid of death, simply by accepting the fact of its inevitability - this is the first answer to the question of how to stop afraid of death.
Religion is not a response
A common misconception is the idea that religion gives consolation living and eliminates the fear of death. Of course, relieves, but a completely irrational way. Since anyone in the world is unknown that will be after the end of life, there are many versions. Religious ideas about the ADE and RAE are also a version, and a popular, but reliable? If you honor your God since childhood (it doesn't matter what religion you confess), then you find it difficult to accept the idea that no priest knows what will happen to you after death. Why? Because no one left here alive and no one returned from there.
Hell in our imagination is drawn by a completely unwriting place, and therefore death may scare for this reason. We do not encourage you to abandon your faith, but no faith should inspire fear. Therefore, there is another answer to the question of how to stop thinking about death. Refuse conviction, you are waiting for an inevitable choice between hell and paradise!
Often, people are afraid not so much death as what can lead to it - for example, diseases. This is the same meaningless fear as horror before death, but it can be effectively fighting. As you know, a healthy mind lives in a healthy body, which means that as soon as you feel healthy, the irrational fears will leave you. Get out sports, but not through "I do not want", but with pleasure. It may not be such a boring departure, how much favorite occupation is dancing, swimming, cycling rides. Start watching what you eat, give up alcohol or smoking. As soon as you feel confidently standing on your feet, with hard health, you will stop thinking about diseases, and therefore, about death.
Live day
There is such a statement: "Tomorrow never comes. We are waiting for the evening, he comes, but comes now. Less sleep, woke up - now. A new day came - and again now."
No matter how afraid of the future, in the general sense of the word, it never comes - you will all be at the moment "now." So is it worth allowing your thoughts to carry you away, while you are all the time here and now?
Why not?
Now it is fashionable to make tattoos in the form of life-affirming inscriptions, and young people often choose the Latin expression "Carpe Diem". Literally it decrypts "Live Day" or "Live Moment". Do not allow negative thoughts to carry you out of life - this is the answer to the question of how to stop afraid of death.
And at the same time remember death
Exploring the life of authentic Indian tribes, who live in Latin America, historians were surprised to find that the Indians honor death and remember her daily, almost every minute. However, this is not because of fear of her, and on the contrary because of the desire to live fully and consciously. What does it mean?
As we have already spoken above, thoughts often carry us from the moment now in the past or future. We know about death, often worry her, but at the subconscious level I do not believe in her reality for us. That is, this is something that happens once. Indians, on the contrary, understand for themselves that death can come at any time, and therefore live with the maximum return ones now.
How to get rid of fear of death? Just remember her. Do not expect with fear, but just keep somewhere on the subconscious, that it can come once, which means you do not need to postpone important things for later. How not to be afraid of death? Pay attention to native and friends, your hobby, deal with the sport, change the post's work, develop a matter close to you in spirit. Taking care of your life, you will stop thinking about death with fear.
Sometimes we bother not so much about yourself as those who are our roads. Such experiences are especially familiar to parents - it's worth a loved one to stay on the evening walk or stop answering moms mom, and the worst thoughts climb. You can cope with your fear - if you want, of course.
You will not be able to patron your child forever, besides, nothing good happens to your experiences. But you suffer yourself, overwhelming your nervous system with contrived fears.
Please accept the fact that things go to your guy. Be calm, do not worry. And remember that thinking about the bad - your favorite brain occupation, but not yours.
Adrian Izh.
Psychotherapist
Death in psychology
Fear of death and limb is one of the basic foundations of psychotherapy. In total, their four are imperfection of the world, loneliness, the fear of death and the lack of global meaning. Now this is not the main topic of customer appeals, but usually the number of panic attacks and appeals associated with death fear increases after terrorist acts and loud deaths of young celebrities.
In psychology, fear of death is a complex of disturbing experiences about its own limb or about the limb of close people aimed at saving. People are afraid to die, because this fear is necessary for survival. Name this "simply instinct" is probably impossible, but in general, most of the living organisms should be avoided to avoid unpleasant and dangerous impacts. This allows them to stay alive longer.
How the fear of death is formed
First, the child does not know what will die. Its basic fear is the fear of separation, the loss of a caring adult nearby. When nobody fit to the child for a long time, he is frightened and shouts, because it is a strong experience.
Then the child learns that his parents older than him, which one day they would die. Culture informs the child about this through fairy tales, where there are stepmothers, killed fathers or brothers. Then he sees the corpus on the streets - dead butterflies, killed mosquitoes. Sometimes children are encountered with the death of pets, pigeons or yard kittens. So the child gradually recognizes that he himself is mute. This is usually a strong experience that occurs aged 4-5 years. Most of the children react to it negatively: they report that they will never die, prohibit their parents to die. But gradually get used to.
Lost experience
Each culture has its own ways to deal with death, even in Russia among different nationalities and in different regions, the attitude towards it is very different. If we talk about the Russian system, which covers most of the people, the funeral, and then a commemoration for 9 days, 40 days and year correspond to the normal stages of accommodation and completing mourning. So it should be.
Most of the children react negatively: they report that they will never die, prohibit their parents to die. But gradually get used to
In the Czech Republic there is a kosnitz - the church decorated with coat of arms and chandeliers from the bones of the people who died during the plague. Most likely, so people experienced injury to losing a large number of close, relatives and neighbors. Of course, it required some special attitude to what is happening, but more or less they were afraid of death than we are now, a difficult question. Sometimes to cope with something, you have to approach this closer. And sometimes go away is an individual choice.
When fear becomes pathology
You can talk about pathology when fear begins to interfere with living and perform everyday actions. If a person is not sick, nothing threatens him, he is young enough and at the same time he constantly thinks about death, most likely some kind of injury happened and he approaches phobia.
They are characterized who do not bring calmness: for example, if a person passed the basic surveys, he all says that he is healthy, and he is still afraid to die from an unknown disease. Or cannot approach a pedestrian crossing. Or is it difficult to sleep. If there is no direct threat, and there is strong fear and experiences, it is necessary to turn to the doctor behind the anti-tested drugs and to a psychologist to provide therapeutic assistance. Fear is opposed to rational thinking - anxiety is evacuated only by the work of the frontal fraction, so the analysis of injuries reduce the level of anxiety. But only provided that there are no disorders in the brain.
