Scientific Mysticism
‘Scientific Mysticism’ is a term coined by Michael Whiteman, a British-born South African mathematician and mystic. (This article may be read together amongst the article on Whiteman’sec life and thought.)
Introduction
The term ‘scientific mysticism’ appeared equally a championship inward the trilogy, Old and New Evidence on the Meaning of Life,i 2 iii past Michael Whiteman. Volume One was entitled An Introduction to Scientific Mysticism.1 Whiteman aimed to convey mysticism into the plain of science every bit an entity that is ‘open-minded, rigorously tested, rationally coherent, as well as illuminating.’one ‘Mysticism’ hither is defined as:
the report of everything non-physical, including the other worlds as well as their archetypal governance, besides every bit our spiritual bodies, the facts together with their human relationship beingness known past the self-prove of directly observation as well as non past reasoning or speculation.4
This indicates empirical scientific discipline, sharing territory alongside psychical inquiry. Yet Whiteman drew a distinction betwixt ‘psychical’ and ‘mystical’ feel. The former includes the written report of purportedly non-physical events, the latter extends to states that have a sense of higher significance too ultimates, openness to guidance, transformed existence, in addition to orientation to the perceived rootage of the Right together with Good.
Whiteman was familiar with Vedic, Sanskrit, Pali, Greek as well as Biblical Hebrew, and quoted extensively from ancient texts. He regarded nearly current translations as inadequate because the authors lacked psychical and mystical experience. His revolutionary commentary, too his translation of ‘The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’five combined alongside canonical Buddhist texts, ane 2 3 five exhibit hitting parallels with refinements of mod idea.
Whiteman’second business every bit a professor of applied mathematics provided a base inward physics for his scientific mysticism. Another base was extensive personal feel inwards psychical too mystical states. His methods rested on observation, conceptual analysis together with insight, inward tune with Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology.six This aims at gaining confront-to-face self-bear witness in addition to detailed precision, shedding the common ‘cloak of ideas’. Science in Whiteman’sec utilisation is non an practice in theorizing.
Potentiality in addition to Actualization
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 key to Whiteman’sec scientific mysticism is the idea of potentiality and actualization. This had been developed by the physicist Werner Heisenberg,7 who saw that a physical ‘happening’ comes nigh through an occasion of observation, in addition to that this ‘happening’ is open to physical description. But what governs the happening is not open up to physical observation; at best it can be given mathematical facial expression. So behind a physical issue i has to recognize what Heisenberg called ‘an objective tendency or possibility, a “potentia” inwards the feel of Aristotelian philosophy’. And the governing potentia, the ‘reason’ for something to go on, is abstract inward a physical sense; you can’t lay it in a exam subway system.
Whiteman concurred that entirely transcending logical substructures, potentialities, merit the term ‘reality’, every bit opposed to appearances. Appearances come up into beingness only on an occasion of observation, together with volition be actualized differently for different people.
Whiteman wrote, ‘goose egg specific tin be actualized without the integration of “subjective” together with “objective” factors, non inwards succession, only on the minute of actualization.’ane An observer who is freed inwards around manner from the physical state will actualize for himself things that are beyond the achieve of ordinary physical sensing. This is the starting time of psychical and mystical perception.
Whiteman wrote, ‘The difference betwixt ane “globe” as well as another then depends upon the land of life inwards which the observer happens to be settled.’three An individual’second perceiving results from integration of objective potentialities together with his own subjective potentialities, including subconscious elements. Whiteman believed the potentiality-actualization principle operates inwards the mental sphere of every private: thought together with images are actualizations inwards consciousness of an individual’second ‘thought-ikon sphere’, every bit he called it, which includes retentiveness together with imagination.i
Actualization of Psi Phenomena
Whiteman saw telepathy resulting from the interaction or resonance betwixt the idea-image spheres of individuals. The interaction is non actualized at the physical level, too and then transfer of data occurs independently of physical infinite as well as fourth dimension. Clairvoyance is resonance betwixt the potentiality-sphere of a physical object or issue as well as the thought-icon sphere of an private, resulting inward the actualization of impressions inwards the individual’second thought-ikon sphere. Once once again, resonance or interaction happens independently of physical space in addition to time, not beingness physically actualized. Psychokinesis may live regarded as a contrary clairvoyant interaction; potentialities unremarkably linked in around way to an private result inwards physical actualizations.
