The new disclosure as progressive, not reactionary

When encountering what I have termed in the content on this site the “new disclosure”, or, more specifically, when encountering the facts and information that its apprehension brings to the mind – especially those facts pertaining to the way or manner of life that is revealed to be conducive and appropriate to a new understanding of being, life, reality and experience – it may easily appear that what is being disclosed is something more reactionary than progressive or developed; in so far as the new disclosure is bound up with pre-existing facts, information, assumptions and other content in the mind of the individual, this sense or appearance will be relatively more or less pronounced. The outcome of this state of affairs, on the larger scale, is that for quite some time the new disclosure will, generally, be misunderstood. Nevertheless, the progressive nature and functioning of the new disclosure will not cease to have its effect upon individuals and communities because of this, and in this way, in time, the new disclosure – as all previous disclosures – will be revealed to be an active force in the life of humanity and the universe, which cannot really be resisted.

Although this general ignorance and misunderstanding may also be prominent, it will not really serve any use to provide any kind of intellectual or emotional defence for the new disclosure’s progressive nature. An individual cannot be forced to see that which they are incapable of seeing. Yet, both now and in the future, there will be individuals and communities who, basing their lives upon the new disclosure and what is revealed by it, will show by their example, words and productions the progressive nature of their understanding and way of life. Through them, the new disclosure will be revealed to have brought out a further development of previous disclosures and the facts and information about life revealed through these. Although the pre-existing culture will not necessarily readily receive these new citizens or their productions, the world process will gradually generalize the new disclosure; far, far into the future, what is currently the new disclosure will become the standard disclosure, giving rise, eventually, for the need for a newer disclosure, and so on.

The situation of humanity, and the aforementioned gridlock (which is, to remind readers, the principal subject of the current content), depends upon the causes and effects of a great variety of factors that are currently or generally unacknowledged to play a role, for one reason or another. One of these factors involves this very misunderstanding of the progressive nature of the new disclosure, for the misunderstanding will give rise to a gross negligence and under-valuation of the very things which are important and valuable. In the fear and dread of annulling human progress through the mistaken belief that there is in the new disclosure a general call to return to former values and modes of being, and to destroy the contemporary edifices upon which the current, ordinary moral standard is based, along with the institutions and customs that arise out of them, a most precious opportunity will be missed. Since the situation of humanity absolutely depends upon the embrace of the new disclosure, care must be taken in the analysis of its implications for ordinary life and living.

The new disclosure touches and will touch every aspect of life and experience. Human relationships, sexuality, work, economy, food, politics, technology, education; there are no areas of life that will not be touched by the new encounter with “world” that is ever present as a potential in every moment. In addition, completely new areas of life will emerge. However, for many people things will not seem new at all, but will be necessarily bound up with their pre-existing ideas. Although for some this will not cause too much of a problem, for others it will prevent any real understanding: it is this that will constitute another factor in the resolution of humanity’s situation.

The complexity of the situation of humanity and courage

Many would perhaps agree that the situation humanity is in is very complex. As suggested in the introductory remarks in March 2012, even the standard perspective makes individuals generally aware of the many factors and realities that enter into that situation. Even within the standard perspective, very few individuals, I would say, have a fundamental grasp of all of the factors and realities that are apprehensible. We do not find people with equal awareness, knowledge and understanding of all the areas and aspects of life; we have scientists ignorant of religion, artists ignorant of mathematics, lawyers ignorant of literature, and so on. Where there is an overview, it can only be patchy. To speak of the situation of humanity in the context of the standard perspective is already a complex affair.

From non-standard perspectives, which are found to be in various forms and of various degrees of complexity and detail themselves, the situation of humanity is even more complex than the standard view would allow. Certainly, from within my own perspective, the situation involves and includes all of the factors and realities normally apprehended and acknowledged, but also understands these to constitute but a part of the larger picture. Many, many other factors and realities enter into the situation and the appreciation of it. Life is just far more complex than would appear.

All previous world disclosures have revealed various facts and information about the world. Some of these have been communicated and expressed through various individuals and their works throughout history. In a way, all of this information now constitutes part of the standard disclosure, and, as can be appreciated by any individual or community who would enter into a study of it, there already exists a reasonable amount of complexity. However, over and above this, or beyond this, there exists the realm of the unknown and the as yet undisclosed plethora of facts and information. Here there begins to unfold the real complexity of the situation of humanity, which has yet to be expressed and which has not yet been expressed. This new information will always make previous disclosures appear to be something like the tip of the iceberg, with ever more profundity lying beneath the surface. In this way, the real situation of humanity is seen to unfathomably complex.

