In order to link concepts and ideas as they relate to
a structure, even an intangible structure such as the mind/psyche, it naturally
helps to create a model in the minds eye. As with any theory or hypothesis
known phenomenon must fit in with the concept. Anything which exists,
irrespective of what or where, must have its own structure and system of
dynamics. Such questions as to the difference between psychic and mystical
experiences for example beg such questions as to how do they relate to each
other and the whole, and what is going on; and where. A transcendent aspect to
our being is a fact of life, so how then is it structured and where is it?
This of course
is a model which presumably could never be substantiated as either being right
or wrong in terms of empirical observation, for we will never be able to take a
picture of it, or stick a knife into it to carve it up for analysis, or stand
objective to it. But it certainly helps when thinking, talking, and listening
to events of this nature and correlating documented accounts of different types
of experience. We know very well that some types of experience are common, some
less so, and some very rare. We come to learn that some experiences and visions
are symbolic, while others are not. How could an outside hallucination
correlate with a near death experience vision for example. These things happen,
so there must be answers, and there must be a system of dynamics which cause
them to happen. Moreover, and as I have gone to pains to point out, these
experiences effect the person; so how, where, why? Such a model cannot be
useful in the sense that a road map is, but it can and does help when thinking
about these events and discussing ones own ideas and theory regarding them. My
own theory of this structure is one I have come to call the Double Vortex
Theory. It is based on my own and other peoples experiences which I have
discussed and/or simply read about over the last twenty years or so.
Daily observation gives us the impression that we are
a free floating object in space and time. That is to say a hoop could be passed
over us to demonstrate that we are not connected to any other physical object
on earth, or elsewhere. This model would first and foremost give a very
misleading impression when saying that our inner depths are connected to a
transcendent level of reality, and which they are directly experienced to be.
The implication would be that the transcendent paradise and other such mystical
and psychic events are conscious events inside our skull and would thence disintegrate
with the physical body. But this is certainly not the case as it is experienced
to be. Given that such events are consistent, albeit rare, then how is it done
and where is the structure?
We obviously know far more about the physical nature
of the universe than did people of two, three, and four thousand years
ago—including the mystics of those times. And consequently our conceptual
understanding, language and descriptions will differ on that score at least,
and even though the experiences are the same. Religions give the impression
that whatever it is they believe in is objective; somewhere outward and
seemingly upward, probably beyond the sky (heaven only knows where), and to
which we are not directly connected. Whereas I am saying the complete
opposite—that the transcendent paradise is within. But within is not
what it seems to be on face value; hence better to say that the transcendent
level of being is inwards. One could also ask as to where is the location or
point of the big bang relative to where the physical universe is now. Or where
is the centre of the Cosmos. It seems to me that the structure of the mind is
not so very different from the structure of the physical universe itself.
Moreover, if a principle of dynamics works, then why should not the nature of
things make use of it elsewhere?
So how do we go about looking at this in a way that
makes some sense and fits with all the experiences? We are obviously not
connected to any other object in the perceived physical universe, and yet all
mystics agree that everything is connected to everything else. How come? How
could there exist instantaneous action at a distance when nothing (assuming
that is correct) can travel in space faster than the speed of light? And light
is sure not instantaneous, albeit quite fast. Why are there more types of
psychic experience than mystical experiences? How could it be said that an
object occupies a point in space whilst at the same time saying that the object
moves through space? Why does there exist less and less to be experienced as
consciousness travels down this so-called tunnel? Why is the final level
(paradise or the ground of being) the same experience for everyone? How does
one account for the infinite accounts of ‘coincidences’ which directly (or indirectly)
have a real tangible affect on our lives?
The Double Vortex Theory at least answers these
questions in large measure and gives a sensible explanation without creating a
paradox or requiring gap-fillers. The irony at this point in time is that science
would both understand and think along these lines more readily than religions
would. Actually the model is very simple really. Moreover, it is nothing like
as way out as the scientific notion that worm-holes could connect different
universes. We have no scrap of evidence to justify a theory that parallel
universes exist at all; it is pure imaginative speculation, and one that would
require the ultimate in cosmic overkill to get a job done. But the things of
which I and many others talk are experienced every day, and have been since
mankind first existed here, and hence require an explanation. Such things may
well be thought of by some as a miracle, but if so then how are such miracles
of creation done, and how do they all fit together?