Potentiality-actualization relationships should non be seen every bit static; potentiality-fields continually alter or prepare, in addition to have feedback loops, although non inward physical time. This will affect the effect of future physical events, which helps to explain how precognition happens. Whiteman saw precognition as actualization inwards an individual’s thought-image sphere of developing potentiality-fields that may impact futurity physical events. The individual may even intervene inward the physical actualization of these events past altering the potentiality-fields, so allowing prevention of a precognized event from happening.1 Even if potentiality-fields are time-ordered, resulting in a succession of events actualized inwards the physical earth, the ordering is non fixed in the mode a road map is fixed. They are accessible in states of physical detachment, too so permit limited alteration in addition to the do of complimentary will.
Out-of-torso Experience
Whiteman defined mysticism every bit ‘the report of everything not-physical, including the other worlds ...’ As only discussed, potentiality-fields take the capacity to deliver unlike spaces or worlds of physical together with non-physical actuality, depending on the land of the observer. Without this understanding, mysticism cannot set about to brand feel. Direct feel of ‘the other worlds’ occurs mainly inwards out-of-torso experience, which Whiteman preferred to term ‘separative’ experience, since in that location is unremarkably awareness of a torso of close to sort.
The commonest type he termed ‘chief separation’, in which at that place is no awareness inwards the physical trunk, fifty-fifty though what appears to live the physical torso tin live viewed. In ‘secondary separation’ the physical torso is under about grade of conscious command, simply master awareness lies in some other organism seemingly non located inwards the infinite of the physical torso, in addition to the 2 bodies are quite independent. In ‘3rd separation’ the physical trunk is usually nether complete control, simply in that location is full awareness of existence in a dissimilar bodily form despite the locations of the ii bodies seeming to be the same. Difference between the two bodies may be radical, such equally one being male person together with the other female person. For Whiteman, the highest mystical experiences were more often than not of this type.
Whiteman noted that such non-physical feel, inward damage of reality-impression together with intensity, may range from appearing weak to seeming even more real in addition to meaningful than inward physical life. At its well-nigh powerful, termed by him mystical, ‘Everything inward such states, spatial characteristics included, is known equally if inwards archetypal unchanging form, as well as is thence startlingly more than existent (rationally-objective, ever-introduce) than the derivative as well as shifting forms of the physical Earth.’1 He saw a call for ‘to distinguish betwixt what is deceptive or illusory as well as what has the quality of face-to-face objectivity in addition to truth which we depict by maxim that a thing is real.’i This requires setting upward a numerical scale, which he called a General Index of Reality.
Index of Reality
This index covers a range from ordinary dreaming (nada rating) to what is experienced as spiritually releasing alongside a high grade of reality, namely mystical experience (high rating). The Index properly relates to separative feel. Features scoring in the Index include continuity of retentiveness betwixt physical as well as not-physical feel, gratuitous observation, ability to compare accurately with physical as well as non-physical states, awareness of center as well as tangibility, communication of thought with others, too a feeling of transcendence of physical life.
The General Index does not include reports of observing physical things during a separative experience. Regarded by nigh people as veridical (corresponding to reality), these observations could have been made past clairvoyance or remote viewing, in addition to do non necessarily mean that something somehow separated from the physical trunk to brand the observation. As Whiteman stated, whatsoever claimed physical supporting testify only has ‘chiefly propaganda value for the uninformed or sceptical, who do non realize that separation is non established past them, simply who may thereby live induced to have the “interior” testimony as having more or less bearing on “scientific fact”.’1
Whiteman’second Index mightiness look of express value to standard parapsychology, where a useful scoring arrangement should identify experiences that rate better than dream, hallucination or just about class of pathology. In Whiteman’second Index the direction of ranking is towards mystical feel, which is hardly looked for inward parapsychology, even shied away from. The guild of ranking is: undeveloped, borderline, psychical, pre-mystical, mystical. Out of a possible sixteen points, experiences reaching six to 8 points grade equally ‘psychical separations’, scoring on criteria listed two paragraphs above. Further requirements of ‘mystical’ order were noted inward the Introduction, too demarcate ‘mystical’ from ‘psychical’. Yet inwards the eyes of a physically-fixated investigator, the mystical requirements would point reduced reality rating, since ‘reality’ way ‘like physical experience’. For Whiteman this was a primal mistake; higher reality tin can solely hateful ‘dissimilar physical experience’.
