Chief Editor Publisher Contact details |
|
A Substantially New Manner of Thinking
|
|
Correspondence: We shall require a substantially new
manner of thinking if mankind is to survive.
Ephemeral wisdom has taught us, that we are part of the land, sky, oceans and earth. Now it seems everything can be owned for the sake of economic rationalism and the profit motive. Although Gaia, the planet Earth, as a biosphere supporting all of life as a self maintaining homeostatic system, the human beings on it are becoming alienated from the process and are destroying it. The Earth is out of balance. Failsafe maneuvers have not worked and inconceivable degradation is occurring despite our vast inventive minds. New systems of politics and democracy do not address this essential picture because they do not look at the nature of life itself. In this era of post-modernistic pluralism there seems no common ground in a world where religions clash and terrorism is rife. Religion is seen as a compartment separate from science. Each person has their own fundamental path or way which they guard with ultimate religiosity. It impels their mundane and secular vocation as Islam impels Osama Bin Ladan and Christianity impels George Bush. However, the essence of religion is faith or belief and according to Professor Benson, of Harvard University, belief is hard-wired into our very beings and brains. He gives the example that in medicine the placebo response makes up at least 30% of the efficacy of a drug. The question is to what extent does intent, expectation, and belief effect even empirical data in science. Recent research at the Institute of Noetic Sciences in California has suggested that expectation plays a major role in experiments. The key to change, I believe, is to recognize what we all have in common rather than what separates us. Despite the multitude of differences in the human family in terms of beliefs, religions, cultures, races, genetic tendencies, occupations and habitats, we all possess life and innate goodness. This life that we have as human beings presupposes conscience, consciousness, and propels us in our search for truth whether it be through science or the Humanities. Our brains are part of the vulnerable, expressive, creative, beautiful, exquisitely formed human being.
The Brain As A Quantum Organ The brain is a quantum organ which can enable the human being to become infinitely creative and resourceful. The brain of the current species Homo sapiens evolved with its large neo-cortex less than a hundred thousand years ago. The previous species was Homo erectus or Neanderthal which, in fact, co-existed with Homo sapiens until about 40,000 years ago. Due to the Ice Age Neanderthals were not able to adapt to changing circumstances and perished (New Scientist). The brain has more neuronal connections in it than there are stars in the Universe. This enormously complex evolving process which the brain represents is an expression of the last frontier for the evolution for humanity, namely, the leap into the higher levels of consciousness and awareness. The ephemeral and esoteric teachings of spirituality or the ancient wisdom of humankind all deal with the way we construct reality and the way we bring our lives in oneness with the universal, process of life itself. They are, in total expressing a Meta religion, or a new paradigm. In a way, they express how we can ultimately become one with reality. TO do this authentically would have enormous implications on politics, economics and all the sciences, bringing into the many specialties in universities and work, a new way of thinking and being. Indeed, Ouspensky, in his book, Tertion Organum, hit on this essential ingredient in the early twentieth century. In his book, the fourth way of logic was based on what he termed as a higher level of consciousness. It was not just a new way of thinking but a deeper more poetic way of perceiving and relating. Since the time the book was written, the concept of the new paradigm has been widely discussed.
The Paradigm Shift Thomas Kuhn defined Paradigm Shift as what is considered peripheral moves to centre stage. Vlakev Havel, former president of Czechoslovakia has said "without a global revolution of human consciousness, nothing will change for the better in the sphere of our being as humans and the catastrophe towards which this world is headed be it ecological, demographic, social or the general breakdown of civilization will be unavoidable". Science has built a picture of the universe which up until now has been considered as materialistic. When we look at the consciousness movements, we see that within Western society in particular, the aim is to fill the gap left by the vacuum caused by the separation between inner and outer experience. We need to create depth, resonance and meaning in our lives by focusing on bridging the gap between reason and belief, intellect and intuition in order to create a cosmology and spirituality more integral to the human frame of reference. We need to seek to reconnect ourselves with the essence of life. There are almost as many belief systems as there are human beings. Professionals seeking the solutions to world peace, social disintegration, environmental problems, often seem despondent. The solution to them depends upon their specialty and this could be psychological, economic, theological, environmental, bio-genetic manipulation or humanistic. The question is, what is the common denominator? Ten percent of the population suffer from genetic bi-polar depression according to the psychiatrists and yet it would seem common sense to say that if we create a dysfunctional environment, we get dysfunctional responses. What we do have in common is life and consciousness - and we need to understand life, as being an interconnected synergic matrix of reciprocal maintenance and connectedness. We have finite bodies but infinite minds which have the power to realize a new world of hope, creativity and sustainability. The system tries to deny that we human beings have a Soul. It entraps us in world models of economic rationalism, and is centred in materialism and classical Darwinism, The Selfish gene, The Biomedical model and the rational ordering of Society. The system forgets about our consciousness, (transpersonal experience) our hearts and our beliefs. As an African Spiritual teacher has said. "A civilization without rites of passage has a sick Soul." In such a situation - 1) There are no elders or mentors (they are all out making money), 2) The youth are violent or without hope, 3) The adults are bewildered. This is exactly our current status quo!
