Scientific Mysticism
‘Scientific Mysticism’ is a term coined by Michael Whiteman, a British-born South African mathematician as well as mystic. (This article may live read together alongside the article on Whiteman’second life as well as idea.)
Introduction
The term ‘scientific mysticism’ appeared equally a championship in the trilogy, Old in addition to New Evidence on the Meaning of Life,i two three past Michael Whiteman. Volume One was entitled An Introduction to Scientific Mysticism.ane Whiteman aimed to convey mysticism into the field of scientific discipline equally an entity that is ‘open-minded, rigorously tested, rationally coherent, together with illuminating.’ane ‘Mysticism’ here is defined equally:
the report of everything not-physical, including the other worlds together with their archetypal governance, too every bit our spiritual bodies, the facts too their relationship being known past the self-bear witness of straight observation as well as not by reasoning or speculation.four
This indicates empirical science, sharing territory with psychical enquiry. Yet Whiteman drew a distinction betwixt ‘psychical’ and ‘mystical’ feel. The onetime includes the study of purportedly not-physical events, the latter extends to states that have a sense of higher significance together with ultimates, openness to guidance, transformed existence, and orientation to the perceived source of the Right in addition to Good.
Whiteman was familiar amongst Vedic, Sanskrit, Pali, Greek in addition to Biblical Hebrew, and quoted extensively from ancient texts. He regarded well-nigh current translations every bit inadequate because the authors lacked psychical too mystical feel. His revolutionary commentary, too his translation of ‘The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’five combined amongst canonical Buddhist texts, i ii 3 5 exhibit hitting parallels with refinements of modernistic idea.
Whiteman’sec line equally a professor of applied mathematics provided a base inwards physics for his scientific mysticism. Another base of operations was extensive personal feel in psychical together with mystical states. His methods rested on observation, conceptual analysis and insight, inward melody with Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology.six This aims at gaining face-to-face self-testify and detailed precision, shedding the usual ‘cloak of ideas’. Science in Whiteman’s utilisation is not an do inward theorizing.
Potentiality together with Actualization
A fundamental to Whiteman’sec scientific mysticism is the idea of potentiality too actualization. This had been developed by the physicist Werner Heisenberg,vii who saw that a physical ‘happening’ comes almost through an occasion of observation, in addition to that this ‘happening’ is open to physical description. But what governs the happening is not open to physical observation; at best it tin live given mathematical aspect. So behind a physical event one has to recognize what Heisenberg called ‘an objective tendency or possibility, a “potentia” in the sense of Aristotelian philosophy’. And the governing potentia, the ‘argue’ for something to go on, is abstract inwards a physical feel; y'all tin can’t set it in a exam tube.
Whiteman concurred that entirely transcending logical substructures, potentialities, merit the term ‘reality’, equally opposed to appearances. Appearances come up into existence solely on an occasion of observation, too volition live actualized differently for different people.
Whiteman wrote, ‘zippo specific tin can be actualized without the integration of “subjective” in addition to “objective” factors, non inward succession, but on the second of actualization.’one An observer who is freed inwards close to style from the physical land will actualize for himself things that are beyond the reach of ordinary physical sensing. This is the get-go of psychical in addition to mystical perception.
Whiteman wrote, ‘The difference between one “earth” and some other and then depends upon the country of life in which the observer happens to live settled.’3 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 individual: idea together with images are actualizations inward consciousness of an individual’sec ‘idea-picture sphere’, equally he called it, which includes retentiveness and imagination.i
Actualization of Psi Phenomena
Whiteman saw telepathy resulting from the interaction or resonance between the idea-ikon spheres of individuals. The interaction is non actualized at the physical level, and then transfer of information occurs independently of physical space too fourth dimension. Clairvoyance is resonance betwixt the potentiality-sphere of a physical object or effect as well as the idea-image sphere of an individual, resulting inward the actualization of impressions inward the private’sec idea-icon sphere. Once over again, resonance or interaction happens independently of physical infinite together with time, not existence physically actualized. Psychokinesis may be regarded every bit a opposite clairvoyant interaction; potentialities commonly linked inwards around style to an private upshot in physical actualizations.
