Scientific Mysticism
‘Scientific Mysticism’ is a term coined past Michael Whiteman, a British-born South African mathematician and mystic. (This article may live read together with the article on Whiteman’s life too idea.)
Introduction
The term ‘scientific mysticism’ appeared equally a championship in the trilogy, Old in addition to New Evidence on the Meaning of Life,ane ii 3 by Michael Whiteman. Volume One was entitled An Introduction to Scientific Mysticism.1 Whiteman aimed to bring mysticism into the champaign of scientific discipline as an entity that is ‘open up-minded, rigorously tested, rationally coherent, too illuminating.’ane ‘Mysticism’ here is defined equally:
the report of everything not-physical, including the other worlds as well as their archetypal governance, besides as our spiritual bodies, the facts in addition to their human relationship being known past the self-evidence of directly observation and not by reasoning or speculation.4
This indicates empirical scientific discipline, sharing territory alongside psychical inquiry. Yet Whiteman drew a distinction between ‘psychical’ together with ‘mystical’ feel. The former includes the report of purportedly non-physical events, the latter extends to states that take a sense of higher significance and ultimates, openness to guidance, transformed beingness, too orientation to the perceived source of the Right too Good.
Whiteman was familiar alongside Vedic, Sanskrit, Pali, Greek together with Biblical Hebrew, together with quoted extensively from ancient texts. He regarded near electric current translations every bit inadequate because the authors lacked psychical and mystical feel. His revolutionary commentary, as well his translation of ‘The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’5 combined amongst canonical Buddhist texts, one 2 three 5 present hitting parallels amongst refinements of modern thought.
Whiteman’s job as a professor of applied mathematics provided a base of operations inward physics for his scientific mysticism. Another base was extensive personal experience inwards psychical and mystical states. His methods rested on observation, conceptual analysis as well as insight, inwards melody with Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology.six This aims at gaining face up-to-face self-evidence together with detailed precision, shedding the usual ‘cloak of ideas’. Science in Whiteman’s utilisation is not an exercise in theorizing.
Potentiality in addition to Actualization
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 cardinal to Whiteman’s scientific mysticism is the thought of potentiality too actualization. This had been developed by the physicist Werner Heisenberg,seven who saw that a physical ‘happening’ comes almost through an occasion of observation, together with that this ‘happening’ is open to physical description. But what governs the happening is non open up to physical observation; at best it tin be given mathematical aspect. So behind a physical outcome 1 has to recognize what Heisenberg called ‘an objective tendency or possibility, a “potentia” inwards the feel of Aristotelian philosophy’. And the governing potentia, the ‘reason’ for something to happen, is abstract in a physical sense; you lot tin’t pose it inwards a examination subway.
Whiteman concurred that exclusively transcending logical substructures, potentialities, merit the term ‘reality’, as opposed to appearances. Appearances come up into existence only on an occasion of observation, as well as volition live actualized differently for dissimilar people.
Whiteman wrote, ‘nothing specific tin live actualized without the integration of “subjective” in addition to “objective” factors, not inward succession, simply on the moment of actualization.’i An observer who is freed inwards close to manner from the physical country volition actualize for himself things that are beyond the attain of ordinary physical sensing. This is the starting time of psychical in addition to mystical perception.
Whiteman wrote, ‘The deviation betwixt ane “earth” together with some other then depends upon the land of life in which the observer happens to be settled.’3 An private’sec perceiving results from integration of objective potentialities together alongside his own subjective potentialities, including subconscious elements. Whiteman believed the potentiality-actualization rule operates inwards the mental sphere of every individual: idea too images are actualizations inwards consciousness of an private’second ‘idea-image sphere’, equally he called it, which includes retentivity together with imagination.i
Actualization of Psi Phenomena
Whiteman saw telepathy resulting from the interaction or resonance between the idea-picture 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 betwixt the potentiality-sphere of a physical object or event and the idea-icon sphere of an individual, resulting inward the actualization of impressions inwards the individual’sec thought-ikon sphere. Once once more, resonance or interaction happens independently of physical infinite too fourth dimension, non beingness physically actualized. Psychokinesis may live regarded as a reverse clairvoyant interaction; potentialities unremarkably linked in around mode to an individual issue in physical actualizations.
