Conference hydra::dejavu

There is at least one paperback out about the Silva course, you might want 
to try reading that to see how it fits you. It gives the techniques taught in
the course, for a lot less than you'll pay for the course. 

In general, different things work for different people. I took a course
that was developed by one of the people that helped develop the Silva course,
called Mind Dynamics back in the early 70's. It was interesting and I've never 
considered it a waste of time. More recently I've been looking into some of 
Robert Monroe's work. I'd highly recommend his 2 books, the most recent 
one (Far Journeys) especially. The GATEWAY course that Monroe has
developed using his patented Hemi-Sync process would probably serve your needs 
better. You can take the course as a home-study using audio tapes, as an 
weeklong experience at the Monroe Institute in Virginia or possibly in the 
local area sometime soon.

If interested, write to:

	The Monroe Institute 
	Route 1, Box 175
	Faber, Virginia  22938

(or I can get their phone number for you if you want)

	The Monroe Institute is internationally known for its work in the
	effects of sound wave forms on human behavior. In its early stages, the 
	Institute discovered that nonverbal audio patterns had dramatic effects
	on stages of consciousness.

	Certain sound patterns create a Frequency Following Response (FFR) in
	the electrical activity of the brain. Those sound patterns can then
	lead the brain into various states, such as deep relaxation or sleep.
	A generic patent in this field was issued to Robert Monroe in 1975.
	Drawing upon this discovery ant the work of others, Mr. Monroe has 
	employed a system of "binaural beats" feeding a separate signal into 
	each ear. By sending separate sound pulses to each ear with stereo
	headphones, the two hemispheres of the brain act in unison to "hear"
	a third signal the difference between the two sound pulses. This third 
	signal is not an actual sound, but an electrical signal that can only 
	be created by both brain hemispheres acting and working together,
	simultaneously.  The unique coherent brain state that results is
	known as Hemispheric Synchronization, or "Hemi-Sync".


	- Bill

	(insert usual disclaimer about any affiliation with said organization)

A former roomate of mine took Silva Mind Control and was greatly pleased
with it. He used the techniques for such things as speeding up the
delivery of his new car (of which he correctly predicted the colour).
Since I didn't take the course myself, I can only offer his experiences.
If you want, contact me at SNAP::DDANTONIO and I will give you his phone
number (he is in school in New Jersey) and you get get it from the horse's
mouth, so to speak...

DDA

p.s. He didn't like the "Mind Control University" idea very much.

    Back in 1976 I was so taken with it I'd have skipped the rent in
    order to attend. It was amazing. SMC presents meditiation methods
    minus the mumbojumbo. A quick, effective method to get into Alpha
    state, and then plenty of info on what to do there, versus just
    hanging out w/yr. navel.
    
    The tapes which help one attain level are also available thru SMC,
    but I don't consider them necessary. They are centered around the
    8 cps frequency which is what the brain emits when in a relaxed,
    suggestible state. As you prob. know, the subconscious mind cannot
    differentiate between real and imagined input. Or, external reality
    and self-induced programming. All the creative byproducts of hypnosis
    are yours without turning your lobes over to another person.
    
    So. It's ten years later. Am I better because of it? I think so.
    I can still drop off to sleep in a few seconds anytime. I can 'program'
    parking spaces, job openings, etc. To be really sure, I would have
    had to split myself back in '76 and maintianed a parallel existence.
    
    Like most classes, some of the effects waned once out of the class
    environment. I've attempted to take a refresher course recently,
    but the closest have been only occasionally in Phoenix, 120 miles
    away. BTW if you keep your registration card, you can take refresher
    courses free for life.
    
    So, I suggest Silva heartily.  Karl Moeller SWS Tucson AZ

    someone named ::OPERATOR apparently tried to VAXMail me a message.
    The header and the subject arrived, but the rest disappeared. I
    think this person wished to discuss Mind Control. Unfortunately
    I deleted the null message before I wrote down who it was.
    
    No snippy comments that I should be able to intuit this....
    
