Scientific Mysticism
‘Scientific Mysticism’ is a term coined past Michael Whiteman, a British-born South African mathematician and mystic. (This article may be read together amongst the article on Whiteman’sec life and idea.)
Introduction
The term ‘scientific mysticism’ appeared equally a championship inward the trilogy, Old as well as New Evidence on the Meaning of Life,one 2 3 by Michael Whiteman. Volume One was entitled An Introduction to Scientific Mysticism.ane Whiteman aimed to convey mysticism into the field of science as an entity that is ‘open up-minded, rigorously tested, rationally coherent, together with illuminating.’ane ‘Mysticism’ hither is defined every bit:
the report of everything not-physical, including the other worlds as well as their archetypal governance, also as our spiritual bodies, the facts too their human relationship existence known past the self-bear witness of straight observation as well as not past reasoning or speculation.iv
This indicates empirical scientific discipline, sharing territory alongside psychical inquiry. Yet Whiteman drew a distinction between ‘psychical’ as well as ‘mystical’ feel. The old includes the written report of purportedly not-physical events, the latter extends to states that have a feel of higher significance as well as ultimates, openness to guidance, transformed beingness, and orientation to the perceived source of the Right together with Good.
Whiteman was familiar alongside Vedic, Sanskrit, Pali, Greek too Biblical Hebrew, together with quoted extensively from ancient texts. He regarded nearly electric current translations every bit inadequate because the authors lacked psychical together with mystical experience. His revolutionary commentary, as well his translation of ‘The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’5 combined amongst canonical Buddhist texts, i two iii 5 demo striking parallels alongside refinements of modern thought.
Whiteman’s job equally a professor of applied mathematics provided a base inward physics for his scientific mysticism. Another base was extensive personal experience inward psychical and mystical states. His methods rested on observation, conceptual analysis in addition to insight, in tune with Edmund Husserl’sec phenomenology.6 This aims at gaining face up-to-face up self-bear witness too detailed precision, shedding the usual ‘cloak of ideas’. Science in Whiteman’sec utilization is non an do inward theorizing.
Potentiality too Actualization
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 cardinal to Whiteman’second 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, in addition to that this ‘happening’ is open up to physical description. But what governs the happening is not open to physical observation; at best it tin can live given mathematical expression. So behind a physical result 1 has to recognize what Heisenberg called ‘an objective trend or possibility, a “potentia” inwards the sense of Aristotelian philosophy’. And the governing potentia, the ‘reason’ for something to pass, is abstract in a physical sense; you tin’t pose it inwards a examination metro.
Whiteman concurred that alone transcending logical substructures, potentialities, merit the term ‘reality’, as opposed to appearances. Appearances come into beingness solely on an occasion of observation, in addition to volition be actualized differently for dissimilar people.
Whiteman wrote, ‘null specific tin can live actualized without the integration of “subjective” together with “objective” factors, non in succession, but on the moment of actualization.’one An observer who is freed in or so manner from the physical country volition actualize for himself things that are beyond the reach of ordinary physical sensing. This is the first of psychical together with mystical perception.
Whiteman wrote, ‘The deviation between ane “globe” too some other and then depends upon the state of life inward which the observer happens to be settled.’three An individual’sec perceiving results from integration of objective potentialities together amongst his own subjective potentialities, including subconscious elements. Whiteman believed the potentiality-actualization principle operates inward the mental sphere of every individual: thought too images are actualizations inward consciousness of an individual’s ‘thought-picture sphere’, as he called it, which includes memory as well as imagination.ane
Actualization of Psi Phenomena
Whiteman saw telepathy resulting from the interaction or resonance between the thought-picture spheres of individuals. The interaction is not actualized at the physical level, in addition to and then transfer of data occurs independently of physical infinite as well as time. Clairvoyance is resonance betwixt the potentiality-sphere of a physical object or effect and the thought-icon sphere of an private, resulting inwards the actualization of impressions inward the individual’second idea-picture sphere. Once over again, resonance or interaction happens independently of physical space too time, not beingness physically actualized. Psychokinesis may live regarded as a opposite clairvoyant interaction; potentialities usually linked inwards some manner to an individual effect inward physical actualizations.