Potentiality-actualization relationships should not be seen every bit static; potentiality-fields continually change or educate, together with take feedback loops, although non inward physical time. This will affect the consequence of hereafter physical events, which helps to explicate how precognition happens. Whiteman saw precognition equally actualization inwards an individual’sec idea-image sphere of developing potentiality-fields that may touch hereafter physical events. The individual may even intervene inward the physical actualization of these events by altering the potentiality-fields, then allowing prevention of a precognized event from happening.1 Even if potentiality-fields are fourth dimension-ordered, resulting in a succession of events actualized inwards the physical world, the ordering is not fixed in the style a road map is fixed. They are accessible inward states of physical detachment, and so permit limited change together with the do of free will.
Out-of-body Experience
Whiteman defined mysticism every bit ‘the study of everything not-physical, including the other worlds ...’ As but discussed, potentiality-fields take the capacity to deliver different spaces or worlds of physical as well as non-physical actuality, depending on the state of the observer. Without this understanding, mysticism cannot begin to brand feel. Direct feel of ‘the other worlds’ occurs mainly inwards out-of-trunk experience, which Whiteman preferred to term ‘separative’ experience, since at that place is normally awareness of a trunk of roughly kind.
The commonest type he termed ‘main separation’, inwards which in that location is no awareness inwards the physical torso, even though what appears to live the physical trunk tin be viewed. In ‘secondary separation’ the physical trunk is under around level of conscious command, but master awareness lies inwards some other organism seemingly non located inward the infinite of the physical torso, together with the two bodies are quite independent. In ‘3rd separation’ the physical body is normally nether consummate control, simply there is total awareness of being inwards a unlike bodily class despite the locations of the 2 bodies seeming to live the same. Difference between the ii bodies may be radical, such every bit i beingness male person in addition to the other female person. For Whiteman, the highest mystical experiences were generally of this type.
Whiteman noted that such not-physical feel, inwards terms of reality-impression together with intensity, may reach from appearing weak to seeming fifty-fifty more than real together with meaningful than inward physical life. At its nearly powerful, termed by him mystical, ‘Everything inward such states, spatial characteristics included, is known equally if inwards archetypal unchanging grade, as well as is so startlingly more existent (rationally-objective, e'er-acquaint) than the derivative and shifting forms of the physical Earth.’ane He saw a require ‘to distinguish between what is deceptive or illusory and what has the character of face-to-face up objectivity in addition to truth which we depict past saying that a thing is real.’1 This requires setting upward a numerical scale, which he called a General Index of Reality.
Index of Reality
This index covers a reach from ordinary dreaming (zilch rating) to what is experienced every bit spiritually releasing alongside a high level 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 non-physical feel, gratis observation, ability to compare accurately amongst physical in addition to not-physical states, awareness of pith as well as tangibility, communication of thought 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 past nigh people equally veridical (corresponding to reality), these observations could take been made past clairvoyance or remote viewing, too make non necessarily mean that something somehow separated from the physical torso to brand the observation. As Whiteman stated, whatsoever claimed physical supporting testify simply has ‘chiefly propaganda value for the uninformed or sceptical, who make not realize that separation is non established by them, just who may thereby live induced to have the “interior” testimony as having around bearing on “scientific fact”.’one
Whiteman’sec Index might appear of express value to touchstone parapsychology, where a useful scoring system should place experiences that rate improve than dream, hallucination or some class of pathology. In Whiteman’s Index the management of ranking is towards mystical feel, which is hardly looked for in parapsychology, even shied away from. The club of ranking is: undeveloped, borderline, psychical, pre-mystical, mystical. Out of a possible xvi points, experiences reaching 6 to 8 points rate as ‘psychical separations’, scoring on criteria listed 2 paragraphs above. Further requirements of ‘mystical’ range were noted in the Introduction, as well as 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 alone hateful ‘unlike physical experience’.
