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 amongst the article on Whiteman’second life in addition to thought.)
Introduction
The term ‘scientific mysticism’ appeared every bit a title inward the trilogy, Old too New Evidence on the Meaning of Life,one ii 3 by Michael Whiteman. Volume One was entitled An Introduction to Scientific Mysticism.i Whiteman aimed to take mysticism into the plain of science equally an entity that is ‘open-minded, rigorously tested, rationally coherent, in addition to illuminating.’one ‘Mysticism’ here is defined every bit:
the report of everything non-physical, including the other worlds too their archetypal governance, also equally our spiritual bodies, the facts together with their relationship beingness known by the self-prove of directly observation together with non by reasoning or speculation.4
This indicates empirical scientific discipline, sharing territory amongst psychical inquiry. Yet Whiteman drew a distinction between ‘psychical’ together with ‘mystical’ feel. The sometime includes the report of purportedly not-physical events, the latter extends to states that take a feel of higher significance together with ultimates, openness to guidance, transformed existence, and orientation to the perceived source of the Right together with Good.
Whiteman was familiar with Vedic, Sanskrit, Pali, Greek together with Biblical Hebrew, together with quoted extensively from ancient texts. He regarded about electric current translations every bit inadequate because the authors lacked psychical in addition to mystical feel. His revolutionary commentary, besides his translation of ‘The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’v combined with canonical Buddhist texts, 1 two three v demo striking parallels amongst refinements of mod idea.
Whiteman’second job every bit a professor of applied mathematics provided a base inwards physics for his scientific mysticism. Another base of operations was extensive personal experience in psychical too mystical states. His methods rested on observation, conceptual analysis and insight, inwards melody amongst Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology.vi This aims at gaining face-to-face self-bear witness and detailed precision, shedding the usual ‘cloak of ideas’. Science inward Whiteman’s usage is non an do inward theorizing.
Potentiality and Actualization
H5N1 fundamental to Whiteman’second scientific mysticism is the thought of potentiality as well as actualization. This had been developed past the physicist Werner Heisenberg,vii who saw that a physical ‘happening’ comes nearly through an occasion of observation, and 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 look. So behind a physical result one has to recognize what Heisenberg called ‘an objective tendency or possibility, a “potentia” in the sense of Aristotelian philosophy’. And the governing potentia, the ‘argue’ for something to come about, is abstract in a physical feel; you lot tin’t place it in a exam tube.
Whiteman concurred that alone transcending logical substructures, potentialities, merit the term ‘reality’, as opposed to appearances. Appearances come up into existence solely on an occasion of observation, in addition to will be actualized differently for unlike people.
Whiteman wrote, ‘naught specific tin can be actualized without the integration of “subjective” as well as “objective” factors, non inwards succession, just on the minute of actualization.’ane An observer who is freed inwards just about manner from the physical land will actualize for himself things that are beyond the achieve of ordinary physical sensing. This is the kickoff of psychical as well as mystical perception.
Whiteman wrote, ‘The divergence betwixt 1 “globe” as well as some other then depends upon the land of life in which the observer happens to live settled.’iii An individual’sec perceiving results from integration of objective potentialities together with his ain subjective potentialities, including subconscious elements. Whiteman believed the potentiality-actualization rule operates in the mental sphere of every private: thought and images are actualizations inwards consciousness of an individual’second ‘thought-picture sphere’, as he called it, which includes retention too imagination.one
Actualization of Psi Phenomena
Whiteman saw telepathy resulting from the interaction or resonance between the thought-icon spheres of individuals. The interaction is not actualized at the physical grade, and then transfer of information occurs independently of physical space as well as fourth dimension. Clairvoyance is resonance between the potentiality-sphere of a physical object or outcome in addition to the thought-icon sphere of an individual, resulting in the actualization of impressions inward the private’second thought-picture sphere. Once again, resonance or interaction happens independently of physical space together with fourth dimension, non beingness physically actualized. Psychokinesis may live regarded every bit a contrary clairvoyant interaction; potentialities normally linked inward close to fashion to an individual consequence in physical actualizations.
Potentiality-actualization relationships should non live seen equally static; potentiality-fields continually modify or develop, too accept feedback loops, although not inward physical fourth dimension. This volition touch the outcome of futurity physical events, which helps to explain how precognition happens. Whiteman saw precognition every bit actualization inwards an private’sec thought-icon sphere of developing potentiality-fields that may touch hereafter physical events. The individual may fifty-fifty intervene inwards the physical actualization of these events past altering the potentiality-fields, then allowing prevention of a precognized event from happening.one Even if potentiality-fields are time-ordered, resulting in a succession of events actualized in the physical Earth, the ordering is non fixed inward the fashion a route map is fixed. They are accessible inward states of physical detachment, as well as so allow express change and the do of free will.
