The Finders Course is the first universally effective course that helps people transition to high levels of mental and emotional wellbeing rapidly, safely, and reliably. Over 70% of people who complete the course transition to ongoing non-symbolic experience (an academic term for higher-states of consciousness such as: enlightenment, nonduality, unity consciousness, and so on).
The course is 100% secular and built on data from the world’s largest scientific research project in this area, which included over 1,200 participants on 6 continents. Our courses are built on a 10+ year empirical academic study and blending both meditation and positive psychology in a structured setting. The Finders Course research is facilitated by the Center for the Study of Non-Symbolic Consciousness, and the Transformative Technology Lab.
The program is an incredibly sophisticated mix of positive psychology, age old techniques, and modern innovations - sequenced in a precise way based on over a decade of scientific research. Our research showed that using the Finders Course, an astonishing 70+% of people got there in 4 months or less. And, only 1% of people who took the program failed to experience it at all.
Some techniques are well known and others are less renown but incredibly effective. Even if you’ve tried some of these techniques over the years, it unlikely that you've experienced our versions of them or even been exposed to most of the methods in the program. This is because even the most popular methods have been slightly modified to be much more effective based on our research. The methods themselves are sequenced in a highly precise way that makes each more effective than when they are used alone and in other contexts.
If you are accepted to the course, be very clear that you are signing up for:
The Finders Course solves:
Yes, anyone without psychological issues can take the course as the Finders Course protocol was designed to be accessible to everyone. In addition, the Finders Course protocol includes a wide variety of techniques. Most people have only tried 1-2 techniques so in FC most people are a beginner at some point in the course.
Most money for research centers on neuropathology i.e. a disease of some kind. Studying human thriving is not a broadly funded activity. In addition, the course has operation, data analytics and staffing costs. It is a very structured and designed process where students are very clear every day on what they should be doing in their practice. For those who do not prefer unstructured self-organized learning, The Finders Course is ideal. For those who prefer to explore and learn on their own, the internet is filled with options for self-organized, self-driven exploration.
We will answer all questions concerning technique. We do not answer intellectualized questions driven by mental process as that is counter-productive to a decrease in identification. We do not have opinions on religious theology and would defer to religious scholars. We respect the world’s religions and philosophies, but that is not the Finders Course. The Finders Course is a secular program suitable for people of all backgrounds and beliefs. If you are looking for religious oversight or direction from us then the course is not for you. If you are looking for direct experience, technique, skill development and significant shifts in mental and emotional wellbeing then the course is for you. Given that we have no opinion on religion and are a secular offering, you will find no conflict with your belief set and can take the course.
Dr. Jeffery A. Martin, Director, Center for the Study of Non-Symbolic Consciousness and Research Professor/Academic Director for the Transformative Technology Lab.
The Finders Course protocol is derived from over 10 years of academic research. It began by examining what worked for a large number of people who already experienced PNSE, giving it a tremendous advantage. That initial effectiveness has been added to with over 4 years of additional research by actually running people through the protocol. At this point, over 70% of people who use the protocol transition to ongoing forms of non-symbolic experience, and 19% have temporary experiences of it.
The world needs scalable, affordable, accessible tools to help human mental and emotional wellbeing. We now live in exponential times. Technological ability is accelerating. Communication is instant. Interconnection is global. Great change is coming hard and fast. To navigate these conditions, we need to be present, creative, brave, calm, and collaborative — in other words, our best selves. Rather than just an outcome, mental and emotional wellbeing is also a key input for a better future.
But while technology is accelerating, our approach to the development of inner wellbeing is still traditional and, for the most part, not scalable. The mindset that insists exclusively on a traditional and historical approach makes high levels of mental and emotional wellbeing scarce and difficult to achieve. Too often, the tools for developing mental and emotional wellbeing are mistakenly thought to be solely subjective, shrouded in mystery or religion, or dependent only on luck or human willpower.
This blind spot is dangerous. The lag between our inner well-being and outer abilities results in tremendous social and individual stress. Worldwide you can see people who are overwhelmed by the change. When the brain is hijacked by stress, we find it more difficult to collaborate, to negotiate, or to accept others. If we cannot communicate, we cannot address our species’ greatest challenges...and we are running out of time. We are however optimistic, which is why we are doing this work.
Just as there are not enough mental health practitioners to support the current and WHO projected global disease burden of depression, there are not enough meditation and mind-training teachers in the world to shift the entire global population out of a fear-based response system into psychological wellbeing. We respect and have gratitude for the traditions who in addition to their theological beliefs studied the human mind as their insight and techniques have great value to modern humanity.
