Dr. Barry E. Taff and Your Questions and Comments

[Gene Steinberg]

Dear Barry E. Taff,

Welcome to The Paracast Community Forums!

We welcome you aboard, and hope that you'll have a great time here with our community as well.

 

[Dr. Barry E. Taff]

There were many questions raised regarding my recent appearance on Paracast, I sincerely hope that my posted reply earlier today satisfactorily addressed all of them. If you have any more, please feel free to ask.

Thanks

Barry E. Taff, Ph.D.

 

[Dr. Barry E. Taff]

Let me begin by clearing the air on several issues that were brought up regarding my first appearance on Paracast. First of all, the girl I had the relationship with that was abducted while we were together was NOT a patient of mine at any point of time, as I am not a clinical psychologist. I met this beautiful gitl during an investigation back in 1977 and we became romantically involved. Prior to her abduction, there was not the slightest indicator that she was emotionally troubled or disturbed. At least none that I was aware of.

The second matter to be addressed here is the fact that I didn't NOT invent the term or concept of remote viewing. I was doing developmental work at the UCLA lab in the early 1970's, long before the nomenclature of remote viewing even existed. My research efforts in this regard were oriented to determine if various psi abilities could be developed or learned, and if so, what would the longitudinal data collected from such work (this is discussed in my book in detail) might tell us. When I was doing this work, we were still referring to such phenomena as telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition and retrocognition, without any reference to "remote viewing", as the term didn't exist yet. We were repeatedly visited by representatives from CIA, DIA, ONI, DARPA, DLI, etc., and the developed protocols and methods were clearly and successfully demonstrated to all on numerous occasions.

However, as UCLA and more specifically, the Neuropsychiatric Institute (where our lab was located) wanted nothing to do with our parapsychological research and would not condone such formalization of it by accepting government funding, the various military and intelligence groups walked away.

At the same time, the concurrent work of Drs. Puthoff and Targ was beginning at SRI International in Menlo Park, CA which was government funded. I can assure you that there are still aspects of their remote viewing research work that is still highly classified. As we all signed national security oaths long ago, one learns to keep their mouth shut beyond a certain point regarding the details of their work. That's SOP. On one occasion during the mid-1970's I spoke a little too openly in the UCLA Daily Bruin about our wrok with the various military/intelligence agencies and caught some flack for it. After retractions were later printed, all was calm once again.

I hope that this clears the air on these two issues.

On the ufology front, while I do subscribe to the ETH hypothesis, it's far more complicated than the fact that we're being visited by extraterrestrial beings. We're very likely dealing with sentient beings whose mastery of matter, energy and mind (consciousness) goes far beyond our crude understanding of physics and the possible nuts and bolts of interstellar travel. We're talking both time-like and space-like events here that in most ways we cannot yet even imagine. By comparison, try discussing internal combustion engines or jet aircraft with a caveman from 100,000 years ago. You might want to review the intriguing work of Jacques Vallee, as his work is very relevant here, but not the final word. As Arthur C. Clark once said, any sufficiently advanced civilization's technology might be indistinguishable from magic is very likely correct in this application.

My own online talk show is called "Psi Sense: Paratrek" and is on the Blog Talk Radio Netowrk at liveparanormal.com. It airs live every other Wednesday night from 7-8 p.m. PST.

As far as those who believe that I embellish, exaggerate and distort my findings in order to gain media attention, I suggest that they read my book and judge for themselves if I could invent all this detail off the top of my head. I may be a decent writer, but if I was that good, I'd be earning a very good income from working in the entertainment industry, which I am not. You might also check out my website at Barry Taff.net.

Nice to get feedback from all of you. Feel free to ask any reasonable question relevant to my work and I'll do my best to answer them.

Thank You

Barry E. Taff, Ph.D,

 

[Dr. Barry E. Taff]

I forgot to mention one thing in my last post regarding our former psi training/remote viewing research. This effort continued off-campus, unabated until around 1986, While the lab formally closed in 1978, I hung in there, still conducting these groups until 1980. We then moved to various office complexes and homes in the West Los Angeles area until mid-1986. The amount of longitudinal data collected during this research work was truly astounding in terms of it's continuity and confidence levels. Much of my book reflects the resulting theories from this fifteen year research. It's very important to remember that in science, your theory must conform to your data. To only seek data that supports your apiori theories is psuedoscience and quackery. My book, Aliens Above, Ghosts Below: Explorations of the Unknown delves deeply into the one theory that is totally supported by the data. This theory provides a new, comprehensive perspective of spacetime and consciousness. This is perhaps a new beginning to help us better understand this fascinating aspect of consciousness. There's one major problem here, and that's the way many people may react to what the data strongly suggests. However, in the end, it's still mostly interpretation of the data until technonlogy is developed to fully instrument this mechanism of conscious and the energy underlying it.

