Home
Doors
Essays2007
Essays2008
Essays2009
Essays2010
Wisdom
Gallery
Links
Bios
Contact
|
..:: The Organism ::..
By
Alan Schneider
The human manifestation of
consciousness is of the highest order of complexity – what we see in our
case is a combination of physical, mental, and spiritual factors that
combine to form a gestalt, a whole that exceeds the simple sum of
its parts through dynamic interaction. The term customarily used in
science to refer to this structure is the human organism, and it
is the function and form of this organism that are the subjects of this
essay.
If the evidence of the senses
is to be believed at all, we appear to be composed in, or in
association with, a relatively dense physical, biological
structure of some kind that we call the body. Based on other extended
observations of other life on this planet, we also appear to have
structural similarities to other organisms, particularly to the class of
organisms called primates, but more obliquely to many other organisms as
well. And the fossil record, again if it is to be believed at all,
displays additional historic similarities among life forms that have
been held by some as evidence of the more or less orderly development of
sequences of species through the process referred to as evolution.
In the opinion of this author, Creation was and is accomplished by a
Divine Force acting on the universe through this medium of
evolutionary development, culminating at the present observational
moment on Earth in humanity and the human condition. Such is the nature
of the physical edifice of consciousness, and its ultimate purpose is to
provide the opportunity for subsequent mental and spiritual
evolution.
As can also be readily
observed by all but the most befuddled among us (regrettably including
certain individuals possessed of advanced academic certification) we
also possess and demonstrate awareness of our condition and
circumstances. We know from moment to moment that we are involved in
internal and external interaction resulting in personal change in
both areas. As I sit here typing this essay, I am conscious of my
internal thought processes in composing it, and my external behavior in
expressing those thoughts through the electronic media of my computer.
I prefer to use the term consciousness to describe this portion
of my personal organismic gestalt – the interaction of my mental and
physical states resulting in this essay. At this stage of
consideration, my gestalt only involves two of the three areas of
interaction defining my humanity – the spiritual dimension has been left
out for the time being. We are all fairly certain of the existence of
the mind and the body, although the link connecting them is still a
matter of hot debate in academic circles, not to mention that, beyond
this, some even deny the existence of the mind at all, relegating our
behavior to a Black Box of conditioned responses. (To this latter
preposterous contention I say “If you do not exist as awareness, who or
what has come to that conclusion?!”) I believe that it is the
consideration of the third element of spirit in the human
gestalt, whether of myself or others, that holds the potential
explanation of the linkage between mind and body, and between both of
these and the spiritual realm that is the most tenuous of them all, and
most open to debate for that reason.
The simple fact of the matter
is that life either is the result of arbitrary chaotic influences that
have no meaning or purpose at all, or results from the direction of an
unseen intelligent force that guides human and other events according to
an intentional design. Carl Jung has gone so far as to term this force,
as represented in consciousness, the Primal Self, and has
suggested that consciousness itself exists and extends beyond the
boundary of the physical body. His Theory of the Archetypes of the
Collective Unconscious is as close as science has come to
postulating and describing extrapersonal influences intelligently
structuring human affairs, and stands as a landmark in spiritual
investigation. More recently, Einstein has postulated the Unified
Field Theory as a demonstration of the existence of an orderly,
intelligent universe, and many aspects of Schrödinger’s Theory of
Quantum Mechanics also support the suggestion that an orderly,
intelligent design lies behind the surface chaos of superficial physical
events. In consequence of these and other scientific developments, today
there is a race on to find the Holy Grail of consciousness – a
single theory of existence that will tie all of the others together into
a unitary perception of conscious awareness.
All of the advances and
tenets of science – the best, most productive investigative modality
developed to date – rely on the phenomenon of the observation of
events, using the structured scientific method of enquiry in that case.
The role of the observer is central to this, and the many other,
perhaps less scientific, approaches to our living existence –
whatever we do, and however we do it, we must inevitably conduct
observations as the core process of life. I know of my body because I
observe it both internally and externally. I know of my mind because I
observe it internally in terms of noticing my many internal mental
states, and additionally observe the external consequences of those
states as demonstrated in my behavior. And, even though they are more
difficult to observe, I can also note my unconscious mental processes as
symbolically revealed in my dreams, visions, and fantasies, including
the Jungian Archetypes of the Collective Unconscious already noted.
Science today has discovered that the role of the observer is absolutely
crucial to the nature, content, and outcome of any observation,
regardless of how well scientifically controlled it may be. At the
quantum level, where observation of the most minute of phenomena is
attempted, the role of the observer can completely alter the phenomenon
observed – the wave of light becomes a particle simply
through the attempt at observation!
When we attempt to observe
the observer (i.e. ourselves) in the act of observation, a
very interesting event takes place – the universe which we have presumed
to be so permanent and omnipresent progressively vanishes, to be
replaced by a void in perception! When we go looking for ourselves, we
find that, at least in terms of our conventional definitions of
existence, there’s apparently nothing there. How can this be?
Surely the “I” that has been taken for granted at the center of “my”
consciousness cannot be a fictional creation! If there is no “me” then
what exists to make the observation that seems to be occurring?
Is behaviorism correct? Is there nothing at the center of consciousness
but external conditioning?