Alexander Panchin
Candidate of Biological Sciences, Laureate Promi "Enlightener"
Fear of death as an evolutionary mechanism
From the point of view of evolutionary biology, the mechanisms that protect us from bringing injury to themselves are important for the survival and transfer of genes to descendants. Suppose the fear of height is common among people, because if you see the abyss, you better stop moving towards this abyss. This feature occurs even in childhood - it helps people do not fall from height, survive, reach reproductive age and leave offspring.
In different cultures there is a different attitude to death, different ideas about what it is. There are people who, perfectly giving themselves aware that death is an end, argue that they are already quite satisfied with the fact that they generally lived. For example, he says that it is incredibly happy that he generally bothered to be born, because many potential people could not even be done.
Sometimes to cope with something, you have to approach this closer. And sometimes move away - this is an individual choice
Eternal question - what is primary in man: social or biological. And one, and more important. Something is laid by nature, something is formed depending on how a person is developing in society. Social is superimposed on biological, but basic fears before specific threats that can lead to death are present in our early age. This can be attributed to real momentary threats in the form of predators, darkness, something hot, sharp, high.
Jean-Batist Reno. Death Cleopatra, 1796-1797
Formation of erroneous insurance
Fears that occur in a person not in early childhood, but a little later, become the result of the brain's ability to form associations, build causal relationships. Roughly speaking, a person has undergone a certain stimulus and as a result, it turned out to be in a state when congenital detectors signalize him that he did wrong. He may be hurt or cold, he may experience fear. When a person turns out to be in a state of stress, his brain is automatically trying, after analyzing the previous experience, to understand what led to this deplorable situation.
In many cases, this is a very important mechanism that helps us learn and identify real and potential threats that were difficult to foresee a thousand years ago when our ancestors evolved. But on the other hand, this mechanism fails. Sometimes people form fears before something that in fact no threat carries. Fear is formed simply because so coincided: the black cat ran the road and then there was some misfortune - a person finds a relationship here and begins to be afraid of black cats, running off the road.
This is an example of magical thinking - incorrectly constructed causal relationship. But our brain is evolutionally able to build different causal relationships - both the correct and in some cases incorrect. Therefore, it is capable of shaping adequate relationships between the real danger and possible consequences of this danger and fictional fears - when something in reality is not at all dangerous.
Sergey Mokhov
Social anthropologist, editor of the magazine "Archeology of Russian Death", Coordinator of the Laboratory of Social Studies of Death and Dying (CNSI), Expert Foundation "Khamovniki"
Russian and American death
The last two centuries death in Russia and all over the world - the issue is not a tradition and religion, but exclusively those services and goods that are offered funeral agencies. These suggestions are based on what regulatory restrictions exist in society and which funeral infrastructure is available to people. For example, in America there are all possibilities for creating a private infrastructure and therefore funeral houses appear, where there are rooms of balsamation, farewell rooms, cataphomen and even cemeteries and crematoriums within one funeral cluster. This very quickly leads to the fetishization of the dead body, as the funeral directors have complete control over it, and with the help of branched infrastructure can offer new and new services.
A distinctive feature of Russia is that the private infrastructure cannot be created, there is no regulation. At the same time, the state funeral infrastructure does not work and does not develop, smoothly like other infrastructure: roads, houses, housing and communal services. This is precisely this determines the specifics of the very "Russian death", which many are caught as a special gloomy aesthetics. Many see some kind of eschatology, fallency. In fact, this is commonlessness, which is generally characteristic of third-world countries, where there is no perception of infrastructure as an embodiment of the idea of \u200b\u200bthe "common good."
The funeral sphere is initially unprofitable, since the value of demand is constant, and the competition is high. At the same time, the profit is blurred between dozens of agents included in the process of organizing the funeral. The funeral industry can function only if there is a high marginality due to the sale of related goods and artificial overestimation of prices for products. So the industry is functioning everywhere - it is about this that I write in my book "The Birth and Death of the Funeral Industry: from medieval efforts to digital immortality."
The last two centuries death in Russia and around the world - the question is not a tradition and religion, but exclusively those services and goods that are offered funeral agencies
Despite how far the science and new technologies have stepped out, which tremendous opportunities opened in medicine, the overwhelming number of people in the world believe in the afterlife, the existence of Paradise and Hell. It would seem that we live in a modern secularized world - but people believe in spiritual things. This is in America, and in Russia. The only difference is that death there is a more specificized process. It is impossible to die there, so that no one knows about it and the state was not involved in this process. In Russia, dying and death - things to which the state belongs is very simple: "Do not load us with this social problem - well, well, the main thing is that the retirement no longer need to pay."
In my book, I am writing about all these things like a "positive attitude" to death, which is a new trend in the funeral industry, is that there are active buyers engage in the process of execution of the order. These are both eopochifers, and a DIY funeral (DIY-Culture - Do it Yourself or "DIY". - Approx. ed.), and focus on memorialization and "designer" funeral, as a similarity of the organization of weddings. Similar new practices grow not from the fact that people unexpectedly wanted some kind of unique way to show their positive attitude to death, and from rethinking what kind of person is that such a life is and what is human death - mainly due to change of attitude to body and physicity. This can be seen against the background of serious conflicts, on the one hand, around, sexuality, and, on the other, around the fitness industry, sports, plastic operations. This leads to the fact that the usual integrity of the body and the need for its conservation is not associated with a person. As a result, there is a refusal of traditional burial and all associated accessories. Therefore, for example, cremation becomes an absolute trend in the West.
