The Consciousness of Man
Today the mass consciousness is crying out for a highly advanced way of taking in and mastering the present chaos of the modern world. The new highly advanced understanding that is needed must answer personal problems and relationships. It must answer moral, ethical and religious needs. It must facilitate responsible political, social and global solutions for man’s problems. Knowledge of mental, emotional and psychological states must be made manageable and usable. And greatest of all, the spiritual or mystical aspect of man must be explained in a format that will match and eventually lead man’s highly advanced technological development into the future.
Man has taken technology, seemingly beyond all limits, literally making the possibilities of the physical realm boundless. We have taken our capabilities to the threshold of life itself and forced ourselves to ask, “Where does it begin?” Does life begin with the joining of the ovum and sperm? Does life begin with the maturing of an egg? But there was life in the body that produced the egg and life in the materials that produced the egg and sperm. There is life in the molecular biology of all forms. And as we retrace the threads of life back into the chemicals, and then to the atoms and finally to the subatomic particles or quantum; there is no clear definitive break point where we can say, “Here is where life begins! This is life and all else is not. Here is the valuable; here is not.”
Man's search for answers has laid open the entire physical realm for his investigation. We now all have, at least, a casual interest in the scientific “Origin of the Universe” due to the marvelous inventions of space exploration and the global communications network. When did the scientific discoveries about the beginning of creation ever make front page news or the nightly TV news until the last few years? In larger or smaller degrees, the general consciousness of man has risen up to ask, “What is life, really? Where does it begin and end? Is there a definitive starting point? Or, if life truly is without a beginning or an end, where do I fit into the plan, having a body that will someday deteriorate? Am I eternal as well?”
Do you have a definition of life? Does your life have clearly defined black and white dimensions?
Science has established that the universe of the VISIBLE, as well as the INVISIBLE, is composed of one essential essence and it is called energy. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed. The laws and principles of energy can be explained and understood. Modern science, as quantum mechanics, has enabled man to direct and transmute energy at its most basic levels. The laws and principles governing energy are as straightforward and factual as those of mathematics. Just as mathematics is a universal language, so too are the laws and principles of energy. One does not have to believe or interpret these principles. Individual opinions and bias have no effect upon their accuracy and stability. Energy just goes right on existing and operating as it does, regardless of what we believe or think.
In the scientific investigation of the mental world and the body’s control center, the brain, man has also made unprecedented breakthroughs. Psychiatrists, psychologists, psychoanalysts, psychotherapists and mind altering drug experimenters have generated a wonderful amount of information for man to explore in an attempt to find out who he really is; and what to do about it once he thinks he knows. But have they come to definite answers that people can use with confidence? Are their answers as straightforward as those governing energy? At its present level of development and employment, we would have to agree that the mental sciences are subject to much interpretation and value judgment. Meaning simply that for the most part, that when it comes to applying what is actually known to everyday experience, “They’re still guessing.” The principles are being defined and a great deal of truth is being revealed but the missing links, the elements we don’t know, keep it a hit and miss proposition.
We do now know that the way a child is raised or neglected sets the patterns for its life and this is truly beneficial knowledge. It relieves much guilt and self-condemnation. It has a very liberating and constructive aspect. On the other hand, this same knowledge serves as the fail-safe excuse for every act that is performed for whatever reason. This truly useful knowledge has been taken to the limits in the courts of our land with the results of giving unquestionable approval for all crimes to be guiltless. The question of personal responsibility has never been more desperately examined. Another wild goose chase of responsibility is begun as we blame the parents who in turn could blame their parents, etc. And what about all the deviant behavior patterns that psychiatrists and other well intentioned authorities have promoted as perfectly natural …to the point that children are being shown that any act or whim that they can dream up is okay? Then there are the questions of where child abuse and responsible parenting get taken to extremes in both directions. This is all confusion of the mental realm.
It is being made unavoidably obvious that there is a mix now, of those who are the responsible scientists and researchers with those who are irresponsible and misuse valuable knowledge indiscriminately. Hypnosis, auto-hypnosis, psychotherapy and psychoanalysis have there beneficial and devastating practices as well as all degrees between the two extremes. Who is responsible for the results? Who guarantees that you will not be lead down a destructive path when you need help? Who is your authority entrusted with the correct information?
The question of responsibility lies heavily upon our collective heads as never before. The major religions, as well as all the multitudes of various sects or various interpretations, are having a resurgence of devotees, and at the same time are taking numerous hits from all the exposure of good ole’ carnal corruption within the ranks. The truth and wisdom of the great religions that has been the inspiration and sustaining guidance of mankind through the ages should never be threatened by scientific discoveries in the physical or mental sciences. But it is threatened. And the threat is very real.
To many people in this North American Continent, religion as it is dispersed, is not applicable to modern man. It contains the seeds of wisdom and truth, the spiritual foundations that are the regeneration of the world, but they are largely unreachable to our present consciousness. Does the person who considers himself to have a spiritual life through his religion strengthen himself in times of ease by truly being a grateful, thankful receiver of all his good fortunes and rewards? Does this same person work outwardly in deeds and expression toward the service of his brothers? And when misfortune and tragedy occur as is the course of life, does he know within himself and feel deep within his being that he understands and is at peace with all life? For surly, this IS the essence of any true Master‘s teaching.
Because man has advanced so very far in his intellectual abilities it may be possible that he has “thought himself right out of” the wisdom in which he longs to be conversant. For certainly everything cannot be randomly dissected into pieces and still reveal its totality. In the simplest terms; you cannot attend a couple church services and know what the life of the preachers involves and probably not even the essence of that particular religion. It still must be experienced to make it reality for you. Religion must answer your innermost needs or what is its value?
With a keen intellect man can approach the spiritual, but that alone, will never gain a conscious spiritual dimension for the man. As has been repeated countless times in all philosophies and religions; the ideas must be lived at least in part, to be known and experienced. Only in that degree of practice is the idea made alive. “Talking the talk” keeps the mind busy, but what about the inner being? Do you know how to express love when you feel you are deeply wronged?
If man’s intellect itself is a stumbling block to religious or spiritual life, how is he to comprehend a spiritual life? And if he must live it -the teachings of the great ones, in some degree to experience it…how can he live that which he cannot consciously put into everyday terms? We uncover another merry-go-round or Ferris wheel of repetitious debate.
...