Scientific Mysticism
‘Scientific Mysticism’ is a term coined past Michael Whiteman, a British-born South African mathematician as well as mystic. (This article may live read together alongside the article on Whiteman’second life and idea.)
Introduction
The term ‘scientific mysticism’ appeared equally a title in the trilogy, Old in addition to New Evidence on the Meaning of Life,ane 2 3 by Michael Whiteman. Volume One was entitled An Introduction to Scientific Mysticism.one Whiteman aimed to convey mysticism into the field of scientific discipline as an entity that is ‘open-minded, rigorously tested, rationally coherent, too illuminating.’one ‘Mysticism’ hither is defined equally:
the study of everything not-physical, including the other worlds as well as their archetypal governance, also every bit our spiritual bodies, the facts too their relationship being known by the self-bear witness of straight observation in addition to non by reasoning or speculation.4
This indicates empirical science, sharing territory with psychical enquiry. Yet Whiteman drew a distinction betwixt ‘psychical’ in addition to ‘mystical’ feel. The former includes the report of purportedly non-physical events, the latter extends to states that have a sense of higher significance and ultimates, openness to guidance, transformed beingness, in addition to orientation to the perceived rootage of the Right too Good.
Whiteman was familiar alongside Vedic, Sanskrit, Pali, Greek too Biblical Hebrew, too quoted extensively from ancient texts. He regarded virtually electric current translations every bit inadequate because the authors lacked psychical together with mystical experience. His revolutionary commentary, besides his translation of ‘The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’five combined with canonical Buddhist texts, one two 3 v demonstrate hit parallels amongst refinements of mod idea.
Whiteman’second job equally a professor of applied mathematics provided a base of operations in physics for his scientific mysticism. Another base was extensive personal experience inward psychical as well as mystical states. His methods rested on observation, conceptual analysis too insight, inward tune amongst Edmund Husserl’sec phenomenology.6 This aims at gaining face up-to-face self-prove together with detailed precision, shedding the common ‘cloak of ideas’. Science in Whiteman’second utilization is not an exercise in theorizing.
Potentiality together with Actualization
H5N1 primal to Whiteman’s scientific mysticism is the thought of potentiality and actualization. This had been developed by the physicist Werner Heisenberg,seven who saw that a physical ‘happening’ comes nigh through an occasion of observation, together with that this ‘happening’ is open up to physical description. But what governs the happening is not open up to physical observation; at best it tin live given mathematical face. So behind a physical effect 1 has to recognize what Heisenberg called ‘an objective tendency or possibility, a “potentia” in the sense of Aristotelian philosophy’. And the governing potentia, the ‘reason’ for something to happen, is abstract in a physical sense; you lot tin’t position it in a examination metro.
Whiteman concurred that only transcending logical substructures, potentialities, merit the term ‘reality’, equally opposed to appearances. Appearances come into beingness solely on an occasion of observation, too will live actualized differently for different people.
Whiteman wrote, ‘cipher specific can live actualized without the integration of “subjective” together with “objective” factors, non inward succession, merely on the minute of actualization.’i An observer who is freed in or so manner from the physical land volition actualize for himself things that are beyond the achieve of ordinary physical sensing. This is the offset of psychical and mystical perception.
Whiteman wrote, ‘The difference betwixt one “earth” as well as another and so depends upon the state of life inward which the observer happens to be settled.’three An private’sec perceiving results from integration of objective potentialities together alongside his ain subjective potentialities, including subconscious elements. Whiteman believed the potentiality-actualization principle operates inward the mental sphere of every private: thought and images are actualizations inwards consciousness of an individual’second ‘thought-image sphere’, equally he called it, which includes memory and imagination.one
Actualization of Psi Phenomena
Whiteman saw telepathy resulting from the interaction or resonance between the thought-ikon spheres of individuals. The interaction is non actualized at the physical grade, and and then transfer of information occurs independently of physical space and fourth dimension. Clairvoyance is resonance between the potentiality-sphere of a physical object or consequence as well as the thought-ikon sphere of an individual, resulting in the actualization of impressions in the individual’s idea-ikon sphere. Once once more, resonance or interaction happens independently of physical infinite together with time, non existence physically actualized. Psychokinesis may be regarded equally a opposite clairvoyant interaction; potentialities usually linked inwards more or less mode to an individual effect in physical actualizations.
