Břetislav Kafka
Encyclopedia
Břetislav Kafka was a Czech researcher in the field of experimental psychology
and parapsychology
. He is considered one of the founders of modern parapsychology and the spiritual father of the tradition of this discipline in Czechia. Kafka studied the characteristics and capabilities of the human brain using hypnosis
.
, his experiments brought up at that time new theories in various brain fields morphology
, principles and mechanisms of thinking, relations between consciousness and subconsciousness (studying the phenomena of clairvoyance
), and volitional manipulation of reality through telepathy
,
telekinesis and psychokinesis
- in general describing discoveries of remarkable qualities and abilities of the human brain.
In his book New Essentials of Experimental Parapsychology (originally called "The Dawn in Mind") published in 1925, Kafka described the theory of some "supercellular", "non-cellular" or "superior cellular" principles of brain activity, where the process of thinking is concentrated in substances, that are associated around neuron
s. Kafka calls those structures "esplana". Their selective vibratory motion represents individual mental activity and they are also the wearers of memory . .
, but also thoughts about an interaction between living organisms and and energy
processes and relations between spiritual and material world. Their interconnections and presupposed unity of both regardless time and space distance, established new possibilities in the views of human and the world in a multidisciplinary context (natural science
s as well as philosophy
).
Kafka's theories of new basic structures of matter, from "pre-matter" to some kind of "superior matter" and their time and space independent interconnection, seem to be in some aspects predecessors of the theories of the physicist
s Alain Aspect
and David Bohm
from the second half of the 20th century, psychologist Stanislav Grof
or neurophysiologist Karl H. Pribram
. Kafka founded the discipline of parapsychology in Czechia, later storied by psychologists Zdeněk Rejdák
, founder of psychotronics, Stanislav Grof, an important scientist in transpersonal psychology
, František Kahuda and others. Some results of Kafka's experiments in hypnosis are very similar to the knowledge in a later popular book of Raymond Moody
Life after Life .
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
and parapsychology
Parapsychology
The term parapsychology was coined in or around 1889 by philosopher Max Dessoir, and originates from para meaning "alongside", and psychology. The term was adopted by J.B. Rhine in the 1930s as a replacement for the term psychical research...
. He is considered one of the founders of modern parapsychology and the spiritual father of the tradition of this discipline in Czechia. Kafka studied the characteristics and capabilities of the human brain using hypnosis
Hypnosis
Hypnosis is "a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination."It is a mental state or imaginative role-enactment . It is usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction, which is commonly composed of a long series of preliminary...
.
Experiments and theories
Kafka acquired all new knowledge through his communication with persons in hypnotic states. Using hypnosisHypnosis
Hypnosis is "a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination."It is a mental state or imaginative role-enactment . It is usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction, which is commonly composed of a long series of preliminary...
, his experiments brought up at that time new theories in various brain fields morphology
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
, principles and mechanisms of thinking, relations between consciousness and subconsciousness (studying the phenomena of clairvoyance
Clairvoyance
The term clairvoyance is used to refer to the ability to gain information about an object, person, location or physical event through means other than the known human senses, a form of extra-sensory perception...
), and volitional manipulation of reality through telepathy
Telepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
,
telekinesis and psychokinesis
Psychokinesis
The term psychokinesis , also referred to as telekinesis with respect to strictly describing movement of matter, sometimes abbreviated PK and TK respectively, is a term...
- in general describing discoveries of remarkable qualities and abilities of the human brain.
In his book New Essentials of Experimental Parapsychology (originally called "The Dawn in Mind") published in 1925, Kafka described the theory of some "supercellular", "non-cellular" or "superior cellular" principles of brain activity, where the process of thinking is concentrated in substances, that are associated around neuron
Neuron
A neuron is an electrically excitable cell that processes and transmits information by electrical and chemical signaling. Chemical signaling occurs via synapses, specialized connections with other cells. Neurons connect to each other to form networks. Neurons are the core components of the nervous...
s. Kafka calls those structures "esplana". Their selective vibratory motion represents individual mental activity and they are also the wearers of memory . .
Relevances and contributions
Kafka's lifelong intensive work bring many interesting results about abilities of the human brain and mind. His knowledge, acquired by explorative and practical application of hypnosis brought not only particular theoriesTheory
The English word theory was derived from a technical term in Ancient Greek philosophy. The word theoria, , meant "a looking at, viewing, beholding", and referring to contemplation or speculation, as opposed to action...
, but also thoughts about an interaction between living organisms and and energy
Energy
In physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
processes and relations between spiritual and material world. Their interconnections and presupposed unity of both regardless time and space distance, established new possibilities in the views of human and the world in a multidisciplinary context (natural science
Natural science
The natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
s as well as philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
).
Kafka's theories of new basic structures of matter, from "pre-matter" to some kind of "superior matter" and their time and space independent interconnection, seem to be in some aspects predecessors of the theories of the physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
s Alain Aspect
Alain Aspect
Alain Aspect is a French physicist noted for his experimental work on quantum entanglement....
and David Bohm
David Bohm
David Joseph Bohm FRS was an American-born British quantum physicist who contributed to theoretical physics, philosophy, neuropsychology, and the Manhattan Project.-Youth and college:...
from the second half of the 20th century, psychologist Stanislav Grof
Stanislav Grof
Stanislav Grof is a psychiatrist, one of the founders of the field of transpersonal psychology and a pioneering researcher into the use of non-ordinary states of consciousness for purposes of analyzing, healing, and obtaining growth and insight into the human psyche...
or neurophysiologist Karl H. Pribram
Karl H. Pribram
Karl H. Pribram is a professor at Georgetown University, in the United States, and an emeritus professor of psychology and psychiatry at Stanford University and Radford University...
. Kafka founded the discipline of parapsychology in Czechia, later storied by psychologists Zdeněk Rejdák
Zdeněk Rejdák
Zdeněk Rejdák, Ph.D., was a important Czech psychologist and scientist in the field of psychotronics...
, founder of psychotronics, Stanislav Grof, an important scientist in transpersonal psychology
Transpersonal psychology
Transpersonal psychology is a form of psychology that studies the transpersonal, self-transcendent or spiritual aspects of the human experience....
, František Kahuda and others. Some results of Kafka's experiments in hypnosis are very similar to the knowledge in a later popular book of Raymond Moody
Raymond Moody
Raymond Moody is a psychologist and medical doctor. He is most famous as an author of books about life after death and near-death experiences , a term that he coined in 1975. His best-selling title is Life After Life.-Life:...
Life after Life .