Potentiality-actualization relationships should non be seen equally static; potentiality-fields continually change or develop, together with accept feedback loops, although non inward physical time. This volition touch on the effect of time to come physical events, which helps to explain how precognition happens. Whiteman saw precognition equally actualization in an private’s thought-picture sphere of developing potentiality-fields that may bear upon futurity physical events. The individual may even intervene in the physical actualization of these events past altering the potentiality-fields, then allowing prevention of a precognized result from happening.i Even if potentiality-fields are time-ordered, resulting inwards a succession of events actualized inwards the physical globe, the ordering is not fixed inwards the manner a road map is fixed. They are accessible in states of physical detachment, as well as and so let express modification together with the exercise of gratis will.
Out-of-torso Experience
Whiteman defined mysticism as ‘the study of everything non-physical, including the other worlds ...’ As only discussed, potentiality-fields accept the capacity to deliver unlike spaces or worlds of physical and non-physical actuality, depending on the land of the observer. Without this understanding, mysticism cannot get to brand sense. Direct feel of ‘the other worlds’ occurs mainly in out-of-torso feel, which Whiteman preferred to term ‘separative’ feel, since at that place is commonly awareness of a body of about kind.
The commonest type he termed ‘principal separation’, inward which there is no awareness inward the physical trunk, fifty-fifty though what appears to live the physical body can live viewed. In ‘secondary separation’ the physical body is nether or so degree of witting control, only chief awareness lies inward another organism seemingly not located in the space of the physical body, and the ii bodies are quite independent. In ‘tertiary separation’ the physical torso is normally nether complete command, merely at that place is total awareness of existence in a unlike bodily grade despite the locations of the ii bodies seeming to be the same. Difference between the ii bodies may live radical, such equally ane being male person as well as the other female. For Whiteman, the highest mystical experiences were more often than not of this type.
Whiteman noted that such not-physical experience, in damage of reality-impression together with intensity, may reach from appearing weak to seeming even more than existent too meaningful than inwards physical life. At its near powerful, termed by him mystical, ‘Everything in such states, spatial characteristics included, is known equally if in archetypal unchanging form, and is therefore startlingly more existent (rationally-objective, ever-introduce) than the derivative together with shifting forms of the physical Earth.’one He saw a require ‘to distinguish between what is deceptive or illusory as well as what has the character of face-to-face objectivity too truth which we draw past proverb that a affair is real.’1 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 (nothing rating) to what is experienced every bit spiritually releasing with 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 retentivity betwixt physical too not-physical experience, complimentary observation, power to compare accurately amongst physical as well as non-physical states, awareness of heart and soul and tangibility, communication of idea amongst others, too a feeling of transcendence of physical life.
The General Index does non include reports of observing physical things during a separative experience. Regarded past near people equally veridical (corresponding to reality), these observations could take been made past clairvoyance or remote viewing, together with do non necessarily mean that something somehow separated from the physical torso to brand the observation. As Whiteman stated, any claimed physical supporting evidence just has ‘chiefly propaganda value for the uninformed or sceptical, who make not realize that separation is not established by them, but who may thereby be induced to take the “interior” testimony every bit having just about bearing on “scientific fact”.’one
Whiteman’second Index power seem of limited value to standard parapsychology, where a useful scoring organization should place experiences that rate better than dream, hallucination or some course of pathology. In Whiteman’sec Index the management of ranking is towards mystical experience, which is hardly looked for inward parapsychology, even shied away from. The order of ranking is: undeveloped, borderline, psychical, pre-mystical, mystical. Out of a possible 16 points, experiences reaching 6 to viii points range as ‘psychical separations’, scoring on criteria listed 2 paragraphs above. Further requirements of ‘mystical’ range were noted inward the Introduction, together with demarcate ‘mystical’ from ‘psychical’. Yet in the eyes of a physically-fixated investigator, the mystical requirements would bespeak reduced reality rating, since ‘reality’ way ‘similar physical experience’. For Whiteman this was a cardinal mistake; higher reality can entirely mean ‘unlike physical experience’.
