Interview with Dr. Hubert Larcher

Hubert Larcher, former Director of the International Psychic Institute, has agreed to answer questions from Eric Raulet. With his experience, and the place he held for many years in the heart of investigations on psychic experiences, he gives us here a few thoughts on the subject.

Do you feel, today, after studying for many years some unexplained experiences, that fundamental discoveries on the understanding of man and reality will occur? What is missing there for researchers to achieve this?

Hubert Larcher I feel today, after having studied for fifty years of observations, and experiences unexplained, that fundamental discoveries about the nature and psychosomatic somatopsychic of man occur in the third millennium. To achieve this, researchers will expand the current scientific paradigm, use appropriate methods, and have time, because: "Let prodigal time, everything possible happens."

As a scientist, have you studied the experiences of the order of the inexplicable? Some religious experiences they escape any kind of explanation?

HL This is not only as "scientific" I studied observations about the unexplained, which I think the explanation should be sought wherever possible, measure even more elusive phenomena that are less likely.

These are some of the phenomena of life ascetic and mystical. As for religious experience, physiology, psychology and psychic seem explicable, while the infinite unique to the mystical life surpasses our measurements and therefore beyond our possibilities of knowing. Science must then be relayed by faith.

Do you consider that significant progress has been made over the past decade in terms of parapsychology? Why such studies are they still ignored: mentality of men in power or miscommunication of parapsychologists?

HL In 1982, Trinity College, Cambridge, was celebrated the centenary of the Society for Psychical Research. I was struck by the extreme modesty which was expressed at the time of concluding the review of one hundred years of research. So, what ten years to advance the research of phenomena improbable?

The few observations or experiments in psychic receivable are partly embedded in a mixture of pseudoscience improperly termed "parasciences", and also excluded as "absurd and wonderful" by the standard scientific or scientistic, because even their extraordinary character which makes them difficult or repeatable.

Finally, the involvement of subjects in the phenomena of information, communication and action is problematic given the "postulate of the objectivity of nature".

Is it possible to conduct joint scientific and metaphysical? Are there any limitations that the two disciplines should not cross?

HL is highly recommended, if not essential to conduct joint studies of several complementary disciplines if we are to advance the understanding of the whole man. It is in this sense that I had written an article entitled: Human sciences and psychic, in No. 25 of the Psychic Review in 1978 (Pages 4-14).

On all your research, what are the cases that have most troubled? Do you wear a different look today on some experiences over twenty years ago?

HL I am not troubled by what I study. But for twenty years, advances in genetics are so great that I think today's major interest in psychic research in phenomenology as ascetic and mystical.

Religious experiences, including mystical experiences, have they affected your life? Have you now, beliefs that the man of science can not answer?

HL Yes, religious and mystical experiences have influenced my life. I doubt that we should doubt, but in this squaring of the doubt, I distinguish the psychological beliefs that are of faith who is spiritual and which itself escapes science. The su does not need to be believed. (1)

What are the events that have shaped your life? Do you think that there is currently France scholars in the field of "paranormal", who have done great work?

H.L. My mother, a painter;

My masters: Rene Levesque, at the Ecole des Roches, Jacques Chevalier, philosophy, Pierre Baranger, in organic chemistry at the Ecole Polytechnique.

Of métapsychistes: Dr. STEPHEN CHAUVET, a disciple of Charles Richet,

Rene and Robert Warcollier Tocquet, Hans Bender, Emilio Servadio, a mystic Marthe Robin, and a philosopher Jean Guitton.

In France, I think we did not attach due importance to the observations and experiences about Mr Charles Crussard psychocinèse on metals. On the other hand, the engineer Pierre Janin designed and built a mobile random, the tychoscope, through which Dr. Rene Peoc'h, supported by the Foundation ODIER, achieved in the field of "paranormal" experiences that seem promising.

If you had the opportunity, what you privilégieriez directions in research on Recounting stories of unexplained experiences? What advice would you give to witnesses, but also to those who one day, hear their stories?

I should appreciate HL awards to testimonials relating experiences unexplained when written as soon as possible after discovery, especially if there are multiple witnesses. I would favor the observation of objective phenomena, unusual or extraordinary, paranormal verified information (clairvoyance), called telepathic communications, and actions psychokinetic and phenomena transtemporels (postmonitions, synchronicities, premonitions).

Charles Richet's advice is clear: "Of course, we must, before admitting the reality of these facts incredible, unusual, observing strict discipline, fiercely and relentlessly severe." (2) -

(1) Hubert Larcher: Truths to know and to believe truths. 8th conference of the World Alliance of Religions on TRADITION AND CRITICAL. In 1993. (Cassette).

(2) Charles Richet: Science psychic, psychic in TREATY, 3rd edition, Brussels, 1994 Page 678 Artha. La Presse Medicale, No. 51, June 27, 1925, pp. 857-862 (Masson editor)