The Perception of The True Nature of Things Buddhism shows that consciousness is defined as the perception of the true nature of things or true reality and that consciousness is imminent in the Universe and is inseparably connected with all phenomena and matter, just as the mind is inseparably connected with the body and spirit. Five per cent of the adult population of North America have had an NDE or near death experience. In his book Recollection of Death, Cardiologist Michael Sabom, details several independently confirmed autoscopic experiences. He concluded that none of the standard explanations is adequate to account for the accuracy brought back from out of body. In the information the subjects reported that they could see details of their surroundings that they could not have perceived by means of their physical senses. Psychologist, Kenneth Ring, after conducting a survey amongst twenty-six NDE's assessing changes in attitude, concluded that after these experiences individuals tended to express a greater appreciation for life and more concern and love for their fellow human beings. It would seem from these illustrations that mind does have an integrating role beyond that of the matter in the brain although in normal circumstances matter and mind are inextricably interlinked. Stanislav Grof in his talk in Beyond the Brain, 1990, stated that through transpersonal experience there is access to new information not through ordinary channels. There are two forms of learning - learning through observation, analysis and synthesis, and learning in state of being or direct experience. Grof talks about three kinds of experiences. Firstly, the ability to become objects or living entities encompassing the whole range of phenomena within the universe. An example of this category is provided in the successful research of remote viewing at Stanford Research Institute, California. Secondly, the ability to transcend linear time so that all past and future events can be experienced with all sensory modalities. These non-ordinary states of consciousness would include conception, birth, ancestors, collective racial memories and past life experiences. Thirdly, experiences which take you into realms that this culture does not consider to be objectively real, because they transcend space and time. They would include the collective unconscious and archetypes, for example: if a person experiences themselves as a God or Goddess. Also this will include such phenomena as channeling, spirit guides, universal mind and cosmic consciousness. Stanislav Grof uses these three categories as his form of cartography for psychic exploration. Everything is Connected Our linear vision of reality reduces things to the extent that
we view phenomena as if they were isolated events unconnected with
anything else. We seek for short term gain and do not realise that The way we think of things is determined by our belief systems and in our society we are brought up with the predominant linear belief system which is materialistic, positivistic and scientific. This means that we live in a world in which the objective reality can be defined by experimentation and where our subjective experience does not impinge on the reality defined by science outside us. Cartesian dualism defined originally by Descartes makes a distinction between the mind and the body. A thinker observes but is not involved directly, just as God has become Deus Ex Machina. The dawning of a paradigm shift is upon us. Can we make the jump to the realisation that a new era and a new millennium implies the evolution of consciousness above everything else? Thomas Kuhn defined the new paradigm as being an extension of the science that we already know and therefore come to know only in terms of new science, However, the term, the new paradigm is now commonly used as an expression of new ways of thinking. And this is how the term is used here.