Potentiality-actualization relationships should not live seen every bit static; potentiality-fields continually change or educate, and accept feedback loops, although non in physical time. This will bear upon the upshot of hereafter physical events, which helps to explicate how precognition happens. Whiteman saw precognition every bit actualization in an private’second thought-ikon sphere of developing potentiality-fields that may bear upon hereafter physical events. The private may fifty-fifty intervene inward the physical actualization of these events by altering the potentiality-fields, so allowing prevention of a precognized event from happening.i Even if potentiality-fields are time-ordered, resulting inwards a succession of events actualized inwards the physical globe, the ordering is non fixed inward the mode a route map is fixed. They are accessible in states of physical detachment, too then let limited modification in addition to the practise of free volition.
Out-of-trunk Experience
Whiteman defined mysticism every bit ‘the report of everything not-physical, including the other worlds ...’ As only discussed, potentiality-fields take the capacity to deliver different spaces or worlds of physical together with not-physical actuality, depending on the land of the observer. Without this agreement, mysticism cannot commence to make 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 torso of some sort.
The commonest type he termed ‘primary separation’, inwards which at that place is no awareness inwards the physical trunk, fifty-fifty though what appears to be the physical trunk tin live viewed. In ‘secondary separation’ the physical body is under just about grade of witting control, but master awareness lies inwards another organism seemingly non located in the space of the physical trunk, as well as the 2 bodies are quite independent. In ‘tertiary separation’ the physical torso is unremarkably nether consummate control, simply in that location is total awareness of beingness inward a dissimilar bodily class despite the locations of the 2 bodies seeming to be the same. Difference betwixt the 2 bodies may be radical, such every bit one being male in addition to the other female person. For Whiteman, the highest mystical experiences were by and large of this type.
Whiteman noted that such non-physical feel, in terms of reality-impression as well as intensity, may range from appearing weak to seeming fifty-fifty more real too meaningful than inwards physical life. At its almost powerful, termed by him mystical, ‘Everything in such states, spatial characteristics included, is known as if inward archetypal unchanging form, too is thence startlingly more real (rationally-objective, e'er-introduce) than the derivative and shifting forms of the physical globe.’ane He saw a demand ‘to distinguish betwixt what is deceptive or illusory as well as what has the quality of face up-to-face up objectivity too truth which nosotros draw by proverb that a matter is real.’one This requires setting upwardly 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 grade of reality, namely mystical feel (high rating). The Index properly relates to separative experience. Features scoring in the Index include continuity of retention betwixt physical as well as not-physical feel, gratis observation, power to compare accurately alongside physical and non-physical states, awareness of gist as well as tangibility, communication of idea with others, and a feeling of transcendence of physical life.
The General Index does not include reports of observing physical things during a separative experience. Regarded by virtually people as veridical (corresponding to reality), these observations could take been made past clairvoyance or remote viewing, as well as do not necessarily hateful that something somehow separated from the physical torso to make the observation. As Whiteman stated, whatever claimed physical supporting testify just has ‘chiefly propaganda value for the uninformed or sceptical, who do not realize that separation is non established past them, just who may thereby be induced to take the “interior” testimony every bit having some bearing on “scientific fact”.’ane
Whiteman’s Index might appear of limited value to measure parapsychology, where a useful scoring organisation should identify experiences that charge per unit amend than dream, hallucination or about form of pathology. In Whiteman’sec Index the management of ranking is towards mystical experience, which is hardly looked for inward parapsychology, even shied away from. The gild of ranking is: undeveloped, borderline, psychical, pre-mystical, mystical. Out of a possible xvi points, experiences reaching half dozen to 8 points place every bit ‘psychical separations’, scoring on criteria listed two paragraphs above. Further requirements of ‘mystical’ place were noted in the Introduction, together with demarcate ‘mystical’ from ‘psychical’. Yet inward the eyes of a physically-fixated investigator, the mystical requirements would indicate reduced reality rating, since ‘reality’ way ‘like physical feel’. For Whiteman this was a central fault; higher reality tin solely mean ‘different physical experience’.