The point is that going forward with the situation that humanity is in – going forward with the “gridlock” mentioned previously – requires a certain courage and a going forth from the safety net of previous disclosures. Relying on existing knowledge, as found in books and as espoused by historical figures and heroes, as learned about in schools and from elders, and as promoted as being the great and the good by society, will not suffice. Sometimes there is too strong a reliance on famous names and doctrines, on authority, and this, in part, contributes to the problem. If the real complexity of humanity’s situation is to be appreciated and embraced, brave individuals need to leave behind the swaddling clothes of received opinion and authority, and take on the challenges of seeing things directly and as they are as opposed to how others have seen them, however noble and venerable they may have been. Humanity does not need to destroy its heroes in order to go beyond them, but venture forth like them into new territories, and with courage.

Observation and speculation

If a person understands the laws of physics that relate to projected, moving masses, that person will be able to more accurately predict where a missile fired from a cannon will land. This determination of a future state is not based on guess-work, speculation, magic or imagination. Rather, it is based on knowledge, observation, understanding and experimentation. If the sceptical observer would really understand the physicist’s assertion about the missile, he or she must learn physics rather than simply believe that the prediction about the missile is magical or not.

When a new perspective is genuinely acquired, a new way of understanding, knowing and being aware is also acquired. Indeed, a perspective, in the way that I use the term, can only be so where it is firmly based in and naturally arises out of the total experience, which itself is the foundation for the individual’s knowledge, observational capacities and so on. Depending on the nature of the perspective acquired, and the depth or breadth of understanding about life that it affords, observations and calculations may be made, which may be more or less accurate according to the skill and competence of the observer. When presented with these observations about life, an observer who does not share the perspective or the knowledge and understanding on which it is based would only be able to be in a position of faith regarding them until the same or similar perspective is acquired by them. Until that time, the observer will not be able to determine fact from fiction as regards the observations made and presented to them that the observer is not able to make themselves. In those regards, they will not be able to determine magic from science, and everything will appear to be of one colour, as it were.

It is in this position that many with the standard perspective stand relative to non-standard perspectives and the observations about life and reality that are derived from them. With the standard perspective, it would seem impossible to determine the genuine observation from the false one, the purely speculative and imaginative expression from the one based in knowing and understanding. To the standard observer, there can only be a belief that the observation presented to him or her is either magical or scientific, until, that is, the same observer acquires an awareness and perspective in which the former observation becomes observable to them. As always, it will remain the responsibility of individuals to acquire what knowledge and understanding they need to enter into ever truer relations with life and the world around them, and to become better able to determine what is fact or fiction. What is acquired will always be different from individual to individual.

As an aside, it must be stated that outside the standard perspective on being and life there does exist a great deal of speculation, which, I would suggest, arises not least out of a too premature and undeveloped capacity for apprehension. A great deal of imagination, wishful thinking, and uncontrolled emotional and intellectual material enters into it. A great deal is influenced by the surrounding environment and culture, and results in the creation of new mythologies and even systems of belief. Such speculation has always existed, and will continue to do so; hence, it becomes ever more important for individuals to develop real standards of enquiry even into the unknown.

With these things in mind, it would seem that the real value of observation becomes apparent, for surely it can only have a potential value for those who are able to understand it. It would seem, then, that there is no point in the physicist printing formulae for public perusal if only a minority of them will be able to appreciate it. However, this is not at all the position that ought to be taken. It is perfectly right to open access to even difficult and sometimes incomprehensible information, for even if the formulae may not be readily understood more generally, even their outward form and shape may appeal to the growing intellect, and may inspire young children to take up science in the future. Although somebody who had not studied mathematics would not really be able to tell the difference between a made up equation and a true one, they should not be denied the possibility of going beyond speculation to observation that the presentation of true with false material allows. Indeed, the very existence of the situation whereby falsity is bound up with truth should act as a stimulus and challenge to go beyond the lazy assertion and to uncover the truth for oneself.