The New Paradigm Places Consciousness as the Pivotal Core of the Universe The Lotus Sutra was the final teaching, taught by Shakyamuni Buddha, or Guatama Buddha. The Lotus Sutra was a distillation of the 84,000 teachings attributed to Shakyamuni Buddha. Nichiren Dai Shonin who was born in February 16 1222 came to the conclusion that the Lotus Sutra was the ultimate teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha. In particular he followed the systemization of Buddhist teachings by the great teacher, Chih-che during the Sui Dynasty (6th century).founder of the Tientai School of Buddhism who was teacher to the Emperors of China and established a platform of ordination devoted to the teachings of the Lotus Sutra at Mount Hiei in China. This ultimate truth expressed by Nichiren Dai Shonin has been compared to a tree (or common ground) from which all the other teachings of Buddhism emanate as secondary teachings or branches. In our contemporary world of diversity it is very difficult for people to accept a common ground which binds all teachings and all information together. This seems paradoxical as when we look up at the starry sky at night although we overwhelmed by the myriad of distinction and colour which make up stars and galaxies of the universe are we not impressed by a sense of wholeness and depth and completeness of it all. Certainly the expression of the truth given by Nichiren Dai Shonin and other great masters is often phrased in metaphor and allegory as well as being consistent with the modern scientific theories based on systems, information and process theories. Within the question of doubt and certainty of science is there indeed truth because the more we refine our searches, the more old truths fade and new ones appear. The point to realize in this discussion is that truth in absolute terms is the fusion of subjective experience with objective reality. Indeed if the perception of the objective reality is infinite, then the subjective wisdom is also infinite. What the Buddha was offering was a vision of the vastness of reach, creativity ,compassion and perfection in the human being. The Buddha nature or state is an expression of the higher consciousness
and higher potentials of Humanity alluded to in all esoteric traditions
of all religions. Nichiren Daishonin says in On Attaining Buddhaood Life is indeed an elusive reality that transcends both the words and concepts of existence and nonexistence. It is neither existence nor nonexistence, yet exhibits the qualities of both. It is the mystic entity of the Middle Way that is the reality of all things. Myo is the name given to the mystic nature of life, and ho to its manifestations. Renge, the lotus flower, symbolizes the wonder of this Law. Once you realize that your own life is the Mystic Law, you will realize that so are the lives of all others. This transcendence of existence and non existence. And fusion with rhe abiding essence and common ground of all Humanity and life was also expressed in the Islamic mysticism of Jalal ad-Din Rumi the great Islamic Persian sage and poet mystic, What is to be done, O Moslems? For I do not
recognise myself. A true religious faith empowers us with humaneness, spirituality and love for all humanity . It transcends all barriers and expresses the oneness of all things and all peoples. This in direct contradiction to, for example, to science which sees perfection accruing from an emergence of new properties and the basic ideals of psychology and psychoanalysis which see perfection coming from an integration of conflicting impulses. it is the ability of the human being to integrate darkness and light, yin and yang, and existence and non-existence, positive and negative, which create the 'middle way' or path to enlightenment. The experience of enlightenment is not simply a passive experience of heightened reality and perception but an active participation in a process of transformation. We need to see the whole universe as a biological self-referential process constantly interacting and balancing and modulating like a mighty ocean of infinite myriads of creations of possibility evolving, defining and ref-defining to higher orders of expression. The phenomenal reality of the universe with its vast spaces interspersed with galaxies and matter is defined by this biological self-referential framework which are poetic currents of streams and threads of life. In other word, the whole universe is alive. Another way of expressing this is to say that human beings are quantum waves on an ocean of possibilities. Chih-che during the Sui Dynasty (6th century).founder of the Tientai School of Buddhism defined life like a mirror. As regards our individual lives, the mirror of my life will reflect all the phenomenal changes which occur either subjectively or within my objective experience. The mirror, in the kaleidoscopic forms and colours, feelings and emotions which represent my life is forever changing as my life changes in the blinking of an eye. These changes come from the subtle essence of the mirror itself or the ocean of possibility which represents simultaneously my destiny embedded within my karma. The total mirror and the images of my life, the reflective capacity and mirror itself is a hologram of the total universe. The Direct Experience of Reality In science, our current system of thought precludes us from a direct experience of reality as thought is considered subjective, and therefore, unscientific. There is huge division between the truths implicit in art, music and literature, and the empirical data of science. Even in science, especially in quantum physics, the consciousness of the observer influences the outcome of the experiments. In process physics it is understood that science has attempted to impose an infrastructure on the universe in order to make sense of it. This would even apply to Einstein's theory of relativity. In this sense we impose our human intellect and perception on the universe expecting it to behave in certain ways. It was Goedel, through his theorem who attempted to create the equation that saw the universe as biological unfolding entity without the intermediary of Human intervention. What this means is that it would seem very difficult for us to have direct knowledge and understanding of the universe because of our humanness unless we have access to the ephemeral traditions of Humanity. Tabula Smaragdina: The Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus states I speak not fiction things, but what is true