Election tab
I am an opponent of the whole story about the "tabernitude of death". From the point of view of a critical approach to knowledge, to interpretations, the fact that the topic of death is tabulated is an absolutely empty statement that does not find any confirmation. It is very convenient when you, for example, psychoanalyst, argue that everything grows out of two things: or from sex, or from fear of death. And it's very easy to explain everything around this: "Do you have problems at work? It is children's injury against the background of sexuality and death. " It turns out a comprehensive theory that always gives its answer. I do not argue that these topics are extremely wide and find a manifestation in almost any areas, but the concept of fear of death as a kind of congenital constant greatly limits us in knowledge.
Talking about tabs is very selective. When someone asks me a question, whether we are not published by the theme of death, I answer: go to any Orthodox church - and you will see a bunch of dead, literally dried bodies (meaning the power of the saints. - Approx. ed.) Is it the tabernitude of death? Or take the coolest performance of recent years, when millions of people stood in kilometer queues to kiss the dried dead body. Or see the film and see murders, blood, torn dead bodies - is it tabernitude of death? Only when we are talking about our deeline, we have some difficulties. I think it is just the specifics of the conversation and absolutely not a drawing indicator.
No need to confuse the tabernitude of the topic (as a ban) and the absence of a conversation (language and skill speaking) about personal experience. We look like a silent person here, who maybe, and wants to speak, but can not, because not trained or has no opportunity.
The fact that this topic is now rising, says that it is ready to discuss. Another question is that in the Soviet and post-Soviet culture there is no language on which you can talk about death and dying. It is hard enough to produce.
The concept of fear of death as a kind of congenital constant greatly limits us in knowledge
At the same time, I am sure that most people are now ready to discuss death to one degree or another. Of course, not so straight: "Hey, dude, you will soon throw off the hooves, let's discuss how it will be." Obviously, this is a little incorrect, because not everyone likes to talk about it for a cup of coffee. But we know the various stories when people are discussing, sitting in the kitchen, who will get the apartment after the death of the grandmother. And this conversation about death for some reason is quite popular, he does not cause rejection. And if you just talk about the death of your grandmother, removing an apartment from a conversation, it will not be that it is impossible to talk about it. From death not to run away - you need to learn to talk about the most important thing.
Alena Agadzhikov
Mediamaker, photographer, activist
On the binarity of death perception
The fear of death is impregnated all around. These wubbles in cars, spitting over the shoulder, notes for health in churches - religiosity, superstitiousness, magical thinking and household mysticism are generally built on the erroneous thought that a person is dominated over death and can affect her if they appeal to the rites. And such a desire is clear: each of us was born in the unknown, that there is death, moreover, none of us chose, appearing on the light or not. If you drop all theories about the buildings, paradise, temporary spaces, reincarnation, and so on, then in the dry residue we get one thing: entering into a conscious age, everyone understands that he will die sooner or later. But what is "die", what sensations will be at death, and most importantly, what happens to your consciousness, with all htits, is unknown. If you think, humanity is not so badly coping, considering so dumb input.
"Non-reference"
Clothing dead or dead is, first of all, a conceptual question. But it is impossible to underestimate him, because the way we do with the dead person speaks of our care or inattention towards who are deprived of the will. And also about how we manage our power.
Many criticized "non-conventional" (Alena and Nastya Gorbunova, during which the artist investigated which outfits offers a woman's sphere of ritual services. - Approx. ed.) For the fact that we, as if discriminated by this project of living. Dozens of people wrote that "take care of not about the dead, but about their lively loved ones." But if we boost the memory of a person, absorbing him into the clothes that we liked, and not the deceased in life, spend over the departed memorially, if he was an atheist, - we must understand that we make a reality and issue the desired for valid . In my perfect world, people discuss death and funeral nuances with their loved ones during life. And if you do not have time, then focus on the image of this person during life and what rite (or its absence), he would most likely preferred.
Everyone is dying except you, and you - for self-sustaining - you live forever. And the moment of your death is most likely not aware
Evelin de Morgan. Death Angel, 1881
Project # nursingumogila
In November 2017, I, Sasha Alekseeva, Sofia SNO, Aram Ustyuyan and Vika Privalov created a spontaneous cemetery in the park "Sokolniki". Everyone had its own tombstone and their own concept associated with it. We chose the name for the project as an alternative to the fraternal grave.
The first discovery that we did in the project is the tombstone in Moscow cost an incredibly expensive, and not only marble monuments, but also the simplest, metal. As a result, we had to order all monuments in Tomsk - each tombstone cost us 1500-2000 rubles. Since the order was collective, representatives of the ritual agency made us a discount. This capitalist gesture looked in our case and in these circumstances, it was very bright and correlated with those things that we have already seen in other online stores of ritual services: on each second site you can see "buy two tombstones, get the third as a gift", "order Fence, and our employees draw up a flowerbed on the grave. " That is, there is a clash of two worlds: mourning and metaphysical with everyday operating on the usual rules of the market.
Another thing that rushed into the eye during the preparation of the project is copywriter texts on sites. Completely untouched manipulation in each sentence: "Make your last gift to your close", "Send your beloved on the last path." On sites there is also a separate category - it is children's grudges and monuments. There is something completely over the edge. First, children's tombstones and coffins are two or three times more expensive than those for adults, which, of course, is not by chance, but with the calculation of parents killed, who are ready to give any amount. Secondly, texts are distinguished by special pressure. At the beginning, it is listed as the searcher the fact of "leaving the world of a small, innocent man", and after it sounds: "In order for the monument to be unique and spoke of gratitude to the past deceased person, the customer needs to be serious and thoughtfully approaching its creation."
I was sure that during the installation of my own (the work of Alena in the framework of the collective project. - Approx. ed.) And my microperformance in the form of posting twenty-four carnations (each - for the year of my life) I will immerse yourself in a meditative condition and get some kind of expression. But it was too cold. And it is terrible that someone from passersby interrupt our promotion and we will not be able to establish all monuments. As a result, it turned out exactly how it happens at the funeral: Self, it was cold, and the participants wanted to drink, that is, it would freeze. We also focused on the fact that there is a distance of 50 meters between the monuments - it is precisely such an interval between picketing in Russia that their share will not recognize the massive event. We measured this distance with steps. At the end of each installation of the monument, I poured on the tombstone, so that the legs struck the flooded ground, which looked as much as possible.