 

 

 

The experiencing of ordinary being and that of the eternal essence

The “experiencing” of the eternal essence is not at all like or comparable with the experiencing of the phenomenal “I”. From the position of the phenomenal “I”, and with “consciousness” as is ordinarily known, the experiencing of the eternal essence can only be imagined, conceptualized, approached. One may speak of the “experiencing” of the eternal essence using this word for communicative purposes, but it does mean that the essence experiences manifestation in the same way the personal I experiences a sunny day. Further, although human beings ordinarily understand “experience” to be intimately bound up with their “consciousness”, such that the discussion of the experiencing and consciousness of the eternal essence may seem to give rise to the impression, or lead to or imply the assertion, that there are two “consciousnesses” to speak of with regard to human beings, this would be erroneous. That this cannot be easily understood by the experience and consciousness of the manifested self is a given, for the manifestation is totally other to the manifester, which is the eternal essence. The ” experiencing” of the eternal essence cannot be understood with the ordinary consciousness. Yet, it can be approached in a basic, limited way; the wild deer might be able to determine what is near and far to it, but may not have any deeper understanding of the relation between distance, speed and time. In a certain way, even the most advanced and articulate expressions of understanding regarding the nature of the eternal essence must still be primitive.

However, since even very ancient times, human beings are are on their way to greater understanding of the eternal essences of all beings and forms; of their own hidden nature. This growth towards ever greater understanding is played out across the ages, on a cosmological stage, in accordance with universal principles such as the evolutionary principle which emanates from the Being of all being as an oscillating, creative power through worlds within worlds. This creative power manifests manifestation, with which beings of all levels and forms interact, and which gradually move them through evolution according to the ways in which its creative power affects them; manifestations meeting manifestation, and ever becoming different manifestation, yet essentially more evolved.

Beings have different awareness and understanding of this great journeying of which they are a part. Throughout human history, this understanding has been expressed in many different ways. Many human beings have come to understand something of their inherent natures and have lived accordingly. Likewise, many, many others have come to understand nothing about it, and have not developed any awareness. Furthermore, there are many beings on the globe who do not even have the human form of awareness. Yet, this does not alter the fact that all beings who are beings are so by virtue of being eternal essences, who are absolutely equal to each other in terms of their eternal essence, nature and capacity, even if their manifested forms are different. All such beings are likewise equally a part of the journeying through evolution, which is not only “experienced” by the eternal essence but fundamentally caused by it, for it must also be realized that it is the eternal essence that is evolving, not the manifestation.

When discussing and considering the eternal essence, particularly in the context of the limited and personal “self”, it would seem that that “self” is a rather insignificant phenomena. After all, in the context of eternity, even a span of millennia may be likened to nothing but a momentary flash. What then of a single human lifetime? The question of the significance of the individual human life will always be asked, if not answered, by the ordinary human consciousness. However, it is only really the eternal essence that can “answer” it, as it were.

Since ancient times, humans have experienced the oscillation between sleep and wakefulness, and have also given expression to the idea that the ordinary, physical life and consciousness is but a dream, in response to the world’s disclosure of the nature of reality and being, and the complex relation between essence and manifestation. World has been disclosing its nature and functioning both as it is as well as in ways that beings themselves may understand, in accordance with their developed capacities for the same. Throughout history there have been great waves and periods of disclosure, just as there have been periods of silence and obscurity. Throughout, beings have taken from what has been disclosed what their abilities have allowed them to take, which have been sometimes great and sometimes small.

In the coming millennia, world will continue to disclose to all beings the nature of the eternal essence and the relation between it and manifestation, in ever new ways that beings can understand, according to universal principles. Through this disclosure, at the singular and personal scale, as well as the global and universal, beings will come to the answers to the questions within them, such as how they may really know their nature and role, in ways which their capacities and consciousness will allow, and in accordance with the kinds of questions they ask. Indeed, it is only through this disclosure that the very possibility of asking questions, and answering them, arises.