and most certain. We need to see the whole universe as a biological self-referential process, of which we are a part, constantly interacting and balancing, like a mighty ocean of infinite myriads of creations evolving, defining, and redefining to higher orders of expression. The phenomenal reality of the universe with its vast spaces, interspersed with galaxies and matter, is defined by this biological, self-referential framework. What we are seeing is really poetic currents of streams and threads of life. The seamless point of focus between the manifest and poetic is the integrating, overarching law of life itself, which is implicit in every atom, elementary particle and blade of grass. To see a world in a Grain of Sand,
Global Mind Change Willis Harman in the book Global Mind Change talks of three metaphysical perspectives. One is materialistic monism, where matter gives rise to mind, which is the current state of play. An alternative metaphysic is dualistic, where there are two different kinds of different stuff in the universe, one being matter energy and the other being mind. This is an expression of Cartesian dualism. And the third metaphysical perspective being transcendental monism, where mind gives rise to matter. We all have an interest in creating a better world. Because of over population, irreversible destruction of living and non living resources, pollution, environmental destruction, loss of biodiversity, the ozone layer depletion, the green house effect, climate change and vast inequities and poverty in the world in our hearts would like to see a more sustainable, caring and integrative world. Many solutions include democratic reform, decentralization of the government, conserving the environment, telling people about the real aspects of what is going on, creating a healing culture and combating the alienation and loneliness which is so common in big cities and with single people. To create change at a fast rate we need a critical mass of people who are informed and aware and can activate the total community to change. These people understand that critical change in society presupposes a radical change in consciousness and awareness. A lot of people feel that the solution lies in a transformation of consciousness which can be passed on to future generations. It is also as if we are bringing out from ourselves our memory
of when we were perfect and healthy
Quantum Reality-Creating the Reality We Choose The new theories in quantum physics as applied to consciousness enable us to see how we are waves of potentiality on a quantum ocean of probability. Quantum physics defines all phenomena in terms of wave forms or particles. Heisenberger defined the Uncertainty Principle, where if we define the wave or velocity of the electron then we cannot define its position as a particle. Observation however leads to a collapse of the waveform into a material or particle phenomenon. In this new science it is the consciousness of the observer which creates and collapses the observed reality. In a sense according to this argument the Uncertainty Principle of Heisenberger gives rise to the certainty of the reality which we collapse as we perceive it. Each of us as has been described by some exponents of the holographic paradigm as having a quantum resonance field around us which resonates with the surrounding human field of interaction creating the reality which accurately reflects our patterns and karma and even destiny. Thus once a critical mass of higher consciousness in Human Beings is reached it would be able to express a new art and a new science on this planet which can lead to people leading long fulfilling lives in complete harmony with the environment. The key to this form of meditation is based primarily on faith or belief. Herbert Benson the founder of the Mind Body Institute at Harvard University has said that the brain is hardwired for belief. Our very survival depends on our belief systems. The power of belief is such he says as to contribute 30-60% of the effect of a pharmaceutical drug. In double blind trials the so called placebo effect or belief in the drug is always taken into account. Herbert Benson uses the power of belief for his patients in order to recapture times when they were in a state of health and wellness. He calls this state remembered wellness. In double personalities we sometimes find that one personality has for example a diabetic complain whereas the other personality is fit and well. The instant change from one personality to the diabetic personality instantly brings on the physiological parameter of diabetes. As this process is instant it is evidently a quantum phenomenon. Every second our physiology and metabolism is changing and we completely change all the cells in our body in twelve months so that nothing within our bodies remains constant as we are interchanging all our atoms with the environment all the time. To access the core of memory which brings us back home to the very essence of universal reality is a challenge because of the ever changing nature of all phenomena. Even our mental and social circumstances continue to change as do the atoms, molecules, DNA, organs and systems of the body. The aim of the living process is to maintain some kind of equilibrium and constancy within this milieu. This state beyond knowing and beyond the zero point field of information within the context of the conscious universe is in fact pure consciousness. This state or essence is ingrained in the core of stars, the fragrance of roses, the mystery of a full moonlit night and in all the heartfelt expression of religious yearning and devotion.