Out-of-body Experience
Whiteman defined mysticism every bit ‘the written report of everything non-physical, including the other worlds ...’ As but discussed, potentiality-fields take the capacity to deliver dissimilar spaces or worlds of physical too not-physical actuality, depending on the land of the observer. Without this agreement, mysticism cannot set out to brand sense. Direct experience of ‘the other worlds’ occurs mainly inwards out-of-body feel, which Whiteman preferred to term ‘separative’ experience, since there is commonly awareness of a trunk of approximately form.
The commonest type he termed ‘main separation’, in which there is no awareness in the physical trunk, even though what appears to be the physical trunk tin can live viewed. In ‘secondary separation’ the physical torso is under close to level of conscious command, only master awareness lies inwards another organism seemingly non located inward the space of the physical trunk, too the ii bodies are quite independent. In ‘3rd separation’ the physical body is normally nether complete control, only there is total awareness of existence inwards a unlike bodily grade despite the locations of the two bodies seeming to be the same. Difference betwixt the ii bodies may be radical, such as ane being male person together with the other female. For Whiteman, the highest mystical experiences were more often than not of this type.
Whiteman noted that such non-physical feel, inward price of reality-impression as well as intensity, may reach from appearing weak to seeming fifty-fifty more real together with meaningful than inwards physical life. At its nearly powerful, termed past him mystical, ‘Everything inward such states, spatial characteristics included, is known equally if in archetypal unchanging course, and is thence startlingly more real (rationally-objective, always-introduce) than the derivative too shifting forms of the physical globe.’one He saw a involve ‘to distinguish betwixt what is deceptive or illusory and what has the lineament of face up-to-confront objectivity and truth which we describe past maxim that a matter is real.’ane This requires setting upwardly a numerical scale, which he called a General Index of Reality.
Index of Reality
This index covers a reach from ordinary dreaming (nada rating) to what is experienced as spiritually releasing with a high degree of reality, namely mystical feel (high rating). The Index properly relates to separative experience. Features scoring inwards the Index include continuity of retentiveness between physical together with not-physical experience, complimentary observation, power to compare accurately alongside physical too not-physical states, awareness of centre as well as tangibility, communication of thought alongside others, together with a feeling of transcendence of physical life.
The General Index does not include reports of observing physical things during a separative feel. Regarded by about people as veridical (corresponding to reality), these observations could accept been made by clairvoyance or remote viewing, together with do non necessarily hateful that something somehow separated from the physical body to brand the observation. As Whiteman stated, whatever claimed physical supporting testify only has ‘chiefly propaganda value for the uninformed or sceptical, who do not realize that separation is not established by them, simply who may thereby live induced to have the “interior” testimony equally having some bearing on “scientific fact”.’i
Whiteman’s Index might look of express value to measure parapsychology, where a useful scoring arrangement should place experiences that charge per unit improve than dream, hallucination or roughly course of pathology. In Whiteman’second Index the direction of ranking is towards mystical feel, which is hardly looked for inwards parapsychology, fifty-fifty shied away from. The club of ranking is: undeveloped, borderline, psychical, pre-mystical, mystical. Out of a possible 16 points, experiences reaching half dozen to 8 points range as ‘psychical separations’, scoring on criteria listed ii paragraphs in a higher place. Further requirements of ‘mystical’ range were noted in the Introduction, as well as demarcate ‘mystical’ from ‘psychical’. Yet inward the eyes of a physically-fixated investigator, the mystical requirements would betoken reduced reality rating, since ‘reality’ means ‘like physical feel’. For Whiteman this was a fundamental fault; higher reality can entirely mean ‘dissimilar physical feel’.