Children's tombstones and coffins are two or three times more expensive than those for adults, which, of course, is not by chance, but with the calculation of the parents killed
Perhaps the most important point was what happened to our monuments the very day after installation. They were demolished. Sonya SNO and Dasha Serenko went to the park to check whether everyone was in place, and did not find any of our monument. But stumbled upon the old, judging by the engraved date, the grave of the cat. So we faced with the exception of our artistic statements from the sacred field of burials. Kota can be buried, but concepts, thoughts, images are impossible. The first is seriously, the second is junning and vandalism. It turns out to talk about death, you need to encounter it directly and prove it to others. I think if we set one tombstone, not six, and indirectly in the epitaphy would make it clear that the gravestone was dedicated to the real dead, in the park workers, as they say, "the hand would not rise," as she did not rise at one time on Cat burial.
Rita Pinker
Death Positivity Movement Sequence
Order of good death
In Russia, as in the West, culture teaches us to look at death sharply negatively, to perceive it as an apoge of all the most terrible. You can not joke about it, it is impossible to actively discuss. However, many cultures treated and belong to it quite differently: in ancient Egypt, death was considered a continuation of life, in Buddhism there is a practice of meditation "entering death" to prepare the body and spirit by this moment, and in Mexico, the deceased in the last way with songs and dances .
It is difficult to determine when and how the movement of a "positive attitude to death" arose. However, if we are talking about something organized in the modern world, I would say that it all started with Keitlin Douty, which founded and created the Youtyub-Channel. (in the lane. from English - "Associate a Umaker". - Approx. ed.).
Keitlin Dobti was 8 years old when she saw a child dropped from a height of 9 meters in the shopping center. Nobody explained to her the essence of what happened and did not help to work out the associated emotions - because of this, she began to overcome fears, as a result of which it appeared OCC (obsessive-compulsive disorder. - Approx. ed.). Later she decided to try himself as workers of the funeral bureau. In autobiography, it describes in detail its work there: how her duties changed, and with them - and attitude towards the bodies of the deceased and death itself. Then Doby realized that the funeral industry was her vocation. Then she received a diploma in the specialty Mortual Science - there is no suitable analogue in Russian, but, in fact, this is a certificate of self-embitrable balsaming and to organize the work of the funeral bureau.
In 2011, Keitlin created an order and formulated its basic principles, uniting like-minded people - artists, designers, teachers, writers, employees of the funeral industry. Now Caitlin is the owner of his own funeral bureau, the author of the books "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and "From Here to Eternity" (unfortunately, the Russian translations of these books are not yet), blogger and inspirational of a whole movement with his mission.
About a positive attitude to death
The expression "positive attitude to death" sounds somewhat controversial. If I said something like a mother, she would have already written me to a psychiatrist for a long time and accused of connections with Satanists (joke). However, we do not promote and do not romantize death. The meaning of movement is to convince people to take it as an inevitable fact, stop being afraid and start openly discussing processes related to it.
Many interest in the topic of death seems pathological. I think, including under the influence of Abrahamic religions (monotheistic religions, originating from ancient tradition, ascending to the Patriarch of the Semitic tribes of Abraham. - Approx. ed.). An unhealthy attitude towards the body appeared in our culture: flesh - something fallen, dirty, unlike a clean and inviolable soul. Therefore, many biological aspects of the body one way or another are stigmatized - sex, visible diseases, menstruation, isolation and, of course, death. We do not want to recognize that we are not only personalities, but also a biological mass that is doomed to disintegrate. The Order, on the contrary, proclaims that death is natural and inevitable, as well as interest in her.
For me, death - just what makes life such valuable. We begin to die, barely born, and no matter how long we live, most likely, it will seem to us that this is too little. That is why you need to be able to endure something out of every day, some sense, because any day can be the last.
Under the influence of Abrahamic religions in our culture, an unhealthy attitude towards the body appeared: flesh - something fallen, dirty, unlike a clean and indefinite soul
If we could openly discuss these topics, work out emotions, fears, share the possible solutions of these problems, then perhaps, by the very moment of death, we would feel much calmer and could concentrate on the spiritual side of the issue, on our personal spiritual experience.
Compliance with the will of the deceased
It is difficult to submit the statistics of the execution of the will of the deceased in Russia, because we simply not accepted to express it. In my family, for example, only one of the relatives said that I would like to be cremated, and his will fulfilled.
In America, drawing up testament is a completely common practice even among the poor people. It prescribes the transfer of rights to property, but it is also possible to include the will relative to the funeral and the degree of life support in the case of coma. Of course, the last items are prescribed not all, although, in my opinion, it is important. After all, at the time of death, close can be in a very depressed state - and it will be difficult for them to make the right decisions.
I believe that everyone has to speak out about this in the presence of relatives, at least in orally. At the moment I asked all my loved ones about their desires regarding this topic and told them about their own.
Kristina Gminianskaya
Video unit, cancer
Year and six months ago I learned about my diagnosis. I was diagnosed with the second stage of cancer, and from now on my struggle story began. At that time, my son was still no year.
I went sixteen courses of chemotherapy and seventeen crp hucetin injections, targeted therapy. Each injection was worth a one and a half thousand dollars. Unfortunately, in our state (Christina lives in Kiev. - Approx. ed.) Such treatment is possible only for your money.
Fears
Four months before something began to disturb me, I started to sign in instagram on people who are sick with cancer. Then I did not even think that I could have it. I saw victory and, unfortunately, I saw my death too.
When the diagnosis was dumped at me, when he was covered, simply putting a sensor to the chest, even nothing particularly looking for, she said that I was serious that I had at least six chemistry courses, I was not ready for this. If it is possible to be ready at all. Having learned that I have a little son, the doctor said that I need to spend more time with him. She said it is good, but from these words I really became terribly.
Most of all I was afraid of chemotherapy. I was afraid of her more cancer. Four years before the diagnosis, after the loss of the second child, I started panic attacks. It was not life, but a pitch hell. My moral forces were strongly undermined. With one thought that I will constantly be sick, I started panic.
