Scientific Mysticism
‘Scientific Mysticism’ is a term coined by Michael Whiteman, a British-born South African mathematician together with mystic. (This article may be read together with the article on Whiteman’sec life and idea.)
Introduction
The term ‘scientific mysticism’ appeared every bit a title in the trilogy, Old as well as New Evidence on the Meaning of Life,i ii 3 past Michael Whiteman. Volume One was entitled An Introduction to Scientific Mysticism.1 Whiteman aimed to convey mysticism into the champaign of scientific discipline as an entity that is ‘open up-minded, rigorously tested, rationally coherent, and illuminating.’one ‘Mysticism’ here is defined equally:
the study of everything not-physical, including the other worlds too their archetypal governance, likewise equally our spiritual bodies, the facts and their relationship being known by the self-testify of directly observation and not by reasoning or speculation.four
This indicates empirical scientific discipline, sharing territory amongst psychical enquiry. Yet Whiteman drew a distinction between ‘psychical’ and ‘mystical’ experience. The old includes the report of purportedly not-physical events, the latter extends to states that have a feel of higher significance and ultimates, openness to guidance, transformed being, and orientation to the perceived rootage of the Right too Good.
Whiteman was familiar amongst Vedic, Sanskrit, Pali, Greek as well as Biblical Hebrew, together with quoted extensively from ancient texts. He regarded well-nigh electric current translations equally inadequate because the authors lacked psychical and mystical experience. His revolutionary commentary, as well his translation of ‘The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’v combined alongside canonical Buddhist texts, i 2 3 five demo hitting parallels with refinements of modernistic idea.
Whiteman’sec line every bit a professor of applied mathematics provided a base in physics for his scientific mysticism. Another base was extensive personal experience inward psychical and mystical states. His methods rested on observation, conceptual analysis and insight, in melody amongst Edmund Husserl’second phenomenology.half-dozen This aims at gaining face-to-face up self-bear witness and detailed precision, shedding the common ‘cloak of ideas’. Science in Whiteman’s utilization is not an exercise inward theorizing.
Potentiality together with Actualization
A key to Whiteman’s scientific mysticism is the idea of potentiality in addition to actualization. This had been developed by the physicist Werner Heisenberg,7 who saw that a physical ‘happening’ comes nearly through an occasion of observation, in addition to that this ‘happening’ is open to physical description. But what governs the happening is not open up to physical observation; at best it tin can be given mathematical expression. So behind a physical result ane has to recognize what Heisenberg called ‘an objective trend or possibility, a “potentia” in the feel of Aristotelian philosophy’. And the governing potentia, the ‘argue’ for something to occur, is abstract inwards a physical sense; you tin’t place it in a exam tube.
Whiteman concurred that alone transcending logical substructures, potentialities, merit the term ‘reality’, every bit opposed to appearances. Appearances come into beingness entirely on an occasion of observation, as well as volition live actualized differently for different people.
Whiteman wrote, ‘zip specific can live actualized without the integration of “subjective” as well as “objective” factors, non in succession, just on the minute of actualization.’one An observer who is freed in just about way from the physical state volition actualize for himself things that are beyond the attain of ordinary physical sensing. This is the get-go of psychical as well as mystical perception.
Whiteman wrote, ‘The divergence betwixt one “globe” together with another and then depends upon the country of life inwards which the observer happens to be 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 in the mental sphere of every individual: thought in addition to images are actualizations in consciousness of an private’s ‘thought-image sphere’, as he called it, which includes retentivity as well as imagination.i
Actualization of Psi Phenomena
Whiteman saw telepathy resulting from the interaction or resonance between the thought-icon spheres of individuals. The interaction is non actualized at the physical level, too so transfer of information occurs independently of physical infinite as well as time. Clairvoyance is resonance betwixt the potentiality-sphere of a physical object or consequence too the thought-ikon sphere of an private, resulting inward the actualization of impressions in the individual’sec idea-picture sphere. Once once more, resonance or interaction happens independently of physical infinite and time, not being physically actualized. Psychokinesis may live regarded equally a contrary clairvoyant interaction; potentialities commonly linked inwards about way to an private result inwards physical actualizations.
Potentiality-actualization relationships should non live seen equally static; potentiality-fields continually change or train, as well as have feedback loops, although not inward physical time. This will bear upon the event of time to come physical events, which helps to explain how precognition happens. Whiteman saw precognition equally actualization in an private’s thought-icon sphere of developing potentiality-fields that may bear upon future physical events. The private may even intervene inward the physical actualization of these events by altering the potentiality-fields, then allowing prevention of a precognized result from happening.ane Even if potentiality-fields are fourth dimension-ordered, resulting in a succession of events actualized in the physical earth, the ordering is not fixed in the mode a route map is fixed. They are accessible in states of physical detachment, in addition to so permit limited alteration and the practice of gratis will.