    Please retransmit !!!!    karl moeller sws tucson az

    'lo,team.
         I'll be doing that training,starting tonight.  Once you do
    it you can repeat it as many times as you like for free.  Also,
    if you're unsatisfied for any reason, you can get a refund.  They
    say that 1% of graduates are unsatisfied and ask for the refund.
         I'm going to do the first part of it tonight and all day Saturday,
    which is tomorrow as I write.  I need to go to an important family
    function, so I'll complete the training next month.
         The main thing is that I will let you know how it goes and
    what I think of it, most certainly.  Stay tuned
    mike

    Hi.
        So I started the training this last weekend.  On the first evening,
    we learned how to get into an Alpha state, named after the brain
    waves characteristic of that state.  The idea is to get to that
    state and remain awake.  People usually pass through that state
    on the way to and from sleep.  In that state, one can "program"
    oneself through autosuggestion and visualization much more easily.
         One the next day we learned about several techniques involving
    sleep control; Going to sleep when you want, waking up when you
    want, remembering dreams and using them to solve problems.  All
    of these things take some practice to become proficient, so all
    we really did was hear about them and have the basics programmed
    in while we were in Alpha.  We learned some things about how to
    program ourselves to study and remember what we studied  better.
    The instructor, Gerry Seavey, showed us a memory technique that
    Silva uses primarily for visualization practice.  That one was
    interesting.  After that, I could give you thirty different items
    any way you would want them.  Give me the number, I could give the
    item, or vice versa.  I could name the items in order backwards
    and forwards.\
         I need to go now.  More later
    mike

    This is a continuation of .6.
         There were other techniques presented, including glove anesthesia
    and hand levitation.  The point of glove anesthesia is that one
    learns to cause one's hand to feel numb. This also requires practice.
    I didn't notice any effect on that one at all.  With continued
    practice, one can learn to numb sensation in any part of the body.
     This would obviously be useful when one becomes injured.
         Hand levitation was interesting.  We were told to stare at
    our strong hand as it rested on our laps.  As Gerry slowly counted
    to 10, we were to raise it from our lap until it touched our face,
    staring at it all the while.  I notice while I was doing it that
    my arm did feel weightless at times, and that lifting it seemed
    to require no effort at all.  This is supposed to, with practice
    again, enable one to get to a state below alpha, called theta. 
    At theta, one can program one's body readily.
         To sum up the first part of Silva, it seems that one can program
    oneself in the Alpha state.  It sounds very much like auto-hypnosis.
    They claim that with practice, one can learn to program oneself
    better that a professional hypnotist can.  After the basic stuff
    of getting to Alpha, what you choose to program yourself for is
    pretty much up to you. Some particular techniques were presented,
    only one of which was definitely successful for me, and another
    partially successful.
         I forgot.  On the first evening they talked about mental
    housecleaning.  This is basically watching your language carefully
    and your visual imagery.  The idea is to avoid negative language
    and imagery and to replace it with positive stuff.
         Most ofthe actual time was spent with Gerry talking/lecturing
    to us.  He's a very good, entertaining speaker, but I found myself
    getting really antsy after a while.  He talked up Silva always.
    He talked a lot about ESP and Intuition.  Mostly, the emphasis was
    placed on developing intuition.  Thet want to dissociate Silva with
    what might be considered wierdness and occultism.  But they meant
    the exact same thing as ESP, as was clear from the lectures.
         There were more people in the class who had taken Silva before
    than there were new people.  I"d guess about 65% to 35%.
         Does it all work?  I do know that a lot of other people besides
    the Silva people talk about the same basic methods.  I don't know
    what I'll be able to do after I've had some practice.
    I don't mean to monopolize this note topic, but my experiences do
    seem to be pretty relevant, and I'll continue to keep you posted.
    mike

