Loading ...Hidden Layers of Reality
As a species we have evolved from single-celled organisms into beings that can travel in space, probe the very building blocks of our bodily nature and the universe we inhabit, and create works of art capable of moving us to the core. And yet for all our tremendous mastery of knowledge there appears to be a boundary that we cannot penetrate.
The 18/19th century mathematician Pierre-Simon Laplace postulated a super-intelligent “demon” having knowledge of the position and momentum of every particle in the universe. Laplace’s demon also possessed some kind of super computer able to process this vast dataset, thus availing it of the universe’s entire future and past. This presented a gloomy scenario for mankind, as it completely removed the role of free-will. It also opened a can of moral worms with regard to law, crime and punishment (how could someone be punished for committing crimes that were predetermined?)
Then, in the 20th century, along came quantum physics and with it Werner Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. In a nutshell, Heisenberg showed that Laplace’s demon was theoretically impossible, since we can never obtain precise information of the simultaneous position and momentum of any particle. Heisenberg essentially demonstrated a limit to scientific understanding.
Furthermore, the experimentally well-proven quantum theory reveals an inherent randomness in the behavior of the most elementary particles that form the material realm. The great scientist Albert Einstein’s response was that “God does not play dice with the universe.”
Despite the overwhelming evidence for the validity of quantum theory our innate experience, and instinct, tends to concord with Einstein. Our experience of the world is based on deterministic cause and effect; we push the switch, the light comes on… But can both views be right? And can this paradox offer a glimpse into the true nature of reality?
There is a mass of anecdotal evidence of paranormal phenomena, ie happenings that transcend the known laws of science. Raise the subject in just about any gathering and you’ll likely find someone who’s experienced something they couldn’t quite explain. These experiences extend throughout history and across cultures. And interest in the technological information age remains as strong as ever, with a Google search on the term paranormal returning no fewer than 21,400,000 matches.
Might it be such experiences offer a glimpse into reality sufficient to keep us motivated, but not quite enough to encourage abandonment of our earthly mission to return “home” prematurely?
And might the more enlightened beings such as Jesus, Buddha, Mohamed… have enjoyed certain knowledge rather than occasional glimpses of ultimate reality, in order to educate the rest of us via the leading Spiritual models (religions) existing today? Indeed, might these (and other teachers) be different incarnations of the same benevolent entity? The late Pope John Paul said “Though the routes taken may be different, there is but a single goal to which is directed the deepest aspiration of the human Spirit.”
Spiritualist mediums often speak of the earth and Spirit realms co-existing, but at different vibrations (the earth is lower and Spirit higher). Communication between the living and the departed takes place when the medium raises his/her vibration and the Spirit communicator lowers theirs, to the degree that both become aware of the other.
Modern physics has two well-established theories – relativity, which explains what happens on a very big scale, ie the behavior of the cosmos; and quantum mechanics, which explains the very small. Both theories contradict the “common sense” view of reality, and both have striking parallels with descriptions of reality given by ancient Spiritual philosophies.
The problem is that relativity and quantum physics differ, ie the set of laws explaining the very small doesn’t apply to the very large and vice versa. Thus the quest of physics since Einstein has been to find a grand, unified theory that combines relativity and quantum mechanics into an explanation of everything. Though no accepted theory has yet emerged, one of the strongest candidates is superstring theory, which relies on multiple dimensions existing beyond the perceived four of space-time. Might the highest of these dimensions equate to what, over the centuries and across traditions, has been called Spirit?
Whether science will ever produce a single theory that explains everything is debatable. But the fact science is moving to accept multiple dimensions beyond those forming the physical realm in accordance with traditional Spiritual teaching could be significant. A multi-dimensional model could accommodate both the material world we inhabit and the Spiritual plane from which we emanate. The increasing convergence between science and various Spiritual traditions suggests the reality we perceive is but part of all that exists. And this part is ever influenced by events within the higher parts, which in turn are primarily influenced by Spirit.
By: J Finnis
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Does Esther Hicks really channel other beings?
As the original proponents of the Law of Attraction, Jerry and Esther Hicks have had a huge influence on spiritual thought.
Their philosophy was the foundation of the very popular movie, The Secret. As you may know, Esther was in the first version. She was edited out of the “new expanded” version of the movie for not signing away her intellectual rights.
For over 20 years Jerry and Esther Hicks have shared their work with “those who are attracting this information” (as Jerry says at the beginning of every CD). Notice that they are not recruiting people, trying to convince them that their ideas are the only real truth. Actually it’s quite the opposite. They are very happy to go about their business and let you believe whatever you feel is right. If you want what they have, they make it available. This, to me, is refreshing, considering that just about everyone else wants to convince you they are right and that you should “just have faith” when you are told the most ridiculous things.
And what are the Hicks teaching? Mainly that “Life is supposed to be fun.” How many of us forgot that along the way? We knew it as kids. Then someone (actually several some ones) taught us that life was hard, and that we were supposed to work at a job we don’t like and do whatever it takes to get by…until finally we drop dead. And then, some say, is when we will find happiness.
Ok, then how do we know what to do? Well, if you’re feeling bad, you’re not doing it right. If that little voice in you is complaining, you can’t be happy. In order to be happy, here and now, you must be doing what YOU think is right, whatever that may be. You can tell by your emotions how you’re doing.
But what about the “channeling”? One of the definitions of channeling is “the practice of professedly entering a meditative or trancelike state in order to convey messages from a spiritual guide.” Sounds kind ‘a spooky, doesn’t it?
According the Abraham-Hicks website, “Abraham, a group of obviously evolved teachers, speak their broader Non-physical perspective through the physical body of Esther.” This sounds like channeling, though Jerry and Esther don’t use that word.
Watching or listening to Esther isn’t the least bit spooky. You can see for yourself in these videos. She does answer questions from a broad perspective. “Abraham” even refers to Esther in the third person.
It’s not like we, as a society, do not believe in channeling. A large percentage of the US population believes that about 2000 years ago God spoke through individuals who channelled it and wrote it down. Now it’s collectively known as The Bible.
So, is Esther really channeling? Honestly, I don’t know. Just set that question aside, forget where the words come from, and listen to what she says. The philosophy is very positive and internally consistent. (Esther/Abraham once said they only have one answer, they just tell it different ways.) I’ve seen it help a lot of people. You can read more about the Abraham philosophy at the Abraham-Hicks website.
If The Bible is your authority, Matthew 7:20 says, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” I couldn’t have said it better myself.
What do you think?
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Religion = Sickness
We kill for it, we dedicate our lives to it, we judge others based on it, we go to war for it and we allow it to consume us to the point of true “faith”, but at the end of the day, religion (see “God”) is a sickness.
I was born to a technically Christian mother and guided by a very Christian grandmother. I attended church services and Sunday school sporadically within the Protestant sect and was baptized by the same at the age of eight. Until I was 15, I was technically a Christian; than I started to think. The next six years of my life were dedicated in part to my clutching at a greater understanding of religion and the role it played in my life and I pored over the Bible and many other religious texts in search of an answer to the most important question I had ever asked myself to that point: why doesn’t any of this make any sense?
At the age of 20 I finally decided that I must be an atheist; I could see nothing sensible in the Bible or any other religious text and my conclusion was that, if the only god being presented to me were one of the major religious cults that I was familiar with (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, etc), than there could simply be no god. My understanding of the nature of the universe was non-existent, but I was intelligent enough to realize that I should no sooner put my faith into the Bible than into any other badly written and badly researched historical text. The Bible and related books seemed to me to be nothing more than a terribly inaccurate account of the world and its creation.
I quickly realized, however, that atheism didn’t make any more sense than organized religion. Certainly something created the universe, something outside of time and space as we understand it to exist; surely there was a god after all! I made an official switch to agnosticism and it was the smartest and most beneficial move that my mind has ever made. I discovered Buddhism and the ancient teachings of intelligent and thoughtful men who came before me and made these same discoveries and I combined those teachings with my decided view of agnosticism in order to shape a philosophy of life that made sense to me.
I have to admit that, following my complete realization of the falsity of Christianity, I began to hate the religion furiously. I railed against the belief, the dogma, the people. I looked around and saw so many people who believed what seemed to me to be absolute foolishness and I lost a great deal of faith in humanity in general. It took me nearly five years to balance my view of religion with a general sense of faith in people in general. I learned to have compassion for those with such beliefs because I learned to understand and have empathy for the causes.
People are afraid of life. At one time or another all clearly thinking people should be afraid of life! We are dropped in the middle of this vast universe with no knowledge of how we got here, what we’re supposed to do or where we’re going. In viewing people with religious beliefs through a compassionate lens, I was able to understand the need for the creation of myths and religion. From the worship of the sun and moon to the worship of a potentially historical figure named Jesus, it has simply been the natural human tendency to make efforts to explain away the things that we fear due to our lack of understanding.
Christianity, while often well-intentioned in its doctrine, is a horrible delusion. It causes people who might otherwise have a huge impact on rational and philosophical thought through the humility of admitting that they cannot understand everything to instead believe that they know everything. This idea of one person or group knowing more than another person or group lead to the brainwashing and mass murder of the Crusades to the jihads and holy wars that the human race continues to fight today.
Monotheistic belief is simply the greatest single obstacle to the natural evolution of the mind facing humanity today. Science and technology are allowing us to understand more and more about our universe and its creation and there is a necessity for an open, humble mind as we analyze the results of our explorations and experiments.
The belief in any doctrine, Christianity included, is akin to a virus in your mind. It restricts rational thinking, negates humility and is the greatest source of judgment and bloodshed in the history of our race. If you believe in a monotheistic “God” or any other man-made myth in order to better understand life and your place in it, you are pulling the wool over your own eyes.
There is most definitely a god of some kind, though I use the word loosely. I am of the personal belief that, simply put, everything is everything. The source of creation and consciousness exists within every person, every object, every piece of time and to look anywhere but within for spiritual guidance is a waste of time. Similarly, depending on a mythological belief to help to explain the world, creation or anything else is an equal waste of time.
Look within yourself for god in the form of consciousness. Let go of the idea of a soul, heaven, hell and most importantly, let go of the idea that you know anymore than anyone else. Look outside of yourself, towards the tools that science offers us, for answers as to creation and physical existence.
We’re all in the same boat, wading through life together. Humankind has subscribed to thousands of different faiths and beliefs but there is only one truth for us, today: we just don’t know. We need to stop grasping at the crutch of false answers and instead greet these mysteries with open eyes and study and an acceptance of what we do know of ourselves. Monotheistic belief is a virus of delusion and stupidity; luckily, it is the easiest virus in the world to rid yourself of!
photo by Quiplash!
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Worldview & Perception
The more I study the subatomic world of quantum physics, the more I realize that we are all the same, small parts of the one universe. Despite the sure solidity that this evokes in me, I always come back to this question: if we are all made fundamentally of the same, why do we feel so separate? That really would be anyone’s guess; here are mine:
The only reason that we live in such a fragmented world is because we have a fragmented worldview. People often made a point early in their lives to commit to a particular worldview and hold on for dear life and, as individuals, this means that we will (and obviously have) always disagreed on some fundamental issues.
Consider the story of the Native American chief and Christopher Columbus. Legend has it that the chief looked out to the water for several days noticing ripples and waves that he couldn’t explain in open and otherwise calm waters. Finally, after several days of this, sailing ships began to come into view and it became obvious that they were causing the disturbance. Christopher Columbus and the crew of the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria landed shortly thereafter. It has been speculated that perhaps the chief reported an inability to see the ships simply because the ships exceeded the limitations of his worldview to such a degree that his brain and senses needed time to adapt.
No need to take that story seriously; just think of it as an analogy. What could we begin to see if we opened our minds to the possibility?
A second and more scientific theory is that, given that our brain takes in 40 billion bits of information per second and processes only 2000, our brains are simply limited by their biology. We see everything, every possibility, and our brains (due to biology and a closed mind within) simply chooses to ignore the things that exceed the limits of our own collective worldview. 2000 out of 40 billion – just imagine.
Given that second theory, I think that it is likely that, in the light of further technological advances and scientific discoveries, there will be a very large-scale paradigm shift within the next 50 years. Would that paradigm shift allow us to perceive more of the true reality of nature than we do now? Would that necessarily be a good thing?
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Measuring Consciousness
Under the theory that consciousness will actually be measurable by some future scientific method (I believe that it might), is it really a stretch to theorize that, given the ability to quantify, consciousness could eventually be observed “leaving” the body in some form upon the death of a human being? Measurement of this sort could lend credence to the idea of reincarnation, true death of consciousness or even ascension.
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