How do we learn?
Investigation
How do we grow?
Investigation
How can we heal the wounds of the past in order to make way for the future?
Further wise investigation…
So how do we solve the riddle of self?
In science, you have to understand a measuring device before you can effectively use it. Your nervous system (neurology) is the most basic device with which you examine and measure the world around you… it is very important that you learn to understand and properly use your neurology!
Frequently, I use the terms ‘nervous system’ or ‘neurology’ to describe people. This is because we filter all of our understanding and new knowledge through our nervous system (seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting, smelling, & thinking)… it is where our concept of self arises… but we are already beginning to speak in the realm of the mystic.
The concept of Mysticism typically involves people who have gained some secret knowledge… often through membership in an obscure order or secret society. In actuality, this secret knowledge is available to all of us! It is within all of us! The only thing that may be ‘hidden’ is the practice that can unlock it.
On dictionary.com, we find:
Mysticism -noun
- a religion based on mystical communion with an ultimate reality
- obscure or irrational thought
If we mean ‘religion’ in the sense of ‘a consistent practice’, then I like the first definition a lot. We have to be cautious not to drift toward the second definition. Sometimes obscurity is unavoidable… but irrationality has to be avoided here. The journey brings clarity… it’s worth noting that clarity and certainty are rarely the same thing… it’s also worth noting that you will learn to rely on your own awareness for validation… a 2nd opinion can always be useful, but recognize that the second opinion can only be evaluated by the same nervous system that produced the first.
In order to avoid that horrific 2nd definition… we embrace the concept of science. Dictionary.com defines science as follows:
Science -noun
- a particular branch of scientific knowledge; “the science of genetics”
- ability to produce solutions in some problem domain; the skill of a well-trained boxer; “the sweet science of pugilism” (syn skill)
The first definition gives us the microcosm of science… the science of ‘x’ and the science of ‘y’. I like the second definition quite a bit… science is a skill, a practice that must be cultivated…. and when it is, the practitioner can ‘produce solutions’ in a given domain. In the example of boxing, an overhand right might knock out a certain opponent, at a certain point, in a certain fight. The doesn’t make it ‘truth’… it’s just a useful technique. When we look at it this way, the boxer always has room for improvement; a useful technique might be replaced by even more useful techniques.
But what about a more universal definition of science…. science in its broadest sense? Here’s a working definition for you (improve and modify as you see fit):
- The practice of observation and experimentation to accrue experiential knowledge and deepen understanding
- The deep understanding that “This is only working theory…”; all rules are subject to change
This gives a powerful method that we can bring to any aspect of life. Just like my 3rd grade teacher said:
We are all scientists!
Wherever we go in life, we can take these understandings with us. How do we improve at a given skill? Observation and experimentation. How do we improve in a given skill-set (such as motherhood, being a good boyfriend/husband, being a valuable employee)? Observation and experimentation.
Going back to the dictionary once more, we find spirituality might mean:
Spirituality -noun
- property or income owned by a church
- concern with things of the spirit (ant: worldliness)
Okay… I just included the first one because I thought it was funny. The 2nd isn’t bad, but just leads us to another definition:
Spirit -noun
- The vital principle or animating force within living things
There are heaps of definitions for spirit, but I feel this one sounds best for our purposes. So this fills in the definition of spirituality to something that looks like:
- concern with or focus on the vital principle or animating force
God or Goddess. Higher Power. Higher Intelligence (Silva Method). Deeper Meaning. Mystical Union. Timeless Connection. Deja Vu. Peak Experience. All of this and more can be included as experiences related to, or methods of deepening our ‘concern with or focus on the vital principle or animating force’
So let’s put the dictionary away for a moment and talk about how these 3 concepts interact.
When I use the term ‘mysticism’ I am usually talking about science applied to spirituality… many assume this can’t work based off their definitions of these two terms… it is my opinion that they have not run enough experiments in the laboratory of self.
[googmonify]6889676330:right:300:250[/googmonify]
In my experience, what we are describing as spirituality is best invoked with energy meditation or mindfulness meditation (described in other posts and pages)… this can happen in ’sitting meditation’ practice, but I see much more profound results when I take these tools into the ‘real world’…. into the situations that occur in my day-to-day life!
Now that we have the ’spiritual’ experience, we just view it and practice it in a scientific manner… we continue to observe and experiment to make our method more useful…. and voila:
You now walk the path of the mystic!!!
It isn’t that challenging to begin… it is just challenging to stay on the path!
As another metaphor, when we apply science to the path of self discovery… our investigation begins to yield deeper insights into who we really are…
We only begin to solve the riddle of self through scientific investigation!
