Mystical Science

Scientific Mysticism

‘Scientific Mysticism’ is a term coined past Michael Whiteman, a British-born South African mathematician too mystic. (This article may live read together amongst the article on Whiteman’second life too thought.)

Introduction

The term ‘scientific mysticism’ appeared equally a championship inward the trilogy, Old as well as New Evidence on the Meaning of Life,^{one two iii} by Michael Whiteman. Volume One was entitled An Introduction to Scientific Mysticism.^one Whiteman aimed to convey mysticism into the plain of scientific discipline as an entity that is ‘open up-minded, rigorously tested, rationally coherent, in addition to illuminating.^’one ‘Mysticism’ hither is defined as:

the report of everything non-physical, including the other worlds too their archetypal governance, too every bit our spiritual bodies, the facts as well as their relationship beingness known by the self-prove of straight observation in addition to non past reasoning or speculation.⁴

This indicates empirical scientific discipline, sharing territory with psychical inquiry. Yet Whiteman drew a distinction between ‘psychical’ and ‘mystical’ feel. The one-time includes the report of purportedly not-physical events, the latter extends to states that have a sense of higher significance together with ultimates, openness to guidance, transformed beingness, too orientation to the perceived source of the Right in addition to Good.

Whiteman was familiar with Vedic, Sanskrit, Pali, Greek too Biblical Hebrew, and quoted extensively from ancient texts. He regarded virtually current translations every bit inadequate because the authors lacked psychical together with mystical feel. His revolutionary commentary, likewise his translation of ‘The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’^v combined with canonical Buddhist texts, ^{ane 2 3 5} demonstrate hit parallels alongside refinements of modernistic thought.

Whiteman’sec line as a professor of applied mathematics provided a base inward physics for his scientific mysticism. Another base was extensive personal experience inwards psychical and mystical states. His methods rested on observation, conceptual analysis in addition to insight, inward tune with Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology.^half-dozen This aims at gaining face up-to-face up self-testify and detailed precision, shedding the common ‘cloak of ideas’. Science in Whiteman’s utilisation is not an practise inward theorizing.

Potentiality together with Actualization

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 central to Whiteman’s scientific mysticism is the idea of potentiality as well as actualization. This had been developed by the physicist Werner Heisenberg,^seven who saw that a physical ‘happening’ comes about through an occasion of observation, too that this ‘happening’ is open to physical description. But what governs the happening is non open to physical observation; at best it can be given mathematical expression. So behind a physical effect one has to recognize what Heisenberg called ‘an objective tendency or possibility, a “potentia” in the feel of Aristotelian philosophy’. And the governing potentia, the ‘argue’ for something to pass, is abstract inward a physical feel; y'all can’t position it inwards a exam tube.

Whiteman concurred that exclusively transcending logical substructures, potentialities, merit the term ‘reality’, every bit opposed to appearances. Appearances come up into beingness entirely on an occasion of observation, as well as volition be actualized differently for unlike people.

Whiteman wrote, ‘goose egg specific tin live actualized without the integration of “subjective” and “objective” factors, not inward succession, merely on the moment of actualization.’^ane An observer who is freed in some style from the physical land volition actualize for himself things that are beyond the attain of ordinary physical sensing. This is the first of psychical too mystical perception.

Whiteman wrote, ‘The divergence between 1 “earth” as well as some other so depends upon the state of life in which the observer happens to live settled.’^three An individual’s perceiving results from integration of objective potentialities together with his ain subjective potentialities, including subconscious elements. Whiteman believed the potentiality-actualization rule operates inward the mental sphere of every individual: thought together with images are actualizations inwards consciousness of an private’sec ‘idea-ikon sphere’, every bit he called it, which includes retention and imagination.^ane

Actualization of Psi Phenomena

Whiteman saw telepathy resulting from the interaction or resonance between the thought-image spheres of individuals. The interaction is not actualized at the physical degree, together with and then transfer of information occurs independently of physical space as well as time. Clairvoyance is resonance between the potentiality-sphere of a physical object or event and the idea-ikon sphere of an private, resulting inward the actualization of impressions in the private’sec thought-ikon sphere. Once again, resonance or interaction happens independently of physical infinite in addition to time, not being physically actualized. Psychokinesis may be regarded as a reverse clairvoyant interaction; potentialities usually linked inwards more or less mode to an private consequence inward physical actualizations.