Other Spaces
All separative feel, physical-like or transformative, was considered past Whiteman to hap inwards spaces other than physical, although ofttimes and so like to what is presented physically equally to live mistaken for it. He called it ‘duplicate physical’ infinite. He wrote:
If 1 is taken into a ‘psychic’ space when not familiar alongside such states, or amongst fixed ideas most them, in addition to if the phenomena resemble physical ones closely... at that place may be a stiff view to intend that the objects are being observed physically; as well as this applies even to possible duplicate presentations of the observer’sec physical body in its actual state of affairs.ane
‘Fixed ideas’ assume at that place is solely i ‘real’ infinite that can be manifested, namely the physical world. A fixed thought volition contribute to the potentialities governing a separative experience, in addition to Pb to the actualization of a physical-similar ‘duplicate’ scene. Yet every bit someone gratis of the constraints of ane-level thinking, Whiteman wrote of an ‘inexhaustible diverseness’ of appearance inward other spaces. Naturalistic conditioning may all the same consequence inwards ‘fantasy influences’ in undeveloped states, however highest development leads to ‘perfectly acceptable forms of transcendent unified beauty’, where ‘the environs, correspondingly, are distinguished by the quality of the light, as well as gain in intelligible graphic symbol, perfection of beauty, depth of glowing heart lineament, unitive freedom and feel of blending with other minds, every bit the highest condition, which is that of Mystical Form Liberation, is approached.’ In these descriptions, Whiteman states,
‘I’ together with ‘me’ do non correspond the familiar consciousness of self in the physical personality, or, inwards fact, for anything that can be known in an ordinary physical land of listen. To empathize what is meant, the characteristics of the merged ordinary self must live ruled out.4
One mightiness query how ‘other spaces’ are related to the physical and, if at all, to each other. In states classified by Whiteman equally tertiary separation, the non-physical torso holds much of the focus of attending only does not look to be spatially apart from the physical trunk; ‘the locations of the 2 bodies appear the same, inward spite of differences in their class and/or size as well as peradventure likewise inwards their surround.’ane This seems to tally with a view widespread inwards spiritist circles that unlike ‘levels’ of experience too being all coincide spatially simply take different ‘vibration frequencies’, and then in that location is no contact or communication betwixt the various states except through particular mediating weather. Whiteman did include ‘interpenetrating spaces’ inward a particular prepare of ‘facts of feel’,i only he did non introduce the thought of interpenetrating spaces as or so kind of cosmological system; he was disposed to keep to systems of facts, non constructs of theory.
Skills, Cycles
Whiteman was confident almost discovering the underlying logic in phenomena, existence convinced that behind whatsoever particular observation there is an intelligible construction ‘operative inwards as well as analysable out of the full feel’.viii He did non have Kant’sec idea of the unknowability of things-inwards-themselves.viii Instead, in that location is ‘intellectual or perceptual noesis which transcends inward a sure clear together with unmistakable mode the onward urge of fourth dimension, the rigid apartness of spatial objects, as well as the apparent isolation of the private heed inward its country of fixation on bodily impressions. It is a state of unloose. Fixation being overcome, the listen opens out into universality’.8 We cannot reach this land, he believed ‘without psychological and spiritual faculties of attending, judgement, purposiveness and self-bailiwick’, based on three ‘foundational skills’ named Active Recollection, Continuous Recollection, as well as Faith + Obedience.i (The beginning of these skills inwards his own life is reported in Michael Whiteman.)
Active Recollection aims to call back or recover the centre inward what is perceived, ‘as well as therefore the attainment of objective insight as well as unloose’.i Husserl termed it the phenomenological epoché or stoppage, ‘the necessary functioning which renders pure consciousness accessible to us’.1 It is termed samādhi or sati in Indian literature.five Continuous Recollection is ‘the freely stabilized earth of release at which Active Recollection has been aiming.’ane Obedience is non a state of subservience just orientation to ‘the transcendent Source of Right too Good.’one It operates in conjunction amongst Faith inward this transcendence.
The three foundational skills were structured into a 4-part system known since ancient times as well as appearing inward modern contexts in learning theory, Freud too Jung. Described as the four creative functions, these are ‘purposive crusade, deciding on way, putting into exercise, as well as a almost hugger-mugger maturing of ane’second skills in issue’.iii In ancient texts they are represented equally four stages inwards the passage of the sun, ascent in the eastward, zenith inwards the S, downwardly to globe inwards the W, too hugger-mugger inwards the due north.xiii This corresponds alongside aspiration (east), assessment (south), activity or manifestation (west), fulfilment or non-attachment (due north); it too corresponds respectively alongside Faith, Obedience, Active Recollection, Continuous Recollection.1
Whiteman placed keen importance on this bicycle having its opposites or ‘counterfeits’ of self-volition, self-satisfaction, automaticity, complacency, which may Pb to a corresponding cycle of ‘stresses’ of decease-feeling, shame, pain, fearfulness. This in plow may lead to ‘inner contests’,1 2 3 which hopefully overcome these spiritual deficiencies.