    This is also a continuation of .6, several months later.
         As I stated before I got really antsy sitting in a chair for
    so many hours at a stretch.  I decided to finish the course during
    the winter weather.  I took the entired course over, on Dec. 26,
    27, and 28, 9 AM to 9PM.  As time wore on in that class, I just
    got into Gerry telling stories and keeping us entertained.  It was
    a little like watching TV for 12 hours a day, three days in a row.
         The early part of the course was as I described above.  I'll
    go on about the remaining parts.
         We learned a technique called MIRROR OF THE MIND.  This is
    how most of the actual self programming is done in Silva MC.  One
    goes into an alpha state and does a lot of visualizing.  First one
    visualizes a blue framed mirror or screen.  In that mirror you
    visualize at length the situation you want to change; you "see"
    different images that are associated with the situation you want
    to change. Then, to the left of that mirror, in your mind's eye,
    you visualize a white framed mirror or screen.  In that mirror you
    visualize the situation as you would like it to be.  You see different
    images associated with the way you'd like the "project" to work
    out.  If I wanted a better career I'd visualize myself looking at
    a bigger paycheck, imagining that I really deserve it.  I'd see
    myself speaking at meetings with people actually paying attention.
    Images that would actually happen if I HAD the more successful career.
    All the while, you pretend or imagine that this is TRUE NOW, that
    the desired situation has actually come to pass.
         In the future whenever you meditate on that project or think
    about it in daily life, see the end result only.  DON'T GO OVER
    THE STUFF IN THE BLUE FRAMED MIRROR.  Also, expect the desired result
    to actually happen; don't entertain doubts.
         The mirror of the mind technique is designed to build faith,
    or the combination of desire, belief, and expectancy.  It is also
    designed to cause you to get off your tail and ACT to make the desired
    result come about; it builds motivation.
         We spent the last part of the class visually projecting ourselves
    into metals, plants, pets, and healthy people.  Then we squared
    off for the ESP sessions.  I tell you truly; I wrote about my Aunt
    Mary, who lost her lower leg in a car accident as a teenager.  The
    woman who was going to do the ESP went into her alpha state.  Then
    I told her my aunt's name, approximate age, where she lived, and
    that she was female.  It took a while, but that woman told me my
    aunt has a fake leg.  I was amazed.  I tried to do ESP with six different
    people.  Of those six, I found out what was wrong with one person.
     I said that he had a disc problem in his upper back, purely guessing.
    Actually I "saw" that he had a problem there in my mind.  I saw
    one other person that I worked with find the problem with another
    distant person.  Make what you will of that.  I saw enough to know
    that it actually works.  The thing for me is that I didn't take
    SMC to see people's health problems; I don't know why health problems
    are used for this ESP stuff.  I guess part of the idea is just to
    work on the intuition and ESP that is naturally there, for other
    uses.  At the end of each "case" of a sick person, we imagined them
    as being healthy again.  That may work too, I don't know.
         Get the book.  Do what it tells you to do.  PRACTICE DILIGENTLY.
    When you get some results, then think about taking the course.
    
                                                 Mike Gauthier
    

        I have just joined this notesfile, so pardon the late entry.
    I wanted to offer you some encouragement with the Silva Method .
    My experience with it was very similar to that in .8 .  I had joined
    for certain of the, shall I say, clerical mind functions such as
    memory enhancement, pain control etc.  I almost did'nt attend the
    last session because of the ESP ish aspects of checking out peoples
    health from a distance .  In my case, I surprised myself .  I was
    told of a man, age 25, who had a health problem .  I thought to
    myself " what the heck could be wrong with this guy? "  But I did
    the excercise, went to my Alpha level and projected an image of
    what I thought this fellow looked like onto my "mental screen".
    I saw a dark area on the spinal column running from shoulder blades
    down to mid back .  That was all I saw .  It turned out that he
    had been in a boating accident and the prop had opened up his spinal
    chord in the area I had indicated .  This was enough to derail me
    for a while .  I did not enjoy looking at other peoples health
    problems, I felt uncomfortable .  That experience gave me the energy
    to carry on .  I hope you will as well .
    
    Jon
                          

    I took SMC years ago.  I could write volumes, but just let me put
    it short, sweet, and simple
    
    
    I took it.
    
    I loved it.
    
    It changed my life (boy and how!!!)
    
    I'm not kidding.

    
    Can anyone point me to any other books on this subject?  Since there
    are very few notes in this conference without a single negative
    reply, I went out and bought the original book by Robert Silva.
    I found it interesting but felt like it could have gone further.
    A little more in depth would help.
    
    Anyone know where 'Far Journeys' can be found?  I read 'Journeys
    out of the Body' about 10 years ago and still feel it was either
    one of the most interesting books of fiction I have ever read or
    one of the most interesting books of non-fiction I have ever read.
    Hard to believe anyone could make that up!
    
    John...
    