Potentiality-actualization relationships should not live seen equally static; potentiality-fields continually modify or train, in addition to accept feedback loops, although non inward physical fourth dimension. This volition impact the issue of future physical events, which helps to explicate how precognition happens. Whiteman saw precognition as actualization inwards an private’second thought-icon sphere of developing potentiality-fields that may touch time to come physical events. The private may fifty-fifty intervene inwards the physical actualization of these events past altering the potentiality-fields, then allowing prevention of a precognized effect from happening.¹ Even if potentiality-fields are time-ordered, resulting in a succession of events actualized inwards the physical Earth, the ordering is not fixed inwards the mode a road map is fixed. They are accessible inward states of physical detachment, in addition to so allow express alteration and the practice of gratuitous volition.

Out-of-body Experience

Whiteman defined mysticism equally ‘the report of everything non-physical, including the other worlds ...’ As just discussed, potentiality-fields take the capacity to deliver unlike spaces or worlds of physical and not-physical actuality, depending on the state of the observer. Without this agreement, mysticism cannot set about to make feel. Direct experience of ‘the other worlds’ occurs mainly inwards out-of-trunk experience, which Whiteman preferred to term ‘separative’ experience, since at that place is ordinarily awareness of a body of about sort.

The commonest type he termed ‘master separation’, inward which there is no awareness in the physical body, even though what appears to be the physical trunk tin live viewed. In ‘secondary separation’ the physical trunk is nether about degree of witting control, but chief awareness lies inwards some other organism seemingly non located in the infinite of the physical trunk, and the ii bodies are quite independent. In ‘third separation’ the physical torso is usually nether complete command, but in that location is total awareness of existence in a unlike bodily form despite the locations of the ii bodies seeming to live the same. Difference betwixt the two bodies may be radical, such as i being male and the other female. For Whiteman, the highest mystical experiences were more often than not of this type.

Whiteman noted that such non-physical feel, in terms of reality-impression too intensity, may range from appearing weak to seeming fifty-fifty more real and meaningful than in physical life. At its most powerful, termed by him mystical, ‘Everything inwards such states, spatial characteristics included, is known as if in archetypal unchanging form, in addition to is so startlingly more existent (rationally-objective, e'er-acquaint) than the derivative too shifting forms of the physical earth.^’one He saw a require ‘to distinguish betwixt what is deceptive or illusory in addition to what has the character of face-to-confront objectivity and truth which we depict past saying that a matter is existent.’ⁱ 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 (nothing rating) to what is experienced as 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 memory betwixt physical together with not-physical feel, gratis observation, ability to compare accurately amongst physical as well as not-physical states, awareness of pith together with tangibility, communication of idea amongst 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 nigh people every bit veridical (corresponding to reality), these observations could accept been made past clairvoyance or remote viewing, as well as do not necessarily mean that something somehow separated from the physical body to make the observation. As Whiteman stated, any claimed physical supporting testify but has ‘chiefly propaganda value for the uninformed or sceptical, who make non realize that separation is non established by them, but who may thereby be induced to have the “interior” testimony every bit having around bearing on “scientific fact”.’¹

Whiteman’second Index might seem of express value to standard parapsychology, where a useful scoring arrangement should place experiences that rate better than dream, hallucination or more or less class of pathology. In Whiteman’s Index the direction of ranking is towards mystical experience, which is hardly looked for inwards parapsychology, even shied away from. The social club of ranking is: undeveloped, borderline, psychical, pre-mystical, mystical.  Out of a possible xvi points, experiences reaching 6 to eight points range equally ‘psychical separations’, scoring on criteria listed two paragraphs higher up. Further requirements of ‘mystical’ range were noted inward the Introduction, as well as demarcate ‘mystical’ from ‘psychical’. Yet in the eyes of a physically-fixated investigator, the mystical requirements would signal reduced reality rating, since ‘reality’ agency ‘like physical feel’. For Whiteman this was a primal fault; higher reality can exclusively mean ‘dissimilar physical feel’.

Other Spaces

All separative experience, physical-like or transformative, was considered by Whiteman to happen inwards spaces other than physical, although ofttimes so similar to what is presented physically every bit to live false for it. He called it ‘duplicate physical’ infinite. He wrote:

If one is taken into a ‘psychic’ infinite when non familiar with such states, or with fixed ideas almost them, as well as if the phenomena resemble physical ones closely... at that place may be a stiff sentiment to mean that the objects are existence observed physically; together with this applies fifty-fifty to possible duplicate presentations of the observer’second physical torso inward its actual situation.ⁱ