In April 2017, I went to the remission, and Augustus I had to go through the first check. Each check for people who passed through oncology is real torture. Already a few weeks before checking, the mandrage begins so strong that you can't sleep or eat. At this moment you are terrible, probably, than during chemotherapy. Even before childbirth, I did not feel this. According to statistics in breast cancer, the smallest number of recurrences. And anyway, fear will always be, unfortunately. Fear will be until the end of life.
John Everett Mill. Ophelia, 1851-1852.
Change of world view
I used to do not appreciate my appearance. Now I believe that before the disease was insanely beautiful. I had gorgeous hair and an incredible figure. Yes, I always had a small breast, which I dreamed to increase. Perhaps now my dream will come true, but, of course, not in those circumstances that I imagined. Now I had a complete reassessment of values. If I used to be looked at the material, now I understand that the most important value is life in all its manifestations.
Before the disease, I never rented myself for the channel without makeup - it was just impossible. Going to the store, I definitely painted my face - it was drawing. Now I'm not afraid of anyone and I'm not ashamed. I went bald for eight months! Of course, I still painfully react to some comments. For example, when I tell me that I didn't really hurt.
Having learned that I have a little son, the doctor said that I need to spend more time with him. She said it is good, but from these words I really became terribly
About fear of death
If there were no my son if my life was the same as in the last five years before his appearance, learning that I had cancer, I would not even be treated. I had the most difficult moral condition. I did not have the slightest strength to fight. And I did not consider the death of something terrible. I did not care. But with the appearance of his son, everything was literally everything.
My in Youtyuba is already 7 years old. I knew my videos could help someone. And I received a return - for this year, tens of thousands of people subscribed to my canal. Of course, there are 2-3% of the haters who are waiting for my death, but I am absolutely calm towards it. These people looked at me as a series, just to find out what would happen next. When three bloggers died - Cyril Ryabov, Sereza of Dobrov and Vika are burned, - I did not have any thoughts to close the canal. I also removed all the procedures, told about the preparations, how to alleviate well-being after chemistry, how to make disability, how to tie a scarlet.
With death, life does not end. Another thing is that we expect the resurrection of the dead, since the soul without a body is not entirely full. Three-stage man: Spirit, soul and body. Christ to go through death, it took three days, after which he was resurrected. We, of course, will be needed more. But the term is not so important, because the concept of time behind the threshold does not exist.
About fear of old age and death
The problem of the tabernitude of death is really - even among people who call themselves Christians. It arises because of the minor and uneducation in terms of Christian teachings. The time did its job, and now the perception of old age, and with her and death, distorted. Previously, old age was perceived as a period of wisdom, when a person evaluates all the high scale of values \u200b\u200bthat he acquired by passing through the experience of life. In the old age, a person is preparing for death, his thoughts care about how he will appear before God: he will need to answer for his affairs - and good, and evil. Now old age has become perceived as a weakness as dementia. Everyone is striving to preserve eternal youth, and, of course, a fear of death appeared with the fear of old age. Hence the taboo - people live alone, think that you need to live only in order to satisfy the needs of your flesh, and they completely forgot about the soul. They believe that everything ceases with death and prefer not to think about it.
For example, in England, as in most countries of Western Europe, the dead are buried in closed coffins, so as not to see the face of the deceased. And people are striking when, going to the Orthodox Temple, they suddenly meet with the dead man lying in the open coffin during the funeral. It makes a strong impression on them. Moreover, the impression is not some terrifying, but on the contrary - suddenly it turns out that there is nothing terrible in it.
At one time, the pagans, the same Greeks and Romans, despised death - but not because they thought they were waiting for their continued life behind the coffin. They told themselves that they should live for future generations. This is the same ideology that communism confessed in due time. And it also reminds the psychology of an animal that lives only to continue the genus. Gradually, the thought developed and the philosophers came in the fact that a person is an individuality, until they have not talked about a person, but still recognized individuality. And then the question arose: if you are individual, then why should I end with your death? For pagans was a great revelation when they saw Christians who calmly reaching for death: it means that they know some kind of secret, it means that something is available to them about what we are unknown. And Christians had Christ, who was resurrected and gave us all the confidence that our life would continue behind the coffin.
People are striking when, going to the Orthodox Temple, they suddenly meet with the dead man lying in an open coffin during the funeral
Attitude towards non-traditional burial
The church stands for traditional burial methods only because it is somehow more beneficial effect on relatives. As written Felix Munning:
"We believe that a person does not feel any harm depending on the image of the burial, but adhere to more noble and more ancient custom - the body's legends." The Lord is noticed to restore the body from any state: whether it is buried or burned - it absolutely does not matter. But for relatives it is very important to come to the grave, pray, remember the deceased.
If the deceased expresses some kind of death before death, probably, for relatives it will be correctly to fulfill this will. I often met with situations when my grandparents were dying, which all their lives were adherents of communist ideology and in no case did they want them after death. However, relatives came and persistently asked about it. There is absolutely no meaning in such a funeral - because a person was unbelieving. This can only be done to calm the conscience of near. But, again, on the canons of the church we are not the right to unsubsify a person who renounced Christ. Sometimes you have to refuse such cases. The will of the deceased must be respected, even if it is difficult to fulfill her.
To live a full-fledged life, rejoicing every new achievement, it is not necessary to be afraid of death, even in the face of serious danger. How this simple truth is to embody in everyday life, because on the one hand, fear plays a crucial role for each person, but at the same time, if you often think about the negative, it prevents the enjoyment of the full life. What needs to be done to overcome the all-consuming feeling of fear?
Why people are afraid of death?
Almost every person is sure to live him for a long time and happily, but it is obvious that living on earth will have to die sooner or later. Such is the sad finale of the whole life, but, nevertheless, there is something inside each thing that cannot believe it. Just a person is unable to believe in the reality of death, even if approves about her fearlessness before her. Of course, it is very difficult to fully realize that one day the person will die, and will never exist.