    
    The Silva of Silva Mind Control is not Robert Silva.  It is Jose
    Silva.

    I found my copy of 'Far Journeys' in a (McKinsey-White) bookstore.  It
    was hardback and about $16.  However, it was most interisting reading,
    and worth the price to me.  :-) 
    
    Kak

    After reading this notes file I went out and bought the book by
    Silva.  It was interesting reading but it brought up a few questions.
    
    
    	1. To reach the alpha state they say to put your eyes at a 20
    degree angle.  Is this  20 degrees measured from looking straight
    ahead, or straight up.
    
    	2. How much does it cost to take the course.
    
    	3. Is there any one out there with a negative impression of
    the course?  The number of positive responses without any negative
    is amazing.
    
    						Joe Pineau

    The local Silva Mind Control center is in Waltham, MA at (617)462-2700.
    They will be offering their next four-day training session in Portsmouth,
    NH on May 30 and 31 and again on June 13 and 14. The cost is $395 with
    a full money-back guarantee. Each day's class runs from 10 AM to 7
    PM. Another session may be offered in August, but the schedule
    isn't set yet, according to the woman I talked with.
    
    peter
    

    RE: .15
    
    Thanks for the info!  I took it years ago, which means I can take
    it over at no cost.  So far I have taken it three times.  When you
    take it form different lecturers, it's almost like a new course.
    Or maybee I mean that it is a new slant on the subject material.
    
    Marion

    The Silva course sounded very interesting to me, so I picked up
    the paperback "The Silva Mind Control Method." The idea of learning
    to control at least part of your mind is intriguing and the focus on
    desire, expectancy, and belief could be very powerful. However,
    I was disappointed over the emphasis on ESP, or Effective Sensory
    Projection. They assume that it's conclusively proven and then go
    on to show you how to use it. I don't agree. For those of you who've 
    taken the course, how big a part is ESP training? Is it worth taking
    for the meditation, positive thinking, and problem solving skills, 
    or is it a waste of time without the ESP aspect?
    
    thanks,
    
    peter

    RE: .17
    
    On the subject of Effective Sensory Projection -
    
    > They assume that it's conclusively proven and then go on to show
    > you how to use it.
    
    I can see how reading a book would not have quite the impact of
    the course.  When I took it, I left my mind open, but I was determined
    that I was not going to buy into a "crock".  In spite of it all,
    by the end of the course, I had experienced enough things first
    hand that I am of the opinion that Effective Sensory Projection
    *is* a conclusively proven fact.  At a course you can question, cajole
    and prod the lecturer.  In fact, that sort of thing is encouraged.
    
    Is it worth takeing the course for the meditation alone?  I guess
    so, but realize that with SMC, the alpha state is more than just
    a relaxed theraputic state.  It is, in fact, a wonderful workshop,
    playground and a health club of sorts.  My advice is to take the
    course.  If you don't think that it was worth it, get your money
    back.  Make up your mind up front that you won't be shy about asking
    questions, or asking for your money back if you want it.  Then go
    do it.  When you go at it that way - you'll probably get much more
    out of it than someone who doesn't know what to expect or what they
    want to get out of it.
    
    Let us know how it turns out for you.
    
    Marion         

    RE: .18
    
    Thank you for your response. Armed with this attitude, I think I
    will take the course. Even if it turns out not to be wholly what
    I expect, I have the feeling it's a start of some kind.
    
    thanks again,
    
    peter

    Re: .17
    
    I have read the book too and I plan on taking the course as soon
    as it comes around again (I can't take the upcoming class because
    of previous plans for one of the weekends).  
    
    My husband took this course many years ago and it made a major 
    improvement to the control he has on the quality of his life.  Just 
    being around him I've learned many things that come from the course.  
    Things that have worked well enough for me that I continue to use 
    them in times of need.

    One thing I got from the book, which may or may not be just my own
    interpretation or conclusion, is that the "mind" and the "brain"
    are different.  I understood the book to say that you need to teach
    your brain how to think, and if you don't, it will go off in a
    hundred different directions and you'll feel very out of control
    and not be very affective.  I thought this was very interesting...
    and very true for me.  I picture the brain as being this bratty 
    little child with too much power for it's own good (when left 
    without wise guidance) and the mind is the patient and 
    understanding hand that guides the brain and gives it wise direction.
    