 

[wwkirk]

Thanks for accepting my invitation to join the forum Dr. Taff.

 

[Polterwurst]

So I just came home from work. There was a package from Amazon Germany waiting for me with a book called "Aliens Above Ghosts Below" in it. I immediately browsed through to the chapter containing the story of the girlfriend to prepare my answer to S.R.L.'s remarks in the other thread. Started the computer, logged in to the Paracast forum - and whoa. What the...? The man is here himself!

Thanks for taking the time and adressing this little debate in person, Dr. Taff. Really appreciated. Welcome indeed.

I don't know about S.R.L, but my questions concerning RV and personal relationships with people involved in a case are quite satisfactorily answered.

I honestly don't know much about the Remote Viewing projects (maybe there are references to your work), but I think that wouldn't be the first case that someone who contributed to a field of study isn't named later on.

And about the other "accusation". Even if she could have been a patient - I think you have made it clear, that there was very little you could do to resist being fascinated by her. I guess this kind of thing happens all too often to psychologists or doctors etc. with people who are really their patients, but few of them would be so honest to talk about it. We're all just human.

I do have other questions, but I don't know if this thread is the right place to ask them. And maybe those should better be saved for another interview on the Paracast which I hope will made real soon.

But I will ask two questions which I personally feel are my most urgent ones. Just bear with me...

I was quite sceptical myself (to the point of nihilism I guess) until I witnessed two different cases in my own family that very strongly reminded me of cases described by the late Prof. Ian Stevenson. I guess you are familiar with his work. Some aspects of that experience made me think that "disincarnate consciousness" or maybe mankind's oldest myth - the soul, ghosts, spirits, djinn, whatever they have been called, may be not so mythical after all.

I typed a very short summary of these "cases" here: born again | Page 2 | The Paracast Community Forums There were more baffling statements and events but I didn't want to get into them as they are often quite personal.

So 1. did you encounter anything that might be called evidence of "survival of consciousness"?

2. Could what you have described in the interview as an unknown outside agent, a force that has not been acknowledged or explained by science be - bluntly put - the ghosts of deceased persons? Just as many Ghosthunter TV shows suggest (and at the same time making the concept more ridiculous than ever by hoaxing and lying about it)?

EDIT: You may regard these questions (including the ones that made it to the show) as somewhat dated, but I've got to tell you that in my country, these subjects are really some kind of taboo. The only Parapsychology department in a university was closed late in the 80s because the academicians had decided there was nothing there to study. There is one "real" parapsychologist (as opposed to many charlatans who call themselves that) left, Dr Walter von Lucadou, a very honest and scientifically minded guy, but he is mostly made fun of and gets attacked whenever he writes a book etc. So if I'm not really up to date that may be due to lack of information.

 

[trainedobserver]

Dr. Taff,

I really enjoy listening to you and look forward to reading your new book.

Since all we really experience is the information about real world events through our brain/mind generated virtual reality presentation we understand as our consciousness and not the events themselves, would you agree that some paranormal phenomena such as remote viewing and others that you discuss could lead a person to suspect that our perception and ideas about our individuality may be misleading?

The 3D virtual reality presentation of consciousness that our brain/mind systems create seems oriented to maintain a false sense of individuality and autonomy while our observations of nature reveal to us that we belong to ever increasingly complex interlocking systems. This causes me to suspect that apparitions and other paranormal phenomena are intrusions of the larger real world system events into our brain generated 3D presentation apparatus that may be ill-suited to display them in a coherent manner. Is this in line with your thinking?

 

[Polterwurst]

So 1. did you encounter anything that might be called evidence of "survival of consciousness"?

2. Could what you have described in the interview as an unknown outside agent, a force that has not been acknowledged or explained by science be - bluntly put - the ghosts of deceased persons? Just as many Ghosthunter TV shows suggest (and at the same time making the concept more ridiculous than ever by hoaxing and lying about it)

Actually you needn't answer that question any more (I guess it's really just one), as I've just read through the foreword and begun the first chapter of your book. I'll post other questions in the official questions thread so they can be used for further interviews on the Paracast.

