Updates

6/21/07

It's evening, and I was just sitting in the lifeguard chair at the beach with the ocean breeze gusting around me. (Especially cool to close your eyes--better than any man-made music.) I've moved to Myrtle Beach, and I rent an old beach house just about two minute's walk from the ocean. In fact, I can see a small patch of it through the parking deck across the street. I don't have television here--the first time I've ever lived without it--so this is my evening TV. Sometimes I walk early in the morning, but lately the retail/warehouse job I have keeps me on my feet so much that I'm too sore to do much walking. It's an experience in extremes. Of course the Myrtle Beach most people know is a tourist destination--someday I may put together a montage of the tackiest commercial statues and signs here.

But I moved to Myrtle Beach to do audio/video archiving work for the Meher Spiritual Center and a related organization. As a follower of Meher Baba, it is an incredible privilege to be living so close to his "home in the West". I've visited since 1975, and was lucky to come once a year. Now I can just "pop in". Unbelievable.

This next Monday I will be videotaping an interview with Dr. Jim Tucker, successor to Dr. Ian Stevenson, the pioneer researcher who first applied the scientific method to the question of past-life memories and reincarnation. Although Dr. Tucker is a regular guy and very approachable, I know that I will be entering hallowed ground as far as reincarnation studies are concerned. My intention is to give Dr. Tucker a chance to tell the full story of his work, for the visitors to this website, and for posterity, unencumbered by the usual journalistic skepticism. When I get back, I'll report on what it was like, and then I hope to have the final interview (i.e., about a 10-minute short version), available for viewing on this website within 2-3 weeks.

6/24/07

I'm typing this on a Selectric typewriter on the desk in the guest building behind the Division of Perceptual Studies. I've met Dr. Tucker briefly as he met me at the building and let me in, and I'll be interviewing him tomorrow morning in his office. I have questions prepared, but I'm re-reading his book so that it will be fresh in my mind, and of course as I do, new questions emerge. There are really too many, so I've decided that I'll focus more on issues rather than get him to re-hash the material he's covered in the book.

It's amazing to be here. I think of the colleagues who have stayed here--from India, and from Iceland, probably, and other regions. (As I looked to my left after writing this, I noticed a card on the desk showing Dr. Stevenson's phone number still listed with the rest of the staff...) I feel awed to be here; and yet, it is all quite unassuming. My responsibility is to do a competent job technically, and to be very well-prepared for the interview.

Then it is a very intuitive process conducting the interview itself. You have to have half of your mind on the technical aspects, and half of your mind reaching out to feel what avenue to pursue, and what to respond to. It is very much a right-and-left brain combined activity.

I'll finish this after the interview when I get home...just couldn't resist typing on the old Selectric...

6/25/07

Back home after the interview and a long drive from Charlottesville to my home in Myrtle Beach. The interview went well both technically and in terms of rapport and questions answered. I made a few small technical errors, which is typical when I'm operating as a crew of one and haven't been shooting on a regular basis. But they were minor and the interview should "cut together" very well. I'm busy these days so it may be a week or two. I have to distill out the best portions for the shorter streaming video version for the website.

Dr. Tucker was very patient with me and all of my video gear. He strikes one initially as a "regular guy"--except there is a very, very sharp intelligence one can clearly sense behind his unassuming manner. I find myself admiring him a great deal, because here is that rare person who has put aside his ego to the degree that he can be truly objective. His is not a cold objectivity, but rather a warm, human sense of fairness and lack of pre-judgement. He just investigates and notes how it turns out. Extremely simple, but found by so many people to be most difficult (to borrow a phrase from my spiritual Master). For this reason I feel he is well-suited to continue the work begun by Dr. Stevenson.

I'm too tired from the long drive to make any more pithy observations. But I should have the streaming version of this interview ready for viewing soon. I think you'll find it interesting.

Best regards,

Stephen S., Producer

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