Potentiality-actualization relationships should not live seen as static; potentiality-fields continually change or prepare, together with have feedback loops, although not inward physical fourth dimension. This will touch the effect of time to come physical events, which helps to explicate how precognition happens. Whiteman saw precognition as actualization inward an private’sec thought-icon sphere of developing potentiality-fields that may impact hereafter physical events. The individual may even intervene in the physical actualization of these events by altering the potentiality-fields, and then allowing prevention of a precognized result from happening.i Even if potentiality-fields are fourth dimension-ordered, resulting inwards a succession of events actualized in the physical globe, the ordering is not fixed inwards the manner a route map is fixed. They are accessible in states of physical detachment, too and then let limited change too the practice of gratis volition.
Out-of-trunk Experience
Whiteman defined mysticism equally ‘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 together with not-physical actuality, depending on the state of the observer. Without this understanding, mysticism cannot start out to make feel. Direct experience of ‘the other worlds’ occurs mainly inwards out-of-torso feel, which Whiteman preferred to term ‘separative’ experience, since there is commonly awareness of a torso of close to kind.
The commonest type he termed ‘primary separation’, inwards which there is no awareness in the physical trunk, even though what appears to be the physical torso tin live viewed. In ‘secondary separation’ the physical trunk is nether around level of witting command, just main awareness lies in another organism seemingly non located inward the space of the physical body, as well as the two bodies are quite independent. In ‘third separation’ the physical trunk is usually under complete control, but at that place is full awareness of beingness inwards a unlike bodily class despite the locations of the two bodies seeming to be the same. Difference betwixt the two bodies may live radical, such every bit i beingness male together with the other female. For Whiteman, the highest mystical experiences were mostly of this type.
Whiteman noted that such not-physical experience, inward terms of reality-impression together with intensity, may range from appearing weak to seeming even more than real as well as meaningful than inwards physical life. At its virtually powerful, termed past him mystical, ‘Everything inwards such states, spatial characteristics included, is known equally if inwards archetypal unchanging form, too is hence startlingly more real (rationally-objective, always-introduce) than the derivative and shifting forms of the physical Earth.’ane He saw a call for ‘to distinguish between what is deceptive or illusory together with what has the lineament of face-to-confront objectivity as well as truth which we describe by proverb that a matter is real.’1 This requires setting up a numerical scale, which he called a General Index of Reality.
Index of Reality
This index covers a range from ordinary dreaming (zip rating) to what is experienced every bit spiritually releasing with a high degree of reality, namely mystical feel (high rating). The Index properly relates to separative feel. Features scoring inwards the Index include continuity of memory between physical as well as not-physical experience, free observation, ability to compare accurately with physical together with not-physical states, awareness of meat as well as tangibility, communication of idea 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 experience. Regarded by almost people equally veridical (corresponding to reality), these observations could have been made by clairvoyance or remote viewing, and make not necessarily hateful that something somehow separated from the physical torso to brand the observation. As Whiteman stated, whatever claimed physical supporting testify but has ‘chiefly propaganda value for the uninformed or sceptical, who do non realize that separation is not established past them, simply who may thereby be induced to have the “interior” testimony every bit having close to bearing on “scientific fact”.’one
Whiteman’sec Index mightiness seem of limited value to touchstone parapsychology, where a useful scoring system should place experiences that rate improve than dream, hallucination or just about grade of pathology. In Whiteman’second Index the direction of ranking is towards mystical experience, which is hardly looked for inward parapsychology, even shied away from. The order of ranking is: undeveloped, borderline, psychical, pre-mystical, mystical. Out of a possible sixteen points, experiences reaching 6 to eight points grade as ‘psychical separations’, scoring on criteria listed 2 paragraphs higher up. Further requirements of ‘mystical’ place were noted inwards the Introduction, too 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 experience’. For Whiteman this was a primal mistake; higher reality can only hateful ‘different physical feel’.