Out-of-trunk Experience
Whiteman defined mysticism as ‘the written report of everything not-physical, including the other worlds ...’ As merely discussed, potentiality-fields take the capacity to deliver different spaces or worlds of physical in addition to non-physical actuality, depending on the state of the observer. Without this agreement, mysticism cannot get down to make sense. Direct experience of ‘the other worlds’ occurs mainly in out-of-body experience, which Whiteman preferred to term ‘separative’ feel, since at that place is unremarkably awareness of a torso of more or less sort.
The commonest type he termed ‘primary separation’, inwards which at that place is no awareness inward the physical body, fifty-fifty though what appears to live the physical torso tin live viewed. In ‘secondary separation’ the physical trunk is nether around level of witting command, just principal awareness lies in some other organism seemingly non located inward the infinite of the physical body, as well as the 2 bodies are quite independent. In ‘3rd separation’ the physical torso is normally nether complete command, only in that location is total awareness of beingness inward a unlike bodily grade despite the locations of the two bodies seeming to be the same. Difference between the ii bodies may be radical, such equally 1 being male too the other female. For Whiteman, the highest mystical experiences were mostly of this type.
Whiteman noted that such non-physical experience, inward terms of reality-impression in addition to intensity, may reach from appearing weak to seeming fifty-fifty more real as well as meaningful than inwards physical life. At its well-nigh powerful, termed by him mystical, ‘Everything inwards such states, spatial characteristics included, is known equally if inwards archetypal unchanging class, and is thence startlingly more than real (rationally-objective, always-introduce) than the derivative together with shifting forms of the physical world.’one He saw a need ‘to distinguish betwixt what is deceptive or illusory too what has the character of face up-to-confront objectivity together with truth which nosotros depict past maxim that a matter is real.’i This requires setting up a numerical scale, which he called a General Index of Reality.
Index of Reality
This index covers a reach from ordinary dreaming (goose egg rating) to what is experienced every bit spiritually releasing with a high degree of reality, namely mystical experience (high rating). The Index properly relates to separative experience. Features scoring in the Index include continuity of retentivity between physical too non-physical experience, free observation, power to compare accurately with physical as well as non-physical states, awareness of essence in addition to tangibility, communication of idea amongst others, together with a feeling of transcendence of physical life.
The General Index does non include reports of observing physical things during a separative feel. Regarded by nigh people equally veridical (corresponding to reality), these observations could accept been made past clairvoyance or remote viewing, too do non necessarily mean that something somehow separated from the physical body to brand the observation. As Whiteman stated, any claimed physical supporting show just has ‘chiefly propaganda value for the uninformed or sceptical, who do non realize that separation is non established by them, simply who may thereby be induced to take the “interior” testimony every bit having or so bearing on “scientific fact”.’ane
Whiteman’second Index mightiness appear of limited value to standard parapsychology, where a useful scoring organisation should identify experiences that charge per unit better than dream, hallucination or some course of pathology. In Whiteman’second Index the management of ranking is towards mystical experience, which is hardly looked for in parapsychology, even shied away from. The order of ranking is: undeveloped, borderline, psychical, pre-mystical, mystical. Out of a possible xvi points, experiences reaching six to viii points rate as ‘psychical separations’, scoring on criteria listed two paragraphs above. Further requirements of ‘mystical’ grade were noted inward the Introduction, together with demarcate ‘mystical’ from ‘psychical’. Yet inwards the eyes of a physically-fixated investigator, the mystical requirements would betoken reduced reality rating, since ‘reality’ means ‘similar physical feel’. For Whiteman this was a key error; higher reality can exclusively hateful ‘unlike physical experience’.