It is best to begin the analogy with a house brick or
a lump of physical rock. One can also pass a hoop over a house brick if thrown
in the air, so that too is obviously not connected to anything in the perceived
universe either. So how is the house brick connected to the big bang, or its
own ground of being? The answer is obviously inwards. There is nothing in this
universe which contains its own causation or exists independent of the
structure which brings forth its emanation. Everything is a product of a lower,
deeper, level of reality. Call them dimensions or inner levels of structural
reality if you will. Moreover, if we took away all the structure which brings
forth a house brick, then the brick would not exist (purgation for the house
brick). By the same token if there were no transcendent realm, ground of our
conscious being, then we would not exist either. We can never ever be
disconnected from our root causation no more so than matter could be. Now, if
we could travel down the inside of the stuff (vortex) of the house brick we
would eventually go back to its origin. Thus there is an interdimensional
energy vortex of levels of reality within it. At the top of that emanation we
observe the finished product, the incarnate or universal form, or formation
viz. the house brick. Go down the inside of our own physical brain, for
example, and one comes to cells, then molecules, then atoms, then atomic
particles. Go further down the inside of the bulk of that structure and one
comes to a trinity of quarks. We are then in a dimension of a trinity; three
kinds of reality—two up one down, or the other way around depending on whether
you popped down inside a proton or a neutron. Eventually one would come to the
ground of its existence where there is only one thing—the paradise of house
bricks and all physical matter/energy.
The mind is obviously different and far more complex
in its structure or emanation than unconscious matter. However, all creation is
seen to be wide at the top and narrow at the bottom; like a funnel, hence a vortex
of energy emanation, and yet still very much connected to its original ground.
In our case it is the ground of conscious being; or primordial mind. If it were
possible to see and experience all those levels then it becomes clear that
there is more to see (variety of forms) on the surface of the earth than there
would be at the level of quarks for example. Thus the further that
consciousness seeps back down its own vortex then the further one goes down
into creation itself, and the less and less there is to experience at that
level. This is why the ground of our being is a oneness. There is only one
thing to see and we all see it identically, for that is what consciousness
experiences at that initial level. However, come back very close to the top of our
own vortex (the immediate subconscious levels of the mind) and there is so much
that one can see and a whole variety of types of experience therein.
Introverted Mystical experience (Transcendent Mystical experience) is at the
bottom of this vortex of emanation. Psychic experiences, for the most part, are
at and near to the top of it.
Thus, when people have a near death experience, or if
they indeed go all the way, their consciousness travels across the proverbial
river Styx; the inner darkness of their own personal vortex structure. But the
mind or psyche is not a house brick; and moreover, there is the fact that the
psyche itself also generates experiences within those levels—that is to say
symbolic images for the conscious being to see, and intuitively understand
therein. It is a bit like one part of the structure in dialogue with another
part, or the spirit (consciousness and essence of the being) in communication
with the soul (incarnate or temporal psyche). It is so plainly obvious from
hindsight that many who assume they have been in direct contact with the
absolute creative life force itself at that level have simply been in contact
with their own soul (or recorded data program) and inner levels of structural
reality—the soul being a specific layer, dimension, of the lining of the vortex
of our emanation itself.
In ‘normal’ daily reality our outer sensory data is
very restricted, and within narrow bandwidths of frequencies. Imagine what it
would be like if they were to change around. Suppose we heard that which we
normally see; touched that which we normally smell; saw things that we normally
heard, so on and so forth. The physical universe would be something else again
to perception. And not as good I would imagine. Personally I like it as it is;
so no problem. Imagine if we could actually see every energy and structure in
creation and all the angles and dimension of therein. I guess it would look
pretty rough and boring. Probably something like a ten dimensional spiders web.
Or more probably just a horrible mess like a vast ball of meaningless string.
I obviously use the terms universe and cosmos to mean
two different things. Many use them synonymously. I use the term physical
universe in the same way that physics does. But I use the term cosmos, or
cosmos of creation to include everything which exists anywhere, not just
physical objects and energies thereof, but also the sum of all vortices and
inner structural levels of reality. Just as a human body and topside
consciousness are the surface of our own individual vortex of emanation so too
do we have our inner vortex of emanation. Also of course this perceived
universe is the surface of all such vortices. In a strange kind of way there is
no such thing as ‘the’ universe as such, other than sum of the vortices which
comprise it. Thus we are not ‘in’ the universe, like being in a jam jar, but we
are a part of it. When our consciousness seeps down inside its own vortex of
emanation, then consciousness is not ‘in’ the universe at all; it is elsewhere,
below it; but still of course in the cosmos of creation. Naturally if we are
still actually alive on earth at that time then our body is still a part of the
universe whilst consciousness is elsewhere; indeed, even as it is during
dreaming. One does not have to be dead in order to dream. The implication and
experience is that one does not have to be dead to experience the level known
as death and the dimension to which the dead go. Dead means that the being and its
life force is no longer here on earth.