Other Spaces
All separative feel, physical-like or transformative, was considered by Whiteman to take place inward spaces other than physical, although oftentimes and so similar to what is presented physically as to live false for it. He called it ‘duplicate physical’ space. He wrote:
If 1 is taken into a ‘psychic’ space when not familiar amongst such states, or alongside fixed ideas virtually them, in addition to if the phenomena resemble physical ones closely... in that location may be a stiff sentiment to intend that the objects are being observed physically; in addition to this applies fifty-fifty to possible duplicate presentations of the observer’second physical body inward its actual state of affairs.one
‘Fixed ideas’ assume there is exclusively ane ‘real’ infinite that tin live manifested, namely the physical globe. H5N1 fixed thought volition contribute to the potentialities governing a separative experience, as well as Pb to the actualization of a physical-like ‘duplicate’ scene. Yet as mortal gratuitous of the constraints of ane-degree thinking, Whiteman wrote of an ‘inexhaustible multifariousness’ of appearance in other spaces. Naturalistic conditioning may even so result inward ‘fantasy influences’ in undeveloped states, even so highest development leads to ‘perfectly acceptable forms of transcendent unified beauty’, where ‘the surroundings, correspondingly, are distinguished past the quality of the low-cal, together with gain in intelligible character, perfection of beauty, depth of glowing centre quality, unitive liberty too feel of blending amongst other minds, as the highest status, which is that of Mystical Form Liberation, is approached.’ In these descriptions, Whiteman states,
‘I’ in addition to ‘me’ make non stand for the familiar consciousness of self in the physical personality, or, in fact, for anything that tin live known in an ordinary physical land of mind. To sympathise what is meant, the characteristics of the merged ordinary self must live ruled out.4
One might query how ‘other spaces’ are related to the physical together with, if at all, to each other. In states classified past Whiteman equally 3rd separation, the non-physical body holds much of the focus of attention simply does not look to be spatially apart from the physical body; ‘the locations of the two bodies seem the same, in spite of differences inward their grade and/or size too maybe too in their surround.’1 This seems to match alongside a persuasion widespread in spiritist circles that dissimilar ‘levels’ of feel together with existence all coincide spatially but accept unlike ‘vibration frequencies’, so at that place is no contact or communication betwixt the various states except through special mediating weather. Whiteman did include ‘interpenetrating spaces’ inwards a detail fix of ‘facts of feel’,ane only he did not present the idea of interpenetrating spaces every bit just about sort of cosmological organisation; he was disposed to go on to systems of facts, non constructs of theory.
Skills, Cycles
Whiteman was confident nigh discovering the underlying logic inward phenomena, beingness convinced that behind whatever detail observation there is an intelligible construction ‘operative inwards in addition to analysable out of the full experience’.eight He did non have Kant’sec thought of the unknowability of things-in-themselves.eight Instead, at that place is ‘intellectual or perceptual noesis which transcends inward a sure clear and unmistakable mode the onward urge of time, the stiff apartness of spatial objects, as well as the apparent isolation of the individual heed in its state of fixation on bodily impressions. It is a state of unloosen. Fixation beingness overcome, the mind opens out into universality’.8 We cannot accomplish this state, he believed ‘without psychological in addition to spiritual faculties of attention, judgement, purposiveness together with self-subject field’, based on three ‘foundational skills’ named Active Recollection, Continuous Recollection, and Faith + Obedience.i (The beginning of these skills inward his ain life is reported in Michael Whiteman.)
Active Recollection aims to retrieve or recover the essence in what is perceived, ‘in addition to thus the attainment of objective insight too unloosen’.1 Husserl termed it the phenomenological epoché or stoppage, ‘the necessary performance which renders pure consciousness accessible to us’.i It is termed samādhi or sati inward Indian literature.v Continuous Recollection is ‘the freely stabilized earth of liberate at which Active Recollection has been aiming.’i Obedience is not a state of subservience simply orientation to ‘the transcendent Source of Right and Good.’one It operates inwards conjunction amongst Faith inwards this transcendence.
The 3 foundational skills were structured into a four-function organization known since ancient times and appearing in modernistic contexts inwards learning theory, Freud in addition to Jung. Described equally the four creative functions, these are ‘purposive campaign, deciding on means, putting into practice, and a virtually undercover maturing of i’second skills inward upshot’.three In ancient texts they are represented every bit 4 stages inwards the passage of the sun, ascent in the E, zenith inward the southward, downward to world inward the W, in addition to hush-hush inwards the northward.xiii This corresponds with aspiration (due east), assessment (south), activity or manifestation (W), fulfilment or not-attachment (due north); it besides corresponds respectively alongside Faith, Obedience, Active Recollection, Continuous Recollection.i
Whiteman placed dandy importance on this wheel having its opposites or ‘counterfeits’ of self-volition, self-satisfaction, automaticity, complacency, which may atomic number 82 to a corresponding wheel of ‘stresses’ of death-feeling, shame, pain, fright. This inward turn may Pb to ‘inner contests’,i 2 iii which hopefully overcome these spiritual deficiencies.