Further details on the nature of being

All life revolves around a correspondence between the eternal essence of individual beings and the Being of all being. Ordinarily, the consciousness of beings in this zone of reality takes no part in that correspondence and has no awareness of it. In recent years (relative to the total history of the planet, that is), some beings have begun to have a more formal awareness of this correspondence, and of their own essential nature. In other words, the history of life on earth has recorded a growth of awareness of the essential nature of being, life, experience and reality. However, this awareness and knowledge is not at all fundamental to all beings: it is not an awareness directly centred in the correspondence between the individual’s eternal essence and the Being of all being. Likewise, this awareness and knowledge is not the same amongst beings. Largely, even after the last ten thousand years, this knowledge and awareness for the great majority remains only theoretical, experimental, philosophical and so on, while many forms of being have no awareness at all. In many ways, the situation of humanity arises out of this fundamental lack of awareness and knowledge of the eternal, essential reality, which extends across and through the whole zone of being. In this respect, the zone of being in which humanity finds itself with regard to that awareness and knowledge is largely a zone of darkness, where the awareness, knowledge and consciousness of beings is almost totally bound up with physicality (i.e. “one” aspect of the multidimensional manifestation of beings), and which cannot, not even with a force of will, extend beyond it. With regard to the eternal and essential aspects of the self, and their fundamental relation to the Being of all being, there is only a practical and actual ignorance and darkness. It is this darkness that largely informs the situation of humanity, and it is a darkness that originates from the eternal essence itself.

What may be called the consciousness of the eternal essence and the correspondence between it and the Being of all being is, in a way, directly contrasted and opposed to the consciousness a being has of its physical self, which is but one aspect of the multidimensional manifestation of the essence (in this perspective), and the complete and definite separation between that self and all beings and things, especially the Being of all being. It is this “physical” consciousness that largely exists in the zone of reality found on the planet today, and in so far as “consciousness” plays a role in the affairs of humanity, it is this consciousness which has its effect on the social, political, educational, economic etc. realities humanity is involved with. This consciousness, and the experience that arises through it, is not at all the consciousness of the eternal essence, which if anything is a “beyond all that” something. Yet, while humanity really is “in the dark” as regards its wider, essential nature, so much so that generally it just cannot believe that what is termed here “eternal essence” has any value of reality, this must necessarily be the case, for the stage of consciousness that beings reach as regards this nature is regulated by universal principles which act as fundamental laws of nature from which it is not possible to escape. One of these principles is the evolutionary principle, which means among many things that a being or group of beings cannot just “jump” from one stage of evolution to another, but must evolve through all the intermediary stages. In this regard, it is the whole of humanity itself, even the whole of the being of the planet, which is at a certain stage of the evolution of its consciousness, which also means that it cannot but be in the darkness just described, generally speaking. Yet, just as may be observed even casually from life, humanity is not a uniform entity, and individual beings are found at all different stages and forms of awareness, ability, development and knowledge. The evolutionary principle affects the manifestation of beings, as well as their eternal essences, differently, which effects are also dependent upon an array of universal principles found emanating from the Being of all being and governing all manifested things.

The fundamental nature of reality i.e. as an eternally developing movement of eternal essences within the Being of all being, has always been disclosed to beings in their innermost natures; indeed, it is this very awareness which is fundamental to the eternal essence, which knows itself as such (but which awareness and experience is not like phenomenal awareness and experience). What is more, it is this fundamental nature that constitutes one of the principal disclosures of the world disclosure through the world process; the very same disclosure which acts as a prime motivational and energetic power in the evolutionary principle, which guides and develops beings out of the “darkness” and into the more formal and then fundamental awareness of eternal being. Yet, it is also the very same disclosure which brought beings into the darkness in the first place: it is this aspect of reality which is found to be central to the beings’ descent into or oscillation towards darkness, or lack of awareness, as well as their ascent or oscillation towards its opposite.

The evolutionary principle has the effect of creating an oscillation of and in manifestation. As regards the fundamental awareness of self, and the eternal nature and reality of the essence, the evolutionary principle and the universal principles more generally, have the effect of bringing beings into and through an eternal oscillation from most complete awareness of that correspondence mentioned above to most complete ignorance of it; between a most physical, self-centred, limited, “form” consciousness and a most spiritual, universal-centred, unlimited and “formless” consciousness. Humanity finds itself, fundamentally, in the oscillation that gives rise to separateness but which is in the process of going towards its opposite; it is as though the crest of the wave of darkness has passed.

This very crude, oversimplified and very limited summary of certain key features of the awareness of humanity is intended only to provide a certain background for forthcoming articles. Individuals and communities interested in discovering more about such things would do well to organize their own methodical investigation into them, according to their needs and capacities, and not rely on purely linguistic formulations such as the above, which are not very useful to the serious researcher. A reader of the current age would find that there are indeed a great abundance of “evolutionary narratives”, all of which may be said to represent the outermost and most simplistic manifestation of the new disclosure on the nature of humanity (for what can be put into words can only provide a model of reality, which may be more accurate or less but which may never substitute reality, which must be apprehended directly). Yet, such things may serve their purpose if they bring individuals and communities towards a more serious investigation into nature. Having said this, for the purposes of discussion at least, it is sometimes useful to have a framework for the same, especially where it helps understanding and does not hinder it. For the present, it will suffice to simply draw a basic attention to the above key concepts, which readers may find either cohere with their own or not.

The “Eternal Essence” is having the experience of life

In order to be truly effective in dealing with and addressing the situation of humanity, and those aspects of being, life and experience that relate to it, it is necessary to speak to the human being, and speak of it, in terms and ways with which it is not familiar or used to, primarily because its perspective in its ordinary, naturally developed state is limited and small; the ordinary perspective is self-centred (phenomenal “I” centred), body-centred (“I am my body”), temporal (“I move with the passing of ‘time’” and “I am born and I will die”), and spatially-relative centred (“This is ‘me’ and that is ‘you’), amongst other things. However, this is not the perspective from which the solution to and overcoming of error can be made; a larger perspective is necessary, which takes into account the whole, of which humanity is but a part. Through the ordinary perspective, the whole is reduced to and apprehended through the part; “eternity”, “body” and “I” are seen through and understood by the limited, the small. All common discourse on eternal essence and universal principles, and all ways of conceiving the whole, is ordinarily intimately bound up with this position and seen through this veil, rendering the eternal finite and the universal singular.

It must be stated that there is no need to be afraid of considering a different perspective. It is not necessary to adopt a new system of thinking, subscribe to a new set of beliefs, or give up one’s existing beliefs and practices, in order to understand or think differently. Acquiring understanding is only superficially about content. Besides, nothing could be gained by an individual who would so readily drop belief and knowledge for some new idea, except instability. Rather, it is better to bring to the table what one already has by way of knowledge and belief and then to listen to and hear what others say and bring to the table, and either put it to the test, or consider it, or leave it alone and reject it. In this way, the individuals’ beliefs and knowledge may become more refined, enriched, and meaningful, whatever direction they take; remembering they are always the individuals’ beliefs and knowledge, which at the fundamental level they can only and must have.

The necessary perspective is not limited, small or self-centred, but unlimited, universal, and essence-centred. The situation of humanity has its context in a cosmological situation. In this context, humanity and all that pertains to it is not as insignificant as it may appear, although it is very, very small compared to the whole. No, human beings, along with all beings, have their part to play even in the life of the whole universe and all that is.

Having said this, I move swiftly now to the following: it is the eternal essence of a being that is having the experience of life, and the personal, “phenomenal” consciousness of the “self” of the human being (the “I” sense) is not the eternal essence but a manifestation of it, a creation of it, which is also in flux, like all things and forms. History reveals many, many different ways of conceiving, modelling, understanding and expressing the complex relationships between eternal things and manifested things, and the being of the human being and all forms. This is no less true in the modern age, which (arguably) derives a great deal of its thinking from interpretations of more ancient thought. However, while these models and ways of thinking may be of varying degrees of accuracy, still they can only ever be models, and thus aids of a better or worse sort.

Since it is the eternal essence that is really living the life, the discussion of the situation of humanity is in truth the discussion of the situation of the eternal essence, which is both one and many. Yet, since the eternal essence is “eternal” and thus unimaginably large, human discussion about it is impossible (for human discussion is finite, both temporally and semantically), yet it may still be practicable to speak of the eternal essence as it pertains to humanity and to human beings as long as one appreciates that such discussion can only ever be approximate.

As it is the eternal essence that is having the experience of life, one may say that the cause of the apparent problems in the situation of humanity, and indeed the source of the “gridlock”, is ultimately found in the eternal essence. Likewise, the whole of the solution is found there also. To end this article at this point would be most sensible, having stated now that part of the enormous solution to myriad errors involves individuals and communities coming to understand how it is the eternal essence that is having the experience of life, and how in this essence is found all the cause, origin and explanation, as well as effect and solution, of error.