Other Spaces
All separative feel, physical-like or transformative, was considered by Whiteman to hap in spaces other than physical, although oft and then like to what is presented physically as to be mistaken for it. He called it ‘duplicate physical’ space. He wrote:
If ane is taken into a ‘psychic’ infinite when not familiar amongst such states, or amongst fixed ideas almost them, together with if the phenomena resemble physical ones closely... at that place may be a stiff view to intend that the objects are being observed physically; in addition to this applies even to possible duplicate presentations of the observer’second physical body inwards its actual state of affairs.one
‘Fixed ideas’ assume in that location is entirely one ‘existent’ space that tin be manifested, namely the physical earth. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 fixed thought volition contribute to the potentialities governing a separative experience, in addition to atomic number 82 to the actualization of a physical-similar ‘duplicate’ scene. Yet every bit mortal gratis of the constraints of i-level thinking, Whiteman wrote of an ‘inexhaustible diverseness’ of appearance inward other spaces. Naturalistic conditioning may nevertheless result inwards ‘fantasy influences’ in undeveloped states, notwithstanding highest evolution leads to ‘perfectly acceptable forms of transcendent unified beauty’, where ‘the environs, correspondingly, are distinguished by the quality of the calorie-free, together with hit in intelligible graphic symbol, perfection of beauty, depth of glowing middle lineament, unitive liberty as well as sense of blending alongside other minds, every bit the highest status, which is that of Mystical Form Liberation, is approached.’ In these descriptions, Whiteman states,
‘I’ in addition to ‘me’ make non stand for the familiar consciousness of self inwards the physical personality, or, in fact, for anything that tin be known in an ordinary physical land of heed. To sympathize what is meant, the characteristics of the merged ordinary self must live ruled out.iv
One might query how ‘other spaces’ are related to the physical in addition to, if at all, to each other. In states classified past Whiteman every bit third separation, the non-physical trunk holds much of the focus of attending but does not seem to be spatially apart from the physical body; ‘the locations of the two bodies look the same, in spite of differences inward their class together with/or size and perhaps likewise inwards their environment.’one This seems to agree alongside a view widespread inward spiritist circles that dissimilar ‘levels’ of feel and existence all coincide spatially only have different ‘vibration frequencies’, so there is no contact or communication betwixt the diverse states except through special mediating weather. Whiteman did include ‘interpenetrating spaces’ inward a detail ready of ‘facts of experience’,i merely he did non acquaint the idea of interpenetrating spaces equally about form of cosmological organisation; he was disposed to continue to systems of facts, not constructs of theory.
Skills, Cycles
Whiteman was confident most discovering the underlying logic inward phenomena, being convinced that behind whatever item observation in that location is an intelligible structure ‘operative in too analysable out of the full feel’.8 He did non have Kant’s thought of the unknowability of things-inwards-themselves.eight Instead, there is ‘intellectual or perceptual cognition which transcends in a sure clear as well as unmistakable mode the onward urge of fourth dimension, the stiff apartness of spatial objects, as well as the apparent isolation of the individual heed inward its country of fixation on bodily impressions. It is a country of unloosen. Fixation beingness overcome, the listen opens out into universality’.8 We cannot accomplish this state, he believed ‘without psychological as well as spiritual faculties of attention, judgement, purposiveness together with self-field of study’, based on 3 ‘foundational skills’ named Active Recollection, Continuous Recollection, as well as Faith + Obedience.i (The origin of these skills inward his own life is reported inwards Michael Whiteman.)
Active Recollection aims to call up or recover the heart and soul in what is perceived, ‘and so the attainment of objective insight together with unloose’.ane Husserl termed it the phenomenological epoché or stoppage, ‘the necessary functioning which renders pure consciousness accessible to us’.i It is termed samādhi or sati inward Indian literature.five Continuous Recollection is ‘the freely stabilized earth of loose at which Active Recollection has been aiming.’one Obedience is not a land of subservience but orientation to ‘the transcendent Source of Right together with Good.’one It operates in conjunction alongside Faith inward this transcendence.
The three foundational skills were structured into a iv-office system known since ancient times too appearing in modern contexts inward learning theory, Freud as well as Jung. Described every bit the 4 creative functions, these are ‘purposive crusade, deciding on way, putting into do, together with a virtually hole-and-corner maturing of ane’sec skills in event’.3 In ancient texts they are represented equally 4 stages inward the passage of the sun, rise inward the due east, zenith in the south, downwards to world inward the due west, as well as hole-and-corner inward the northward.xiii This corresponds with aspiration (E), assessment (southward), action or manifestation (westward), fulfilment or non-attachment (due north); it too corresponds respectively alongside Faith, Obedience, Active Recollection, Continuous Recollection.ane
Whiteman placed groovy importance on this bike having its opposites or ‘counterfeits’ of self-will, self-satisfaction, automaticity, complacency, which may atomic number 82 to a corresponding bicycle of ‘stresses’ of decease-feeling, shame, hurting, fright. This in plough may atomic number 82 to ‘inner contests’,i two iii which hopefully overcome these spiritual deficiencies.