Other Spaces
All separative experience, physical-similar or transformative, was considered past Whiteman to fall out inward spaces other than physical, although oftentimes and so like to what is presented physically as to live mistaken for it. He called it ‘duplicate physical’ space. He wrote:
If ane is taken into a ‘psychic’ space when not familiar with such states, or alongside fixed ideas almost them, and if the phenomena resemble physical ones closely... in that location may be a potent opinion to think that the objects are being observed physically; as well as this applies even to possible duplicate presentations of the observer’second physical trunk inwards its actual situation.one
‘Fixed ideas’ assume in that location is exclusively 1 ‘existent’ infinite that tin be manifested, namely the physical earth. A fixed thought volition contribute to the potentialities governing a separative experience, together with Pb to the actualization of a physical-like ‘duplicate’ scene. Yet every bit mortal free of the constraints of i-degree thinking, Whiteman wrote of an ‘inexhaustible diverseness’ of appearance inward other spaces. Naturalistic conditioning may still event inward ‘fantasy influences’ in undeveloped states, yet highest development leads to ‘perfectly acceptable forms of transcendent unified beauty’, where ‘the environs, correspondingly, are distinguished by the character of the calorie-free, as well as arrive at in intelligible grapheme, perfection of beauty, depth of glowing eye character, unitive liberty together with sense of blending with other minds, every bit the highest status, which is that of Mystical Form Liberation, is approached.’ In these descriptions, Whiteman states,
‘I’ together with ‘me’ make not stand for the familiar consciousness of self in the physical personality, or, inwards fact, for anything that tin live known inward an ordinary physical country of heed. To sympathize what is meant, the characteristics of the merged ordinary self must live ruled out.4
One power query how ‘other spaces’ are related to the physical too, if at all, to each other. In states classified by Whiteman equally 3rd separation, the non-physical trunk holds much of the focus of attention merely does not appear to live spatially apart from the physical torso; ‘the locations of the 2 bodies seem the same, inwards spite of differences inwards their class in addition to/or size and perhaps besides inward their environment.’one This seems to agree with a opinion widespread in spiritist circles that dissimilar ‘levels’ of feel together with being all coincide spatially only accept different ‘vibration frequencies’, and so at that place is no contact or communication between the various states except through especial mediating weather. Whiteman did include ‘interpenetrating spaces’ in a detail ready of ‘facts of experience’,1 just he did not present the thought of interpenetrating spaces every bit close to form of cosmological organization; he was disposed to proceed to systems of facts, non constructs of theory.
Skills, Cycles
Whiteman was confident well-nigh discovering the underlying logic in phenomena, existence convinced that behind any particular observation there is an intelligible structure ‘operative in too analysable out of the total experience’.eight He did not accept Kant’s thought of the unknowability of things-inward-themselves.viii Instead, at that place is ‘intellectual or perceptual cognition which transcends inward a sure clear in addition to unmistakable way the onward urge of fourth dimension, the stiff apartness of spatial objects, too the apparent isolation of the private mind inwards its land of fixation on bodily impressions. It is a country of unloosen. Fixation existence overcome, the mind opens out into universality’.8 We cannot accomplish this state, he believed ‘without psychological together with spiritual faculties of attending, sentence, purposiveness and self-field of study’, based on three ‘foundational skills’ named Active Recollection, Continuous Recollection, together with Faith + Obedience.one (The source of these skills in his own life is reported inward Michael Whiteman.)
Active Recollection aims to call back or recover the meat in what is perceived, ‘as well as hence the attainment of objective insight as well as unloose’.one Husserl termed it the phenomenological epoché or stoppage, ‘the necessary operation which renders pure consciousness accessible to us’.i It is termed samādhi or sati in Indian literature.5 Continuous Recollection is ‘the freely stabilized ground of liberate at which Active Recollection has been aiming.’ane Obedience is not a state of subservience simply orientation to ‘the transcendent Source of Right in addition to Good.’one It operates inwards conjunction alongside Faith in this transcendence.
The 3 foundational skills were structured into a 4-part system known since ancient times in addition to appearing inward mod contexts in learning theory, Freud in addition to Jung. Described every bit the 4 creative functions, these are ‘purposive effort, deciding on means, putting into practice, in addition to a nearly cloak-and-dagger maturing of ane’sec skills inwards consequence’.3 In ancient texts they are represented equally 4 stages inwards the passage of the sun, rising inward the eastward, zenith inward the S, downwards to world inwards the westward, too undercover inwards the north.thirteen This corresponds with aspiration (eastward), assessment (S), activeness or manifestation (due west), fulfilment or not-attachment (N); it besides corresponds respectively with Faith, Obedience, Active Recollection, Continuous Recollection.ane
Whiteman placed great importance on this bicycle having its opposites or ‘counterfeits’ of self-volition, self-satisfaction, automaticity, complacency, which may Pb to a corresponding bicycle of ‘stresses’ of expiry-feeling, shame, pain, fear. This inwards plow may Pb to ‘inner contests’,1 two iii which hopefully overcome these spiritual deficiencies.
