ZERO POINT
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| Mystical and spiritual descriptions of the ultimate nature of consciousness and the Self offer a radically different world view than those ideas which dominate modern psychology, philosophy and science. At this point, a summary of the moot points (or issues) in the consciousness literature is most helpful. As Blavatsky (1888) suggests, it is necessary to place ancient axioms and modern scientific hypotheses side by side to draw relationships and make comparisons. In articulating the heart doctrine, we have identified ten moot points in the consciousness literature: |
| 1. Modern thought suggests that a human being has no divine, spiritual,
psychic or metaphysical nature. Instead, humans are said to be exclusively
material biological organisms that evolved from non-sentient matter.
The evolution of human consciousness and of life occurred in a god-less
universe, governed by chance and randomness, and the mechanical working
of natural laws.
In contrast, mystical and spiritual teachings state that consciousness and Self have a spiritual and divine origin and nature. The Self has a metaphysical nature (beyond the physical) and is rooted into higher dimensional space, into the divine world, the Sun Absolute or God. The spiritual or soul nature transcends material nature, yet is the basic life principle and consciousness principle within the body and mind. The natural laws are themselves the product of spiritual intelligence and demigods, and the patterns of evolution are far from random and accidental. The universe embodies spiritual intelligence, and evolution is guided from within/without as are all natural processes. Indeed, there is not less and less for God to do, now that we have Carl Sagan, Stephen Hawking, Isaac Asimov, David Chalmers and modern science. |
| 2. Modern thought suggests that consciousness is primarily connected
with the brain or mind in the head, particularly the cerebral cortex, and
that it is purely a consequence of material neurophysiological processes.
In contrast, mystical teachings suggests that the hidden dimensions of the Self and the origin of consciousness are related most intimately to a metaphysical spiritual Heart. In turn, the spiritual and divine Heart is the life principle within the physical heart and acts to vitalize the body through the circulation of blood and subtle energies through the subtle anatomy. The Self initiates the heart beat, the pulse of life, and infuses consciousness and life into the body, as well as into the psyche and subtle bodies. |
| 3. Modern thought equates consciousness primarily with the ego and
personality processes, and the mind’s cognitive functions. Consciousness
is essentially equated with the complex inner flow of psychological activities
(such as thinking, feeling, sensing, intuiting, etc.), that go on within
the inner world.
In contrast, mystical teachings view consciousness as a more primary ground of pure experiencing. In this case, the psychological processes provide the contents of conscious experience, but do not constitute consciousness itself. Consciousness has an intrinsic light nature which illuminates the psychological processes of the body and mind. The mind is like the moon, with no light of its own, but simply reflecting the light of the Self, or sun. It is the development of false ego and the continued turning of the mind which prevent us from experiencing other states of consciousness and becoming “Knowers of Self.” |
| 4. Modern thought tends to regard consciousness
as being non-substantive, as not being anything in itself; having no physical/metaphysical
nature. Consciousness is defined as an epiphenomenon produced by
material processes. Chalmers (1997) is one of a few scientists who
considers the view of a substantive consciousness, as irreducible as other
properties of nature, but generally the idea of a substantive consciousness
is dismissed along with the concepts of spirit or soul.
In contrast, mystics suggest that a divine element or spiritual spark is the origin of consciousness. Further, consciousness is the most real, substantive and permanent principle, while the material body is non-substantive, impermanent and illusory. The Self alone–as a quantum of pure light consciousness–has a substantive physical and metaphysical nature. The substance of consciousness is related to; i) light and/or supernal light, which illuminates the heart and the mind/body, bringing awareness into the various dimensions of the body, mind and psyche; ii) the Zero Point, an unextended Divine Heart Centre, focussed out of super-sensual spiritual and divine reality. Consciousness emerges from within/without, originating from the transcendental realm of the Eternal Parent Space–the void/plenum of the ultimate Ground of Being–and it manifests outwardly to illuminate the subtle bodies and levels of the mind and soul/psyche. Consciousness and Self are substantive singularities rooted into the divine realms of Being/Non-Being. |
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| 5. Modern thought suggests that consciousness
can be understood primarily from a psychological or biophysical point of
view as a product of material processes. Psychology and consciousness
have nothing to do with physics or metaphysics, and consciousness has no
deep roots in metaphysics, spirit, or higher space dimensions.
In contrast, mystical thought suggests that the study of consciousness has to be approached from physical, metaphysical and cosmological perspectives. To explore mystical views of consciousness, we have to understand the primary metaphysical nature of all life and creation, and relate consciousness to the study of physics, metaphysics, cosmology and religion. |
| 6. Modern thought suggests that the “I” is only apparently real, and that it dissipates at death with the termination of the physical body and the material processes. As Roger Sperry comments: “I don't see any way for consciousness to emerge or be generated apart from a functioning brain.” Dr. Sagan similarly suggested that there is not “a shred of evidence” for any immaterial mind or soul. In contrast, mysticism suggests the continuity of consciousness after death within various subtle planes and dimensions of existence. At death, consciousness and life withdraw from without/within into the Heart Centre, and awakens within other subtle dimensions of space. The spiritual spark has a physical vehicle for sensation and action upon the physical plane, and additional subtle bodies which allow for sensation, knowledge and action upon other corresponding subtle planes. The soul experiences various deaths as it passes through the subtle planes, shedding different vehicles and awakening to new life conditions. Between death and rebirth, consciousness resolves back into the spiritual and divine realm of its origin, before beginning another cycle of birth and death. Mystics suggest that innumerable cycles of life, death and rebirth occur until the spiritual spark ultimately regains its original state of perfection, and attains the mystical marriage of the spiritual spark with the Lord, within the Divine Mother. |
| 7. Modern science and psychology suggest that a human being has
a single material body/brain complex which produces consciousness and the
mind.