If “I” continue to press the
self-observational attempt, and subsequently observe the void where once
“I” was, the entire process of conscious begins to shift to an entirely
different frame of reference. This is what occurs in the phenomenon of
internal self-observation known as meditation – the observational
nature of the observer evolves through a series of stages of
manifestation once the initial identification with the social self (the
ego) is released. This is why meditation is one of the most important
human processes – with the release of the ego and its attendant
acculturation, we have the opportunity to be genuinely free
observers manifest in successively higher states of conscious
expression.
These stages of conscious
expression have been the subject of numerous SYNERGY essays, but
perhaps a brief synopsis will be of use in the context of this current
effort. The basal awareness of the objects and processes appearing as
distinct from the observer, and primarily observable through
the senses is referred to as the condition or expression of the
Physical Plane in the Mystery Theories, and is considered the most
fallen form of conscious expression because it is the perception of
fragments, not whole states of being.
Although accounts and
theories vary considerably, the next, higher level of conscious
expression is generally referred to as the Astral Plane, and is
considered to be accessible in dreams, meditation experiences,
fantasies, and various other “altered” states of perception – altered
from the “normal” experience of waking consciousness controlled and
defined by the ego, and present in the senses. The Astral Plane
is the beginning of spiritual experience, although that experience may
be of any range of expression from quite low to relatively high. The
Jungian Archetypes are initially present in the Astral perception in
many personalized forms determined by the residual ego
observers waking (but often unconscious) social
conditioning.
The next level of
observational expression is the Mental Plane, a region of
significantly deeper involvement customarily accessed through
meditation, and the home of the Jungian Primary Archetypes –
Thought Forms exemplified by such concepts as spirit guides,
archangels, and verbal totem animals. The term verbal is
significant here, because the observer is most often involved in direct
verbal interaction with the thought form(s) – receiving occasionally
complex guidance and instructions for worldly conduct on the Physical
Plane upon return to that level of conscious involvement. This is the
last level of psychic apperception prior to the full presence of the
Soul in perception, and frequently involves advanced social
consciousness and training.
The Soul comes into
manifestation as the observer on the Buddhic Plane, analogous to
the Heart Chakra of Yoga practice, and the Sephirah Tippereth in
Cabalistic theory. This is the first truly spiritual level of
involvement, one in which the moral consequences of our existence become
focal objects in perception as a function of the Souls involvement. The
hallmark of the Atmic Plane is the development of compassion and
selfless love.
Beyond the
Buddhic Plane is the Atmic Plane, and there is considerable difference of opinion
regarding which is first or next in the sequence, or whether they are
even distinct levels, or what they should be called, based on their
presumed distinctions. I prefer to leave the Atmic following the
Buddhic, because the Buddha Mind – the nature of the observer at that
level – is a universal state of consciousness that transcends the
personal Soul. On the other hand, the Collective Soul can be thought of
as essentially the Buddha Mind in universal expression. The two levels
are obviously very closely related to each other in any case. The
Buddha Mind is the supreme source of buddhi – transcendental
wisdom and knowledge that exceeds everything that has come before it in
terms of subtlety and depth of meaning. The Buddha Mind is also the
source of spiritual instruction referenced in the condition of the
bodhisattva – one who attains Enlightenment, but refuses to Ascend
permanently until all sentient beings have received this gift.
Beyond the
Atmic Plane is
the Monadic Plane, the sixth level of conscious expression, and
the observer function here is the Monad, a “family” of twelve
Souls released directly from the final Plane – the Logoic Plane – with a
common spiritual bond and vibration to perform specific related tasks on
the Planes below. The Monad is a very high vibratory level of
observation characterized by the perception of the Divine Light, visions
of future events (i.e. from the perspective of the ego back on the
Physical Plane), and spiritual insight into the deepest possible sources
of meaning that can be perceived while there is still any separation
remaining from the Divine Precept on the Logoic Plane.
The Logoic Plane is
the ultimate destination of Ascension, and the observer on that level is
the merged consciousness of the Soul and the Logos – as God, the
Divine Precept. Consciousness at this level amounts to a
unified perception of Divine Love, Holy White Light, and the I AM
Presence in one manifestation as the Supreme Absolute
Truth. No higher condition of consciousness can be known though
any means or to any end – God is complete unto God. At the level of
SAT, we are all One Being united in Love and Light beyond any
limitations of space or time. In fact, this is what we really
are, and all of the lesser states are misperceptions of
SAT, caused by various levels of ignorance and spiritual blindness.
Thus, what is possible, and
required to be fully awake on the Physical Plane (as was the
Buddha) is this perceptual journey through all of the
translations of the nature of the observer just mentioned. Obviously,
this is a mighty big “bill to fill” for anyone, but history is still
full of examples of individuals who have made the grade through
devotion, discipline, and self-sacrifice – the Saints and Seers of all
spiritual traditions have left ample guidance to light the Way. And all
of them were still present on the Physical Plane as flesh and bone,
deliberating, behaving organisms, with all of the apparent suffering and
limitation that physicality implies. This is the spiritual condition of
Karma, the destiny of the Soul during incarnation, and is
transformed into Dharma – spiritual insight – through the Wisdom
of Enlightenment.
- With Love, Alan -
(Copyright 2009, by Alan Schneider)
Return to Top
|