Btw: I would like to have something like this show and forum in my country (open but not esoterical), where I could ask people like Dr von Lucadou these questions. And I really wish he would write books like this one (his books are highly theoretical and don't really go into actual experiences and cases).

 

[wwkirk]

Not to hijack the thread, but a sophisticated book on the possibility of survival is Immortal Remains by Stephen Braude (who would make a good guest by the way).

 

[SRL+]

Hi Barry, I would like to inquire about your involvement in the registered, trademarked, non-profit known as S.R.I, (AKA), Spirit Rescue International, (quite the play on words), which apparently you over see along with your associate, and company’s founder, Irene-Allen Block.

(1). According to the information provided at your website, this endeavor is the first of its kind, whose reach extends internationally. What country are you headquartered in?

(2). At your website, S.R.I , (AKA) “Spirit Rescue International," among other services offered are, spirit removal, and relocation which is performed by a group of remote viewers. Are there any clinical psychologists employed, and if so, who are they?

(3). I would now like to include a quoted paragraph from “Spirit Rescue International”, outlining your associate, and company‘s founder, Irene-Allen Block’s vitae.

“Irene's compassion not only lies with the spirit but also with the client. The technique she uses comes to her directly from her spiritual helpers/guides, so no one clearing is alike. Everything Irene knows has been taught to her since an early age by the spirit world. She refuses to learn from people or from books, believing this would contaminate her knowledge.”

Barry, If I am not mistaken, your associate is uneducated, is this correct?

(4). Since S.R.I. (AKA), “Spirit Rescue International” is a non-profit, how do you make ends meet? I do notice advertisers at your website where you can purchase autographed pictures and posters but is that it?

(5). I hope you are able to bring your associate Irene-Allen Block along for your next appearance. We would love the both of you to remote view something for everyone!

 

[Dr. Barry E. Taff]

There was one case from 1970, which is discussed in chapter one of my book that strongly suggested the possibility for survival of consciousness. Rather than going into depth here, there was the appearance of an apparition that attacked me in front of more than a dozen people, and it just happened to look exactly like the person who had died months earlier that none of us had ever met. Real simple here, what did we encounter here.

I would ignore anything you see or here on any of the paranormal reality shows, as they're nothing more than mindless entertainment for people who know nothing about what's really going on out here in the parapsychological world.​

​

 

[Dr. Barry E. Taff]

So I just came home from work. There was a package from Amazon Germany waiting for me with a book called "Aliens Above Ghosts Below" in it. I immediately browsed through to the chapter containing the story of the girlfriend to prepare my answer to S.R.L.'s remarks in the other thread. Started the computer, logged in to the Paracast forum - and whoa. What the...? The man is here himself!

Thanks for taking the time and adressing this little debate in person, Dr. Taff. Really appreciated. Welcome indeed.

I don't know about S.R.L, but my questions concerning RV and personal relationships with people involved in a case are quite satisfactorily answered.

I honestly don't know much about the Remote Viewing projects (maybe there are references to your work), but I think that wouldn't be the first case that someone who contributed to a field of study isn't named later on.

And about the other "accusation". Even if she could have been a patient - I think you have made it clear, that there was very little you could do to resist being fascinated by her. I guess this kind of thing happens all too often to psychologists or doctors etc. with people who are really their patients, but few of them would be so honest to talk about it. We're all just human.

I do have other questions, but I don't know if this thread is the right place to ask them. And maybe those should better be saved for another interview on the Paracast which I hope will made real soon.

But I will ask two questions which I personally feel are my most urgent ones. Just bear with me...

I was quite sceptical myself (to the point of nihilism I guess) until I witnessed two different cases in my own family that very strongly reminded me of cases described by the late Prof. Ian Stevenson. I guess you are familiar with his work. Some aspects of that experience made me think that "disincarnate consciousness" or maybe mankind's oldest myth - the soul, ghosts, spirits, djinn, whatever they have been called, may be not so mythical after all.

I typed a very short summary of these "cases" here: born again | Page 2 | The Paracast Community Forums There were more baffling statements and events but I didn't want to get into them as they are often quite personal.

So 1. did you encounter anything that might be called evidence of "survival of consciousness"?