‘Fixed ideas’ assume at that place is solely 1 ‘real’ space that can live manifested, namely the physical earth. A fixed idea volition contribute to the potentialities governing a separative experience, as well as Pb to the actualization of a physical-similar ‘duplicate’ scene. Yet every bit person gratis of the constraints of 1-degree thinking, Whiteman wrote of an ‘inexhaustible diversity’ of appearance inward other spaces. Naturalistic conditioning may withal issue inward ‘fantasy influences’ inward undeveloped states, withal highest evolution leads to ‘perfectly acceptable forms of transcendent unified beauty’, where ‘the environs, correspondingly, are distinguished by the lineament of the light, in addition to arrive at in intelligible graphic symbol, perfection of beauty, depth of glowing center lineament, unitive liberty in addition to sense 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’ in addition to ‘me’ do not represent the familiar consciousness of self inward the physical personality, or, inward fact, for anything that tin can be known inwards an ordinary physical country of mind. To empathise what is meant, the characteristics of the merged ordinary self must be ruled out.⁴

One mightiness enquiry how ‘other spaces’ are related to the physical too, if at all, to each other. In states classified past Whiteman equally 3rd separation, the not-physical trunk holds much of the focus of attention just does not look to live spatially apart from the physical trunk; ‘the locations of the two bodies seem the same, inwards spite of differences inwards their class and/or size as well as peradventure too inward their surround.’ⁱ This seems to jibe amongst a persuasion widespread in spiritist circles that unlike ‘levels’ of experience together with beingness all coincide spatially simply take dissimilar ‘vibration frequencies’, and so in that location is no contact or communication between the various states except through especial mediating conditions. Whiteman did include ‘interpenetrating spaces’ inward a detail gear up of ‘facts of experience’,¹ simply he did non present the idea of interpenetrating spaces as or so sort of cosmological organisation; he was disposed to continue to systems of facts, not constructs of theory.

Skills, Cycles

Whiteman was confident well-nigh discovering the underlying logic inwards phenomena, existence convinced that behind whatsoever item observation in that location is an intelligible structure ‘operative inwards in addition to analysable out of the full feel’.⁸ He did not have Kant’sec thought of the unknowability of things-inwards-themselves.^eight Instead, there is ‘intellectual or perceptual knowledge which transcends inward a certain clear together with unmistakable manner the onward urge of fourth dimension, the stiff apartness of spatial objects, together with the apparent isolation of the individual heed inward its country of fixation on bodily impressions. It is a land of liberate. Fixation beingness overcome, the listen opens out into universality’.^eight We cannot accomplish this land, he believed ‘without psychological and spiritual faculties of attending, sentence, purposiveness in addition to self-subject area’, based on 3 ‘foundational skills’ named Active Recollection, Continuous Recollection, as well as Faith + Obedience.ⁱ (The rootage of these skills inward his ain life is reported inwards Michael Whiteman.)

Active Recollection aims to call up or recover the kernel inwards what is perceived, ‘as well as therefore the attainment of objective insight too loose’.ⁱ Husserl termed it the phenomenological epoché or stoppage, ‘the necessary performance which renders pure consciousness accessible to us’.^one It is termed samādhi or sati in Indian literature.^five  Continuous Recollection is ‘the freely stabilized earth of unloosen at which Active Recollection has been aiming.’^one Obedience is not a country of subservience just orientation to ‘the transcendent Source of Right as well as Good.’¹ It operates inwards conjunction amongst Faith in this transcendence.

The three foundational skills were structured into a four-office system known since ancient times too appearing inward modern contexts in learning theory, Freud and Jung. Described as the 4 creative functions, these are ‘purposive campaign, deciding on means, putting into practise, too a nearly undercover maturing of one’s skills in upshot’.ⁱⁱⁱ In ancient texts they are represented equally four stages inward the passage of the Sun, rise inwards the east, zenith inwards the south, down to Earth inward the west, and undercover in the north.^xiii This corresponds amongst aspiration (east), assessment (S), activity or manifestation (W), fulfilment or non-attachment (N); it as well corresponds respectively amongst Faith, Obedience, Active Recollection, Continuous Recollection.^one

Whiteman placed great importance on this bicycle having its opposites or ‘counterfeits’ of self-will, self-satisfaction, automaticity, complacency, which may lead to a corresponding bicycle of ‘stresses’ of death-feeling, shame, hurting, fear. This in plough may atomic number 82 to ‘inner contests’,^{one two 3} which hopefully overcome these spiritual deficiencies.