Physics in addition to Psychology
In his search for underlying logic, as well as for universality, Whiteman converted his ‘psychological’ wheel into a sixteen-crimp issue system, with the aim of integrating it amongst a ‘physical’ 16-fold number organisation derived from 3 infinite together with iii fourth dimension dimensions. He noted that three of the creative functions – cause, way, too maturing – are composite, containing ii ‘outset principles’ of meat in addition to beingness, equivalent to potentiality together with actualization. In plow, core in addition to existence each take iii constituents, termed by him ‘hypostases’, significant underlying, irreducible causes. The three hypostases of core were seen as role, agency, terminate. The hypostases of beingness were actuation, becoming, manifestation, the iii-phase structure of creation called inward Upanishadic philosophy the Great Stride of Vishnu.ane So, for instance, ‘deciding on way’ combines ‘means’ (nitty-gritty) first amongst ‘actuation’ (beingness), and so amongst ‘becoming’ (being), in addition to lastly with manifestation (being). The tertiary quarter, West, brings prior causes into manifestation purely as ‘existence’ as well as and then lacks an ‘meat’ hypostasis.
This analysis allows the development of a issue organization inward psychology, too and so the prospect of comparing alongside a issue system in physics.1 2 iii From these issue systems Whiteman intended to render ‘a clear-cutting explanatory organisation... every bit, for case, the basic laws of mechanics are exhibited earlier whatever problems are tackled’.two The hypostases of substance were numbered i = function, ii = agency, iii = end. The hypostases of existence were numbered six = actuation, 5 = becoming, four = manifestation/grounding. So, for instance ‘East’ tin be expressed equally the combination sixteen (enthusiasm), 15 (inspiration), xiv (intention). Combining the numbers one to vi results inwards sixteen subfunctions, in understanding alongside ‘xv + one kalās, stages inwards any creative human action, as recognized in the Upanishads’.iii
The physical number arrangement was derived from the three infinite too three fourth dimension dimensions. One fourth dimension dimension lies inward potentiality-fields alongside a fourth dimension-ordered, space-like facial expression noted above inward connexion alongside precognition. Another time dimension or function involves the processes leading to physical actualization from time-structured potentiality. Finally in that location is physical clock-time; it is the alone fourth dimension-dimension that is measurable. Combining the vi dimensions yields a 16-crimp number system like the psychological subfunctions, ‘inward such shut correspondence amongst the formulations of quantum theory that at that place is an obvious invitation to show the two as aspects of an integrated understanding of the world’.ix
Space does not permit a tabulation of the physics/psychology correspondences, or how they were derived. The correspondences, nevertheless, satisfied Whiteman’second persuasion that to explain what nosotros feel is to
acknowledge a subjective wheel, such as mystics, many theologians, and about psychologists have admitted. This bicycle, in its near complete form is sixteenfold, in addition to parallels exactly what may live called the ‘Earth wheel’ (equally it appears inwards Quantum Field Theory) inwards every manner, while manifesting itself inwards every kind of human being experience. This is a form of potentiality which is discernible, together with indeed tin can live lived past the private inwards an enormous diversity of ‘altered states of consciousness’...iii
Whiteman’s Scientific Mysticism was a revolutionary attempt to discern and characterize this potentiality.
John Poynton
Literature
i. Whiteman, J.H.grand. (1986). Old in addition to New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical earth-thought together with inner contest. Volume one, An Introduction to Scientific Mysticism. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
two. Whiteman, J.H.one thousand. (2000). Old together with New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical world-persuasion together with inner contest. Volume 2, Dynamics of Spiritual Development. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
three. Whiteman, J.H.thousand. (2006). Old and New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical world-view and inner competition. Volume 3, Universal Theology as well as Life inwards other Worlds. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
iv. Whiteman, J.H.1000. (1961). The Mystical Life. London: Faber and Faber.
five. Whiteman, J.H.yard. (1993). Aphorisms on Spiritual Method: the ‘Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’ inward the light of mystical experience. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
vi. Husserl, eastward. (1931). Ideas: General Introduction to Pure Phenomenology (trans. west.R. Boyce Gibson). London: Allen & Unwin.
vii. Heisenberg, west. (1959). Physics and Philosophy: the revolution inward modern scientific discipline. London: Allen as well as Unwin.
viii. Whiteman, J.H.M. (1967). Philosophy of Space as well as Time too the Inner Constitution of Nature: a phenomenological written report. London: Allen too Unwin.
nine. Whiteman, J.H.G. (1977). Parapsychology together with physics. In Wolman, B.B. (ed.) Handbook of Parapsychology. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
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