Thursday 16 May 2019

What Colossal Spiritual Forces

          When I review my experience of meditation, I am drawn to the conclusion that as one rises up through the levels of meditation experience, one notices something rather interesting. As projection follows projection, the experience acquires characteristics appropriate to that level of the experience. Compared with the mysterious ultimate these characteristics may seem to be like contaminants being absorbed by the spirit. More than that, they influence how we think and feel about matters of the spirit. Perhaps one of those contaminants, or acquired characteristics, is that what was an experiential process at the deepest levels becomes personalised at the higher levels, such as God as a loving father, God as a vengeful judge, or perhaps the Christ as a near human being.  Thus an experience which is without form at the deepest levels acquires or takes on a humanoid form, but one not yet fully human, as one heads to surface consciousness. Finally, a fully human form is experienced as recorded in myths, legends and spiritual/philosophical writings such as the Bible.
          Without these humanised allusions to the everyday world around us, I seriously wonder whether it could ever be possible to cope with the enormity of absolute truth, with the enormity of the naked Godhead. Maybe as creatures at our present phase of evolution we are simply not ready. Perhaps we still need the parable, the 'as if' approach to understanding that which is inherently not understandable in order to cope with the apparent, virtual realities of life. We live at the centre of paradox which may always remain thus.
           Space-time is a powerful concept, almost overpowering in its implications. Yet if the space-time continuum is a projection of some deeper psycho-spiritual, timeless continuum, then the latter must be at least as powerful as the former continuum. Every thought, every emotion, every feeling and experience would cause a warping in the psycho-spiritual continuum. All subsequent experiences would be affected by those warps just as the 'contaminants' mentioned above influence our responses to experiential phenomena.
          I must remember to try to imagine what that means: try to imagine what colossal spiritual forces are hidden in our minds, beyond our understanding and, I suppose, our imaginings.
          I am aware that this post must come across as rather disjointed and perhaps confusing. I am also aware that I need to get these musings recorded before I lose them. Such as they are, therefore, they represent my efforts to confront some kind of inner reality that seems to insist on remaining hidden.

10 comments:

  1. Hi Tom,
    I think increasingly the future of religion lies in introspection in a variety of different ways inclusive of meditation, if that was not always the case. For the non-materialists the idea that one might adopt in say the biological world is that there is sort of living consciousness, even at the basis level of bacteria, that continues to evolve in immense complexity of which we form part thereof. Of course in humans and the upper echelons of the animal kingdom it takes on that added complexity and leads to a sense of morality, but it carries with it those mutations in thoughts that leave us with the imperfect Meta narratives to which you refer. How it could it be otherwise if we are to be part of that creative freedom in the space time continuum? It also follows that we may catch a glimpse of that power to which you refer, just as we may unwisely seek to exploit it to our own advantage as a species, rather than to show reverence to all life to which we are indebted.
    Thanks for your insightful post.
    best wishes

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    1. Hi Lindsay,

      I certainly hope your opening opinion is correct, for I too think that is the way forward. However, there is going to be a need for much re-education on that front. It has certainly been a part of religious observance in the various cloistered orders, but not I fear amongst the lay congregations.

      You make an interesting point about the exploitation of spiritual power for our own purposes. Is that actually possible, I wonder? Is this not the main difference between genuine spirituality and occult magic; the difference between the desire to be, and the desire to have or control? Again I agree with your implied need to show reverence to all life, to which we are, indeed, indebted.

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  2. Hi Tom,
    I think it is more a question of our inherent human trait to possess a will to power and control that form part of the essential self. That is assuming the self is a spirit which has a relationship with itself ( the mind as in how we see ourself) so to speak.
    Hence the two are inextricably linked, although we do our best to discern that which is sacred thorough introspection.
    So one might say we are are in a constant state of becoming just as the cosmos is in eternal recurrence.That is in becoming hopefully stronger in the spiritual sense, whilst remaining open to new ideas and pathways. Pope Francis was scathing in his critic of the Curia in their quest for power but a lack of compassionate service.
    Best wishes

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    1. Hi Lindsay,

      I agree that we are in a state, or part of a process, of becoming - as is the rest of the universe of which we are an integral part. That includes, as far as I am concerned, a process away from the controlling traits of the ego. I'm unconvinced that the ego can be seen as 'the spirit' from a mystic's point of view, and therefore not part of some essential or real self.

      Of course one must be careful here that one doesn't simply indulge in semantics, because this whole subject is bugged by the inability to verbally express that which is inexpressible. Nevertheless, we continue to try.

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  3. I believe that every life experienced is part of a grand attempt to make sense of that unthinkably complex continuum. We dip into a vast well of experience and call that our life because, for an instant of eternity, that is what it is. Once entangled, and away from awareness of the vastness of reality, we lack a common frame of reference; yet we try.

    This life is such an interesting one, that I feel a bit ungrateful to be, just a little, looking forward to once more experiencing that "aha moment" of death. It is only then that we get all the answers we crave.

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    1. Hello Deanna,

      There is much in what you say. One wonders, if it were otherwise, just what is the point of life? The one big problem with death is, at least for me, worrying about how those nearest to us will manage, having become accustomed to living life as a pair.

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    2. Life as a pair is definitely an important part of life and yes, a wonderful reason to see it through.

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  4. "Yet if the space-time continuum is a projection of some deeper psycho-spiritual, timeless continuum, then the latter must be at least as powerful as the former continuum. Every thought, every emotion, every feeling and experience would cause a warping in the psycho-spiritual continuum..."

    Yes. This is what I feel, with a conviction that cannot be explained by logical analysis or material evidence. I think that such conviction, residing in feeling and intuition, by-passing the intellect, is not someting new or personal. It has permeated human consciousness always but has been expressed in different ways, depending on time and place and culture. "As above, so below".

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    1. Dear Natalie,

      I can add little to your second paragraph except that I agree entirely. Yet, amazingly it seems to me, there are many who would deny what you say on the grounds of a defunct materialistic philosophy.

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  5. It seems to me that while the space-time continuum we swim about in is unchanging, the psycho-spiritual continuum from whence we come and will return, and can access at any time, is continually being reinvigorated by our reactions to experiences in our lives.
    That aspect of feeling and intuition you refer to Natalie is what I believe is our ongoing connection to the spirit. Intellect is the part totally grounded in space and time; the ego which would like to deny the existence of spirit.

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