    To me, it makes sense that we would have to learn HOW to use our
    brain.  We had to learn how to use other parts of our body.  I don't
    think putting more information in the brain is the "way" of learning
    HOW to use it.

    I think the course will show people how to "train their brains" and 
    use their mind in ways that we're totally capable of and engineered 
    for.
        
    Jerri
    

I *just happened* to have the latest Silva Method flyer with me...so
I thought I'd pass along some of the comments on the flyer for anyone 
who is interested in the focus of the course.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Silva Method benefits:

  - Improved Health - fewer colds, illnesses, headaches, insomnia;
    quit smoking, reduced weight, feel energetic.

  - Relaxation - reduced anxiety, less stress in daily life, peace 
    of mind, enjoy life and think more clearly.

  - Relationships - get along better with others, bring out best in 
    myself and others, have more stability in my life.

  - Financial - do my job better, more income, luckier, make better
    decisions, have increased sense of well-being.

  - Spiritual - intuitive guidance, more creative and loving, use 
    mind to promote healing, meditation, use ESP, positive.

  - Bonus - easily awaken on time, enjoyable and beneficial dreams,
    sleep easily, improved memory, happier, being on the leading 
    edge of understanding the human mind, easily make changes for
    the better, healthier, more successful.

They say:  

    "As a graduate of the Silva Method this is the least you should 
    expect from your development."

    I took "Silva Mind Control" last March. I bought a tape and use
    it every night right before I sleep. Though I feel I'm getting better 
    everyday as the tape says, I still have several problems such as
    lack of concentration, sleepiness and some sort of phobias. 
    
    How do you practice after you graduate SMC? Does re-taking the course
    make noticeable differences?
    
                                    thanks,  Masahiko Ando

    Hi Joe,
    re:1 20 degrees looking straight ahead. Helps visualisation.
    re:2 Do not know U.S. cost, but you can repeat the course any
         number of times for a small nominal charge anywhere it is run.
         This makes it pretty good value.
    re:3 You can use as much of the material as you are comfortable
         with, and everyone I have met finds something they can use,
         hence the positive feedback.
    
    Chris S.
    

    Hi Masahido,
    Yes please repeat the course, I found much benefit the second time
    around and intend to go again. Have also done the Advanced course
    twice.
    Practice with a regular daily routine of relaxation. Watch out for
    using the same tape too much, your mind gets used to it and gets
    bored. I found that making my own tapes on whatever I wanted to
    work on was good value. Also I found that if I worked on too many    
    things at once I would not be as productive as I would like.        
    I also use whatever I feel I need, not every technique all the time.
    
    Would like to know how you go, regards Chris S.

Hello,
	last weekend I finished the 3rd and 4th day of the Basic Course
	here in the Netherlands (so it was in Dutch).
	I have the feeling, I can write a book about it, but I'll try to
	express my feelings in a few words. 
	It is (what I would call) Neo-witchcraft in that it gives you the
	energy and force (don't want to use the word 'power') to accomplish
	anything you want. Especially solving problems (mental and physical,
	your own or others).
	"Neo-witchcraft" because the've stripped off any "cult"-ism or
	secrecy and kept only those things that are sufficient and necessary
	to make it WORK!
	There is one restriction: it only works when it is for the benefit
	of humanity (including yourself).
	Another slight difference with witchcraft is: witchcraft is based
	on the "pyramid" of Imagination, Will, Faith and Secrecy; Silva
	Mind Control is based on Desire, Belief and Expectancy.

								Hans.
	

    One of the first things I did after joining this conference was
    a DIRECTORY/TITLE="SILVA". Ahh!
    
    I took the course over ten years ago for $100 in the operations
    committee conference room at PK-2 in Maynard (or -1, I forget).
    DEC almost offered it free but someone got cold feet.
    
    It turned out to be one of those major turning points you hear
    about. Before Silva, I was almost 100% materialist and agnostic.
    After Silva, my interest in the spiritual side of life began to
    grow.
    
    At first, I just had a good time getting parking places and
    losing weight without effort. But those things became less
    important as time went by. (I can't guarantee that I got
    more parking spaces, but it seemed to work).
    
