For people who are not familiar with Timeless Education and want a quick introduction of the essentials, I figured [in this text] I'd summarize the most important bits and how things in it are connected, for my English speaking audience.
The opening argument is that questions concerning things like quality of life, development, health, success, ethics, etc., have no meaning without a standard or yardstick to relate to, like a compass. And often people talk about these things, throwing out phrases like "self-realization," "acting morally," "taking responsibility," and "achieving success in life" without first defining what is meant by this. What are the parameters of self-realization, morality, responsibility, success, etc., and are they objective? Who makes the judgement? And who knows what morality, responsibility, success, and so on, really is?
We have seen how destructive and immoral so-called "moral" religions have acted. We have seen how destructive and irresponsible hardworking leaders and politicians have acted. Lazy people at least have the virtue of not doing anything, instead of risking unintentional destructiveness. Similar things can be said about people with so-called success, which is often imaginary. We often underestimate how rich our own lives really have been, and could have been if we did not pursue vain success to look good in front of others. We could have been more moral if we did not try to force morality, more responsible if we did not try to control, manage, or interfere with natural development, and so on.
So the proposal is a new standard; an objective and sane yardstick to orient ourselves around, what I call a Wisdom or Evaluation Compass. This is the core of Timeless Education, and why it can also be called 'Essential Education'.
When it comes to attaining a higher impartial logic or sensible compass, we must admit that knowledge is essential, and that knowledge should be based in reality – be true. So how do we gain understanding or knowledge (facts, truth) about something at all? First, we need to seek something that can be known, reach a common basic assumption that everyone can stand behind. What can we all know with certainty? Only that which repeats itself is possible for everyone to know with certainty. Without recurrence in phenomena, no objective or useful knowledge can be established. All precise knowledge, all measurements, are only possible through observation of recurring things and processes.
This also applies to what people call single events. In order to have knowledge of single events, for example, that a car accident has occurred on a road after hitting a moose, you must first have knowledge of both cars, moose, and roads. All of this in turn requires recurrence, that is to say, experience. Had you never witnessed any of this before and seen this combination of phenomena for the first time, you would have no idea of what it is.
We should first accept movement (change, time) as a basis for knowledge; then mathematical units (numbers). Besides this, we only know that a world in which we live exists and that our consciousness within ourselves exists. This is fact, reality, even if it can not be proven or disproven. Everything else is worthless as a foundation. Everything else is merely unknown quantities and phenomena such as "nature," "matter," "life," "death," "energy," "light," "darkness," and so on. None of these quantities or phenomena can work as a starting point.
Thus we have begun to formulate a starting point for essential philosophical principles, principles that can be called "timeless" and lasting (permanent). In other words, knowledge begins with experience and philosophy. Not with science or information. Because even if you're reading a book on facts or someone's statistical survey, you still can't tell if the information you're reading is true or competently executed.
The next step is to seek the cause behind phenomena and behind our consciousness that experiences. So we reduce phenomena till their basic elements can no longer be reduced, to see how they are constructed. We observe the world as primarily movement, and that the fundamental movement that recur is circular in terms of, for example, days and nights, and seasons. Thus nothing is permanent except for the movement itself. This can be called a "configuration" the world is based on. An "ultimate" reality. Everything else is being put together and then broken down, but movement (time) consists.
But how does movement work? What is its causal mechanism?
In order for movement to work, an oscillation is required; a polarity; two connected things that simultaneously repel each other. A single thing can not produce motion or phenomena. Neither can two things unless they constitute opposites of comparable strength or permanence.
We therefore conclude that existence is dependent on at least three aspects in order to produce more phenomena and form a world like the one we exist in. Thus, we can formulate this fundamental and permanent cause behind phenomena in the following mathematical symbols:
+ (force)
- (counterforce)
∞ (connection, oscillating or mediating force, equilibrium and punctuated equilibrium)
This is the closest we come to a configuration or timeless cause behind the movement, phenomena and effects of reality – since phenomena can not be reduced or divided into smaller elements of a compound. In the absence of a better symbol, we can also use this triad as a symbol of the basic element or basic principles of our consciousness. This timeless cause that regulates the essence of things thus becomes the foundation of our knowledge, and is consequently the most worthy as a guide.