Why is the inevitability so afraid of human essence? The whole thing in the psychological factor. The psyche of a person is arranged in such a way that he identifies himself with his body and mind. This creates a certain framework in which the identity is developing and lives. Destroy these frames is equivalent to losing control over your perception of reality. At this point, the fear of losing yourself.
Religion - salvation or deception?
If you believe the Bible, a sinless person after death expects "paradise" with its numerous benefits, and the sinner is the boiler and the flour "hell." Church, instilling hope in eternal life, but instead, demanding a selfless faith, many millennium managed people and pacified fear of death in souls.
From a long time, not every person was ready to believe in such a state of affairs, because many questions immediately appear. For example, if a child dies immediately after birth - he is also doomed to terrible torment? After all, original sin, as the Bible describes, was not redeemed, and therefore the paradise is closed for him. But what did the baby guilty before? Why does religion give not clear answers, and in return only leads individual chapters from old, known to everyone and everyone? In connection with this and many other controversial nuances, people cease to trust the most valuable religion - their lives. However, some of them go further and dedicated to faith all their lives before death, and are not afraid to die and take this gift with joy. Who are the saints and as a sinner to become such an immortal spirit? Everyone chooses himself, what he believes.
How to overcome fear?
The sharper thing is clinging for life when understands that the body can no longer resist death. The last seconds of life are filled with clear insight, which is the end and collapse of everything. It was at that moment that the person comprehends how much needed was not done during the life, and how much time wasted wasted.
So that this does not happen, you need to realize the simple fundamental truth - it is necessary to be afraid of death, but an empty life. But what does waste life mean? Rather, this is an ordinary existence in fear to do what I really want. That life is not empty, it must be constantly filling. It is not so important than the main thing that it was useful actions, good and most importantly - positive emotions. However, sometimes negative emotions are controlled by the lives of people, directing them to the river, which is most useful for them. Fair appears for various reasons, but the most important thing is that it does not become a stumbling block before the most important goals.
What prevents a person boldly go to his goal
- Public opinion. This concerns the near environment: parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, and all people who condemn the designated goals and dreams.
- Fear before failure. Even a strong person periodically experiencing anxiety, because the unknown is alarming, and the likelihood of losing a large amount of time and money often slows down.
- Insecurity in their forces. This feeling is inherent not only to weak personalities, but also people who have achieved huge heights. The truth is that in front of the most important life tests, uncertainty manifests itself in full force. Men and women are equally subject to this feeling.
- Laziness. The most common laziness becomes an obstacle to the goal even in talented, but weak people. On the one hand, it may be a weak character line, and with other health problems.
- External and internal interference. Even the smallest interference and excuses, such as malaise, bad weather, anxiety, pain, bias are disturbed to fill your life.
All sorts of factors, indirectly or directly affecting the achievement of the goals set barriers, overcome which can only strong, adults and conscious personalities. Only the calm of the soul, in the amount with confidence in their abilities, make it possible to safely go through obstacles, gradually performing the task for the task.
How to learn not to be afraid of death?
When a person believes that death is an end, he is experiencing a crazy animal fear. He does not look forward, but only back, as if he frosts in the past, fearing to step into the future. As if dies earlier than its time. But if he is not afraid to boldly look into the future, waiting ahead of only joy, happiness and a great adventure, then we can assume that he really lives, and does not exist.
Death awareness gives a stimulus to change itself and reality around. Only understanding of its not eternal nature makes sense, especially in the last minutes of life. Faith in their strength makes the life of a person full of sense, good and satisfaction. If you just go to your goal by passing obstacles, you can achieve a lot, realize and execute.
You can learn fearlessness before death in children who still do not know anything about it. They take everything from life without thinking about the consequences and the future. Disposable from death - the same thing to turn away from life, making it aimless. Being here acts exactly as a goal, thanks to which a person throughout life seeks to fulfill dreams.
Despite the fact that no one in the world has avoided death, everyone managed to make a certain contribution to the perception of death as incredibility and inability. Why this happens, you can understand from my own experience - if you do not spur a person from time to time, it relaxes, but it is death that becomes a catalyst for existence, determining the human essence and intention.
It can be assumed that from all scientific disciplines, the philosophy must be more interested in the studies of the phenomenon of suicide experiences (PSP) and study them carefully. In the end, unless philosophy does not deal with the highest wisdom, the meaning of life, the relationship between the body, consciousness and God?
Sensual experiencesprovide data directly related to all these issues. How is it possible that the philosophy will manage to collectively ignore and even make fun of these studies? Those who are not associated with academic philosophy may seem incredible that the overwhelming majority of academic philosophers are atheists and materialists. Inappropriately using science to maintain their materialism, they systematically ignore scientific data that refute their worldview.
Even more surprisingly, even those philosophers who are not materialists (and their number, I think, grows), refuse to look at this data. It would be possible to assume that Cartesian dualists or platonists with greed grabbing for the data that convincingly confirm their point of view that consciousness exceeds the physical world, but it is not.
To my surprise, he took the same skeptical as my Fundamaterial Colleague. When I asked him why he was not interested, he replied that his beliefs in God, afterlife, etc. Based on faith; If these things were proved empirically, there would be no place for faith, which is the basis of his religious beliefs.
I realized that the PSPs are between two lights, as they are not perceived seriously by two sciences, philosophy and theology that should be interested in this phenomenon. Once theology and religion will open the door empirical data, the danger will arise that these data may contradict some aspects of faith. Indeed, it turned out.
The data of the PSP, for example, say that God is not a vengeful, he does not punish and does not condemn us, and it does not be angry with us for our "sins"; Of course, condemnation exists, but, all the stories about the PSP converge, this condemnation comes from the individual itself, and not from the Divine Being.
It seems that God is able to give us - this is unconditional love. But the concept of the exclusive, not punishing God contradicts the teachings of many religions, therefore it is not surprising that religious fundamentalists do not feel comfortable.
