Saturday, December 09, 2023
Gurdjieff on Immortality

At one of my meetings, someone asked about the possibility of reincarnation, and whether it was possible to believe in cases of communication with the dead.

"Many things are possible,"  said G.  "But it is necessary to understand that Man's being, both in life and after death, if it does exist after death, may be very different in quality."

"The 'man-machine' with whom everything depends upon external influences, with whom everything happens, who is now one, the next moment another, and the next moment a third, has no future of any kind; he is buried and that is all.

"Dust returns to dust."

"This applies to him. In order to be able to speak of any kind of future life there must be a certain crystallization, a certain fusion of man's inner qualities, a certain independence of external influences. If there is anything in a man able to resist external influences, then this very thing itself may also be able to resist the death of the physical body. But think for yourselves what there is to withstand physical death in a man who faints or forgets everything when he cuts his finger. If there is anything in a man, it may survive; if there is nothing, then there is nothing to survive.

"But even if something survives, its future can be very varied. In certain cases of fuller crystallization, what people call 'reincarnation' may be possible after death, and, in other cases, what people call 'existence on the other side'. In both cases it is the continuation of life in the 'astral body'.

Technology of the Soul

From: Open SETI

Technology of the Soul. Technology, Soul. Now there is a provocative juxtaposition of terms. The reader (that is, you) likely wants to know WHAT these two words are doing together like that. What could they have to do with one another?

Before attempting to reply, I would like to place before you an article by Paul Davies40 (2003): E.T. and God (Could earthly religions survive the discovery of life elsewhere in the universe?). Get it? God:Soul. E.T.:Technology. Davies' topic is grander than mine, which by comparison is a mere detail.

But Davies' is somehow more acceptable, isn't it? Why is this?

Please take a few breaths here.

In the Introduction to Open SETI I did say that we would approach our subject on the level of myth, and that our modern world view is but one possible myth. People, I said...

...do not know that they have simply chosen their myth. They believe that they possess knowledge of their general cosmic situation, so far as is possible for anyone to obtain such knowledge, and that there is little point attempting to learn any more about it. People are also being taught, usually subliminally, about what is important and what is not. In fact, people's beliefs about what is true and what is important are fed to them by society's institutions. Thus people in their beliefs are vulnerable to manipulation at every level.

Multi-Dimensional Psyche

Dr. Stan Grof is a leading researcher in transpersonal psychology, a field he co-founded with the late Abraham Maslow. Grof's books include "Realms of The Human Unconscious," and "Beyond The Brain."

Alternative Health and Wellness Interview, Russell E. DiCarlo interviews Stanislav Grof, M.D. about his "Holotropic Breathwork", a powerful non-drug approach to self-exploration and therapy that uses faster breathing, evocative music, and a certain kind of energy-releasing bodywork. He explains how non-ordinary states of consciousness are a unique source of deep insights into the deepest recesses of the human psyche.

Life after Death

Over half a century ago, in 1966, when Prof. Ian Stevenson first published his seminal work "Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation" (University of Virginia Press) it took the world by storm. It not only gave a tremendous boost to the religions that believe in reincarnation (and rebirth), but sought to provide a scientific foundation to the notion. After a scrupulous study of over 3,000 cases of "rebirth" Stevenson handpicked 20 cases of those to suggest, if not prove, the case of "reincarnation"..

This fact was succinctly captured by Prof. Curt John Ducasse, parapsychologist and then Chairman of publications committee of the American Society for Physical Research, in the foreword he wrote to Stevenson’s "Twenty cases …". The closing line of his missive read as, "The twenty cases…, which Dr. Stevenson personally investigated, reports on, and discusses …, are not claimed by him to settle that question; but they do put it before the reader sharply and, because of this, are fully as interesting and important as are the more numerous cases suggesting discarnate survival, to which physical research has given close and lengthy attention".

Evidence of Reincarnation

Dr. Helen Wambach set about to prove how foolish the whole idea of reincarnation was by conducting a scientific investigation of her own in the 1960s.

Dr. Wambach questioned 1088 white, middle class subjects from California while they were under hypnosis.

The subjects were asked to regress to a former life. If this was successful, they were told to remember everything when they awoke from their hypnotic state.

Soul Survivor

The following case is presented because it is the best documented case originating from America in modern times. So many people have scrutinized the story of James Leininger that any deception would have been revealed long ago.

James Leininger was not yet 2 years old when he began to have terrible nightmares. His parents knew he would outgrow them, but his screams frightened them. When they would come to his bedside, they often found him on his back, kicking his legs in the air and thrashing his arms - as if he were trying to escape from an imaginary box. He would also yell some garbled words that his parents could not understand.

Physics of the Soul

At last, science and the soul shake hands. Writing in a style that is both lucid and charming, mischievous and profound, Dr. Amit Goswami uses the language and concepts of quantum physics to explore and scientifically prove metaphysical theories of reincarnation and immortality..

In Physics of the Soul, Dr. Goswami helps you understand the perplexities of the quantum physics model of reality and the perennial beliefs of spiritual and religious traditions.

He shows how they are not only compatible but also provide essential support for each other. The result is a deeply broadened, exciting, and enriched worldview that integrates mind and spirit into science.

