Otavio

Hi Leo @Leo Gura and forum members, Hope you all are doing well. My name is Otavio Costa. I am from Brazil and I am currently living in Australia. I came across some of your videos for meditation techniques and I really like your approach. Very straightforward with no bullshit of philosophy and religion. I also found your podcast very interesting with great insights. The reason I am getting touch in with you is because I would like to make you aware of the Spiritism philosophy. I am a very pragmatic and sceptical person but those principles convinced me of the way our life works and the reasons why we are here on the Earth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritism Basically, this doctrine was established when mediums (individuals who can communicate to spirits) created a framework of questions that assisted them to understand the reasons for human life on earth, and aspects of the spiritual world. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Kardec http://socialsciences.scielo.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-85872006000100003 This doctrine is very popular in Brazil. There are many high profile mediums there who have been helping thousands of people. The main ones are: - Chico Xavier https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chico_Xavier - John of God https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/João_de_Deus_(medium) - Divaldo Franco https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divaldo_Pereira_Franco Please bear in mind that I am not trying to persuade anyone of anything or even trying to promote any kind of religion since I believe the Spiritism is more a framework than ideology . I’m only trying to understand why a doctrine that is based on science and empirical research doesn’t have many exposure in the western society. Why isn’t the scientific community interested in understand more about those phenomena? There are mediums performing spiritual surgeries and healing people (exams have proven their body have been cured) and we are not tapping into those methods to understand how can more people benefit from those healers. You seem to be a wise person with a distinct sense to separate bullshit from reality. I would love to have on thoughts on this matter. Take care, Otavio Costa

@Leo Gura you should lead a research for a scientific study of the spirit. You have the audience, it shouldn't be that hard for you to find the funds. Even crowdfunding must work well. Unless, it is not a priority at the moment

@Leo Gura I think you're right. Science expects everything to be black and white and this kind of think is not predicable and really escape from their rational framework. But I would expect someone from the scientific (apart from Oprah who made a documentary with John of God) community trying to understand this phenomena. If I can suggest a good documentary to you, I would say "Healing: Miracles, Mysteries and John of God (2008)". It is very inspiring and illuminating without any religious beaisis.