Ever since I borrowed (stole?) my friend’s copy of Programming & Metaprogramming in the Human Biocomputer, I’ve been fascinated with the byzantine mental world of Dr. John C. Lilly. If you don’t know him, Dr. Lilly was the neuroscientist who invented the isolation tank, pioneered the study of dolphin communication, and, with the help of his tank and massive amounts of psychedelics, mapped the farthest reaches of the human mind.
This video is a great discussion between Lilly and Jeffrey Mishlove. It’s a little difficult to sink into, given the eccentric subject matter and the fact that Lilly mumbles like a grizzled wizard. But it’s definitely worth investigating. They discuss some truly strange and beautiful theories of the nature of consciousness. If that doesn’t sell you, watch it for the fact that Lilly is wearing one leather glove, a coonskin cap, and talking about a higher-dimensional being removing his penis.