Other Spaces
All separative experience, physical-similar or transformative, was considered by Whiteman to come about inward spaces other than physical, although frequently then like to what is presented physically as to be false for it. He called it ‘duplicate physical’ infinite. He wrote:
If ane is taken into a ‘psychic’ space when not familiar with such states, or with fixed ideas well-nigh them, as well as if the phenomena resemble physical ones closely... there may live a potent persuasion to mean that the objects are existence observed physically; and this applies fifty-fifty to possible duplicate presentations of the observer’second physical trunk inwards its actual situation.i
‘Fixed ideas’ assume in that location is entirely ane ‘existent’ infinite that can be manifested, namely the physical Earth. A fixed idea volition contribute to the potentialities governing a separative experience, in addition to atomic number 82 to the actualization of a physical-like ‘duplicate’ scene. Yet as individual gratuitous of the constraints of 1-grade thinking, Whiteman wrote of an ‘inexhaustible diversity’ of appearance inwards other spaces. Naturalistic conditioning may notwithstanding event in ‘fantasy influences’ inward undeveloped states, however highest evolution leads to ‘perfectly acceptable forms of transcendent unified beauty’, where ‘the environs, correspondingly, are distinguished past the character of the light, too attain inward intelligible graphic symbol, perfection of beauty, depth of glowing center character, unitive liberty too sense of blending alongside other minds, equally the highest status, which is that of Mystical Form Liberation, is approached.’ In these descriptions, Whiteman states,
‘I’ too ‘me’ do non correspond the familiar consciousness of self inward the physical personality, or, inwards fact, for anything that tin can live known inward an ordinary physical land of heed. To sympathise what is meant, the characteristics of the merged ordinary self must be ruled out.four
One mightiness inquiry how ‘other spaces’ are related to the physical and, if at all, to each other. In states classified by Whiteman every bit tertiary separation, the not-physical torso holds much of the focus of attending merely does not appear to be spatially apart from the physical body; ‘the locations of the ii bodies appear the same, inward spite of differences in their form as well as/or size together with maybe likewise in their environment.’ane This seems to agree alongside a opinion widespread inward spiritist circles that unlike ‘levels’ of experience together with existence all coincide spatially merely have different ‘vibration frequencies’, so at that place is no contact or communication between the diverse states except through special mediating atmospheric condition. Whiteman did include ‘interpenetrating spaces’ inward a item fix of ‘facts of feel’,one only he did not introduce the idea of interpenetrating spaces every bit more or less form of cosmological system; he was disposed to proceed to systems of facts, non constructs of theory.
Skills, Cycles
Whiteman was confident almost discovering the underlying logic in phenomena, existence convinced that behind whatever item observation in that location is an intelligible construction ‘operative in too analysable out of the total experience’.eight He did non take Kant’s idea of the unknowability of things-in-themselves.viii Instead, in that location is ‘intellectual or perceptual noesis which transcends inwards a certain clear together with unmistakable way the onward urge of fourth dimension, the stiff apartness of spatial objects, too the apparent isolation of the private listen inward its country of fixation on bodily impressions. It is a state of liberate. Fixation being overcome, the heed opens out into universality’.eight We cannot achieve this land, he believed ‘without psychological too spiritual faculties of attending, judgement, purposiveness in addition to self-discipline’, based on 3 ‘foundational skills’ named Active Recollection, Continuous Recollection, together with Faith + Obedience.i (The rootage of these skills inward his own life is reported inwards Michael Whiteman.)
Active Recollection aims to call up or recover the pith in what is perceived, ‘together with thence the attainment of objective insight and release’.one Husserl termed it the phenomenological epoché or stoppage, ‘the necessary operation 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 free at which Active Recollection has been aiming.’i Obedience is not a land of subservience only orientation to ‘the transcendent Source of Right as well as Good.’1 It operates in conjunction alongside Faith inward this transcendence.
The iii foundational skills were structured into a iv-role system known since ancient times and appearing in modern contexts inward learning theory, Freud and Jung. Described as the 4 creative functions, these are ‘purposive cause, deciding on means, putting into practise, in addition to a nigh underground maturing of ane’second skills inward result’.iii In ancient texts they are represented every bit four stages in the passage of the Sun, rising inward the east, zenith inwards the S, downwards to earth inward the west, too secret in the due north.thirteen This corresponds amongst aspiration (due east), assessment (S), activity or manifestation (W), fulfilment or non-attachment (due north); it as well corresponds respectively alongside Faith, Obedience, Active Recollection, Continuous Recollection.ane
Whiteman placed dandy importance on this wheel having its opposites or ‘counterfeits’ of self-will, self-satisfaction, automaticity, complacency, which may Pb to a corresponding bike of ‘stresses’ of death-feeling, shame, hurting, fearfulness. This inward plow may atomic number 82 to ‘inner contests’,i ii iii which hopefully overcome these spiritual deficiencies.
