Ede Frecska writes how scientism looks a lot like
depression. Scientism is the concept
that we may be so enamored with science, that we make it into a religion.
He writes that there are 3 tenants of scientism:
1-Man is the byproduct of mere chance.
2-We live in a universe alien to us and ignorant of our
destiny.
3-We have come from nothingness and will return to
nothingness after death.
He then writes that these basic concepts are strikingly
similar to Aaron Beck’s triad for depression:
1-I am a worthless person.
2-The world is an inhospitable place.
3-My past is a tragedy; my future is hopeless.
I’m not quite sure these 3 concepts correlate closely enough
to buy his argument.
Nonetheless, he has a good point about the lack of beauty in
pure scientism.
Wilber labels this pure reductionist scientism as “flatland.”
When we lack access to our unconscious information and the mystery of the
universe this view lacks beauty.
He also criticizes the opposite of reductionist scientism,
those who get lost in the world of mysticism without coming back to this world
to do good work.
Jung wrote about finding the balance between access to
conscious and unconscious information.
Gustafson writes about positioning. Not too close to the unconscious world, not
too close to the conscious world.
Finding your own balance.
The Strengthening Aspects Of Zen and Contemporary Meditation
Practices is a beautiful piece by Kathleen O'Shaughnessy.
"A spiritual practice and a visionary
substance (Zen and LSD) came into my life within two weeks of each other.
I lived in a part of the country where support
for either was non-existent.
This had
the effect of driving me into a deeper relationship with each.
I soon realized that Zen is LSD…in slow motion."
http://www.hofmann.org/Reviews/psychoactive%20sacramentals.htm
LSD, and other enthogens can provide a peek at the peak.
The perennial philosophy runs through the tenants of Jung’s
teachings, transpersonal psychology, shamanic practice, and the mysticism of
all religions; Christianity, Judaism,
Islam, Hinduism, Confusianism, Toaism, Buddhism:
1-There are 2 realms of reality. The realm of scientism; the visible world of
agreed upon reality, consensus reality.
The other world is the world of the unconscious and nonphysical
reality. These 2 domains together
constitute Ultimate Reality. Truth.
2-Humans possess the ability to access both realities. Modern society may suppress access to the
nonphysical reality. Usually suppressed
because individual access to ultimate reality decreases the power of groups who
want to have power over the masses.
3-Accessing this nonphysical reality leads to wisdom. Coming back to the physical world and
practicing from the wisdom learned is compassion. Doing continuous Right Action, which arises
from this compassion, may be labeled enlightenment. Labeled only by others.
Some label this nonphysical reality “Spirit.” Right Action in the world is
Spirit-In-Action. This concept is not
without it’s critics:
See figure 1 here for the nesting of physics, biology,
psychology, theology and mysticism. You
could just as easily reverse the nesting.
However, this model shows that mysticism or Spirit, is beyond
science.
Ede Frecska then goes on to write about a new biosychosocial
paradigm beyond what George Engle proposed, a biopsychosocialspiritual
paradigm.
It is important to consider the natural order of conscious
evolution.
You first need to become a whole self, before you can become
a non-self. I’ve written about methods
to drop what gets in your way.
Perhaps at that point many of us fall into scientism. Pure rationalism. Probably a necessary step. That was expressed culturally as The
Enlightenment. Where we tore religion away
from science.
However, to progress to the next level of conscious
evolution, we must reincorporate Spirit back into our way of being. Perhaps, best a non-denominational
Spirituality. Perhaps, any
denominational spirituality, that works for you, but allows you to transcend
and include.
This allows us to rise above flatland.
The world explodes with the beauty of mystery.
Not lost in the chaotic mystery of the schizophrenic.
We can enter the mystery of the mystic, the mystery of the
shaman.
We can enter altered states of consciousness at will.
Some may use entheogens.
Others have no need for entheogens.
Some use drumming. Some
use guided imagery.
Some just sit.
We learn to surf the mystery.
We create that groove in the brain-body.
We can travel to far off worlds. To dimensions unknown to conventional
science.
We can gain knowledge.
We can find teachers and guides within this other reality.
However, to be in balance we must bring this knowledge back
to the conventional world.
We can practice Compassion.
Compassion arises with the knowledge that we are intimately
connected with all beings. They are all
part of our family.
No, you are not a “Guru.”
Traveling within the mystery is humbling.
You would never label yourself as “Enlightened.”
That would be silly.
Others may label you as “enlightened.” That is their problem.
Perhaps, you may label yourself as “Awake.”
That was the way of the “Buddha.”
But, if you meet the Buddha on the road, you must kill
him.
That is why you do not label yourself as “enlightened” nor as
a “guru.”
There is no need. You
know exactly who you are.
Nothingness.
and
Everythingness.
Then you can let the light pour out of this so human an
animal.
Let the light spread to everyone around you.
It does not matter if anyone perceives your Beauty.
That might be your greatest mystery.
Namaste.