Physics together with Psychology
In his search for underlying logic, and for universality, Whiteman converted his ‘psychological’ cycle into a sixteen-flexure issue organisation, amongst the aim of integrating it alongside a ‘physical’ xvi-crease number system derived from iii infinite as well as iii time dimensions. He noted that iii of the creative functions – crusade, way, too maturing – are composite, containing ii ‘starting time principles’ of heart and soul too beingness, equivalent to potentiality in addition to actualization. In plough, center together with beingness each have 3 constituents, termed past him ‘hypostases’, pregnant underlying, irreducible causes. The iii hypostases of essence were seen every bit role, agency, cease. The hypostases of being were actuation, becoming, manifestation, the iii-phase construction of creation called inwards Upanishadic philosophy the Great Stride of Vishnu.i So, for case, ‘deciding on way’ combines ‘agency’ (kernel) first of all with ‘actuation’ (being), and so amongst ‘becoming’ (being), in addition to in conclusion with manifestation (being). The tertiary quarter, West, brings prior causes into manifestation purely every bit ‘being’ too and then lacks an ‘gist’ hypostasis.
This analysis allows the development of a issue organisation inwards psychology, and so the prospect of comparing with a number system in physics.ane two three From these issue systems Whiteman intended to furnish ‘a clear-cutting explanatory organisation... every bit, for example, the basic laws of mechanics are exhibited earlier whatsoever problems are tackled’.two The hypostases of meat were numbered ane = use, ii = agency, iii = end. The hypostases of existence were numbered vi = actuation, v = becoming, four = manifestation/grounding. So, for case ‘East’ tin can be expressed every bit the combination xvi (enthusiasm), fifteen (inspiration), xiv (intention). Combining the numbers 1 to half-dozen results inwards xvi subfunctions, inwards agreement with ‘xv + one kalās, stages in any creative act, every bit recognized in the Upanishads’.3
The physical issue system was derived from the iii space in addition to 3 time dimensions. One time dimension lies in potentiality-fields with a fourth dimension-ordered, space-similar facial expression noted in a higher place inward connectedness amongst precognition. Another fourth dimension dimension or function involves the processes leading to physical actualization from time-structured potentiality. Finally in that location is physical clock-fourth dimension; it is the entirely time-dimension that is measurable. Combining the six dimensions yields a 16-bend number organisation like the psychological subfunctions, ‘inward such close correspondence amongst the formulations of quantum theory that at that place is an obvious invitation to demo the two every bit aspects of an integrated understanding of the Earth’.9
Space does not let a tabulation of the physics/psychology correspondences, or how they were derived. The correspondences, nonetheless, satisfied Whiteman’sec sentiment that to explicate what nosotros feel is to
admit a subjective bike, such as mystics, many theologians, together with approximately psychologists have admitted. This bike, inward its nigh consummate grade is sixteenfold, and parallels just what may be called the ‘world bike’ (equally it appears in Quantum Field Theory) in every manner, piece manifesting itself inward every kind of human feel. This is a grade of potentiality which is discernible, too indeed tin be lived past the individual in an enormous multifariousness of ‘altered states of consciousness’...3
Whiteman’second Scientific Mysticism was a revolutionary attempt to discern together with characterize this potentiality.
John Poynton
Literature
one. Whiteman, J.H.yard. (1986). Old too New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical Earth-sentiment as well as inner contest. Volume one, An Introduction to Scientific Mysticism. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
two. Whiteman, J.H.K. (2000). Old too New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical globe-persuasion as well as inner contest. Volume ii, Dynamics of Spiritual Development. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
iii. Whiteman, J.H.thou. (2006). Old together with New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical Earth-thought together with inner contest. Volume iii, Universal Theology too Life inward other Worlds. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
four. Whiteman, J.H.K. (1961). The Mystical Life. London: Faber in addition to Faber.
5. Whiteman, J.H.M. (1993). Aphorisms on Spiritual Method: the ‘Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’ inward the lite of mystical experience. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
six. Husserl, east. (1931). Ideas: General Introduction to Pure Phenomenology (trans. due west.R. Boyce Gibson). London: Allen & Unwin.
seven. Heisenberg, west. (1959). Physics in addition to Philosophy: the revolution in modernistic scientific discipline. London: Allen and Unwin.
viii. Whiteman, J.H.G. (1967). Philosophy of Space together with Time as well as the Inner Constitution of Nature: a phenomenological report. London: Allen as well as Unwin.
ix. Whiteman, J.H.grand. (1977). Parapsychology together with physics. In Wolman, B.B. (ed.) Handbook of Parapsychology. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar