Scientific Mysticism
‘Scientific Mysticism’ is a term coined by Michael Whiteman, a British-born South African mathematician and mystic. (This article may be read together with the article on Whiteman’second life in addition to idea.)
Introduction
The term ‘scientific mysticism’ appeared as a title inward the trilogy, Old and New Evidence on the Meaning of Life,1 ii 3 by Michael Whiteman. Volume One was entitled An Introduction to Scientific Mysticism.1 Whiteman aimed to take mysticism into the field of scientific discipline every bit an entity that is ‘open up-minded, rigorously tested, rationally coherent, in addition to illuminating.’i ‘Mysticism’ hither is defined as:
the written report of everything not-physical, including the other worlds too their archetypal governance, also equally our spiritual bodies, the facts together with their relationship existence known past the self-bear witness of direct observation in addition to not past reasoning or speculation.iv
This indicates empirical science, sharing territory amongst psychical research. Yet Whiteman drew a distinction betwixt ‘psychical’ too ‘mystical’ feel. The one-time includes the written report of purportedly non-physical events, the latter extends to states that have a sense of higher significance in addition to ultimates, openness to guidance, transformed beingness, as well as orientation to the perceived rootage of the Right together with Good.
Whiteman was familiar amongst Vedic, Sanskrit, Pali, Greek as well as Biblical Hebrew, in addition to quoted extensively from ancient texts. He regarded most current translations equally 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, ane two three v exhibit striking parallels with refinements of modernistic idea.
Whiteman’sec line every bit a professor of applied mathematics provided a base in physics for his scientific mysticism. Another base of operations was extensive personal feel inward psychical in addition to mystical states. His methods rested on observation, conceptual analysis as well as insight, inwards melody alongside Edmund Husserl’sec phenomenology.6 This aims at gaining confront-to-face self-bear witness too detailed precision, shedding the usual ‘cloak of ideas’. Science inward Whiteman’second utilisation is non an practise inward theorizing.
Potentiality together with Actualization
H5N1 key to Whiteman’second scientific mysticism is the thought of potentiality in addition to actualization. This had been developed by the physicist Werner Heisenberg,7 who saw that a physical ‘happening’ comes almost through an occasion of observation, in addition to that this ‘happening’ is open to physical description. But what governs the happening is non open to physical observation; at best it tin live given mathematical face. So behind a physical effect ane has to recognize what Heisenberg called ‘an objective trend or possibility, a “potentia” inwards the feel of Aristotelian philosophy’. And the governing potentia, the ‘reason’ for something to take place, is abstract inward a physical sense; you can’t lay it inwards a examination tube.
Whiteman concurred that entirely transcending logical substructures, potentialities, merit the term ‘reality’, equally opposed to appearances. Appearances come into existence entirely on an occasion of observation, and volition be actualized differently for unlike people.
Whiteman wrote, ‘zip specific tin can be actualized without the integration of “subjective” too “objective” factors, non inward succession, simply on the minute of actualization.’one An observer who is freed inward approximately way from the physical country will actualize for himself things that are beyond the accomplish of ordinary physical sensing. This is the showtime of psychical as well as mystical perception.
Whiteman wrote, ‘The difference betwixt 1 “earth” in addition to another and then depends upon the country of life inwards which the observer happens to live settled.’3 An private’s perceiving results from integration of objective potentialities together with his ain subjective potentialities, including subconscious elements. Whiteman believed the potentiality-actualization principle operates inwards the mental sphere of every private: thought in addition to images are actualizations in consciousness of an individual’sec ‘idea-ikon sphere’, every bit he called it, which includes retentiveness as well as imagination.i
Actualization of Psi Phenomena
Whiteman saw telepathy resulting from the interaction or resonance betwixt the idea-picture spheres of individuals. The interaction is not actualized at the physical grade, and and so transfer of data occurs independently of physical infinite as well as time. Clairvoyance is resonance between the potentiality-sphere of a physical object or event as well as the idea-ikon sphere of an private, resulting inwards the actualization of impressions inward the individual’second thought-picture sphere. Once once more, resonance or interaction happens independently of physical space as well as time, not being physically actualized. Psychokinesis may live regarded every bit a reverse clairvoyant interaction; potentialities commonly linked inward roughly style to an individual event in physical actualizations.
Potentiality-actualization relationships should non be seen equally static; potentiality-fields continually modify or develop, together with accept feedback loops, although non inward physical fourth dimension. This volition impact the effect of time to come physical events, which helps to explain how precognition happens. Whiteman saw precognition equally actualization inward an individual’sec thought-image sphere of developing potentiality-fields that may bear upon hereafter physical events. The private may even intervene inwards the physical actualization of these events past altering the potentiality-fields, and so allowing prevention of a precognized upshot from happening.i Even if potentiality-fields are time-ordered, resulting inwards a succession of events actualized in the physical earth, the ordering is not fixed inward the manner a route map is fixed. They are accessible inward states of physical detachment, too so permit limited modification too the practise of gratis volition.
Out-of-body Experience
Whiteman defined mysticism as ‘the written report of everything not-physical, including the other worlds ...’ As but discussed, potentiality-fields accept the capacity to deliver dissimilar spaces or worlds of physical as well as non-physical actuality, depending on the country of the observer. Without this understanding, mysticism cannot commence to brand sense. Direct experience of ‘the other worlds’ occurs mainly in out-of-body experience, which Whiteman preferred to term ‘separative’ feel, since in that location is ordinarily awareness of a torso of about kind.
The commonest type he termed ‘main separation’, inwards which there is no awareness inward the physical trunk, fifty-fifty though what appears to live the physical body tin can be viewed. In ‘secondary separation’ the physical body is nether or so grade of conscious control, only principal awareness lies in some other organism seemingly not located in the infinite of the physical body, and the 2 bodies are quite independent. In ‘tertiary separation’ the physical torso is usually under consummate command, simply in that location is full awareness of beingness inward a different bodily course despite the locations of the two bodies seeming to be the same. Difference between the two bodies may be radical, such every bit one being male in addition to the other female. For Whiteman, the highest mystical experiences were by and large of this type.
Whiteman noted that such not-physical feel, inwards damage of reality-impression as well as intensity, may reach from appearing weak to seeming fifty-fifty more than existent too meaningful than inward physical life. At its nearly powerful, termed past him mystical, ‘Everything inwards such states, spatial characteristics included, is known equally if in archetypal unchanging form, as well as is so startlingly more existent (rationally-objective, e'er-introduce) than the derivative in addition to shifting forms of the physical Earth.’ane He saw a require ‘to distinguish betwixt what is deceptive or illusory too what has the character of face up-to-face up objectivity and truth which we depict past maxim that a thing 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 (zip rating) to what is experienced equally spiritually releasing amongst a high grade of reality, namely mystical feel (high rating). The Index properly relates to separative experience. Features scoring inwards the Index include continuity of memory betwixt physical and non-physical experience, costless observation, ability to compare accurately with physical and non-physical states, awareness of gist as well as tangibility, communication of thought with others, in addition to 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 every bit veridical (corresponding to reality), these observations could take been made by clairvoyance or remote viewing, as well as do not necessarily mean that something somehow separated from the physical body to brand the observation. As Whiteman stated, whatsoever claimed physical supporting testify only has ‘chiefly propaganda value for the uninformed or sceptical, who do non realize that separation is not established past them, just who may thereby be induced to have the “interior” testimony equally having roughly bearing on “scientific fact”.’1
Whiteman’sec Index power look of express value to standard parapsychology, where a useful scoring organisation should identify experiences that rate meliorate than dream, hallucination or or so form of pathology. In Whiteman’second Index the direction of ranking is towards mystical experience, which is hardly looked for inward parapsychology, fifty-fifty shied away from. The guild of ranking is: undeveloped, borderline, psychical, pre-mystical, mystical. Out of a possible sixteen points, experiences reaching half-dozen to 8 points rate equally ‘psychical separations’, scoring on criteria listed ii paragraphs to a higher place. Further requirements of ‘mystical’ place were noted inwards the Introduction, and demarcate ‘mystical’ from ‘psychical’. Yet inward the eyes of a physically-fixated investigator, the mystical requirements would bespeak reduced reality rating, since ‘reality’ way ‘similar physical feel’. For Whiteman this was a fundamental error; higher reality tin can solely hateful ‘unlike physical feel’.
Other Spaces
All separative feel, physical-like or transformative, was considered past Whiteman to come about in spaces other than physical, although often so like to what is presented physically as to be mistaken for it. He called it ‘duplicate physical’ infinite. He wrote:
If i is taken into a ‘psychic’ space when not familiar amongst such states, or amongst fixed ideas virtually them, as well as if the phenomena resemble physical ones closely... at that place may live a strong sentiment to mean that the objects are being observed physically; as well as this applies even to possible duplicate presentations of the observer’s physical torso inward its actual situation.i
‘Fixed ideas’ assume at that place is entirely i ‘real’ infinite that can live manifested, namely the physical world. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 fixed idea volition contribute to the potentialities governing a separative experience, as well as atomic number 82 to the actualization of a physical-similar ‘duplicate’ scene. Yet every bit someone complimentary of the constraints of 1-grade thinking, Whiteman wrote of an ‘inexhaustible multifariousness’ of appearance inward other spaces. Naturalistic conditioning may yet event in ‘fantasy influences’ in undeveloped states, even so highest evolution leads to ‘perfectly acceptable forms of transcendent unified beauty’, where ‘the environment, correspondingly, are distinguished past the quality of the calorie-free, too make inwards intelligible grapheme, perfection of beauty, depth of glowing heart quality, unitive liberty as well as 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’ as well as ‘me’ make not represent the familiar consciousness of self inwards the physical personality, or, inwards fact, for anything that can live known inwards an ordinary physical land of listen. To empathise what is meant, the characteristics of the merged ordinary self must live ruled out.iv
One power inquiry how ‘other spaces’ are related to the physical in addition to, if at all, to each other. In states classified by Whiteman as tertiary separation, the not-physical trunk holds much of the focus of attention merely does not appear to live spatially apart from the physical trunk; ‘the locations of the 2 bodies look the same, inwards spite of differences inward their course and/or size in addition to mayhap besides inwards their environs.’i This seems to check alongside a sentiment widespread in spiritist circles that dissimilar ‘levels’ of experience too existence all coincide spatially merely take different ‘vibration frequencies’, and then there is no contact or communication betwixt the diverse states except through particular mediating weather condition. Whiteman did include ‘interpenetrating spaces’ in a item set of ‘facts of experience’,ane only he did not introduce the thought of interpenetrating spaces every bit roughly sort of cosmological organization; he was disposed to go on to systems of facts, non constructs of theory.
Skills, Cycles
Whiteman was confident near discovering the underlying logic inward phenomena, beingness convinced that behind any detail observation in that location is an intelligible construction ‘operative inward together with analysable out of the full feel’.viii He did not take Kant’s thought of the unknowability of things-inward-themselves.viii Instead, there is ‘intellectual or perceptual cognition which transcends inward a sure clear too unmistakable style the onward urge of time, the stiff apartness of spatial objects, too the apparent isolation of the private listen in its state of fixation on bodily impressions. It is a land of liberate. Fixation being overcome, the mind opens out into universality’.8 We cannot accomplish this country, he believed ‘without psychological as well as spiritual faculties of attention, judgement, purposiveness too self-subject’, based on 3 ‘foundational skills’ named Active Recollection, Continuous Recollection, in addition to Faith + Obedience.i (The origin of these skills inwards his own life is reported in Michael Whiteman.)
Active Recollection aims to recollect or recover the inwardness inward what is perceived, ‘as well as so the attainment of objective insight too 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 in Indian literature.five Continuous Recollection is ‘the freely stabilized ground of release at which Active Recollection has been aiming.’i Obedience is not a state of subservience but orientation to ‘the transcendent Source of Right and Good.’1 It operates inwards conjunction amongst Faith inwards this transcendence.
The iii foundational skills were structured into a iv-role organization known since ancient times in addition to appearing in modernistic contexts inwards learning theory, Freud as well as Jung. Described as the iv creative functions, these are ‘purposive crusade, deciding on way, putting into do, and a almost hush-hush maturing of i’second skills inward upshot’.3 In ancient texts they are represented equally four stages inward the passage of the Sun, rise in the due east, zenith inwards the S, downwards to Earth inward the west, in addition to clandestine inwards the due north.xiii This corresponds with aspiration (eastward), assessment (southward), activeness or manifestation (west), fulfilment or non-attachment (N); it likewise corresponds respectively amongst Faith, Obedience, Active Recollection, Continuous Recollection.ane
Whiteman placed nifty importance on this cycle 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, hurting, fright. This inwards plough may lead to ‘inner contests’,i two iii which hopefully overcome these spiritual deficiencies.
Physics together with Psychology
In his search for underlying logic, in addition to for universality, Whiteman converted his ‘psychological’ bicycle into a xvi-flexure number arrangement, with the aim of integrating it alongside a ‘physical’ 16-bend issue system derived from three space too three fourth dimension dimensions. He noted that 3 of the creative functions – drive, way, too maturing – are composite, containing two ‘outset principles’ of gist too existence, equivalent to potentiality as well as actualization. In plow, pith too being each take iii constituents, termed by him ‘hypostases’, pregnant underlying, irreducible causes. The iii hypostases of nitty-gritty were seen equally function, agency, terminate. The hypostases of existence were actuation, becoming, manifestation, the iii-stage structure of creation called inwards Upanishadic philosophy the Great Stride of Vishnu.1 So, for instance, ‘deciding on agency’ combines ‘agency’ (meat) first amongst ‘actuation’ (existence), and so alongside ‘becoming’ (existence), in addition to in conclusion amongst manifestation (existence). The tertiary quarter, West, brings prior causes into manifestation purely equally ‘beingness’ too and then lacks an ‘nitty-gritty’ hypostasis.
This analysis allows the development of a number arrangement in psychology, as well as so the prospect of comparing alongside a issue organization inwards physics.one 2 3 From these number systems Whiteman intended to provide ‘a clear-cut explanatory arrangement... every bit, for example, the basic laws of mechanics are exhibited before whatever problems are tackled’.two The hypostases of nitty-gritty were numbered i = purpose, 2 = way, iii = finish. The hypostases of being were numbered six = actuation, 5 = becoming, 4 = manifestation/grounding. So, for case ‘East’ can live expressed as the combination 16 (enthusiasm), 15 (inspiration), xiv (intention). Combining the numbers i to vi results inward 16 subfunctions, inwards agreement with ‘fifteen + 1 kalās, stages inward whatever creative human activity, every bit recognized in the Upanishads’.3
The physical issue arrangement was derived from the 3 infinite too three fourth dimension dimensions. One time dimension lies in potentiality-fields alongside a fourth dimension-ordered, infinite-like aspect noted to a higher place inward 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-time; it is the entirely time-dimension that is measurable. Combining the vi dimensions yields a 16-plication number system like the psychological subfunctions, ‘inward such shut correspondence amongst the formulations of quantum theory that in that location is an obvious invitation to exhibit the ii as aspects of an integrated understanding of the earth’.nine
Space does non permit a tabulation of the physics/psychology correspondences, or how they were derived. The correspondences, nevertheless, satisfied Whiteman’second persuasion that to explicate what we experience is to
acknowledge a subjective wheel, such as mystics, many theologians, together with around psychologists take admitted. This cycle, inwards its nearly consummate form is sixteenfold, too parallels just what may be called the ‘Earth bicycle’ (every bit it appears in Quantum Field Theory) inward every way, piece manifesting itself in every sort of human being experience. This is a course of potentiality which is discernible, as well as indeed tin be lived by the individual in an enormous multifariousness of ‘altered states of consciousness’...iii
Whiteman’sec Scientific Mysticism was a revolutionary effort to discern in addition to characterize this potentiality.
John Poynton
Literature
ane. Whiteman, J.H.grand. (1986). Old too New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical Earth-opinion as well as inner contest. Volume 1, An Introduction to Scientific Mysticism. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
2. Whiteman, J.H.M. (2000). Old together with New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical globe-opinion as well as inner contest. Volume 2, Dynamics of Spiritual Development. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
three. Whiteman, J.H.1000. (2006). Old too New Evidence on the Meaning of Life: the mystical earth-thought and inner competition. Volume 3, Universal Theology as well as Life in other Worlds. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
4. Whiteman, J.H.chiliad. (1961). The Mystical Life. London: Faber as well as Faber.
five. Whiteman, J.H.thousand. (1993). Aphorisms on Spiritual Method: the ‘Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’ inwards the calorie-free of mystical experience. Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe.
half-dozen. Husserl, eastward. (1931). Ideas: General Introduction to Pure Phenomenology (trans. W.R. Boyce Gibson). London: Allen & Unwin.
7. Heisenberg, due west. (1959). Physics together with Philosophy: the revolution inward modern science. London: Allen in addition to Unwin.
8. Whiteman, J.H.G. (1967). Philosophy of Space as well as Time together with the Inner Constitution of Nature: a phenomenological report. London: Allen as well as Unwin.
9. 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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