Other Spaces
All separative experience, physical-like or transformative, was considered past Whiteman to take place inwards spaces other than physical, although oft and so like to what is presented physically every bit to live false for it. He called it ‘duplicate physical’ infinite. He wrote:
If ane is taken into a ‘psychic’ infinite when not familiar with such states, or amongst fixed ideas almost them, as well as if the phenomena resemble physical ones closely... in that location may be a potent thought to mean that the objects are existence observed physically; too this applies fifty-fifty to possible duplicate presentations of the observer’sec physical body inwards its actual state of affairs.ane
‘Fixed ideas’ assume in that location is entirely one ‘real’ infinite that tin live manifested, namely the physical world. H5N1 fixed idea will contribute to the potentialities governing a separative experience, and atomic number 82 to the actualization of a physical-similar ‘duplicate’ scene. Yet as someone gratis of the constraints of i-degree thinking, Whiteman wrote of an ‘inexhaustible diverseness’ of appearance in other spaces. Naturalistic conditioning may withal upshot inwards ‘fantasy influences’ inward undeveloped states, however highest evolution leads to ‘perfectly acceptable forms of transcendent unified beauty’, where ‘the environment, correspondingly, are distinguished by the character of the light, and attain inward intelligible graphic symbol, perfection of beauty, depth of glowing eye quality, unitive freedom too feel of blending amongst other minds, every bit the highest condition, which is that of Mystical Form Liberation, is approached.’ In these descriptions, Whiteman states,
‘I’ as well as ‘me’ make non represent the familiar consciousness of self in the physical personality, or, in fact, for anything that tin can be known in an ordinary physical state of mind. To empathise what is meant, the characteristics of the merged ordinary self must live ruled out.four
One mightiness query how ‘other spaces’ are related to the physical in addition to, if at all, to each other. In states classified by Whiteman as third separation, the non-physical trunk holds much of the focus of attending only does not look to live spatially apart from the physical trunk; ‘the locations of the 2 bodies seem the same, inward spite of differences inwards their form as well as/or size together with perchance too inward their environs.’one This seems to fit alongside a opinion widespread inwards spiritist circles that different ‘levels’ of feel too existence all coincide spatially just take dissimilar ‘vibration frequencies’, then there is no contact or communication betwixt the diverse states except through particular mediating atmospheric condition. Whiteman did include ‘interpenetrating spaces’ inward a detail set of ‘facts of feel’,i only he did not acquaint the thought of interpenetrating spaces equally roughly sort of cosmological organization; he was disposed to go on to systems of facts, non constructs of theory.
Skills, Cycles
Whiteman was confident virtually discovering the underlying logic inwards phenomena, existence convinced that behind whatsoever particular observation there is an intelligible construction ‘operative in as well as analysable out of the total experience’.eight He did not have Kant’sec thought of the unknowability of things-in-themselves.eight Instead, at that place is ‘intellectual or perceptual knowledge which transcends inward a sure clear together with unmistakable way the onward urge of time, the stiff apartness of spatial objects, together with the apparent isolation of the private listen in its country of fixation on bodily impressions. It is a country of free. Fixation existence overcome, the heed opens out into universality’.8 We cannot attain this state, he believed ‘without psychological and spiritual faculties of attending, judgement, purposiveness too self-field of study’, based on 3 ‘foundational skills’ named Active Recollection, Continuous Recollection, together with Faith + Obedience.1 (The source of these skills inward his own life is reported in Michael Whiteman.)
Active Recollection aims to call up or recover the centre inward what is perceived, ‘together with thus the attainment of objective insight as well as unloosen’.1 Husserl termed it the phenomenological epoché or stoppage, ‘the necessary operation which renders pure consciousness accessible to us’.i It is termed samādhi or sati inwards Indian literature.five Continuous Recollection is ‘the freely stabilized earth of free at which Active Recollection has been aiming.’i Obedience is non a country of subservience just orientation to ‘the transcendent Source of Right in addition to Good.’ane It operates inwards conjunction amongst Faith inward this transcendence.
The iii foundational skills were structured into a iv-role system known since ancient times as well as appearing inward mod contexts inward learning theory, Freud together with Jung. Described as the iv creative functions, these are ‘purposive drive, deciding on means, putting into practise, as well as a almost clandestine maturing of ane’second skills inwards event’.three In ancient texts they are represented every bit iv stages inwards the passage of the Sun, ascension in the eastward, zenith inwards the due south, downwardly to Earth in the W, too surreptitious inwards the northward.13 This corresponds alongside aspiration (eastward), assessment (S), activity or manifestation (due west), fulfilment or not-attachment (northward); it also corresponds respectively with Faith, Obedience, Active Recollection, Continuous Recollection.one
Whiteman placed groovy importance on this bicycle having its opposites or ‘counterfeits’ of self-volition, self-satisfaction, automaticity, complacency, which may lead to a corresponding bike of ‘stresses’ of decease-feeling, shame, pain, fear. This in plough may lead to ‘inner contests’,ane 2 three which hopefully overcome these spiritual deficiencies.