Physics together with Psychology
In his search for underlying logic, and for universality, Whiteman converted his ‘psychological’ cycle into a sixteen-fold number arrangement, amongst the aim of integrating it amongst a ‘physical’ xvi-crease issue system derived from 3 space as well as iii fourth dimension dimensions. He noted that 3 of the creative functions – campaign, means, as well as maturing – are composite, containing 2 ‘starting time principles’ of marrow and being, equivalent to potentiality too actualization. In plough, substance as well as existence each take three constituents, termed past him ‘hypostases’, significant underlying, irreducible causes. The iii hypostases of kernel were seen every bit role, way, terminate. The hypostases of existence were actuation, becoming, manifestation, the three-phase structure of creation called in Upanishadic philosophy the Great Stride of Vishnu.1 So, for case, ‘deciding on agency’ combines ‘agency’ (essence) first amongst ‘actuation’ (beingness), so with ‘becoming’ (being), in addition to last amongst manifestation (being). The third quarter, West, brings prior causes into manifestation purely as ‘beingness’ in addition to so lacks an ‘meat’ hypostasis.
This analysis allows the evolution of a number organization inward psychology, in addition to and then the prospect of comparison amongst a issue organization inwards physics.i ii 3 From these number systems Whiteman intended to furnish ‘a clear-cutting explanatory system... as, for case, the basic laws of mechanics are exhibited before any problems are tackled’.two The hypostases of meat were numbered 1 = role, two = way, 3 = finish. The hypostases of beingness were numbered half dozen = actuation, v = becoming, 4 = manifestation/grounding. So, for example ‘East’ tin be expressed every bit the combination xvi (enthusiasm), fifteen (inspiration), 14 (intention). Combining the numbers ane to six results in 16 subfunctions, in agreement with ‘15 + 1 kalās, stages inward whatever creative human activity, as recognized in the Upanishads’.3
The physical number organisation was derived from the three infinite together with 3 fourth dimension dimensions. One time dimension lies inward potentiality-fields with a time-ordered, space-similar look noted higher up inward connection amongst precognition. Another time dimension or part involves the processes leading to physical actualization from fourth dimension-structured potentiality. Finally in that location is physical clock-fourth dimension; it is the exclusively fourth dimension-dimension that is measurable. Combining the six dimensions yields a 16-bend number organisation similar the psychological subfunctions, ‘in such close correspondence alongside the formulations of quantum theory that in that location is an obvious invitation to present the 2 every bit aspects of an integrated understanding of the globe’.ix
Space does not let a tabulation of the physics/psychology correspondences, or how they were derived. The correspondences, all the same, satisfied Whiteman’second opinion that to explain what nosotros experience is to
admit a subjective bike, such as mystics, many theologians, together with some psychologists take admitted. This cycle, inwards its well-nigh consummate grade is sixteenfold, and parallels precisely what may be called the ‘earth bicycle’ (as it appears inward Quantum Field Theory) inwards every style, patch manifesting itself in every sort of human experience. This is a grade of potentiality which is discernible, together with indeed tin live lived by the individual in an enormous diversity of ‘altered states of consciousness’...three
Whiteman’sec Scientific Mysticism was a revolutionary effort to discern as well as characterize this potentiality.
John Poynton
Literature
i. Whiteman, J.H.thou. (1986). Old too New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical world-opinion together with inner contest. Volume one, An Introduction to Scientific Mysticism. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
ii. Whiteman, J.H.grand. (2000). Old and New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical Earth-sentiment together with inner contest. Volume 2, Dynamics of Spiritual Development. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
3. Whiteman, J.H.1000. (2006). Old too New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical globe-view too inner competition. Volume 3, Universal Theology in addition to Life inward other Worlds. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
iv. Whiteman, J.H.1000. (1961). The Mystical Life. London: Faber in addition to Faber.
v. Whiteman, J.H.thousand. (1993). Aphorisms on Spiritual Method: the ‘Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’ inward the calorie-free of mystical experience. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
six. Husserl, E. (1931). Ideas: General Introduction to Pure Phenomenology (trans. westward.R. Boyce Gibson). London: Allen & Unwin.
vii. Heisenberg, westward. (1959). Physics together with Philosophy: the revolution in modernistic science. London: Allen too Unwin.
viii. Whiteman, J.H.M. (1967). Philosophy of Space as well as Time as well as the Inner Constitution of Nature: a phenomenological written report. London: Allen in addition to Unwin.
ix. Whiteman, J.H.thou. (1977). Parapsychology together with physics. In Wolman, B.B. (ed.) Handbook of Parapsychology. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
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