Developing data based insight and scalable programs for major shifts in human wellbeing doesn’t just happen. It must be the result of methodical research. However, most research and NIH money is focused on disease and neuropathology. Our work spans meditation to actual technology development to support of a community of scientists and engineers who are working across a wide field to develop the technology to close the lag between inner peace and outer technical ability. If you want to explore that work, please look www.transtechlab.org and www.ttconf.org. You can also find articles in Tech Crunch, Singularity Hub and many other conferences and outlets that have covered our work.
Right now, many meditators spend a lot of time meditating but very little time in states that can lead to ONE. Even if an optimal mediation exists for a meditator, it is unlikely s/he is skilled in a wide range of meditation techniques. Research has shown that techniques are not universally effective. A meditation technique that is working well for one person, for example, may not work well for any of their friends. Our hope is that the data collected will help people to know which methods they should be using for optimum progress, and which should be avoided - not just if they are doing them in the most effective way for them.
The future is coming, and it will be what we all make it to be -- so to quickly improve the skills, awareness and mental and emotional health and wellbeing of humans is one of the keys.
Scalable, accessible, affordable tools for people to find peace. A world wide awakening. You can learn a lot about us here at www.transtechlab.org and www.ttconf.org.
Exactly. We're seeking to make the subjective objective, and thus scalable. We have a lot of research to do to get there but this is where we'd like to go. We think solving the fit problem increases the net number of people practicing.
Participate to contribute to humanity, and help solve the age-old debate on the existence of a measurable mind/body connection.
Or, to quickly identify the meditation method or methods that works best for you, right now. The Finders Course on its own the best way to experience the most effective meditation and positive psychology techniques in a single system.
Or, to feel happier, less stressed, and more effective and at peace than ever while making an important contribution to mankind.
The results of the base protocol make taking the course a benefit to the participant. The course being a research study is an added benefit.
Finders Course forward is an 18 week intensive, where students are introduced to 26 meditation and mind-training techniques in rapid succession. The course blends meditation, mind-training and positive psychology in an innovative way and surveys students throughout the class so that students and the course facilitators can track progress using academic gold standard measures.
Finders Course began in February 2014. There have been sixteen cohorts as of May 2018. We schedule new cohorts from time to time.
The Finders Course is open to the public, and is designed to allow public contribution to the establishment of this on-going data set. Similar to the National Geographic DNA project, the Finders Course allows anyone to contribute to the world’s greater understanding of advanced psychological states and the mental shifts that happen along the way. The Finders Course is the largest crowd sourced and crowd funded experiment on Awakening ever conducted. By participating in the latest phase of this real-time scientific project, you will not only discover what works best for you, but also contribute to building the most comprehensive global data-set of Ongoing and Persistent forms of Non-Symbolic Experience.
The course is conducted online which allows anyone, anywhere to both benefit from it and contribute to the ongoing study. This is made possible by the surge in online education and the willingness of people to engage in deep development online.
Finders Course an intensive, where student are introduced to 26 meditation and mind-training techniques in rapid succession. The course blends meditation, mind-training and positive psychology in an innovative way and surveys students throughout the class so that students and the course facilitators can track progress on academic gold standard measures.
http://nonsymbolic.org/TSC-2018-Presentation.pdf
The official title of the original study is An Exploration of Persistent Non-Symbolic Experience in Adults, Center for the Study of Non-Symbolic Consciousness by Jeffery A. Martin.
http://nonsymbolic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/PNSE-Article.pdf
More publications can be found here:
http://nonsymbolic.org/publications/
The core of PNSE and O.N.E. involves a change in the fundamental underpinnings of how the world is experienced. When most people look deep inside, they find that feelings like fear, anxiety, and worry form the foundation of their experience. Their daily experience of the world is built on and colored by these negative underpinnings. A tremendous amount of time is spent reliving the past, trying to control the future, and dealing with doubts and perceived inadequacies in the present.
The shift to PNSE or O.N.E. brings a sense of fundamental completeness and wellbeing. Individuals who experience it do not look for external people, organizations, events, products or services to fulfill or complete them. They feel more whole and at peace.
While life events can still affect these individuals, upset passes much more rapidly than it does for other people and allows a rapid return to deep and fundamental wellbeing. Other benefits are equally substantial, and can include:
The Finders Course is based on two key findings from the PNSE research project. First, that not all methods are equally effective. And, second, that just knowing the most effective methods isn’t enough. You also have to be able to find which ones work best for you over time.
At a minimum, by the end of the class students should have successfully identified the method or methods that work best for them, right now. Along the way, they typically find themselves feeling happier, less stressed, and more effective and at peace than ever.
The course data is incorporated into the overall PNSE research project. It is also used to continue to refine and optimize the course for both current and new participants. Overall, the Finders Course has provided the first known large scale quantity of before-PNSE and after- PNSE data to share with the wider scientific community.
PNSE is a form of human experience that has been reported in the writings of philosophers and mystics since antiquity. Historically, PNSE was often considered the domain of religion and spirituality. Many faith traditions are built on it, and they have done a wonderful job of exploring, preserving and sharing it over time.