Faith and wonder Faith and wonder are therefore two of the keys to accessing the power of life or higher consciousness within. In any meditative process - It is the practitioner's love, compassion devotion to service and intent that can elicit the unseen assistance of the universe. (Professor William Tiller Professor Emeritus Stanford University) Have you ever had one of those days where everything happens in harmony and with what seems surprising coincidences? You are able to find the car parking spot in an impossible situation or the traffic lights go green so that you are able to get to your destination very quickly. You may have been thinking of a friend you have not seen for years and they suddenly appear in your life through a letter or phone call. You know you are in tune and your mind seems to reach out and be in harmony and rhythm with everything around it. Somehow you and your environment are one and your life itself is part of a song or line of dance within the context of deeper strands of wholeness. What is happening is that we are expressing a complex fusion between our life and the life of the greater whole expressed as a fundamental wholeness. Heightened awareness creates these kinds of phenomena showing that all life is connected and interlinked. The universe does not forget David Hawkins also says that the universe does not forget "There are many sides to the question of Karma but every choice of who and how to be is a choice of great consequence. Reports of near death experiences confirm that we shall eventually have to accept responsibility for every thought, word and deed we beget and re experience exactly whatever suffering we have caused. It is in this sense that we create our own heaven and hell. The universe holds its breath as we choose instant by instant which path to follow; For the universe the very essence of life itself is highly conscious, every act thought and choice adds to a permanent mosaic our decisions ripple through the universe of consciousness to affect the lives of all." Do our genes predetermine our future? Are the causes we create the product of early childhood experiences and choices we make at critical times of our lives or even from previous lives? Left to themselves instinctual qualities are drives for survival. It is the quality of awareness in the neo cortex of the human brain which distorts these life giving attributes to a preoccupation with death and suffering. When nature exists on an unconscious level it tends towards balance, for example; the biosphere of the planet earth is balanced in terms of oxygen content, salinity of the seas, temperature of the oceans, and the ground work of trillions of bacteria which maintain a living crust to the planet. The planet in this respect maintains an integrating meshwork for the maintenance of life in all its forms. Integrating heart and mind or living heart and brain we are able to consciously survive in an integrative way without allowing the fight for survival based on the sympathetic nervous system and inflammatory processes to predominate. By modifying our perception and understanding on the nature of reality our instinctual drives do not predominate to create unnecessary suffering in the lives of ourselves or others.
The question is can forms of psychosocial intervention later in life change a negative balance? The answer is that the brain is enormously plastic and so is capable of constant change. As human beings we have untold hidden qualities and faculties especially the quality of creativity), compassion and enlightenment As human beings we are impelled to love and nurture our children, families, and communities. When we bring out this state we are fulfilling the role of compassion.. Doctors or nurses fulfill this role professionally. It is an indictment on ourselves that in the past 15,000 years human kind especially man kind has spent more time killing each other than nurturing each other. The biological drives for survival in key individuals like kings, emperors and religious leaders consistently seem to have taken precedence over the collective needs of human beings. Even today we are still confronted with the same issues where the collective needs represented by true democracy is rarely expressed. We should be expressing our true power and awareness of enlightenment which then will raise the collective creative energy of human kind to a high level enabling the awareness of our interconnectedness with all life and the facility for cooperation between all human beings. Enormous collective guilt and anger and fear is inherent within the collective unconscious of human kind. These impurities and accretions of toxins within our collective awareness are the seeds for enlightenment.
Within a more enlightened humanity what openness of dialogue could occur unimpeded by differences in personality and ego, what friendships and genuine camaraderie would occur, what genuine common ground could be produced where the openess of dialogue leads to new ways of thinking and new technological systems with the creation of sustainable infrastructures for collective survival. This would be the making of new Gaian systems for ecological balance unimpeded by political needs for short term gains as it would be considering only the need for the common good and well being for not only the individual but also for the society and the environment.
Research into successful businessmen in large companies has found that their basic orientation is towards challenge, commitment and control. Sir Professor Michael Marmot found in his famous Whitehall Study that a sense of control or mastery of ones life was crucial for well being and the prevention of illness. In his study he evaluated the incidence of cardio vascular disease in top civil servants and those in the lower echelons and found the latter had a much higher incidence of heart disease. He found the missing or x factor in this puzzle to be control over ones life. Challenge, control and commitment are key factors in determining success in life. Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe said The moment one commits oneself, then
Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help that would
never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from
the decision, raising to one's favor all manner of unforeseen accidents
and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed
would come his way.
|