| Physics is the branch of science that studies energy and matter and their interactions. Classical or “Newtonian“ physics is based primarily on the experiments and mathematical inventions of 17th century scientist Sir Isaac Newton. Classical physics studies phenomena such as velocity, momentum, movement and gravity. One of Newton’s most notable contributions to science was the concept that all scientific conclusions must be observable and provable by experiments. Newton believed that an experiment was valid only if it could be repeated by anyone and the experiment always produced the same results. Newton’s views held true when they were applied to the visible universe, but the common laws of physics begin to deteriorate when they were applied on a subatomic scale. Scientists were astonished to discover that, unlike visible matter, subatomic particles also had the properties of waves. When experiments were conducted at the subatomic level, particle/waves behaved in unexpected and unpredictable ways. Scientists could replicate an experiment, but the results were no longer predictable and seemed to vary depending on the expectation of the scientist conducting the experiment! The properties of particle/waves required an entirely new branch of physics. The term quantum was derived from Albert Einstein’s use of the word “quanta,” which describes the very small increments or parcels energy can be divided into at the subatomic level. Since physics is the study of energy and matter, quantum physics is the study of energy and matter at their most elemental level. Mechanics simply describes the operation or movement of that energy. Scientists have been amazed to discover that quantum mechanics appears to uphold the teachings propounded by spiritual mystics through the ages. |
| Although the New Testament contains only twenty-seven books, the earliest Christians held widely divergent beliefs and hundreds of writings or “letters” that supported those beliefs were circulated among them. Eventually one form of Christianity prevailed and made it its business to stamp out the evidence that any conflicting views concerning Jesus had ever existed. Since no eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry ever existed, there is no way to prove that any of the hundreds of writings that had once circulated were more valid or truthful than any of the others. The twenty-seven books of the New Testament were not chosen because they were accurate; they were brought together as Bible canon because they fit the belief system of the form of Christianity that had prevailed over less powerful Christian groups. This institutionalized group thought of themselves as “orthodox,” which literally means “straight thinking.” They chose the name Catholic, which means “universal” and signified the universal scope of their effort to create one Christian religion. Among the many “lost” Christianities that did not survive Catholicism’s agenda were several very loosely organized groups known as Gnostics. Bible scholars knew these groups had existed because early Catholic writings denouncing them were fairly common, but no other evidence of these groups or their writings appeared to have survived. Happily, several Gnostic writings finally surfaced when an earthenware jar filled with ancient manuscripts was discovered in Egypt in 1945. Some of these texts are believed to predate the writings of the Bible gospels known as Matthew, Mark Luke and John. Rather than serving as a support to these Bible gospels, the papyrus books painted a decidedly different picture of Jesus. These writings became known as the Gnostic Gospels, derived from the Greek word gnosis or “knowledge.” This term was appropriate because the writers of these texts felt spiritual growth was a personal, intuitive, experiential process that resulted in “knowing” the true or higher Self. Gnostic Christians felt that it would be impossible for such a process to be taught, organized or institutionalized since each disciple walked his or her own path to “One Truth.” For this reason, Gnostic texts do not conform to a standardized set of ideas. However they do agree on the basic concepts that God and truth are found within us and enlightenment is a personal responsibility that can only be attained through the personal experience of gnosis. |
| Gnostic Gospels |
| Quantum Physics Quantum Mechanics |
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| Copyright © 2007 Oroborus Books Lee and Steven Hager |
| The term “perennial philosophy” was originally coined in the 16th century and was later used by the German mathematician and philosopher Gottfried Leibniz to describe an eternal philosophy that lies at the core of all spiritual thought. The universal spiritual truths that make up the perennial philosophy have been discovered in all cultures, all time periods and in every area of the globe. They are free of dogma and are considered to be the apex of spiritual wisdom. They exist in the belief systems of so-called “primitive” peoples. Within organized religions, they are most often found in the mystical segments of those religions. For a complete discussion of this concept, we highly recommend Aldous Huxley’s 1945 book, The Perennial Philosophy. Fred Alan Wolf’s book, The Yoga of Time Travel: How the Mind Can Defeat Time, succinctly outlines three of the basic tenets of the Perennial Philosophy: 1. An infinite, unchanging reality exists hidden behind the illusion of ceaseless change. 2. This infinite, unchanging reality lies at the core of every being and is the substratum of the personality. 3. Life has one main purpose: to experience this one reality―to discover God while living on the earth. In other words: God exists and wants to be known. If this is true, why do so few appear to reach this goal? According to the perennial philosophy, fear causes us to hide from God. We distract ourselves by constructing intricate rituals, oppressive dogma, agonizing sacrifices and monolithic religious systems. We look outside ourselves, failing to understand that the truth has always existed within us. As Huxley points out, if God wants to be known, the path to God must be simple and accessible to all no matter what their situation in life might be. God is not found through works, teachers, learning or intellect, but only through direct experiential knowing. Huxley lists the necessary prerequisites for spiritual seekers as being “pure in heart” and “poor in spirit.” These terms may appear rather cryptic, but they are actually quite straightforward:
Once a seeker has opened him or herself to direct revelation from God, what can they expect to find? The Gnostic gospel of Philip tells us that God, “. . .perceives the conditions of [each person’s] soul and speaks to each one.” Every seeker will be guided, but each will be guided in the manner best suited to their needs. However, the truths that each seeker will eventually discover remain the same:
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| The Perennial Philosophy |
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