    I've always wanted to take a refresher course, but I never do
    for some reason. I did buy the book, though.
    
    Before Silva, I would get at least two bad colds every winter.
    I still get them every once in a while, but I usually go for
    more than a year without a sniffle. 
    
    Even after ten years, I can go into a state of alpha by simply
    putting my left thumb and two fingers together.
    
    One thing that used to disturb me is that my early deep 
    meditations stopped working. I later understood that I was
    simply growing out of them.
    
    I still use the memory tricks. I can remember any number for
    years. I learned even more about this from The_Memory_Book
    (forgot the authors). 
    
    About ESP: My own experiences were not very conclusive, but
    my friend did have a strange case. When he visualized his
    neighbor, his partner in the course correctly described him
    and even 'saw' him in the local gun club. (The neighbor had
    just bought a new gun). The description was very precise.
    
    One of the reasons I fell away from Silva practice is that
    I became fascinated by a whole new world. I went off into
    other meditation techniques, eastern religions, forgotten
    western ascetic practices, and so on. I think that if Silva
    had come after these other investigations, I might have
    gotten more out of it. I think I'll look for a refresher
    course.                                     
    
    BTW - My instructor was a new guy -- Jerry Seavey.
          I'm pleased to see he's still teaching.
    
    - Larry
    

    Is there anyone out there that has taken this course in the UK ? If so
    who do I contact to get more information?

    Reading through all the notes it seems that there is a necessity for
    people to repeat the course, its lucky that its free, can anyone
    explain this.

    And there are still no entries from people that found the course
    distastful or a waste of time. Is it because there is noone or because
    noone wants to speak out ?

    Thanks for your comments so far on this topic they have all been very
    interesting.

    Martin.
    Basingstoke
    England

    For any Brits out there the next Silva course in UK is near Marble
    Arch, London, on 24/25 September & 1/2 October.
    The cost is �250 + 37.50 V.A.T

    If I can save the money fast enough I may be there.
    

    Hi to our British Colleagues,
    
    The lecturer who runs Silva in the UK has been out to Australia
    and he is excellent. His name is John Newman and if you can get
    to a course run by him I would recommend it.
    
    A quote from him is - "A mind is like a parachute, no good unless
    it is open". So all of you considering Silva, go for it - there is
    everything to gain.
    
    Regards Chris S.
    
    

    This is directed to anyone in the Southern New Hampshire area who
    is interested in learning more about the Silva Method.
    
    I just received the graduate newsletter from the Silva teaching
    group in Newburyport, MA. They have scheduled two free introductory
    lectures on Monday, June 12 and Wednesday, June 14. Both lectures
    will be held at 7:30 pm at the Sheraton Wayfarer Conference Center
    in Bedford, NH. The lecturer will be Marilou Seavey.
    
    I took the Basic course in March, and I feel it was (and is) of
    real value to me. I am at LOGOS::LITTLE, if anyone wants more info.
    
    -Art Little- 

    Well, its been a long time since anyone wrote in here!!!  I hope
    someone will see this and respond!!  I'm interested in learning how to
    "program" my mind using techniques such as what I read here about
    Silva.  Is Silva still around???  Has anyone found anything better to
    recommend???  How can I find out more about Silva.  I will go check the
    bookstores as soon as I can to see if I can still buy the book.
    
    Thanks,
    Renee

    Who is Silvia, What is she?
    
    Jamie.

    Jamie,  
    
    Is this a joke???  It's not "Silvia", it's Silva.  There are 
    thirty two notes on what it is, why don't you read them.
    
    Renee

>    Who is Silvia, What is she?
>    
>    Jamie.
    
    Very funny.  :-)
    
    He (Jose Silva) founded the school of self-hypnotic/visualization
    technique that is discussed in some detail earlier in this string.
    
    I tried it briefly from the books, and from that perspective found it an 
    interesting and practical approach, though nothing as radically unique
    as many of the claims imply.
    
    							todd

>    Is this a joke???  
    
    I suspect the coyote at work.  ;-)

    Hi Todd,
    
    So you didn't find it that great????
    
    Did you find anything similiar that worked better???
    
    Renee

    I was feeling in a musical mood. I quoted a line from an old song.
    It seemed to fit nicely with the preceding questions.

    Jamie.