An Emanation of Insight: Excerpt “The Nature of Reality”

Excerpt from March 2012:

Insofar as such things may be expressed with language, and with respect to and in accordance with the foregoing, this [perspective] confirms: beings are multidimensional entities, whose manifested existence, as apprehended through the standard disclosure, is but one aspect of a being’s existence and pertains to one zone or dimension of the total manifested reality. Being, life, experience and reality are fundamentally multidimensional in their nature and functioning. This nature and functioning, as well as the structure of the being, is essentially eternal and unmanifest, but is also superficially temporal and manifest. The eternal essence of being is nonsubstantial and unmanifest, and is superdimensional and transcendent. That which is manifested of the being is the being’s multidimensional aspect, which is an emanation of eternal essence.

The Being of all being is likewise eternal, nonsubstantial and unmanifest. The eternal essences of all beings are co-eternal, co-unmanifest and co-nonsubstantial with the Being of all being, but they are not the Being of all being. The Being of all being is the ultimate, eternal, absolute, transcendent, unmanifest source of all being. In its manifested aspect, it is the eternally multidimensional all that is. Eternal, universal principles, emanating from the Being of all being, manifest and maintain manifestation as a super-dimensional providence.

Beings are eternally related to one another and to the Being of all being through co-eternal co-unmanifest essence. Through manifestation, these relations are both “lateral” and “hierarchical”: lateral relation confirms the absolute essential equality of the being of all beings, and their co-identity as eternal unmanifest essences and multidimensional manifestations; hierarchical relation confirms the absolute essential interdependence of the being of all beings. There is no manifestation that is not laterally and hierarchically related to other manifestations. The manifestation of the Being of all being, being all that is, contains all the lateral and hierarchical relations.

A being’s capacity for self-awareness as a multidimensional, eternal essence, along with all the other capacities of the being, is originally an unmanifest potential inherent in the being’s eternal essence. In accordance with universal principles, beings manifest their potential through their multidimensional manifestation. In a certain way, this multidimensional manifestation is also in accordance with and tantamount to the being’s actually manifested potential. In accordance with the same principles, which manifest, for example, as and through the world process, beings come to manifest differently and come to manifest different capacities, all of which affects what is disclosed to them through the wider manifestation they become aware of through their own.

Human beings naturally manifest some of their inherent capacity of self-awareness. Most human beings develop the capacities to become self-aware of certain aspects of their multidimensional nature i.e. their physical aspect, or, at least, those who grow to a certain stage or state of development do. Human beings are beings who, relative to others existing on the planet at present, develop relatively more of their inherent capacities for self-awareness and knowledge, but some other human beings come to develop more of their inherent capacities than other humans, and thus come to a greater awareness of their multidimensional nature and eternal essence.

Comments on the “Expansion”

At this time, I feel that it really is the very best use of my time and energy to focus exclusively on the task of expanding upon the foregoing. As such, and in order to maintain that focus on what will essentially be a difficult task, I have elected to refrain from engaging with any comments until the end of the task, which I hope readers will understand. Needless to say, people are welcome to comment on posts if they wish, although I would suggest that questions or comments as regards the content may be answered or dealt with in future posted material (see also the text regarding the redesign of the website for more information about “comments” generally).

An Emanation of Insight

Given this situation, and in the context of the above (though the image of “gridlock” can only go so far), I feel that it is entirely appropriate to deliver from my own insight materials relating to the situation of humanity and the solutions it is ever searching. In accordance with that insight, and consistent with it, I will publish here short texts that will have as their primary objective the elimination of error; texts consisting of a further expansion of the perspective on the nature of being, life, experience and reality already introduced and summarized in March 2012, which I excerpt below, and to which subjects the contemporary situation of humanity fundamentally relates. I am quite aware of the nature of the receptivity of such things. Nevertheless, the mere prospect of it cannot constitute a real reason for doing or saying nothing.

I am also aware of the nature of human authority, and understand the reputation of the self-published “blog” compared to other forms of communication. However, it cannot at all be important or relevant to truth that this material is submitted on this website, and not through some learned society or journal or book, or by a figure of acknowledged authority. Neither is it of any significance whether there is no audience or a large audience for this material, now or hereafter. This is because the real solution cannot ever lie with one or another individual, group, idea or movement, or with one method of communication as opposed to another: as has always been the case, the real solution lies in and with the Higher, in accordance with universal principles and processes, through which there comes the origination of and instruction in knowledge, which is disseminated through all individuals and all manifestations of being and life, whether they are aware of it or not. It is on that basis alone that one may act in good conscience.

