Anaesthetic Revelation and the Gist of Philosophy

by Benjamin Paul Blood

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

Genres: Mysticism

Hardcover

First published September 29, 2009

Reviews

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

DO ANAESTHETICS REVEAL THE "SECRET OF LIFE”?

Blood wrote, "By the 'Anaesthetic Revelation' I mean a certain survived condition... in which is the satisfaction of philosophy by an appreciation of the genius of being, which appreciation cannot be brought out of that condition into the normal sanity of sense---cannot be formally remembered, but remains informal, forgotten until we return to it...

"After experiments ranging over nearly fourteen years I affirm... that there is an invariable and reliable condition ... ensuing about the instant of recall from anaesthetic stupor to sensible observation, or 'coming to,' in which the genius of being is revealed; but because it cannot be remembered in the normal condition it is lost altogether through the infrequency of anaesthetic treatment in any individual's case ordinarily, and buried, amid the hum of returning common sense, under that epitaph of illumination: 'This is a queer world.' Yet I have warned others to expect this wonder on entering the anaesthetic slumber, and none so cautioned has failed to report of it in terms which assured me of its realization...

"Nor can it be long until all who enter the anaesthetic condition... will be taught to expect this revelation, and will date from its experience their initiation into the Secret of Life... By this revelation we enter to the sadness and the majesty of Jesus---to the solemn mystery which inspired the prophets of every generation." (Pg. 34-36)

Shades of William James' "Note on the Anaesthetic Revelation" (included as an appendix to his book 'The Will to Believe, Human Immortality, and Other Essays in Popular Philosophy'), or the guy reported by Alan Watts, who wrote down the 'Secret of the Universe' when he was coming down from nitrous oxide, only to find that what he had written was, "the secret of the universe is the smell of burnt almonds"! (Listen to Watts' lecture, "The Smell of Burnt Almonds.")