Spectrum of Development

I have attempted to describe briefly with respect to personal experience, the nature of holistic intellectual understanding that accompanied an extraordinary outpouring of spiritual intuition. By this stage I was already well into my 3rd year at College with final examinations just a few month away. However, suddenly a far more exciting world was opening up offering limitless possibilities for further development. And because of the strongly holistic nature of such understanding my interests spread across many fields (which from this perspective were all deeply integrated with respect to their fundamental structure). So mystical spirituality, philosophy, psychology, physics, economics and most of all mathematics deeply engaged my energies in a fever of new activity, plentifully fueled by a continual flood of new insights (directly inspired by illumination emerging from the unconscious). Suddenly my purpose on Earth seemed to be clearly mapped out as in my exalted state th...

The suprarational stage (Band 3, Level 1), that we have been discussing in the previous entry, represents the formal unfolding of 2-dimensional understanding. Here, all relationships intrinsically are understood in a holistic manner as representing the dynamic complementarity of opposite polarities that are positive and negative with respect to each other. Strictly speaking we are referring to real (i.e. conscious) polarities that are based on the continual switching of external and internal aspects with respect to experience. Now all experience to a degree implicitly requires the same ability (even with respect to linear type understanding). When the interaction between polarities is limited, interpretation tends to become dualistic in a somewhat rigid manner. This supports the common sense belief that objects thereby possess an independent validity (not affected by our interaction with them). However when this interaction becomes especially marked, interpre...

There is a marked cyclical nature to the stages of Level 1 (of Band 3). So positive (conscious) expressions of development are followed by their more negative (unconscious) counterparts! This implies that the negative supersensory stage (that we have been dealing with) will then be followed by a new positive stage of spiritual illumination. And indeed this is precisely what happens! To put it in some context we saw how the concrete level (at Band 2) - relating to specific phenomena - was followed by a formal level relating to more general universal appreciation of relationships. It is somewhat similar here at Band 3, where the concrete stages of holistic understanding in terms  of  specific sense-based phenomena, are later followed by a deeper form of holistic understanding with respect to the more generalised universal appreciation of its overall nature. However whereas concrete and formal aspects are clearly separated at Band 2, in terms of...

We are continuing with the negative (dark) phase of supersensory development, where a substantial amount of passive - as well as active - cleansing of the senses takes place. However just as the more positive phase gradually gives way to increasing conflict, here in reverse, the more negative phase gradually gives way to a new found acceptance and peace with respect to its characteristic dark interior state. In other words, as one becomes more accustomed to the dark, authentic unconscious development is strengthened. Therefore one becomes better at coping with the erosion of concrete phenomena (both sensory and supersensory). In spiritual terms this is associated with an increasing depth with respect to contemplative prayer. For example the "prayer of quiet" is often highlighted at this time, whereby one can peacefully remain in  silent communion with God (without the need of intermediary symbols). There are also of course corresponding affective and cognitive aspects...

The first phase of the supersensory stage (Band 3, Level 1) as we have seen is of a positive nature. Now to posit in holistic mathematical terms simply means to make conscious!. So positive in this context, implies a  new enhanced form of consciousness that is so intuitively inspired that it breaks down the normal dualistic categories that define conventional understanding. So in direct terms such intuition reflects a nondual source of spiritual light which then transforms and considerably "curves" normal consciousness rendering relationships circular and thereby paradoxical (from a dualistic standpoint). However though the initial phase can be intense and exciting, it tends to lead to a growing sense of conflict. The reason for this is quite simple! One has now been exposed to a new form of nondual consciousness (relating to the unconscious). However in many ways one will still be bound by everyday responsibilities and habits of understanding based on linear type con...

In the last blog entry I outlined briefly the first stage of the Level 1 (i.e. the circular level) with respect to its (positive) supersensory expression. This in fact relates to the more concrete stage of such circular development. Once again the reason why it is circular is because it is now based on the dynamic interaction of complementary poles. Thus, these poles bear a relative - rather than absolute - relationship to each other. And when we attempt to express their dynamic interaction in the standard dualistic (i.e.1-dimensional) linear rational manner, they appear as paradoxical. Once again, this can be easily explained with respect to the two turns at a crossroads. Now when we adopt a single pole (relating to direction) as a frame of reference we can give both turns an unambiguous definition. Thus if we approach the crossroads, while travelling "up" the road, then clearly we can label the turns as left and right respectively. Equally this is true when we...

We have seen how the transition stage to the 3 rd band is often associated with an existential crisis leading to a consequent deepening of the unconscious aspect of the personality. Thus the disillusionment with conventional activities and expectations at the time can serve as the very means for substantial dynamic negation of conscious phenomena, enabling a personality switch in an unconscious direction. After a period of time spent in anguish in the dark, the duration and severity of which will be unique to the circumstances involved, an eventual resolution is generally achieved. In the spiritual literature this is identified as a conversion which does indeed describe its true nature. The basic problem at issue is a conflict as between an emerging authentic spiritual identity and habits of behaviour and thought, based on immersion in more conventional worldly concerns. So for a while one is held in a kind of suspense, unable to decisively choose between either...