Other Spaces
All separative feel, physical-like or transformative, was considered by Whiteman to fall out inwards spaces other than physical, although often and so like to what is presented physically equally to live false for it. He called it ‘duplicate physical’ infinite. He wrote:
If ane is taken into a ‘psychic’ space when not familiar alongside such states, or with fixed ideas nigh them, as well as if the phenomena resemble physical ones closely... in that location may live a strong persuasion to think that the objects are being observed physically; too this applies even to possible duplicate presentations of the observer’s physical torso in its actual state of affairs.ane
‘Fixed ideas’ assume in that location is exclusively one ‘real’ space that tin can live manifested, namely the physical globe. A fixed idea will contribute to the potentialities governing a separative experience, and Pb to the actualization of a physical-similar ‘duplicate’ scene. Yet as somebody gratuitous of the constraints of one-degree thinking, Whiteman wrote of an ‘inexhaustible diverseness’ of appearance inwards other spaces. Naturalistic conditioning may nonetheless result inward ‘fantasy influences’ in undeveloped states, all the same highest evolution leads to ‘perfectly acceptable forms of transcendent unified beauty’, where ‘the surround, correspondingly, are distinguished past the lineament of the light, as well as attain inwards intelligible grapheme, perfection of beauty, depth of glowing eye lineament, unitive freedom and sense of blending amongst other minds, every bit the highest status, which is that of Mystical Form Liberation, is approached.’ In these descriptions, Whiteman states,
‘I’ together with ‘me’ do non stand for the familiar consciousness of self in the physical personality, or, in fact, for anything that tin be known inward an ordinary physical state of mind. To empathize what is meant, the characteristics of the merged ordinary self must be ruled out.iv
One mightiness query how ‘other spaces’ are related to the physical as well as, if at all, to each other. In states classified by Whiteman equally third separation, the not-physical body holds much of the focus of attention only does non look to live spatially apart from the physical trunk; ‘the locations of the ii bodies look the same, in spite of differences inward their grade and/or size too peradventure also inward their environs.’ane This seems to check amongst a opinion widespread inward spiritist circles that different ‘levels’ of feel and being all coincide spatially simply accept different ‘vibration frequencies’, and so at that place is no contact or communication betwixt the diverse states except through special mediating conditions. Whiteman did include ‘interpenetrating spaces’ in a item fix of ‘facts of feel’,ane just he did non introduce the thought of interpenetrating spaces every bit close to variety of cosmological organisation; he was disposed to go on to systems of facts, not constructs of theory.
Skills, Cycles
Whiteman was confident virtually discovering the underlying logic in phenomena, beingness convinced that behind whatever particular observation at that place is an intelligible construction ‘operative inward and analysable out of the total feel’.8 He did not have Kant’second thought of the unknowability of things-inward-themselves.viii Instead, there is ‘intellectual or perceptual knowledge which transcends in a certain clear as well as unmistakable style the onward urge of fourth dimension, the rigid apartness of spatial objects, in addition to the apparent isolation of the private heed inward its country of fixation on bodily impressions. It is a state of free. Fixation beingness overcome, the listen opens out into universality’.eight We cannot achieve this land, he believed ‘without psychological as well as spiritual faculties of attention, judgement, purposiveness and self-discipline’, based on iii ‘foundational skills’ named Active Recollection, Continuous Recollection, together with Faith + Obedience.one (The rootage of these skills inwards his ain life is reported in Michael Whiteman.)
Active Recollection aims to call back or recover the nitty-gritty inwards what is perceived, ‘together with therefore the attainment of objective insight as well as loose’.one 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 inward Indian literature.five Continuous Recollection is ‘the freely stabilized earth of liberate at which Active Recollection has been aiming.’1 Obedience is non a state of subservience only orientation to ‘the transcendent Source of Right and Good.’one It operates inwards conjunction alongside Faith inwards this transcendence.
The three foundational skills were structured into a 4-function organization known since ancient times in addition to appearing inward modernistic contexts inwards learning theory, Freud too Jung. Described equally the four creative functions, these are ‘purposive crusade, deciding on means, putting into practice, as well as a nearly hugger-mugger maturing of one’second skills in consequence’.three In ancient texts they are represented every bit 4 stages inward the passage of the Sun, rise inward the east, zenith inwards the due south, downward to earth in the due west, as well as clandestine inward the due north.thirteen This corresponds amongst aspiration (eastward), assessment (S), activeness or manifestation (due west), fulfilment or non-attachment (N); it too corresponds respectively alongside Faith, Obedience, Active Recollection, Continuous Recollection.one
Whiteman placed not bad importance on this bicycle having its opposites or ‘counterfeits’ of self-volition, self-satisfaction, automaticity, complacency, which may atomic number 82 to a corresponding wheel of ‘stresses’ of expiry-feeling, shame, hurting, fearfulness. This inwards turn may atomic number 82 to ‘inner contests’,one 2 3 which hopefully overcome these spiritual deficiencies.