    Hi Jamie,
    
    I'm always musical on Friday's myself!!
    
    Renee

>    So you didn't find it that great????
>    
>    Did you find anything similiar that worked better???
    
    Hi Renee,
    
    	I didn't mean to imply that it wasn't very good, just that
    	I thought it was over-hyped beyond its unique benefits.
    
    	There are scads and scads of self-hypnotic approaches that are 
    	oriented to different aspects of self-development.  It all
    	depends on what specifically you're inclined toward.  Practice
    	and experimentation are more important than the technique you
    	start with, in my opinion.
    
    								todd

    What does Silvas Mother say about all this?
    
    CJM

    Re: last
    
    Thought someone would get a hook into that one sooner or later.
    
    Dougie
    

    	Oh, I think I get it now ... Dr. Hook, right ?

    One could, if one wished, dial operator information in Laredo, Texas
    and ask for Silva Mind Control.  That's the headquarters.
    
    karl

    or dial direct ... through the universal consciousness.

    But wouldn't the operator ask for 40 cents more, for just one minute
    ...
    
    	(sorry)
    
    								- JIM CAD*

    re: CAD*
>    But wouldn't the operator ask for 40 cents more, for just one minute
    
    Well,  if it works like 1-900 numbers here, you'll be billed later !

    Re:     <<< Note 110.32 by POBOX::RILEY_R "Perky" >>>
    >                      -< Is Silva still around? >-
    
    Hi Renee,
    
    The Silva program is still around (& I think Jose Silva is still
    around also, though he'd be in his late 70's by now).
    
    >                                  Has anyone found anything better to
    >recommend???  How can I find out more about Silva.  I will go check the
    >bookstores as soon as I can to see if I can still buy the book.
    
    In terms of finding "anything better", I'll take the easy way out and
    suggest that different practices are better for different purposes and
    for different people. 
    
    For example, compare the experiences of sitting zazen, of meditating 
    in Muir woods, and of participating in Silva. They were all of value,
    but they addressed different needs. To be more specific, the Silva 
    techniques have served me as tools for day-to-day use (e.g., memory 
    enhancement, pain reduction, habit control, etc.).
    
    Initially, I began studying Silva from Jose's book. If that were my
    only knowledge of the Silva technique, I wouldn't still be
    practicing. Perhaps it's a matter of learning style, but I just
    couldn't learn this stuff from a book. Fortunately, I was able to 
    attend a class held locally (New Hampshire) and that experience 
    made all the difference. 
    		<Your mileage may, indeed, vary.>
    
    If you still need it, I will poke around and locate the address/phone of
    the Laredo headquarters.
    
    Best,
    
    -Art-

    Art,
    
    Thanks.  I have found some tapes at the bookstore and they are
    interesting.  I'm having trouble concentrating at the alpha level,
    I keep falling asleep!!!
    
    Does anyone know how I can control alpha any better???  Is it just
    practice makes perfect????
    
    Thanks,
    Renee

    I had problems with that too, when I first started using Silva
    several years ago.  And since then.  I find it easiest to relax
    lying down, but once I get into that "cosy" state, I have to make
    myself sit up.  If I still find I'm dropping off, I open my eyes
    (telling myself I'm in Alpha and will stay in Alpha), and move my
    arms and legs some.  This helps me to stay alert if I do get drowsy.
    Then I can go ahead with whatever work I've planned.
    
    And then sometimes I decide a nap is more important than work, and
    relax a little more... ;^)
    
    Ellen

    There will be a Free Introductory Silva lecture on November 5, 1992
    at 7:30 pm at the Sheraton Tara, Newton Corner, MA.  They are also
    offering a one-night seminar on Thursday, November 12, 7-11 pm titled
    "The Silva Relationship Workshop".  This seminar is $35 if you register
    in advance or $45 at the door.  
    
    I've taken Silva several times, and I've done a lot of special lectures
    that they offer.  I've used the techniques to manifest new jobs,creatively
    solve issues and problems and to cause some pretty astounding healing on 
    myself and others.  When I find myself slacking off, I re-take the
    basic seminar for free.    
    
    You can register for these Silva Seminars by calling:
                    Silva Method
                    11 Atwood Street
                    Newburyport, MA  01950
                    (508) 462-2700