I call it a brain machine, but I am sure that is the name. I have had it for a few years and used it off and on. It sends lights through glasses and sounds to the ears. It seem to work well for SR I am finding. You can play it with Enya or nature sounds, whatever. The program I like takes you from 10 cpm to 4cpm than back to 10 over 30 min. I seem very relaxed and my arms and legs feel heavy before I get up. It takes a lot of practice I am finding to clear your mind and it does not always work. The name of mine is Galaxy Photosonic. Any thoughts?
Thanks
Follow Ups:
Brain tapes. SR is a means; Alpha-Theta is the end.
Posted by Mike Kramer on February 03, 1999 at 18:09:45:
In Reply to: For SR what do you think of these "brain machines" posted by Matt on February 03, 1999 at 14:09:00:
Matt:
I've been wondering the same thing. Do others feel they've benefited from SR technology?
Recognizing that we are unique and react individually and differently I'll throw my two cents in. I was excited by some of the posts I saw here months back and bought a cassette tape and an audio CD that I thought would help me attain alpha-theta. Once their novelty wore off I felt I was better SRing without them. I have tried self-hypnosis, but for that I made my own tape.
In the end, I felt that the technology got in the way of my SR. There were headphones to adjust. The CD, although brand-new seemed to have a lot of background hiss and so did the tape.
My SR is now simpler. I don't worry about volume control, headphone adjustments or loose wires. Sure, it's not always perfectly quiet doing SR without headphones. The noises can be distracting. But my personal assessment is that I am doing better getting into alpha-theta despite the distractions than I was using the tapes to screen things out. I think it might be the case that for people completely new to SR the tapes would be a great way to start.
I am not a Luddite. I think machines are great. So I am curious if those high-priced gadgets I have seen in some catalogs really are worth it.
I wonder if anyone has linked these sound-light machines with biofeedback machines. If people are confident that the brain machines can have predictable effects then maybe those effects could be modulated depending on the brain-wave state the subject was in. So the brain machine could give you a sound and light show that was appropriate to your brain state at that time. I don't think they currently do that. Do they?
On another level, I have read at least once (I don't remember where) someone objecting to the use of biofeedback machines to reach "higher states of consciousness." Their objection was based on the notion that such spiritual quests are demeaned if they can be had by flipping a switch. I think they were claiming that the process is as important as achieving the goal.
I don't want to put words in his mouth, but the impression I've gotten from Dr. Stoll's comments is that we should be trying to help people reduce their suffering. Some people get to Alpha-Theta with ease. Others struggle. Why not help those who struggle any way we can? What counts is getting to Alpha-Theta. It's better to get there today than tomorrow. If a machine can get me there today that's one less day I have to suffer. I agree completely with the position I have imputed to Dr. Stoll. There is nothing laudable in spending years (your whole life?) doing SR badly.
What I've gotten from Dr. Stoll is the vision that there are many ways to get to Alpha-Theta. Different ways for different people and sometimes different ways for one person at different times. Read the SR Workbook and find what's best for you now. This is a case of the practice being an instrument, not an end-in-itself. A knife is an instrument for cutting. If it doesn't cut I get a knife that can. I care about cutting not about the knife. Likewise I care about getting to Alpha-Theta. If a machine gets me there, good. But what I care about is Alpha-Theta, not the machine.
Thanks, Dr. Stoll. (If I've misinterpreted you my apologies; I'd be quite happy to hear about it. But you still have my thanks for getting me to think about this stuff.)
Follow Ups:
Re: Brain tapes. SR is a means; Alpha-Theta is the end.
Posted by Walt Stoll on February 04, 1999 at 17:42:10:
In Reply to: Brain tapes. SR is a means; Alpha-Theta is the end. posted by Mike Kramer on February 03, 1999 at 18:09:45:
Thanks, Mike!
You have done beautifully with this!
Keep up the good work. The most important thing is understanding what you just said. THEN, you have the beginning tools to certainly do the job.
Namaste` Walt
Great Post Mike! (At least I thought so...) NMI
Posted by Tony on February 05, 1999 at 00:39:11:
In Reply to: Brain tapes. SR is a means; Alpha-Theta is the end. posted by Mike Kramer on February 03, 1999 at 18:09:45:
nmi