2. Could what you have described in the interview as an unknown outside agent, a force that has not been acknowledged or explained by science be - bluntly put - the ghosts of deceased persons? Just as many Ghosthunter TV shows suggest (and at the same time making the concept more ridiculous than ever by hoaxing and lying about it)?

EDIT: You may regard these questions (including the ones that made it to the show) as somewhat dated, but I've got to tell you that in my country, these subjects are really some kind of taboo. The only Parapsychology department in a university was closed late in the 80s because the academicians had decided there was nothing there to study. There is one "real" parapsychologist (as opposed to many charlatans who call themselves that) left, Dr Walter von Lucadou, a very honest and scientifically minded guy, but he is mostly made fun of and gets attacked whenever he writes a book etc. So if I'm not really up to date that may be due to lack of information.

 

[Dr. Barry E. Taff]

There was one case discussed in chapter one of my book that details an incredible encounter we had in 1970 here in Los Angeles. During the investigation of that case an apparition appeared and tried to kill me that looked exactly like the deceased man who used to live in the house we were in. However, we didn't know what that even looked like and this event was witnessed by more than one dozen people. Does this qualify as an encounter with survived, disembodied consciousness? Perhaps?

I wouldn't believe anything I see or hear on any paranormal reality show, as they're nothing more than mindless entertainment for people who know absolutely nothing about real world parapsychology and what's really going on out here.

 

[Dr. Barry E. Taff]

Hi Barry, I would like to inquire about your involvement in the registered, trademarked, non-profit known as S.R.I, (AKA), Spirit Rescue International, (quite the play on words), which apparently you over see along with your associate, and company’s founder, Irene-Allen Block.

(1). According to the information provided at your website, this endeavor is the first of its kind, whose reach extends internationally. What country are you headquartered in?

(2). At your website, S.R.I , (AKA) “Spirit Rescue International," among other services offered are, spirit removal, and relocation which is performed by a group of remote viewers. Are there any clinical psychologists employed, and if so, who are they?

(3). I would now like to include a quoted paragraph from “Spirit Rescue International”, outlining your associate, and company‘s founder, Irene-Allen Block’s vitae.

“Irene's compassion not only lies with the spirit but also with the client. The technique she uses comes to her directly from her spiritual helpers/guides, so no one clearing is alike. Everything Irene knows has been taught to her since an early age by the spirit world. She refuses to learn from people or from books, believing this would contaminate her knowledge.”

Barry, If I am not mistaken, your associate is uneducated, is this correct?

(4). Since S.R.I. (AKA), “Spirit Rescue International” is a non-profit, how do you make ends meet? I do notice advertisers at your website where you can purchase autographed pictures and posters but is that it?

(5). I hope you are able to bring your associate Irene-Allen Block along for your next appearance. We would love the both of you to remote view something for everyone!

 

[Dr. Barry E. Taff]

I am not professionally associated with SRI, other than serving as a long-distance consultant. I agreed to assist them in their effort to assist people have problems with paranormal encounters, and that's it. This is not my site, nor do I have any formal associations with it's creator or members. Therefore I cannot be held accountable for what they say or do. I've only spoken with Irene once and know almost nothing about her beyond that superficial introduction. I just thought that I might be of some help to others in their time of need who are asking questions.

 

[Dr. Barry E. Taff]

Dr. Taff,

I really enjoy listening to you and look forward to reading your new book.

Since all we really experience is the information about real world events through our brain/mind generated virtual reality presentation we understand as our consciousness and not the events themselves, would you agree that some paranormal phenomena such as remote viewing and others that you discuss could lead a person to suspect that our perception and ideas about our individuality may be misleading?

The 3D virtual reality presentation of consciousness that our brain/mind systems create seems oriented to maintain a false sense of individuality and autonomy while our observations of nature reveal to us that we belong to ever increasingly complex interlocking systems. This causes me to suspect that apparitions and other paranormal phenomena are intrusions of the larger real world system events into our brain generated 3D presentation apparatus that may be ill-suited to display them in a coherent manner. Is this in line with your thinking?

