Goa’s Hypnotist
For tourists on the lookout for splendid stays in splendid five-star hotels, Goa has much to offer. The accommodations are a reflection of the place, with a wonderful combination of hospitality and amenities, giving the best of all possible worlds. The decor is impeccable, with a sense of design that meets international standards of excellence while also maintaining local flavor. Service is also world-class, and will make the guests feel very welcome and always comfortable. Then there is the place. With a fabulous reputation among travelers, excellent beaches, and a very lively local scene, there is always something to do. The whole family can find a wide range of amusements here, with tours and sight-seeing, and people watching is at a premium.
While out on the town, it would be a good time to see some of the historical sites here. Goa has a rich and complicated history, with a mix of cultures. Walking through the streets, one might find oneself walking in the footsteps of the ghost of one of its famous sons, Abbé Faria . He was born in Candolim, District of Bardez, Goa in 1746 to Portuguese Goan parents. When he was 15 years old, his father took him to Lisbon to begin study for the priesthood. There is a very famous story about him there, when he was to give a sermon before the Queen, D. Maria I. He felt tongue-tied, and could not speak, and his father whispered to him, “Hi sogli baji, cator re baji,” which translates to, “THey are vegetables, cut the vegetables.” At these words, he found his voice.
Although it was certainly far from his father’s mind, it gave Abbé Faria an idea. If an utterance from his father was enough to cure his stage-fright, then there was the possibility that merely suggesting something to someone could unlock enormous mental capacities. This idea became known as the power of suggestion, and it was central to his work after this. While Mesmer, the Parisian hypnotist, was doing live performances using magnetism to induce hypnosis, Abbé Faria began doing live acts of hypnosis based on the power of the spoken word. He died before he could complete his scholarly works, but the idea is enough to have influenced schools of contemporary psychology. Mustard Seed Art Company in Goa has done a theatre piece about him as part of his 250th birthday celebration, and Alexandre Dumas created a character, Edmond Dantas, in his Count of Monte Cristo.
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