Mystical literature has long converged upon and catalogued a complex and multi-tiered reality that includes not only the phenomenal but the transphenomenal aspects of existence. This hierarchical model of reality begins where mechanistic science remains. As previously discussed, there is a paradigmatic attachment to a Newtonian-Cartesian worldview despite the empirically astute new physics. This worldview recognizes only the gross experiential realm, the land of consensus reality and waking life. Here, the limits of the sensory organs are the limits of existence. The only epistemologically correct derivation of information is from the physical body and physical environment. The transphenomenal is not only ignored, but denied its existence altogether. In the gross experiential realm, time is linear. While this view allows room for ideas such as karma, it cannot accommodate cyclical or non-linear perspectives of time as expounded in the perennial philosophies. Yet people all over the planet continue to experience the acausal connecting principle Carl Jung termed synchronicity. Quantum physics is exploring a facet of subatomic reality called quantum entanglement in which a nonlocal connection requires a transfer of information immediately with no passage of time, through the existence of tachyons or teleportation. The theory of relativity proves the complete elasticity of time and space. These advancements in psychology and science support the existence of transphenomenal aspects of existence as found in the archives of mystical literature. These transphenomenal realms include the lower and higher subtle levels, the lower and higher causal levels, and the ultimate or absolute level. The lower subtle level consists of the often proclaimed experiences of out-of-body and astral travel. It includes the psychic phenomena such as precognition, clairvoyance, psychokinesis, visualizing auras, etc. Here are the empathic identification experiences of embryonic, ancestral, racial, group, historical, cosmogenic, and other transbiographical categories. This is an extension of the psyche into the transpersonal realms beyond the usual parameters of the body, ego, space, and time. The higher subtle level is beyond an extension of the self; it is the realm of encounters with other high beings. Archetypal deities, spiritual guides, and supreme agents are the types of presences encountered here. This level includes experiences such as genuine channeling, divine inspiration, visions of light and audible illuminations, such as celestial cities and angelic music. The lower causal level is the direct encounter with the final God, not a visit by one of its metaphorical aspects or avatars, but the creator of all individual deities. It is not necessarily anthropomorphic, but may be the synesthetic seed syllable ‘om,’ the cosmic egg of the big bang, etc. In Hinduism and Buddhism, this realm is recognized as savikalpa samadhi, an advanced state of meditation. The higher causal level is meditatively known as nirvikalpa samadhi, in which even this final God is either transcended or assimilated. There is an experience of a boundless, egoless, energetic radiance, known as moksha in Hinduism, where the individual atman is united with Brahman. Beyond these levels remains the ultimate or Absolute. This is nirvana, an extinguishing of any sense of self or experience at all. It is anatman, the sudden insight into sunyata. It is empty of everything. This is consciousness’ encounter with its original condition: suchness. These are the transphenomenal aspects of existence derived from a comparative study of mystical literature across the ages. They emerge effortlessly from the timeless perennial philosophies, and are becoming increasingly supported by the new sciences. This cartography of existence encompasses all from the bottom up the great chain of being all the way to the source of all things, and beyond…
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For more information on transcendental topics, such as transpersonal consciousness, please visit Jared B. Hobbs at his blog Meditations and become a Scholar of Consciousness!
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