Physics and Psychology
In his search for underlying logic, too for universality, Whiteman converted his ‘psychological’ wheel into a xvi-plication number organisation, with the aim of integrating it alongside a ‘physical’ xvi-crease number organization derived from three space as well as three fourth dimension dimensions. He noted that 3 of the creative functions – crusade, means, as well as maturing – are composite, containing 2 ‘showtime principles’ of nitty-gritty as well as beingness, equivalent to potentiality together with actualization. In plow, sum as well as beingness each accept 3 constituents, termed by him ‘hypostases’, pregnant underlying, irreducible causes. The iii hypostases of pith were seen every bit function, agency, terminate. The hypostases of existence were actuation, becoming, manifestation, the 3-stage structure of creation called in Upanishadic philosophy the Great Stride of Vishnu.one So, for example, ‘deciding on means’ combines ‘agency’ (nub) firstly with ‘actuation’ (being), and so amongst ‘becoming’ (existence), together with last with manifestation (existence). The 3rd quarter, West, brings prior causes into manifestation purely as ‘beingness’ too and so lacks an ‘nub’ hypostasis.
This analysis allows the evolution of a number organization in psychology, in addition to so the prospect of comparing alongside a number arrangement inward physics.i two 3 From these number systems Whiteman intended to supply ‘a clear-cut explanatory organization... equally, for case, the basic laws of mechanics are exhibited earlier whatsoever problems are tackled’.two The hypostases of kernel were numbered one = role, two = way, three = stop. The hypostases of existence were numbered six = actuation, 5 = becoming, 4 = manifestation/grounding. So, for instance ‘East’ tin can live expressed equally the combination sixteen (enthusiasm), xv (inspiration), fourteen (intention). Combining the numbers ane to six results inwards xvi subfunctions, in agreement alongside ‘fifteen + 1 kalās, stages inward any creative human activity, as recognized in the Upanishads’.iii
The physical number organization was derived from the three infinite and iii time dimensions. One fourth dimension dimension lies in potentiality-fields with a time-ordered, infinite-like face noted higher up in connection alongside precognition. Another time dimension or part involves the processes leading to physical actualization from time-structured potentiality. Finally in that location is physical clock-fourth dimension; it is the only time-dimension that is measurable. Combining the half-dozen dimensions yields a xvi-crimp issue system like the psychological subfunctions, ‘in such close correspondence amongst the formulations of quantum theory that there is an obvious invitation to demo the two as aspects of an integrated understanding of the earth’.ix
Space does non let a tabulation of the physics/psychology correspondences, or how they were derived. The correspondences, however, satisfied Whiteman’second persuasion that to explain what nosotros experience is to
acknowledge a subjective bicycle, such as mystics, many theologians, in addition to around psychologists accept admitted. This cycle, in its almost complete class is sixteenfold, as well as parallels precisely what may live called the ‘earth wheel’ (every bit it appears inwards Quantum Field Theory) inward every way, while manifesting itself in every form of man experience. This is a grade of potentiality which is discernible, together with indeed tin be lived past the individual inward an enormous multifariousness of ‘altered states of consciousness’...iii
Whiteman’s Scientific Mysticism was a revolutionary endeavour to discern together with characterize this potentiality.
John Poynton
Literature
ane. Whiteman, J.H.1000. (1986). Old as well as New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical earth-opinion too inner contest. Volume ane, An Introduction to Scientific Mysticism. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
two. Whiteman, J.H.thou. (2000). Old as well as New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical globe-persuasion in addition to inner competition. Volume two, Dynamics of Spiritual Development. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
3. Whiteman, J.H.thou. (2006). Old together with New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical world-sentiment together with inner contest. Volume 3, Universal Theology as well as Life inward other Worlds. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
4. Whiteman, J.H.yard. (1961). The Mystical Life. London: Faber and Faber.
v. Whiteman, J.H.M. (1993). Aphorisms on Spiritual Method: the ‘Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’ in the low-cal of mystical experience. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
half-dozen. Husserl, due east. (1931). Ideas: General Introduction to Pure Phenomenology (trans. due west.R. Boyce Gibson). London: Allen & Unwin.
7. Heisenberg, west. (1959). Physics and Philosophy: the revolution in modern scientific discipline. London: Allen together with Unwin.
8. Whiteman, J.H.grand. (1967). Philosophy of Space together with Time as well as the Inner Constitution of Nature: a phenomenological study. London: Allen together with Unwin.
nine. Whiteman, J.H.thousand. (1977). Parapsychology too physics. In Wolman, B.B. (ed.) Handbook of Parapsychology. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
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