Physics too Psychology
In his search for underlying logic, in addition to for universality, Whiteman converted his ‘psychological’ cycle into a xvi-crimp issue organization, amongst the aim of integrating it with a ‘physical’ xvi-crimp issue organization derived from iii space too 3 time dimensions. He noted that iii of the creative functions – effort, way, as well as maturing – are composite, containing two ‘start principles’ of meat as well as existence, equivalent to potentiality together with actualization. In plough, gist in addition to being each accept 3 constituents, termed by him ‘hypostases’, meaning underlying, irreducible causes. The iii hypostases of kernel were seen as function, way, stop. The hypostases of being were actuation, becoming, manifestation, the 3-phase structure of creation called inward Upanishadic philosophy the Great Stride of Vishnu.i So, for case, ‘deciding on agency’ combines ‘agency’ (nitty-gritty) foremost with ‘actuation’ (beingness), and so alongside ‘becoming’ (beingness), as well as lastly alongside manifestation (existence). The tertiary quarter, West, brings prior causes into manifestation purely as ‘beingness’ in addition to so lacks an ‘nub’ hypostasis.
This analysis allows the evolution of a issue arrangement inwards psychology, as well as and so the prospect of comparison amongst a issue organisation inwards physics.i ii three From these issue systems Whiteman intended to render ‘a clear-cut explanatory organization... every bit, for instance, the basic laws of mechanics are exhibited before whatever problems are tackled’.ii The hypostases of heart and soul were numbered ane = function, ii = means, three = cease. The hypostases of existence were numbered half dozen = actuation, v = becoming, iv = manifestation/grounding. So, for example ‘East’ tin can live expressed every bit the combination 16 (enthusiasm), xv (inspiration), 14 (intention). Combining the numbers one to vi results inward sixteen subfunctions, inward understanding alongside ‘fifteen + 1 kalās, stages inwards any creative human action, equally recognized inward the Upanishads’.three
The physical issue organisation was derived from the iii space too three fourth dimension dimensions. One fourth dimension dimension lies inwards potentiality-fields amongst a time-ordered, infinite-similar aspect noted above in connectedness with precognition. Another time dimension or part involves the processes leading to physical actualization from fourth dimension-structured potentiality. Finally there is physical clock-fourth dimension; it is the entirely fourth dimension-dimension that is measurable. Combining the half dozen dimensions yields a xvi-fold issue 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 earth’.ix
Space does not let a tabulation of the physics/psychology correspondences, or how they were derived. The correspondences, still, satisfied Whiteman’second thought that to explain what we feel is to
admit a subjective bike, such every bit mystics, many theologians, as well as close to psychologists accept admitted. This bike, in its virtually consummate class is sixteenfold, as well as parallels precisely what may live called the ‘world wheel’ (every bit it appears inward Quantum Field Theory) in every fashion, patch manifesting itself in every sort of homo feel. This is a course of potentiality which is discernible, too indeed tin can be lived past the individual in an enormous diverseness of ‘altered states of consciousness’...iii
Whiteman’second Scientific Mysticism was a revolutionary endeavour to discern as well as characterize this potentiality.
John Poynton
Literature
i. Whiteman, J.H.chiliad. (1986). Old as well as New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical Earth-opinion as well as inner competition. Volume i, An Introduction to Scientific Mysticism. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
two. Whiteman, J.H.grand. (2000). Old in addition to New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical earth-thought as well as inner contest. Volume two, Dynamics of Spiritual Development. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
iii. Whiteman, J.H.1000. (2006). Old and New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical globe-view too inner competition. Volume three, Universal Theology in addition to Life inward other Worlds. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
iv. Whiteman, J.H.M. (1961). The Mystical Life. London: Faber too Faber.
five. Whiteman, J.H.M. (1993). Aphorisms on Spiritual Method: the ‘Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’ inwards the light of mystical feel. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
six. Husserl, due east. (1931). Ideas: General Introduction to Pure Phenomenology (trans. W.R. Boyce Gibson). London: Allen & Unwin.
vii. Heisenberg, W. (1959). Physics together with Philosophy: the revolution inwards mod science. London: Allen and Unwin.
8. Whiteman, J.H.chiliad. (1967). Philosophy of Space and Time together with the Inner Constitution of Nature: a phenomenological study. London: Allen and Unwin.
nine. Whiteman, J.H.G. (1977). Parapsychology and physics. In Wolman, B.B. (ed.) Handbook of Parapsychology. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
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