Physics too Psychology
In his search for underlying logic, too for universality, Whiteman converted his ‘psychological’ bike into a 16-crimp number organisation, with the aim of integrating it with a ‘physical’ sixteen-flexure number system derived from three space and 3 fourth dimension dimensions. He noted that iii of the creative functions – effort, agency, together with maturing – are composite, containing two ‘beginning principles’ of centre in addition to beingness, equivalent to potentiality together with actualization. In plow, sum in addition to existence each accept three constituents, termed past him ‘hypostases’, pregnant underlying, irreducible causes. The iii hypostases of centre were seen as purpose, means, terminate. The hypostases of beingness were actuation, becoming, manifestation, the iii-stage construction of creation called in Upanishadic philosophy the Great Stride of Vishnu.one So, for case, ‘deciding on agency’ combines ‘way’ (heart and soul) foremost amongst ‘actuation’ (beingness), then amongst ‘becoming’ (beingness), as well as last alongside manifestation (being). The 3rd quarter, West, brings prior causes into manifestation purely every bit ‘existence’ too so lacks an ‘nub’ hypostasis.
This analysis allows the development of a number arrangement in psychology, together with so the prospect of comparing with a issue organization in physics.ane 2 three From these number systems Whiteman intended to furnish ‘a clear-cut explanatory system... equally, for example, the basic laws of mechanics are exhibited before whatsoever problems are tackled’.ii The hypostases of heart and soul were numbered ane = purpose, two = means, three = finish. The hypostases of being were numbered half-dozen = actuation, five = becoming, 4 = manifestation/grounding. So, for example ‘East’ tin be expressed every bit the combination xvi (enthusiasm), fifteen (inspiration), 14 (intention). Combining the numbers i to half dozen results in sixteen subfunctions, inwards understanding with ‘15 + ane kalās, stages inward whatsoever creative human activity, as recognized in the Upanishads’.3
The physical number organisation was derived from the three space and iii time dimensions. One time dimension lies in potentiality-fields alongside a time-ordered, space-like face noted in a higher place in connection alongside precognition. Another fourth dimension dimension or role involves the processes leading to physical actualization from fourth dimension-structured potentiality. Finally in that location is physical clock-fourth dimension; it is the solely time-dimension that is measurable. Combining the 6 dimensions yields a 16-plication number organisation like the psychological subfunctions, ‘inwards such close correspondence amongst the formulations of quantum theory that there is an obvious invitation to present the ii as aspects of an integrated understanding of the world’.nine
Space does non let a tabulation of the physics/psychology correspondences, or how they were derived. The correspondences, nonetheless, satisfied Whiteman’s persuasion that to explain what nosotros feel is to
acknowledge a subjective wheel, such every bit mystics, many theologians, and close to psychologists accept admitted. This cycle, in its nigh consummate course is sixteenfold, as well as parallels precisely what may be called the ‘world bicycle’ (equally it appears inward Quantum Field Theory) in every fashion, patch manifesting itself inwards every form of homo experience. This is a grade of potentiality which is discernible, as well as indeed tin can live lived past the individual in an enormous diverseness of ‘altered states of consciousness’...three
Whiteman’s Scientific Mysticism was a revolutionary try to discern in addition to characterize this potentiality.
John Poynton
Literature
1. Whiteman, J.H.yard. (1986). Old and New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical Earth-persuasion and inner contest. Volume one, An Introduction to Scientific Mysticism. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
2. Whiteman, J.H.yard. (2000). Old together with New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical earth-view too inner competition. Volume two, Dynamics of Spiritual Development. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
3. Whiteman, J.H.1000. (2006). Old as well as New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical Earth-view in addition to inner competition. Volume three, Universal Theology and Life inward other Worlds. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
four. Whiteman, J.H.K. (1961). The Mystical Life. London: Faber too Faber.
five. Whiteman, J.H.thousand. (1993). Aphorisms on Spiritual Method: the ‘Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’ in the low-cal of mystical experience. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
half dozen. Husserl, E. (1931). Ideas: General Introduction to Pure Phenomenology (trans. west.R. Boyce Gibson). London: Allen & Unwin.
vii. Heisenberg, due west. (1959). Physics as well as Philosophy: the revolution inwards modernistic science. London: Allen together with Unwin.
8. Whiteman, J.H.1000. (1967). Philosophy of Space together with Time together with the Inner Constitution of Nature: a phenomenological study. London: Allen together with Unwin.
9. Whiteman, J.H.thou. (1977). Parapsychology together with physics. In Wolman, B.B. (ed.) Handbook of Parapsychology. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
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