Within these traditions, PNSE has gone by many names, including: nondual awareness, enlightenment, mystical experience, transcendental experience, the peace that passeth understanding, unity consciousness, union with God, and so forth.
It’s important to realize that atheists and agnostics also report these experiences.
http://nonsymbolic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/PNSE-Article.pdf
This study on Persistent Non-Symbolic Experience (PNSE) is significant because it provided the first cross cultural look into the psychology of individuals who claim to experience non duality, persistent mystical experience, enlightenment, oneness, awakening, unitive consciousness, and related persistent states. The study was conducted from the perspective of cognitive science rather than spirituality, religion, or philosophy.
The study used ‘gold-standard’ psychological measures, experiments, physiological measurement, and qualitative interviews that probed cognition, emotion, memory, perception, and sense of self. This allowed the experience of individuals reporting PNSE across cultures, spiritual, and religious traditions to be compared using a neutral language. The study was not limited to spiritual and religious individuals. Atheists and agnostics also experience PNSE, which opens up the possibility of deep and fundamental psychological wellbeing to all of mankind versus people of just certain faiths.
The initial study began in 2006 and is ongoing. One public portion of the study is the Finders Course experiment. Keeping with academic tradition, findings and update papers are regularly presented at peer-reviewed conferences, which have included: Towards A Science of Consciousness, Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness, Society for Consciousness Studies, and Science of Consciousness Forum. Research updates have also been presented at leading universities worldwide, including: Harvard University, Yale University, University of London, and National University of Singapore.
The study was conducted by Dr. Jeffery A. Martin. Dr. Martin is a social scientist who researches personal transformation, and a leading international expert on non-symbolic consciousness. He specializes in bringing rigorous empirical research and testing to transformational techniques and theories that have strong anecdotal support.
Dr. Martin’s academic focuses include: technology, psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, and transformative studies. A bestselling author and award winning educator, he has authored, co-authored, or co-edited over 20 books and numerous other publications; appeared in a wide variety of media; and lectured broadly in both academic and public forums.
His research on non-symbolic consciousness began while he was a graduate student in Transformative Studies at CIIS and Psychology at Harvard University. In the years since, he has been widely recognized as instrumental in driving research in this area forward worldwide.
His work has been regularly featured at leading academic conferences in North America, Europe, Asia, and India. He has been an invited speaker at leading universities worldwide including: Harvard, Yale, Stanford, University of California, University of London, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the National University of Singapore.
Dr. Martin's work has also been featured in leading public forums such as Deepak Chopra's Scientists and Sages conference, the Science and Nonduality Conference, the Asia Consciousness Festival, and TEDx. He has been covered in media as diverse as the South China Morning Post and PBS's Closer to Truth.
Dr. Martin is the Founding Director of the Center or the Study of Non-Symbolic Consciousness (nonsymbolic.org) and a Research Professor and Director of the Transformative Technology Lab(transtechlab.org). In addition to these primary affiliations, he holds a number of additional academic appointments across a variety of institutions worldwide, and serves on many advisory boards.
The original study had 1,200 participants with PNSE.
Yes, the scientific findings are available and we are very open to providing our anonymized data to other scientists.
Yes, a more extensive book, in draft form, describing the original study is available from Dr. Martin.
The Transformative Technology Lab is dedicated to researching, publishing, developing curriculum around, and funding Transformative Technologies. Transformative Technologies are actual hardware and/or software devices, developed based on credible science/research that can produce a reliable and positive change in human experience and psychological well-being.
Dr. Jeffery Martin, the originator of the Finders Course protocol and Nichol Bradford CEO of Willow, are co-founders TransTech Lab. The Lab represents the future, where hardware, software and devices will allow millions to experience the benefits of meditation through technology while the Finders Course represents a secular best-in-class experience of the current methodology for reaching extreme psychological well-being.
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After years of experimentation, we've been able to create a protocol that is more effective, takes less time and costs 83% less than our original Finders Course protocol.
Over 7+ years the Finders Course helped over 1,000 people to transition to Fundamental Wellbeing.
However, the Finders Course program had one major issue. It took about 3 hours per day for 4-months, which was simply too much time for the average person to be able to use it. It also cost around $3000US.
In 2020 we took everything that we learned from the original Finders Course experiments and began a new series of experiments.
We created a three part modular program, involving:
For a long time, there was nothing even close to the success of the Finders Course protocol. Though costly and time intensive, it's 70% success rate was unrivaled in modern times, and maybe even throughout history.
Now, something even more effective, less time consuming and highly affordable has been discovered. Over 1800 people used it in the first 12 months alone. It worked for them, and it will work well for you. You can take it online, from anywhere in the world.
There's simply no reason to not reach Fundamental Wellbeing. Science has solved it. You can learn more and register here: https://45DaysToAwakening.com
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