Strange allies
For many years, I came to the conclusion that both an atheist and a believer, from the Fundamaterialist to the Fundamentalist, have something in common. Indeed, from an epistemological point of view, this is common much more important than their views differ. They converge in the following: beliefs relating to the possible existence of a transcendental reality - God, soul, afterlife, etc. - Based on faith, not on facts. If so, then there can be no actual evidence confirming these beliefs.
The belief that faith in transcendental reality cannot be confirmed empirically, so deeply rooted in our culture, which has the status of taboos. This taboch is very democratic, because it allows everyone to believe in what he wants to believe. This allows the Fundamaterialist to feel comfortable, being convinced that on his side the mind that there is no illuminator, and those who consider differently, fell victim to the irrational forces, taking the desired for valid. But it also allows the fundamentalist to feel comfortable, believing that God on his side, and those who think differently fell victim to the forces of evil and devil.
Thus, although the fundamentalist and the Fundamaterialist occupy the extreme opposite positions on the treatment of an attitude to the afterlife, these extremes unite them as "strange allies" in the fight against the actual evidence of the afterlife, which may detect empirical research. The assumption itself is that empirical research can confirm beliefs into transcendental reality, contradicts the taboo and threatens many elements of our culture.
Meaning of life
The study of the PSP led to the following unequivocal conclusion: Tested PSPs confirm the basic values \u200b\u200bcommon to most world religions. They converge in the opinion that the purpose of life is knowledge and love. The study of the transforming effect of the PSP shows that such cultural values \u200b\u200bas wealth, status, material, etc., are becoming much less significant, and more important values \u200b\u200bare acquired, such as love, concern for others and divine.
That is, the study showed that surviving PSPs not only in words proclaim the values \u200b\u200bof love and knowledge, but also try to act in accordance with these values, if not completely, then at least more than before the PSP.
As long as religious values \u200b\u200bare presented as simply religious values, mass culture is not difficult to ignore them or mention casually during Sunday morning sermons. But if the same values \u200b\u200bare presented as empirically confirmed scientific facts, then everything will change. If the belief in the afterlife is not taken on the basis of faith or speculative theology, but as a confirmed scientific hypothesis, then our culture will not be able to ignore it. In fact, it will mean the end of our culture in its real form.
Consider the following scenario: Further study of the PSP confirms in detail what has already been detected; Even more cases of confirmed reliable "misstainable" experiences are collected and documented; Advanced medical technologies make it possible to even more cases of the type of "smoky pistol" described above; Study of testing PSP confirms the change already noted in their behavior associated with newly acquired (or recently strengthened) spiritual values, etc. Research is duplicated in various cultures with the same results.
Finally, the weight of the actual evidence begins to affect, and scientists are ready to declare the world, if not as a fact, then at least as a fairly confirmed scientific hypothesis:
(1) Early life exists.
(2) Our true identity is not our body, but our mind or consciousness.
(3) Although the details of the afterlife are unknown, we are confident that everyone awaits the revision of his life, during which he will survive not only every event and every emotion, but also the consequences of his behavior, positive or negative. Conventional protective mechanisms, with which we hide our sometimes cruel and unlikely attitude towards others, do not seem to act during the revision of life.
(4) The meaning of life is love and knowledge, learn as much as possible about this world and about the transcendental world and increase our ability to feel kindness and mercy to all living beings.
(5) damage to others both physically and psychologically, will turn a big trouble for us, since any pain that others caused, during the revision will be stated as its own.
This scenario is in no way contrived. I believe that there is enough evidence to present the above allegations as "probable" and "more possible than not." Further research will only increase this probability.
When it happens, the effect will be revolutionary. When science declares these discoveries, it will not be possible to deal with the case as before. It would be interesting to reflect on how the economy will look like, which will try to correspond to the five above empirical hypotheses, but it goes beyond the articles.
The opening of the PSP researchers will mean the beginning of the end of the culture, whose driving force are greed and ambitiousness, which measures success in terms of material wealth, reputation, social status, etc. Consequently, modern culture is greatly interested in preventing PSP studies, ignoring, refuting and the continuing findings of research.
I will finish an article by a small story. Charles Broad, who wrote in the middle of the 20th century, was the president of the British society of physical research. He was the last philosopher with an international reputation, which believed that there was something in it. By the end of his life, he was asked that he would feel if he finds that he was still alive after the death of a physical body. He replied that, rather, it would be disappointed than surprised. Will not be surprised because his studies allowed him to conclude that the afterlife, most likely exists. Why disappointed? His answer was disarmingly honest.
He said that he lived a good life: he was materially secured and enjoyed the resignation and admiration of his students and colleagues. But there is no guarantee that its status, reputation and security will be preserved in the afterlife. The rules for which success is measured in the afterlife may completely differ from the rules for which success is measured in this life.
In fact, PSP studies suggest that the fears of Charles Brude are quite substantiated that "success" on the standards of another world is not measured in the form of publications, merit or reputation, and kindness and compassion to others.
Used with the permission of Journal of Near-Death Studies.
Neil Grossman has a doctoral degree on the history and philosophy of Indiana University and teaches at the University of Illinois, Chicago. He is interested in spinosa, mystic and epistemology of parapsychological research.
Part 1 here. It can be assumed that from all scientific disciplines, the philosophy must be more interested in the studies of the phenomenon of suicide experiences (PSP) and study them carefully. In the end, unless philosophy does not deal with the highest wisdom, the meaning of life, the relationship between the body, consciousness and God?
Dissolry experiences provide data directly related to all these issues. How is it possible that the philosophy will manage to collectively ignore and even make fun of these studies? Those who are not associated with academic philosophy may seem incredible that the overwhelming majority of academic philosophers are atheists and materialists. Inappropriately using science to maintain their materialism, they systematically ignore scientific data that refute their worldview.
Even more surprisingly, even those philosophers who are not materialists (and their number, I think, grows), refuse to look at this data. It would be possible to assume that Cartesian dualists or platonists with greed grabbing for the data that convincingly confirm their point of view that consciousness exceeds the physical world, but it is not.