One of today's pioneering thinkers in science and spirituality, Dr. Goswami taught physics for 32 years, was a professor of Theoretical Science at the University of Oregon, and is currently senior resident researcher at the world-renowned Institute of Noetic Sciences. He is an advocate of "monistic idealism," the philosophy that defines consciousness, not materiality, as the primary reality.

A baby cries

The first thing a baby does when born is cry.

It does so because the Soul is conscious of what it has been born into and is in a state of disbelief (you are more conscious of what you are and where you are during/right after birth than you are now).

The Soul makes the body cry because it is the first time it came to this physical realm (although this is a very limited number) or because it realises it has returned through reincarnation, after failing in the former life (which is a vast majority).

Finding the Dalai Lama

Below is a brief account of a tradition dating back approximately 500 years – finding the Dali Lama. Apparently, 14 Dali Lamas have been "found" under similar circumstances since 1474.

Was a similar search conducted after Gurdjieff's passing?

About the Soul

In many great teachings, in one form or another, the idea of three worlds is presented.  These three "worlds" may be called the body, the soul, and the spirit.  The term "body" in this case includes what we normally think of as our body, but also our emotions and thoughts — to the extent that they are driven by sensory inputs.  It is who and what we are, as we are.  It is a miracle, but we have much greater possibilities, and these are our  "soul" and our  "spirit".

And each of these (our "soul" and our "spirit") is a much greater miracle than the body.

Reincarnation

Prev Next

About the Soul

About the Soul In many great teachings, in one form or another, the idea of three worlds is presented.  These three "worlds" may be called the body, the soul, and the spirit.  The term "body" in this case includes what we normally think of as our body, but also our emotions and thoughts — to the extent that they are driven by sensory inputs.  It is who and what we are... Read more

How the Dalai Lama I…

Finding the Dalai Lama Below is a brief account of a tradition dating back approximately 500 years – finding the Dali Lama. Apparently, 14 Dali Lamas have been "found" under similar circumstances since 1474. Was a similar search conducted after Gurdjieff's passing? Read more

A baby cries

A baby cries The first thing a baby does when born is cry. It does so because the Soul is conscious of what it has been born into and is in a state of disbelief (you are more conscious of what you are and where you are during/right after birth than you are now). The Soul makes the body cry because it is the first time it came to this physical realm (although... Read more

Physics of the Soul:…

Physics of the Soul At last, science and the soul shake hands. Writing in a style that is both lucid and charming, mischievous and profound, Dr. Amit Goswami uses the language and concepts of quantum physics to explore and scientifically prove metaphysical theories of reincarnation and immortality.. In Physics of the Soul, Dr. Goswami helps you understand the perplexities of the quantum physics model of reality and the perennial beliefs of spiritual... Read more

Soul Survivor: The R…

Soul Survivor The following case is presented because it is the best documented case originating from America in modern times. So many people have scrutinized the story of James Leininger that any deception would have been revealed long ago. James Leininger was not yet 2 years old when he began to have terrible nightmares. His parents knew he would outgrow them, but his screams frightened them. When they would come to his... Read more

Evidence of Reincarn…

Evidence of Reincarnation Dr. Helen Wambach set about to prove how foolish the whole idea of reincarnation was by conducting a scientific investigation of her own in the 1960s. Dr. Wambach questioned 1088 white, middle class subjects from California while they were under hypnosis. The subjects were asked to regress to a former life. If this was successful, they were told to remember everything when they awoke from their hypnotic state. Read more

When Ian Stevenson m…

Life after Death Over half a century ago, in 1966, when Prof. Ian Stevenson first published his seminal work "Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation" (University of Virginia Press) it took the world by storm. It not only gave a tremendous boost to the religions that believe in reincarnation (and rebirth), but sought to provide a scientific foundation to the notion. After a scrupulous study of over 3,000 cases of "rebirth" Stevenson... Read more

The Multi-Dimensiona…

Multi-Dimensional Psyche Dr. Stan Grof is a leading researcher in transpersonal psychology, a field he co-founded with the late Abraham Maslow. Grof's books include "Realms of The Human Unconscious," and "Beyond The Brain." Alternative Health and Wellness Interview, Russell E. DiCarlo interviews Stanislav Grof, M.D. about his "Holotropic Breathwork", a powerful non-drug approach to self-exploration and therapy that uses faster breathing, evocative music, and a certain kind of energy-releasing bodywork. He... Read more

Technology of the So…

Technology of the Soul From: Open SETI Technology of the Soul. Technology, Soul. Now there is a provocative juxtaposition of terms. The reader (that is, you) likely wants to know WHAT these two words are doing together like that. What could they have to do with one another? Before attempting to reply, I would like to place before you an article by Paul Davies40 (2003): E.T. and God (Could earthly religions survive the... Read more

Gurdjieff on Immorta…

Gurdjieff on Immortality At one of my meetings, someone asked about the possibility of reincarnation, and whether it was possible to believe in cases of communication with the dead. "Many things are possible,"  said G.  "But it is necessary to understand that Man's being, both in life and after death, if it does exist after death, may be very different in quality." "The 'man-machine' with whom everything depends upon external influences, with whom everything... Read more