Andrija Puharich

Andrija Puharich: Bridging MK Ultra, Parapsychology, and the Legacy of Nikola Tesla

Introduction

Dr. Andrija Puharich (1918–1995) remains one of the most enigmatic figures of 20th-century science, straddling the worlds of medicine, parapsychology, and Cold War espionage. Known for his controversial involvement in the CIA's MK Ultra program and his fascination with Nikola Tesla's unorthodox inventions, Puharich's career epitomizes a crossover tapestry pf science, secrecy, and the supernatural. This essay explores his life, government collaborations, and enduring obsession with Tesla's work, revealing how his pursuits blurred the lines between legitimate research and speculative intrigue.

1. Early Life and Medical Career

Andrija Karl Puharich was born in Chicago to Croatian immigrants. His early interest in medicine led him to Northwestern University, where he earned his medical degree in 1947. During World War II, he served as an Army surgeon, sparking an interest in neurophysiology and the brain's untapped potential. Post-war, Puharich's curiosity shifted toward unconventional medical theories, including the effects of psychic phenomena on human biology. In 1948, he founded the Round Table Foundation in Maine, a research hub dedicated to studying extrasensory perception (ESP) and telepathy. His experiments with mediums and psychics like Harry Stone and Eileen Garrett garnered attention, positioning him as a pioneer in parapsychology.

2. MK Ultra and the CIA's Quest for Mind Control

2.1 The MK Ultra Program

Initiated in 1953, MK Ultra was a covert CIA project aimed at developing mind-control techniques using drugs, hypnosis, and sensory deprivation. The program sought to counter Soviet advances in psychological warfare, often testing substances like LSD on unwitting subjects. While much of MK Ultra remains shrouded in secrecy, declassified documents reveal its ethical violations and tragic human experiments.

2.2 Puharich's Role

Puharich's expertise in altered states of consciousness attracted military interest. In the 1950s, he collaborated with the U.S. Army and CIA, investigating hypnosis and telepathy for intelligence applications. His work included testing hallucinogens' effects on psychic abilities, though his direct involvement in MK Ultra remains debated. Author John Marks, in The Search for the Manchurian Candidate, notes Puharich's participation in subprojects exploring ESP for remote viewing—a precursor to the Stargate Project. Critics argue his research provided theoretical frameworks for manipulating human perception, a cornerstone of MK Ultra's objectives.

3. Nikola Tesla: A Visionary's Influence on Puharich

3.1 Tesla's Unrealized Dreams

Nikola Tesla (1856–1943), the Serbian-American inventor, revolutionized electrical engineering with alternating current (AC) and wireless transmission. His later projects, like Wardenclyffe Tower, aimed at global wireless energy, were deemed financially unfeasible but inspired futurists. Tesla's writings on "cosmic energy" and resonance theories fascinated Puharich, who saw parallels between Tesla's innovations and parapsychology.

3.2 Bridging Tesla and Parapsychology

Puharich speculated that Tesla's work could explain psychic phenomena. He theorized that Tesla's "scalar waves" or longitudinal waves might interact with human consciousness, enabling telepathy. In the 1970s, Puharich investigated Tesla's archives, exploring whether the inventor's resonance principles could amplify psychic abilities. Though lacking empirical support, these ideas positioned Puharich as a bridge between Tesla's legacy and Cold War-era psychic research.

4. The Uri Geller Experiments and Beyond

In 1971, Puharich encountered Uri Geller, an Israeli entertainer claiming psychic powers. Puharich's studies of Geller's spoon-bending and telepathy, documented in Uri: A Journal of the Mystery of Uri Geller (1974), drew both acclaim and skepticism. While Stanford Research Institute researchers validated some phenomena, critics dismissed Geller as a fraud. Puharich, however, believed Geller's abilities stemmed from extraterrestrial communication—a theory that alienated mainstream scientists but fueled his later work on "channeling" alien intelligence.

5. Ethical Controversies and Legacy

5.1 The Tesla Connection Revisited

Puharich's fascination with Tesla persists in conspiracy theories linking free energy suppression to government interests. While unproven, these narratives underscore his role in popularizing Tesla's forgotten innovations.

Conclusion

Andrija Puharich's career embodies the tension between scientific exploration and ethical boundaries. His work with MK Ultra and Tesla reflects a Cold War zeitgeist where science and secrecy converged. Though often marginalized, his legacy challenges us to reconsider the limits of human potential and the shadows cast by classified research. In an era of renewed interest in non-traditional science, Puharich's story serves as a cautionary tale—and a testament to curiosity's enduring power.

References

• Marks, J. (1979). The Search for the Manchurian Candidate.
• Puharich, A. (1974). Uri: A Journal of the Mystery of Uri Geller.
• Declassified CIA documents on MK Ultra and the Stargate Project.
• Biographical accounts of Nikola Tesla's inventions and theories.