Band 5 Revisited (3)

We now come to the final level of Band 5 i.e. Band 5, Level 3.

As we have seen with Level 1, the transcendent descent (from the mountain summit) is largely completed, whereby one is now ready to ground refined holistic intuition associated with the “higher” spiritual dimensions in the everyday understanding of the middle band.

Only now can the marriage of contemplative type vision with linear rational understanding properly commence.

Then with Level 2, the immanent descent (to the submerged depths) is likewise largely completed. So one has largely succeeded in the task of unravelling residual physical instinctive behaviour so that it no longer projects itself involuntarily into consciousness (especially with respect to concrete sense phenomena).

So, as we have seen, involuntary projections always represent a certain confusion with respect to the relationship as between the conscious and unconscious aspects of personality. So the bottom-up integration of conscious and unconscious aspects cannot properly take place until the primitive repressed regions of personality are fully uncovered.

So it is vital to emphasise here that there are two complementary ways in which the integration of conscious with the unconscious takes place.

The first is the transcendent or top-down approach where the “higher” spiritual are integrated with the middle conscious levels.

The second is the immanent bottom-up approach where the “lower” physical are once again integrated with the middle conscious levels. 

Just as in modern physics there is a clear distinction as between relativity and quantum theory, likewise this is also true with respect to the transcendent and immanent approaches.

The transcendent approach places emphasis primarily on the holistic nature of understanding in an ability to readily appreciate more general type relationships (where the collection of phenomenal parts is seen in the spiritual whole).

However by contrast the immanent approach places emphasis primarily on the specific phenomena of understanding (where the spiritual whole is uniquely reflected in each specific part).

So ultimately what is required in development is a complementary type marriage where (pure) holistic contemplative vision is seamlessly integrated with rational type forms (transcendent) and likewise where refined physical instinctive response is seamlessly integrated with concrete sense phenomena (immanent).     

In early childhood, one first relates to sense phenomena through instinctive response.

So if there are early barriers placed in the way of this response (repressing its nature) it subsequently can become very difficult to feel free in the world. It will seem - which indeed is an accurate reflection - that the (internal) self is not in proper response with the world nor the world in proper response with the self. So despite one’s best efforts one can therefore to a substantial degree subsequently feel alienated from reality.

However, speaking from personal experience, it can prove remarkably difficult to get to the root of the problem, which relates to various forms of unconscious repression that remain deeply inaccessible to the conscious mind. 

The extreme solution here is the radical spiritual approach. However this can entail - even in the most favourable circumstances - a long and tortuous journey before eventually reaching the submerged depths of the psyche. For only then can the spiritual syringe be fully applied that finally dislodges these repressive remnants dating from earliest childhood (and indeed pre-childhood).   

What life is all about is ultimately love. And this does not only apply at the level of personal relationships but with respect to the whole physical universe.

Unfortunately due to the reduced nature of modern science, a hugely distorted picture is portrayed of the universe where impersonal reality becomes completely detached from personal concerns. So this approach pushed to extremes is a clear recipe for severe personal dislocation.

For in truth both personal and impersonal aspects of reality are fully complementary with each other.

So the mystery of love is the mystery by which one can become one with the entire universe, not in the form of detached knowledge regarding its impersonal nature, but through a process of spiritual becoming, whereby all phenomenal appearances eventually melt away in a present moment continually renewed.

And in such moments not only does one briefly realise one’s own personal destiny, which is eternal, but in the same undivided experience, all physical creation likewise realises the same destiny.

       

And in psychological terms, the experience of this mystery of love, relates directly to the volitional aspect of personality.

So everyone, without perhaps explicitly recognising the fact possesses an innate capacity for ultimate meaning, which directly relates to the will, as the spiritual centre of all being. 

Indeed it is this innate capacity that can enable one to find the path to true integration even when circumstances e.g. environment and personality characteristics, may act heavily to prevent such integration.

So the drive for ultimate meaning, which is inseparable from the authentic drive for love does not relate directly to emotional feelings but rather to the central motivation of the will.

 

In religious terms, ultimate meaning arises when one’s will becomes fully united with the will of God. This is another way of saying that in realising such meaning one realises one’s essential being as God. And as this realisation is inseparable from the corresponding realisation of the essential being of all creatures in God, this entails a spiritual marriage that includes the entirety of phenomenal creation.

If there are more advanced beings out there within or outside our own galaxy - as in all probability there are - they will have surely discovered much more than we human beings on planet Earth are yet capable of, that the meaning of the universe is love, where all the separate phenomenal appearances of reality undergo continual transformation, before finally melting in a mutual embrace that is eternal.

However we are returning now to Band 5 (Level 3).

As we have seen the previous level (Level 2) culminated in the uncovering of remaining repressed material from the subconscious, thereby ending the involuntary nature of primitive desires.

However this is far from the end of the story.

So the next level (Level 3) is now chiefly concerned with the immanent ascent.

What this entails is that refined instinctive energy still largely immersed in the “lower” depths, is now gradually brought back up to the surface to become integrated with the conscious sense phenomena of the middle levels. 

Only then can one hope to act in true freedom of spirit whereby one can spontaneously react to varied sense phenomena (through refined instinctive response) without rigid attachment arising.

In this way, each phenomenon can be experienced in its unique identity while remaining inseparable from the shared collective identity of all phenomena.