 

[Dr. Barry E. Taff]

The paranormal phenomena we encounter is the result of our coupling with the environment in a very complex way...something I refer to in my book as "inductive coupling". Without this fascinating interaction or confluence, such event would likely never occur. There is far more here than meets the eye and we're just at the place in terms of data collection to where we can begin to even understand what it might mean. My book delves into this matter in detail,

 

[SRL+]

I am not professionally associated with SRI, other than serving as a long-distance consultant. I agreed to assist them in their effort to assist people have problems with paranormal encounters, and that's it. This is not my site, nor do I have any formal associations with it's creator or members. Therefore I cannot be held accountable for what they say or do. I've only spoken with Irene once and know almost nothing about her beyond that superficial introduction. I just thought that I might be of some help to others in their time of need who are asking questions.

I will accept your statement for what it clearly presents itself as, and that is a half truth. Allow me to quote the first three sentences from your statement:

“I am not professionally associated with SRI, other than serving as a long-distance consultant. I agreed to assist them in their effort to assist people have problems with paranormal encounters, and that's it. This is not my site, nor do I have any formal associations with it's creator or members.”

Well, apparently Spirit Rescue International is oblivious to your non professional status, because over there, (for the last sixteen months), they have been gushing all over their star, Dr. Taff. Allow me to quote from their website, from two different locations:

“Itroduction- The SRI Team


Barry Taff, PhD. is an associate of SRI and a paranormal adviser. He worked as a researcher in the former parapsychology laboratory at UCLA's Neuropsychiatric Institute where he studied telepathy, precognition, and remote viewing as well as poltergeists, doppelgangers and UFOs. Dr. Taff's research has been published in numerous journals, periodicals, magazines and books over the last 40+ years. He has been the principal investigator on more than 4,500 cases of poltergeists and hauntings, one of which became the bestselling book and motion picture'The Entity'. Go to the links page to purchase Barry's recent book 'Aliens Above, Ghosts Below'. “



“Irenes Blog
Dr. Barry Taff

Hello - I am pleased to announce that Barry Taff, PhD. has recently become an associate of SRI as a paranormal advisor. He worked has a research associate in the former parapsychology laboratory at UCLA's Neuropsychiatric Institute where he studied telepathy, precognition, and remote viewing as well as poltergeists, doppelgangers and UFOs. Dr. Taff's research has been published in numerous journals, periodicals, magazines and books over the last 25 years. He has been the principal investigator on more than 3,500 cases of poltergeists and hauntings, one of which became the bestselling book and motion picture, 'The Entity. ...Irene
Posted @ 19:45:28 on 12 November 2010 back to top.”


As you can clearly see, you are in fact entangled within Spirit Rescue International as an associate, and adviser. Amusingly enough in the last sixteen months your credentials have ascended from 25 years experience, and 3,500 hundred cases, to 40+ years experience, and 4,500 hundred cases. Perhaps you have mastered time traversal learned from the “aliens above."

I would now like to quote the last three sentences of your statement:

“Therefore I cannot be held accountable for what they say or do. I've only spoken with Irene once and know almost nothing about her beyond that superficial introduction. I just thought that I might be of some help to others in their time of need who are asking questions/.”

Once again Barry, it is painfully obvious that your statement is false, or at best, a half truth. To an extent you control the media which runs through Spirit Rescue International's website. The sale of your book is mentioned not only in your vitae located within the “Introduction-The SRI Team,” but with the media link which directs the “others,” which are in need of your assistance to the largest ad, where they may purchase your book. I would suggest that after visiting Spirit Rescue International's website, then examining your statement, most anyone would agree that there is more than just “superficial” involvement at play.

 

[Dr. Barry E. Taff]

I want to thank you for bringing this matter to my attention. Whether you know it or not, I've developed cataracts in both eyes and can barely see at all. I thought that I severed my assocation with SRI but apparently I did not. Given my deteriorated visual acuity, I'm having great difficulty to doing things I"ve always taken for normal, In fact, there's a fund raising page on line regarding my medical situation a Montauk Chronicles.com or at Dr. Barry Taff's Catatract Surgery Funraising page. I wish to really thank you very much for bringing this matter to my attention. I'm counting on people like yourself to assist me at this time. If that wasn't bad enough, they've apparently modified and re-writting my bio which I did not swee until now. The correct one should state that I"ve been working in this field of approximautely 44 years with almost 4,500 cases.

 

[Gene Steinberg]

This is why the health care system in the U.S. is messed up. You should be able to get that surgery without having to go broke or ask for donations if you don't have a health insurance plan. Yet when they try to fix the system, we hear rants about the government's takeover of the health care system. It's no wonder why outcomes from medical treatment are actually better in almost every other advanced nation. Sigh.