Book SummaryThe Silva Mind Control Method, by José Silva

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Silva Mind Control Method

In The Silva Mind Control Method, José Silva teaches his unique method of using the power of your mind to heal your body, sharpen your memory, and solve everyday problems with seemingly superhuman powers.

Silva (1914-1999) began his career as an electronics repairman before becoming interested in altered mental states and applying his knowledge of electrical energy to the human mind. After successfully using his meditation techniques to help his children and neighbors improve their grades in school, Silva developed the method into a 40-48 hour commercial course that has helped over six million people improve their lives. The Silva Mind Control Method, published in 1977, is an abridged version of the content taught in the courses Silva developed, which are still offered today by [The...

The Silva Mind Control Method Summary The Power of Alpha State

All of Silva’s mental techniques begin the same way: accessing what he calls the Alpha level or Alpha state. In this section, we’ll discuss what the Alpha state is and how to access it through self-hypnosis.

What Is the Alpha State?

“Alpha” refers to a particular brainwave state, one of several scientifically recognized states in which a person’s brainwaves can be measured within a certain range of frequencies.

According to Silva, scientists recognize four brainwave states: Beta, Alpha, Theta, and Delta. Beta is the most alert state—the state in which you spend most of your waking hours. In Beta, your brainwaves are vibrating at a high frequency as you engage with the world around you. The Alpha state is one step below Beta. In Alpha, your brainwave frequency is lower; you’re less focused on the outside world and beginning to focus internally (such as when you’re first beginning to fall asleep). In the Theta state, you’re even more relaxed and internally focused, and by the time you reach the Delta state, you’re typically fully asleep.

(Shortform note: Modern science has identified an additional category of brain waves: [Gamma waves, which vibrate at a higher...

The Silva Mind Control Method Summary Use the Alpha State to Help Yourself

Once you’ve practiced the basic process of manifesting in the Alpha level, you can use that technique to accomplish specific goals, such as maximizing your learning and memory, having productive dreams, and improving your physical health.

Maximize Your Learning and Memory

Silva argues that you can improve your memory and learning ability using the Alpha state. However, he recognizes that this may not always be practical because it can take several minutes of focused concentration to access the Alpha state. To get around this, Silva recommends “The Three Finger Technique,” which acts as a trigger to instantly access the Alpha state.

To establish the trigger, go into your Alpha level and hold your thumb, your index finger, and your middle finger together. Tell yourself firmly that from now on, holding your fingers in this position will instantly put you into the Alpha state of mind. You may need to repeat this meditation a few times to get the trigger to stick, but once it does, you’ll be able to instantly access a deep Alpha state.

(Shortform note: This technique echoes other traditions that use hand gestures to cue certain mental states. For example, [Hindu and...

The Silva Mind Control Method Summary Use the Alpha State to Help Others

In addition to improving your own health and well-being, you can use Silva’s method to help others by remotely diagnosing and psychically healing illnesses and injuries, even in people you’ve never met. Silva reports that his most experienced students can reliably and accurately diagnose medical conditions given only basic information about a person (such as their name and where they live).

(Shortform note: A 1975 study tested these claims by asking Mind Control course graduates to remotely diagnose someone. In the double-blind condition (in which neither the experimenter nor the participant knew the actual health status of the person being diagnosed), the Mind Control graduates were no more accurate with their diagnoses than they’d be by just guessing. However, under nonblind conditions (meaning the experimenters—who, in this case, were fellow Mind Control graduates—knew the correct diagnoses), the results were significant. This implies that the graduates gave correct diagnoses not because they have psychic powers but because the experimenters themselves were subtly and unknowingly cueing the correct answers.)

Silva...

Shortform Exercise: Reflect on the Silva Method

Mind-body techniques like the Silva Method can be controversial. Reflect on your feelings about these techniques.

Silva promotes a particular method of meditation to reach the Alpha level. What is your experience with meditation? What physical or mental effects have you noticed? If you’ve never meditated, how would you feel about trying?