The Situation of Humanity: Truth & Error

Truth is complex. Even the concept of truth in the context of a multiplicity of perspectives is complex.

All perspectives are necessarily valid, but does this mean that there is no such thing as error, or as truth? I know that there are a many responses to every question, but are they all correct, and equally valid? Or is it the case that “all perspectives are valid and true, but some are more valid and true than others?” If someone perceives error and falsity, does it mean that it is necessarily so? The problems of truth, or knowing it, have been dealt with many times, in many lands and tongues, but these too may now be vehicles in the gridlock.

To describe erroneous positions and falsities is not at all inconsistent with a position that fundamentally validates and values the uniqueness and primacy of individuals’ perspectives. If this were the case, educative programs would become impossible and the schools would be empty. Neither does the multiplicity of perspectives determine anything concerning the nature of truth, or undermine it; the multiplicity of perspectives does not necessarily lead to a multiplicity of truths, with one truth for A and another truth for B, C and so on. The truth is the truth, no matter the capacity to apprehend it or the different apprehensions of it.

In the context of gridlock, error and falsity must be everything that contributes to gridlock, everything that maintains it, promotes it, and obstructs its easing and solution. There must be different views about such things, naturally. Yet, it is in the common interest to counter error and falsity where it is found, in spite of such things as favourable or unfavourable criticism and attention; a countering that actually removes and alleviates what error and falsity promotes, which is also to say a criticism that genuinely and eventually solves the problem.

There is such a thing as error. The dark side of multiplicity leads to stagnation, which is already manifest (though it is hard to perceive); eliminated, the possibility for movement, which is also development, arises. A position based in an awareness of the situation of humanity, of the possible solutions, and in a sound knowledge and understanding, all of which may be described as “insight”, helps eliminate. Thus, establishing these positions is essential.

Thousands of years ago, someone wrote how there is nothing new under the sun. If even the ancients had come to understand this, what fools are we to expect some new truth or revelation? All that occurs is that what has always been true becomes realized in different ways, according to different manifested capacities: reality ever discloses itself, as it is and all of the time, and while for us each disclosure is a startling revelation of new facts and information, it is essentially the same reality in which all things have existed.

The Situation of Humanity: The Solution

It would seem like a hopeless situation: billions of vehicles at a standstill, partial or no idea of journeying or direction, or only delusional movement. People exchange one system of belief or knowledge for another, over and over, but may end up with nothing substantial, only a purely intellectual or emotional understanding of certain, delightful ideas that satisfy a superficial awareness. Every now and then there appears to be a leap forward, and surge of movement; yet, this is only relative. In the context of a growing gridlock, one only moves further away from anything real. Of course, there is development, but it is a surface development; the movement of the skin on an otherwise inert body, suffering under its own weight. In the dazzle of ordinary “progress” it can be difficult to see degradation.

Hopelessness needs not at all be the case, but it is difficult to speak of solutions, of which there are many. Does not the proposal of solutions add yet more traffic to the gridlock, and compound it? Indeed, this may be so. However, in that case, what is needed is that which takes away certain ideas, and clears space and traffic, and removes the detritus of error and falsity, which is needless obstruction. By taking away what obscures, the possibilities of actual movement manifest. This does not necessarily mean taking up ideas and issues and refuting or validating them; nor does it mean “going back”, or escapism, or reactionism, for such things are part of the problem. One may object that humanity is already doing this, and moving forward to greater knowledge and understanding, and overcoming former ignorance. Indeed, if only this were the case. A step forward cannot be so where the ground moves backwards by three.

The removal of error is of course a good idea, yet even this would only be a small part of the solution. It is nice to think that all the “right” ideas are out there, and that somehow one just has to locate them and put them together, as if some kind of bibliographic exercise were life’s solution. The solution is not only about content: it is also the complex interaction that is the problem, thus, the real solution involves much more than waste disposal, for to get the traffic moving once again requires understanding of the whole as well as the part, the deep as well as the surface. Things are not so simple. Besides, if it were only about divesting the good ideas from the bad, there would be no gridlock to solve and humanity would have already “arrived”.

Immediately, questions and objections (driven by the gridlocked ideas) arise: “Who is to say what is right and wrong?”, “Why should this be labelled as waste and not that, which is left in its place?” and “Isn’t this the same old story?” and so on. What can be the response? Only to say that the solution has a long, long temporal aspect, being counted by generations, and by the number of millions of participants.