Tag: no hypothesis

Hindu Balathal (2006) Page 61

UK: Email – What Do I Think About the Balathal Skeleton? (22.9.2026)

Although 700 BCE is touted around the internet – the remains could be as late as the 4th century CE (well within the date for Yoga). The site is not Indian – the skeleton is Indian. My own view is that if this is a holy man – we are probably talking about the disciples of the Buddha who dwelled at the base of trees – a “root-dweller” no-less. Of course, this is just speculation on my part and I am running with the “meditating in isolation” angle. There is absolutely no evidence for the “holy man” interpretation except for the conveniently positioned hands and fingers (the academic authors of the second paper go out of their way to insert an elaborate Hindu origin for this). This seems unprofessional to me. There is no surrounding (qualifying) evidence for the holy man hypothesis. What should usually happen is that a note would be added that draws the reader’s attention to the fact that these remains, when viewed in a certain light, possess a passing similarity to certain well-known religious postures found within the practices of a number of religious and spiritual paths. Whatever the case, more evidence is needed and none has been forthcoming (these are not “new” digs). 

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Sheldrake Lecture - 2004

UK: Should Cambridge University Investigate Rupert Sheldrake? (12.8.2026)

The Buddha does not contain ALL knowledge as if it were lying dormant in his mind at any given moment (therefore he is not “omniscient” in this sense) but he does say that an enlightened being can direct the mind in any direction he or she wishes (like a net enveloping and collecting all things) throughout the world, and in so doing bring any part of it into his enlightened conscious awareness.  This lasts for as long as concentration is held in that direction and then fails away – remember that the true nature of the mind is “empty” and spacious – so that all phenomena seems to arise and pass away within it.  In fact the Buddha states a long list of abilities and powers he possesses – including the ability for his mind’s awareness to travel to other worlds.  What happened over-time is that through various commentaries and translations, the fact that the Buddha could move his mind’s awareness in any direction (or none) became conflated with the idea that his mind’s awareness was already in every place and at every time.

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Email: The ‘No’ Hypothesis (20.6.2020)

A genuine scientist is indifferent to religious belief. This probably explains why the Vatican keeps a fully funded scientific department in operation – staffed by suitably qualified priests. An objective fact is the only fact and I will explain why. I remember a group of devout Catholics claiming they saw the face of the Virgin Mary in a stain on a wall. This was a dark oblong stain made by water and mildew, etc, formed in the centre of a otherwise clean, whitewashed wall. So far so good. However, this group went further when challenged and provided photographic and video proof of their experience (which had the potential to change the world as we know it)! Could you imagine an image of the Virgin Mary appearing and talking to the faithful? When the evidence was tested, it revealed 15 minutes of a damp stain on a wall – and nothing else – and yet all the Catholics in attendance had convinced themselves that they were witnessing a miraculous event!

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