At death (the one where you do not come back again)
the physical body is no longer functional and therefore disintegrates; and
consciousness cannot get back up a vortex which does not exist. However, if you
die whilst still alive (Introverted mystical experience) the vortex is just
fine; so we can come back up it again. From the beginning of our time on earth
the genuine mystics have said that in order to know this world, and oneself,
you first have to leave the world behind. And those mystics were absolutely
correct; spot on. Not surprising then that those who undergo near death, or in
fact temporary death, immediately begin to experience the initial events of
mystical transcendence, for as I see it, they are one and the same thing: one
is for real and the other for… well, a project of transcendence I guess. The
question arises as to why most people under anaesthetic have no experience
during that time. I do not know the answer to that one; but I would imagine that
it is akin to the dreamless sleep effect. Consciousness certainly does not seep
down this vortex during either dreams or dreamless sleep. Consciousness can
obviously be switched off without it actually moving into another mode. If
death were as is envisaged by the oblivion belief, then that would be the same
as dreamless sleep—but much longer, forever. No particular problem with that
scenario as far as I would be concerned. No existence means no problems, and no
rent to pay.
However, that is a very simplified version of the
vortex. In reality it is far more complex than that. The term I use is the
Double Vortex. This means that there is one vortex within the other. Permeating
right down the centre of these two vortices, there is a kind of hole for
want of a better word (the so-called tunnel), as in the vortex when you pull
the bath plug out and the water goes down the plughole. Imagine now then that
we have two ice-cream shaped cones. Put one inside the other. Fill the inner
vortex (ice-cream cone) with sand and then pass a drinking straw down through
the centre of the sand (with no sand in the straw). Now cut off the bottom of
the two ice-cream cones enabling the straw (and whatever travels in it) to pop
out of that structure altogether into a different reality—the paradise of the
transcendent realm.
Thence the mind/psyche is seen to be a kind of
wormhole itself—back down to its origin. Much like a lift-shaft in a building
taking the passenger (consciousness) to the basement of that building and from
whence it originally came up. Envisage however, a gap between the bottom of our
structural vortex and that of the transcendent realm itself. We now have a
structure, which from the outside would look a bit like an exclamation mark!
Except that the top of the line is far wider than the bottom; like an inverted
pyramid. Now, the gap which exists between the ice-cream cones and that of the
transcendent realm is something which we can never ever know anything about.
Why? Because it is death in the existential sense; or that is to say the
oblivion of conscious existence; and which I guess is the same thing. Well,
that is to say that consciousness is switched off whilst traversing that gap at
least. If we are no longer conscious then that is tantamount to being dead as
far as we are concerned at least. Moreover, I do not think we would want to
actually experience whatever it is that happens when the spirit is stripped
from the vortex of the psyche at that mysterious annihilation and resurrection
event. There certainly comes a point, at the bottom of a vortex, where we are
switched off, and then… nothing, no experience at all. Then we are switched on
again—in Paradise. Thus, consciousness was experienced to have been annihilated
and thence resurrected again—resurrected into the transcendent realm.
We are so very different in that transcendent mode of
consciousness that one would never believe it until one knew it for oneself.
And of course, when you know it, and especially whilst still there, then you do
not have to believe it, for you ARE IT. Many ask as to how ‘real’ does it seem
to be at the time. In a manner of speaking it is even more real than this world
is; for this world and the whole universe changes every second, whereas that
realm never changes; for there are no changing events therein—other than our
popping in and out of it. But that does not comprise a change regarding the
place/dimension itself. So, whereas the world and universe are transitory, that
realm is known to be eternal; and we are all connected to it. It is our home,
our ground, it is the Virgin Womb of Eternity and Primordial Consciousness. It
is not a woman, it is not a man, it is not a being; it is a place, a dimension,
a level of conscious reality. But it is a very mysterious, profound and wonderful
place to be sure.
Consciousness then, and whatever that is made of,
travels down a central… what word shall I use—pipeline, hole, at the centre of
the vortices. Imagine like a lift-shaft in a building. I guess you have heard
people describe travelling down a tunnel in near death experiences. Well, it is
much like that. A funnel would be a better description. The tunnel does not
have hard glossy walls however. The tunnel is through the psyche itself. Within
that structure there exists the records of every stage of evolution that ever
was. The ‘sand’ in the psyche is the stuff of creation at those levels, and it
is written upon—just as you and I write upon it now with the quantum effect in
computers. Creation is much like a computer program in analogy.
There are two vortices as I envisage it. One is
presumably the record data of the evolution of the species, and one is the
evolution of ones own individual program (soul). Souls do not go to paradise,
consciousness does. Souls end before the paradise level. The soul, from
hindsight, is seen to be the inner of the two vortices, and that, the Psyche
and survival kit being predominately the outer vortex. The outer vortex is the
part that one does not want to get caught up in—unless you have a twisted sense
of humour and adventure that is. For there are indeed dark and fearsome forces
there. Moreover, this is one very long journey and at terrific speeds at times,
or so it is experienced to be. But there are levels where consciousness can and
does stop in its movement for a while, for there are things to be synthesised,
a process to go through at each level, and things to be learned. So, unlike
myths we do not fly up to heaven or climb the pearly staircase but rather we
gravitate back down our own vortex of emanation to the paradise of our original
mode of being from whence we came in the first place; like going home—and which
is exactly what it is. Mind is not from this world or even this universe.
You have no doubt heard the term Purgation, and
it is true. We go through a process of purgation. But it is not what the
Christians think it is. Purgation means to have things taken away from you.
Everything (the further we go down the inner vortex) is stripped away from us.
But that is by virtue of our going deeper than the level where they are found
at. So it is not like skinning a rat. One of the very last things to go is
memory of oneself as a personality on earth. But there is a point where that
also goes (annihilation). But it has not gone anywhere, it is you, consciousness
stuff, which has simply gone deeper than where memories and data are written
onto the energy at those levels. Memories are recorded not in a big gold book
on St. Peters desk, but in the energy of the psyche and soul. Did you ever
wonder why so many people undergo a life review when flying down that plughole
of self-existence? All the memories, information, data, is there within the
psyche. And depending on need the psyche can present them in many ways, either
just recollections, remembering them, or creating pictures to see
them—experience has to be digested and synthesised. Experience is not for
nothing: nothing is for nothing.
So, the walls of this psyche structure are very wide
compared to the passageway of consciousness which goes down through it. One
person described them well as a hedgerow of visions and information. A good way
of looking at it. But not too many people manage to see into those walls at
all. Now, another strange thing which seems to crop up is that at times some
purely psychic experience can move from topside consciousness not into the
tunnel of the river Styx but actually into the wall structure of the vortex—the
psychic fields. Therein reside (are stored) species memories it would seem.
They are all there presumably in case they are needed again in an emergency.
Creation seems to cover its tracks well and keeps good records. It sounds like
going from the sublime to the ridiculous does it not. But these inner fields
can be and are known and experienced directly. However, let us leave this for a
while as this will suffice for now as a working model but we will make many
references to it later. Keep in mind for now the analogy that going home is
much like a floppy disk being reformatted—all the data being wiped off except
that of the operating system itself.
The existing scientific paradigm has it that the
physical brain creates consciousness. For science to assume such is no problem,
but to teach it as a fact of reality when they do not know it to be a fact of
reality is not scientific and defies their own principles of operation; and it
is wrong. It is much like stating that ice creates water. The mystics argument
is that mind/consciousness existed before the big bang and always exists, and
that in absolute reality the stuff of consciousness is all that there is
originally at least, and originally means at the deepest depth of anything that
there is. However, or so would go the argument, consciousness can be switched
off. Indeed it can, even chemicals can switch it off, anaesthetics; and
dreamless sleep itself does a good job of it. So too does annihilation by the
way. The irony is that I personally find that unconsciousness is one of the
most amazing things in existence, and thank the powers that be for it; and
unconsciousness is also just great. No consciousness means no problems.
However, does the fact that consciousness can be switched off prove that the
brain creates it? No, it does no such thing. Imagine the brain being like that
of a radio transceiver. That is to say that it can both receive and transmit
data. Imagine then that the brain was the machinery that connects (and
modulates) transcendent consciousness to the perception of this so-called
physical universe in a dimension of changing events.