Physics as well as Psychology

In his search for underlying logic, as well as for universality, Whiteman converted his ‘psychological’ cycle into a sixteen-crease number organisation, with the aim of integrating it alongside a ‘physical’ sixteen-bend number arrangement derived from 3 space and 3 fourth dimension dimensions. He noted that three of the creative functions – effort, means, and maturing – are composite, containing 2 ‘beginning principles’ of pith and being, equivalent to potentiality in addition to actualization. In turn, heart and soul and beingness each accept three constituents, termed by him ‘hypostases’, pregnant underlying, irreducible causes. The iii hypostases of nub were seen every bit role, agency, finish. The hypostases of existence were actuation, becoming, manifestation, the 3-phase structure of creation called in Upanishadic philosophy the Great Stride of Vishnu.¹  So, for case, ‘deciding on means’ combines ‘way’ (inwardness) first off alongside ‘actuation’ (beingness), then with ‘becoming’ (existence), as well as last amongst manifestation (being). The tertiary quarter, West, brings prior causes into manifestation purely as ‘being’ in addition to and then lacks an ‘meat’ hypostasis.

This analysis allows the development of a issue organization inward psychology, in addition to so the prospect of comparison amongst a issue arrangement inward physics.^{i ii iii} From these issue systems Whiteman intended to furnish ‘a clear-cutting explanatory organization... as, for example, the basic laws of mechanics are exhibited before any problems are tackled’.ⁱⁱ The hypostases of sum were numbered 1 = role, ii = means, iii = stop. The hypostases of beingness were numbered half-dozen = actuation, 5 = becoming, 4 = manifestation/grounding. So, for case ‘East’ tin can live expressed equally the combination sixteen (enthusiasm), 15 (inspiration), xiv (intention). Combining the numbers ane to half-dozen results inward sixteen subfunctions, inward agreement with ‘xv + ane kalās, stages in whatever creative act, every bit recognized inward the Upanishads’.^three

The physical number organization was derived from the three infinite in addition to three time dimensions. One fourth dimension dimension lies inwards potentiality-fields with a time-ordered, space-similar aspect noted above inwards connexion with precognition. Another time dimension or role involves the processes leading to physical actualization from fourth dimension-structured potentiality. Finally there is physical clock-time; it is the solely fourth dimension-dimension that is measurable. Combining the six dimensions yields a sixteen-crimp issue system similar the psychological subfunctions, ‘inwards such shut correspondence with the formulations of quantum theory that there is an obvious invitation to demo the ii equally aspects of an integrated understanding of the globe’.^nine

Space does non let a tabulation of the physics/psychology correspondences, or how they were derived. The correspondences, nevertheless, satisfied Whiteman’s thought that to explain what we experience is to

acknowledge a subjective bike, such equally mystics, many theologians, too or so psychologists have admitted. This wheel, inward its nigh consummate grade is sixteenfold, together with parallels precisely what may live called the ‘earth bicycle’ (as it appears inward Quantum Field Theory) inward every mode, while manifesting itself inwards every kind of human feel. This is a course of potentiality which is discernible, as well as indeed tin can live lived past the individual inward an enormous variety of ‘altered states of consciousness’...^three

Whiteman’sec Scientific Mysticism was a revolutionary endeavour to discern in addition to characterize this potentiality.

John Poynton

Literature

i. Whiteman, J.H.G. (1986). Old and New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical world-persuasion as well as inner contest. Volume 1, An Introduction to Scientific Mysticism.  Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.

two. Whiteman, J.H.yard. (2000). Old and New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical globe-opinion in addition to inner contest. Volume 2, Dynamics of Spiritual Development. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.

three. Whiteman, J.H.G. (2006). Old and New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical Earth-sentiment together with inner contest. Volume 3, Universal Theology together with Life in other Worlds. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.

iv. Whiteman, J.H.K. (1961). The Mystical Life. London: Faber together with Faber.

v. Whiteman, J.H.thou. (1993). Aphorisms on Spiritual Method: the ‘Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’ in the low-cal of mystical experience. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.

half-dozen. Husserl, east. (1931). Ideas: General Introduction to Pure Phenomenology (trans. westward.R. Boyce Gibson). London: Allen & Unwin.

vii. Heisenberg, due west. (1959). Physics as well as Philosophy: the revolution inward modern science. London: Allen too Unwin.

eight. Whiteman, J.H.yard. (1967). Philosophy of Space in addition to Time as well as the Inner Constitution of Nature: a phenomenological report. London: Allen as well as Unwin.

9. Whiteman, J.H.chiliad. (1977). Parapsychology as well as physics. In Wolman, B.B. (ed.) Handbook of Parapsychology. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

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