In contrast, mystical teachings suggest that all psychological processes entail a metaphysical consciousness experiencing and functioning within various subtle bodies of different densities of matter/energy and intelligence. These subtle bodies interpenetrate and sustain each other. Consciousness exists in relationship to a seven dimensional structure of the planes of vibratory existence, all of which are rooted into the sevenfoldness of the Eternal Parent Space. Seven vital centres in the subtle anatomy allow conscious illumination within seven planes of creation, and are all reflections of the One. |
| 8. Modern psychologists approach the study
of consciousness through studies of the functions of the mind and the flow
of psychological experiences, or through neurological studies of brain/mind
mechanisms. Self-study and meditation, spiritual practice and psychological
transformation, are not considered as necessary routes to understanding
consciousness or states of consciousness. Consciousness is
inferred through indirect ways in others, but not studied directly within
one’s inner world.
In contrast, mysticism can include these methods and interests, but the focus is primarily upon a study of consciousness within oneself. Mystics include themselves in the equation, and require self-study and efforts to attain deeper consciousness through awakening and psycho-spiritual transformation. Particular stress is laid upon the dissolution of the false ego through spiritual and meditative practices and disciplines. The individual must free himself from patterns of acquired conditioning and false ego, enabling consciousness to merge into the spiritual spark within, as it is stripped of attachments and identifications. Human beings are asleep to their true nature and Self, and must overcome this sleep, ignorance and forgetfulness to become once again “Knowers of Self.” |
| 9. Modern scientific thought regards consciousness
as something produced exclusively by biological processes in physical organisms,
such as within human beings and other animals. Living biological
beings have consciousness within their body/minds but the universe is basically
unconscious, non-sentient matter/energy which is ruled by the mechanical
laws of nature.
In contrast, mysticism suggests that consciousness is a primary principle embodied within a myriad of forms, not simply biological brains. The Gods clothe themselves in bodies, but emerge as zero point centres in all cosmoses, with many levels and forms of consciousness, intelligence, and Being. The Sun is a conscious, living being–a level of Spiritual Intelligence–while all spaces exist within the Divine Mother. The laws of nature are themselves the product of Divine and Spiritual Intelligence and demi-gods which inform material processes from within/without. In this view, everything is alive and a vehicle for conscious experience, from a universe to a quantum, with human beings somewhere in between. A Transcendental Field of Absolute Consciousness underlies or permeates all of creation. The One “thrills throughout every infinitesimal point in the universe.” |
| 10. Modern psychology regards consciousness
as limited to the dimensions of the material body/brain existing within
the four dimensional space/time complex.
In contrast, mysticism describes a point-source, or dimension-less quantum of consciousness associated with the Heart, which is intimately interrelated to the larger and deeper dimensions of the universe, to the underlying Sea of Infinite light and consciousness, to hyperspace or the Eternal Parent Space, and to the Absolute Being/Non-Being. The Divine or Spiritual Spark is interrelated to the triune and sevenfold nature of the material and spiritual planes of the universe, and to the Unity which transcends the modes of material creation. Consciousness emerges within/without through zero points, and is rooted always into the metaphysical and transcendental realms of being. God is micro-intervening in the affairs of humankind, even though Dr. Sagan cannot see Him in the outer world talking to a morning glory, saying “Hey, flower, open.” |
| Certainly, mystical and modern psychology are worlds apart. Mysticism
suggests truly awesome possibilities for the evolution and awakening of
consciousness within a profoundly mysterious and enigmatic universe.
All of life issues from an Absolute intelligence and life principle, which
thrills throughout every point within the finite Cosmos, and is the source
of Self.
Being brave souls in search of the unknown, we have explored the enigmatic teachings of the esoteric mystical and spiritual traditions, while attempting to relate this framework to facts, ideas, theories and enigmas within the domains of science and psychology. Could the inconceivable be conceivable? Could we really know Self, the Universe and the Gods? Can yogis really travel to planets, along with the Mamos and other adepts? Within-Without from Zero-Points has only begun to suggest the mechanisms, the physics and the metaphysics of consciousness, which would allow for such an interconnectedness of the microcosms and macrocosms, and for such other worldly possibilities. Imagine being Spiritual Children of a Lord, having the God spark within, being a Son of the Sun, and rooted into spiritual and divine dimensions! Explorations into the ancient wisdom reveal level upon level of mystery, enigma and ignorance, and profound possibilities for human consciousness and experience. The heart doctrine is an ancient wisdom teaching evident within eastern and western traditions, and scientists are fools to ignore such profound possibilities, despite their totally otherworldly nature. |
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