Now if the ‘valves’ of the brain were closed
(like a tap in water pipe) then consciousness would not be able to pass through
it into the outside world or dimension thereof. Therefore a blow on head, or
sleep, or anaesthetics would simply result in closing those connection points or
turning off the taps which allows consciousness to perceive a physical
universe. We also know well enough that unconsciousness does not equate with
non-existence. True, one can call it non existence from the point of view of
not being conscious of anything, but we can be, and are, woken up again, and
carry on from where we left off, and with all the machinery operating as
before; much like the software within the hardware of a computer. Paradise is
much like being put into a cosmic draw for a rest. This indeed could well
happen with consciousness switched off—but it isn’t. Moreover, if we were never
made conscious of that level of being then we would never know it and never
learn and be effected by it. We Have to know. Nothing is for nothing.
Unconsciousness does not then imply death and everlasting oblivion of the
phenomenon which can be made to be conscious. This ‘being switched off’
business makes it self-evident that you and I are not consciousness per se on
the bottom line. We are something which can be made conscious. We can never
know what that ‘stuff’ is; all we can know is that its existence is axiomatic;
hence the words spirit or essence of being at least points to it. Likewise, on
the bottom level of physical matter we cannot even know what that is, and yet
the stuff serves its purpose just fine.
It may or may not be the case that on the bottom line
the stuff of which consciousness is made is the same stuff of which the
physical universe is also made; but this certainly does not imply that in some
mysterious way that the physical universe is itself conscious for it is
obviously a very different process of emanation and structure. However, it is
just as conceivable that there exists two ultimate modes of reality as it does
for only one mode to exist. Either way there is no dichotomy of mind and matter
as far as I am concerned. Consciousness has to perceive of existing somewhere
in something, and a physical universe is just fine by me.
As medical equipment has improved over the years it is
capable of bringing people back who would otherwise have died, and the more it
improves then it seems to be the case that the greater depths of near death
that they can be retrieved from, and hence the deeper their inner experience
will have seen down to. Not everyone reports any conscious activity however,
and their experience or lack of it is akin to dreamless sleep, oblivion. What
inner working I wonder actually ‘decides’ or triggers the actual death process.
We do not know. However, this is a book about transcendent experience not near
death experience. But nevertheless the correlation’s with regard the two
phenomena are too closely related, at least during the early stages of the
mystical death, to assume anything other than that they are a part of the same
event of consciousness; but with different causes. Likewise are the effects of
near death experience identical in a persons changed viewpoint, feelings and
attitude. For they too, by and large, report being more sensitive, more
involved in life, less egocentric, and with changed values or an enhancement of
their old values, like being topped up with vitality, and spiritual oomph and a
greater empathy with the essences of things. And how do we know that even near
death experiences are not instigated by the psyche itself? Are near death
experiences an accident or are they somehow inwardly contrived for effect?
It is useful to use the terms spirit and essence in
different contexts at times. I will try to explain. If we decide to call that
part of ourselves which exists in the transcendent reality as our spirit
(certainly not the soul) then the things which it actually knows whilst there
can be referred to as essences. In a way they are the same thing, for that is
the mode and reality of that level of being. But in a mysterious way one can
still differentiate between the knower and the known; and it is axiomatically
the case that the essences of which are known by that spirit in paradise is the
direct link or creative umbilical cord which connects us to… to what—the life
force itself; to that of no created thing. I attempt to talk of these essences
in another chapter. Suffice to end this chapter with the words of an anonymous
ancient mystic:
“Since it has been said that you are my twin and true
companion, examine yourself so that you may understand who you are... I am the
knowledge of the truth. So while you accompany me, although you do not
understand (it), you already have come to know, and you will be called ‘The one
who knows himself’. For whoever has not known himself has known nothing, but
whoever has known himself has simultaneously achieved knowledge about the depth
of all things.” Anon
These people
were not making it up as they go along; they knew what they were talking about,
and that I know. Maybe for some people it does indeed require a leap of faith
to realise that there is more to creation than meets the physical eye and the
physical hand. I do not need faith in it, nor do I have to believe it. I know
it. And, I would imagine, that many people reading this book also know it. To
deny ones ignorance is a consequence of fear and stupidity. But to deny ones
knowledge is a kick in the face to life and existence.
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