Incredible insights are within you… but you have to start looking. You have to start paying attention to the aspect of you in all that you see, hear, or feel… your neurology is the ruler with which you measure the world… if your ruler is off, then all your judgements and beliefs about the world will also be off… we examine the self for deeper understanding of self, but also to ‘tune up’ our neurology, so that we can make more accurate measurements of the world around us!
Looking within the self is challenging. You have to learn to get past the defenses you have put in place.
You have to learn to call yourself on all of your own bullshit!
You have to be able to accept what you find.
SMS Meditation 1:
- Read through this post again.
- Find someplace quiet
- Sit, stand, or lay down comfortably
- Close your eyes
- Breath deeply
- Pay attention to what happens.
- What if all internal sound (voices, music, etc.), all internal pictures, and all sensations in the body were just different vibrations… different waves? What if you were to view all of this as varying pulses of energy(chi, ki, prana, or mana if you like) which are ultimately controlled by you, but also create your conventional concept of you…
- Continue to breath deeply and pay attention
Remember, ‘Truth’ is a human concept, and all human concepts are relative…
keep smiling,
ben
Books
-Hyatt, Christopher S. Undoing Yourself With Energized Meditation and Other Devices. New Falcon Publications. Tempe: 1982.
-Wilson, Robert Anton. Quantum Psychology. New Falcon Publications. Tempe: 1990.
Modern Language Association (MLA):
“mysticism.” WordNet® 3.0. Princeton University. 28 May. 2008. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mysticism>.
“science.” WordNet® 3.0. Princeton University. 28 May. 2008. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/science>.
“spirituality.” WordNet® 3.0. Princeton University. 29 May. 2008. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/spirituality>.
“spirit.” WordNet® 3.0. Princeton University. 29 May. 2008. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/spirit>.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Though mysticism remains esoteric for the few that experience it, there is a logical explanation for the phenomenon. At a conference of the Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness, an arm of the American Anthropological Association, I, a layman, had the opportunity and privilige to speak at a meeting held at Yale Divinity School by the society. The solution is based on the analysis of familiar, obvious and known things, and things that we take for granted. This was given to us by not one, but a number of prominent names. Below is a sampling. In addition to a logical explanation for the mystical experience, there is, as it relates to consciousness, a rational approach and path to ultimate reality. Before we can experience this higher state of mind, it is necessary to gain the mystical experience, the precursor to that gift of gifts. Here is the basis in the form of quotes:
We need education in the obvious more than
investigation of the obscure.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.
Familiar things happen and mankind does not
bother about them.
Alfred North Whitehead
No question is so difficult to answer as
that to which the answer is obvious.
George Bernard Shaw
The obvious is that which is never seen
until someone expresses it.
Kahlil Gibran
Nothing evades our attention as
persistently as that which is taken
for granted.
Gustav Ichheiser
Because it’s familiar, a thing remains
unknown.
Hegel
Most human being have an almost infinite
capacity for taking things for granted.
Aldous Huxley
The unapparent connection is more powerful
than the apparent one.
Heraclitus
At 75 I have no interest in money or fame,
but I do care about our children and our
children’s children. It would be nice to
know that there is now a genuine path, a
reasonable path, a logical path to higher
consciousness.
Emmanuel J. Karavousanos
EKaravousa@aol.com
Reply
Hey Emmanuel
I appreciate your interest… I’m not certain if this a question, a compliment, or if you’re just sharing your thoughts.
If you are curious about my approach (which in my experience is the fastest), I use daily seated meditation, augmented with self-hypnosis. More and more, I bring this state into my day to day life. When I catch myself ‘thinking sloppy’ I use de-hypnosis (more on this in the future). Using this method, I have had many powerful experiences, and I have shed many of the ‘negative’ aspects of my personality.
I now alternate between energy meditations, and insight meditations, but initially, insight meditations (awareness and acceptance) brought about the quickest transformation. Energy techniques are excellent for clearing or balancing challenging emotions, though.
The technology of brainwave entrainment can also vastly speed results (I will be posting on this in the future with program recommendations).
Once a simple meditative state has been achieved and can be invoked relatively easily, it is important to begin moving meditation. You can use yoga, martial arts, dance, etc. This makes it much easier to bring your meditation or mystical experience into the rest of your life.
I hope this helps.
keep smiling,
ben
Reply
Hi How are you?
Where is your links page?
I was looking to connect with others of like mind and common interests and studies of Metaphysics.
Check out my webpage at: http://www.atheneraefiel.com
Blessings and Light
Athene Raefiel
Reply
Hey Athene,
So far I have just been using the blog roll on the sidebar. I think I’m going to re-label it.
I liked your site! I might put up a full-blown links page similar to yours when time permits.
I’m always looking for fellow seekers as well… and I’m hoping to give a presentation at Celebration sometime in the near future.
Feel free to e-mail me: benjamin@peacefulprosperity.com
keep smiling,
ben
Reply