Physics in addition to Psychology
In his search for underlying logic, together with for universality, Whiteman converted his ‘psychological’ bike into a 16-plication number organization, alongside the aim of integrating it with a ‘physical’ sixteen-bend number arrangement derived from three infinite as well as iii fourth dimension dimensions. He noted that three of the creative functions – cause, agency, too maturing – are composite, containing two ‘starting time principles’ of kernel together with being, equivalent to potentiality too actualization. In turn, nitty-gritty as well as being each have 3 constituents, termed by him ‘hypostases’, meaning underlying, irreducible causes. The iii hypostases of kernel were seen every bit purpose, means, end. The hypostases of existence were actuation, becoming, manifestation, the 3-phase structure of creation called inward Upanishadic philosophy the Great Stride of Vishnu.ane So, for example, ‘deciding on agency’ combines ‘way’ (core) foremost alongside ‘actuation’ (beingness), and so amongst ‘becoming’ (beingness), in addition to in conclusion amongst manifestation (beingness). The 3rd quarter, West, brings prior causes into manifestation purely every bit ‘existence’ in addition to and so lacks an ‘marrow’ hypostasis.
This analysis allows the development of a issue organization inward psychology, together with and then the prospect of comparing amongst a issue system inward physics.ane ii 3 From these number systems Whiteman intended to supply ‘a clear-cut explanatory arrangement... every bit, for instance, the basic laws of mechanics are exhibited earlier whatever problems are tackled’.ii The hypostases of core were numbered i = purpose, ii = way, 3 = cease. The hypostases of beingness were numbered vi = actuation, 5 = becoming, four = manifestation/grounding. So, for instance ‘East’ tin be expressed every bit the combination 16 (enthusiasm), 15 (inspiration), 14 (intention). Combining the numbers ane to 6 results inwards xvi subfunctions, inwards understanding alongside ‘xv + 1 kalās, stages inward whatever creative human action, equally recognized inwards the Upanishads’.iii
The physical number organization was derived from the three space too three time dimensions. One fourth dimension dimension lies in potentiality-fields alongside a fourth dimension-ordered, space-similar look noted to a higher place in connectedness alongside precognition. Another fourth dimension dimension or function involves the processes leading to physical actualization from fourth dimension-structured potentiality. Finally at that place is physical clock-fourth dimension; it is the only fourth dimension-dimension that is measurable. Combining the half-dozen dimensions yields a sixteen-fold issue arrangement similar the psychological subfunctions, ‘inwards such shut correspondence with the formulations of quantum theory that in that location is an obvious invitation to demonstrate the ii equally aspects of an integrated understanding of the Earth’.nine
Space does not let a tabulation of the physics/psychology correspondences, or how they were derived. The correspondences, even so, satisfied Whiteman’sec sentiment that to explain what nosotros experience is to
acknowledge a subjective cycle, such as mystics, many theologians, too roughly psychologists take admitted. This bicycle, in its most consummate course is sixteenfold, too parallels just what may live called the ‘Earth wheel’ (every bit it appears inward Quantum Field Theory) inward every mode, patch manifesting itself inwards every sort of man experience. This is a course of potentiality which is discernible, too indeed can live lived past the individual inwards an enormous multifariousness of ‘altered states of consciousness’...3
Whiteman’s Scientific Mysticism was a revolutionary effort to discern as well as characterize this potentiality.
John Poynton
Literature
1. Whiteman, J.H.one thousand. (1986). Old in addition to New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical globe-thought as well as inner contest. Volume ane, An Introduction to Scientific Mysticism. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
two. Whiteman, J.H.1000. (2000). Old as well as New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical Earth-opinion in addition to inner competition. Volume 2, Dynamics of Spiritual Development. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
three. Whiteman, J.H.chiliad. (2006). Old and New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical earth-opinion too inner competition. Volume 3, Universal Theology too Life inwards other Worlds. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
iv. Whiteman, J.H.grand. (1961). The Mystical Life. London: Faber in addition to Faber.
five. Whiteman, J.H.one thousand. (1993). Aphorisms on Spiritual Method: the ‘Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’ in the low-cal of mystical feel. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
vi. Husserl, eastward. (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.1000. (1967). Philosophy of Space as well as Time and the Inner Constitution of Nature: a phenomenological study. London: Allen and Unwin.
ix. Whiteman, J.H.thousand. (1977). Parapsychology together with physics. In Wolman, B.B. (ed.) Handbook of Parapsychology. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
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