To my surprise, he took the same skeptical as my Fundamaterial Colleague. When I asked him why he was not interested, he replied that his beliefs in God, afterlife, etc. Based on faith; If these things were proved empirically, there would be no place for faith, which is the basis of his religious beliefs.
I realized that the PSPs are between two lights, as they are not perceived seriously by two sciences, philosophy and theology that should be interested in this phenomenon. Once theology and religion will open the door empirical data, the danger will arise that these data may contradict some aspects of faith. Indeed, it turned out.
The data of the PSP, for example, say that God is not a vengeful, he does not punish and does not condemn us, and it does not be angry with us for our "sins"; Of course, condemnation exists, but, all the stories about the PSP converge, this condemnation comes from the individual itself, and not from the Divine Being.
It seems that God is able to give us - this is unconditional love. But the concept of the exclusive, not punishing God contradicts the teachings of many religions, therefore it is not surprising that religious fundamentalists do not feel comfortable.
Strange allies
For many years, I came to the conclusion that both an atheist and a believer, from the Fundamaterialist to the Fundamentalist, have something in common. Indeed, from an epistemological point of view, this is common much more important than their views differ. They converge in the following: beliefs relating to the possible existence of a transcendental reality - God, soul, afterlife, etc. - Based on faith, not on facts. If so, then there can be no actual evidence confirming these beliefs.
The belief that faith in transcendental reality cannot be confirmed empirically, so deeply rooted in our culture, which has the status of taboos. This taboch is very democratic, because it allows everyone to believe in what he wants to believe. This allows the Fundamaterialist to feel comfortable, being convinced that on his side the mind that there is no illuminator, and those who consider differently, fell victim to the irrational forces, taking the desired for valid. But it also allows the fundamentalist to feel comfortable, believing that God on his side, and those who think differently fell victim to the forces of evil and devil.
Thus, although the fundamentalist and the Fundamaterialist occupy the extreme opposite positions on the treatment of an attitude to the afterlife, these extremes unite them as "strange allies" in the fight against the actual evidence of the afterlife, which may detect empirical research. The assumption itself is that empirical research can confirm beliefs into transcendental reality, contradicts the taboo and threatens many elements of our culture.
Meaning of life
The study of the PSP led to the following unequivocal conclusion: Tested PSPs confirm the basic values \u200b\u200bcommon to most world religions. They converge in the opinion that the purpose of life is knowledge and love. The study of the transforming effect of the PSP shows that such cultural values \u200b\u200bas wealth, status, material, etc., are becoming much less significant, and more important values \u200b\u200bare acquired, such as love, concern for others and divine.
That is, the study showed that surviving PSPs not only in words proclaim the values \u200b\u200bof love and knowledge, but also try to act in accordance with these values, if not completely, then at least more than before the PSP.
As long as religious values \u200b\u200bare presented as simply religious values, mass culture is not difficult to ignore them or mention casually during Sunday morning sermons. But if the same values \u200b\u200bare presented as empirically confirmed scientific facts, then everything will change. If the belief in the afterlife is not taken on the basis of faith or speculative theology, but as a confirmed scientific hypothesis, then our culture will not be able to ignore it. In fact, it will mean the end of our culture in its real form.
Consider the following scenario: Further study of the PSP confirms in detail what has already been detected; Even more cases of confirmed reliable "misstainable" experiences are collected and documented; Advanced medical technologies make it possible to even more cases of the type of "smoky pistol" described above; Study of testing PSP confirms the change already noted in their behavior associated with newly acquired (or recently strengthened) spiritual values, etc. Research is duplicated in various cultures with the same results.
Finally, the weight of the actual evidence begins to affect, and scientists are ready to declare the world, if not as a fact, then at least as a fairly confirmed scientific hypothesis:
(1) Early life exists.
(2) Our true identity is not our body, but our mind or consciousness.
(3) Although the details of the afterlife are unknown, we are confident that everyone awaits the revision of his life, during which he will survive not only every event and every emotion, but also the consequences of his behavior, positive or negative. Conventional protective mechanisms, with which we hide our sometimes cruel and unlikely attitude towards others, do not seem to act during the revision of life.
(4) The meaning of life is love and knowledge, learn as much as possible about this world and about the transcendental world and increase our ability to feel kindness and mercy to all living beings.
(5) damage to others both physically and psychologically, will turn a big trouble for us, since any pain that others caused, during the revision will be stated as its own.
This scenario is in no way contrived. I believe that there is enough evidence to present the above allegations as "probable" and "more possible than not." Further research will only increase this probability.
When it happens, the effect will be revolutionary. When science declares these discoveries, it will not be possible to deal with the case as before. It would be interesting to reflect on how the economy will look like, which will try to correspond to the five above empirical hypotheses, but it goes beyond the articles.
The opening of the PSP researchers will mean the beginning of the end of the culture, whose driving force are greed and ambitiousness, which measures success in terms of material wealth, reputation, social status, etc. Consequently, modern culture is greatly interested in preventing PSP studies, ignoring, refuting and the continuing findings of research.
I will finish an article by a small story. Charles Broad, who wrote in the middle of the 20th century, was the president of the British society of physical research. He was the last philosopher with an international reputation, which believed that there was something in it. By the end of his life, he was asked that he would feel if he finds that he was still alive after the death of a physical body. He replied that, rather, it would be disappointed than surprised. Will not be surprised because his studies allowed him to conclude that the afterlife, most likely exists. Why disappointed? His answer was disarmingly honest.
He said that he lived a good life: he was materially secured and enjoyed the resignation and admiration of his students and colleagues. But there is no guarantee that its status, reputation and security will be preserved in the afterlife. The rules for which success is measured in the afterlife may completely differ from the rules for which success is measured in this life.
In fact, PSP studies suggest that the fears of Charles Brude are quite substantiated that "success" on the standards of another world is not measured in the form of publications, merit or reputation, and kindness and compassion to others.
Used with the permission of Journal of Near-Death Studies.
Neil Grossman has a doctoral degree on the history and philosophy of Indiana University and teaches at the University of Illinois, Chicago. He is interested in spinosa, mystic and epistemology of parapsychological research.