Real impartial knowledge requires the discovery of the categories for the configuration of reality, that is, the timeless natural laws, and a deepening of the appreciation of their significance. These principles convey what we should already find in our experience. They are primarily a formula for retaining in our memory the elements of experience that are timeless. They are never wishful thinking.
So what conclusions can we draw and how can we apply this fundamental knowledge in regards to quality of life, development, health, success, ethics, responsibility, and so forth?
It is obvious that circular motion or a permanent background (cause) can not have any direction or improvement. It is also obvious that attempting to make something else permanent is to challenge or struggle against this fundamental configuration, which can only lead to frustration and disappointment. Therefore it also becomes clear that nothing can have an end goal or climacteric purpose in a permanent or recurring (cyclic) eternity. In fact, there can be no climactic purpose even if existence were to be temporary.
If end goals and climacteric purposes can not exist, then they can not be the right direction to seek our answers. If we are looking for a permanent state, then is it not more sane and realistic to look for an already existing permanent state: ceaseless change that gives us experiences and surprises and prevents us from becoming bored? The only sane direction in terms of development, then, will be: not an end goal but a goal of presence, of appreciating and living in the moment. This does not mean a cessation of planning or trivialization of the future, but rather planning should support continued presence and appreciation of each coming moment with receptivity, openness and interest. Besides, the higher the life-form, the less repetition and more variation is necessary for health and satisfaction.
In terms of purpose, then, we no longer seek it in the future in the form of ideals to achieve, but instead we seek the purpose of what we are right now. That is, to be and to manifest what we are. Instead of asking ourselves if we have an objective to achieve in the future, we should ask whether we don't already, with the particular nature we've received, serve a function in a world of interconnected processes; a "function" similar to how different microorganisms support higher species, and how species support a larger ecosystem, and so forth.
Our valuation thus becomes the knowledge of reality we've established; direction becomes the moment; and improvement (development) becomes synchronization or flowing with the configuration of reality or timeless cause, which is beyond time and polarities (opposites). Quality of life, health, success, ethics, responsibility, and so on, is also connected with this. That is, with presence, with the right knowledge, with natural function, and so forth. For example, responsibility must primarily involve teaching about this.
Valuation: truth, the principles of ultimate reality
Direction: the moment, become more what we are
Improvement: flowing with the laws of reality
What is to be regarded as wrong valuation is thus knowledge that deludes us that we must or should achieve goals or permanence in the future; which is wrong, unrealistic and meaningless (vain) direction; and leads to a worse condition with the struggle against reality. That which increases delusions and thinking in opposites and makes us strive in an impossible direction, wasting our energies and distracting us from both presence and what we already are, is thus the opposite of development or improvement.
Wrong valuation: delusion and erroneous knowledge
Wrong direction: focus on goals in the future, become different
Wrong development: fighting against reality
So we have arrived at the conclusion that the most logical direction is to manifest or be what we already are, pursue our "function" in relation to our natural environment, which should lead to a deeper satisfaction with a true sense of freedom and meaning. Wrong direction is focus on becoming what we are not (by setting up goals in the future) which risks upsetting the function of what we are, while at the same time working against satisfaction and a sense of freedom or meaning by "invalidating" our natural energies and attempting to replace, control, or change them with invented ideas, fantasies or goals beyond the present which are not the right "nourishment."
This in turn leads to the conclusion that we need to know and become familiar with "what we are" as the primary goal, what we really want and need, and so forth, and this is where the importance of self-knowledge comes into the picture... In order to even be able to move or choose the right direction for health, development, quality of life, and so on, we need to find a way to deal with the inner and outer reality we as human beings find ourselves in. Thus we can divide Timeless Education into the following concepts to get the general overview:
Freeless man
Masked man
Biological man
Natural man
Temporary man
Timeless man
The culture must first of all provide us with the right knowledge before anything else is possible, and that, for example, is the purpose of Timeless Education and [this text]. So it starts there. Understanding must become part of our nature, instead of ignorance, lies and delusions. That's the first step. Thus development, paradoxically, begins not from our own nature, which is too biased and ignorant, but from external factors in order to then reach our inner, authentic factors.
The formula A-Ω-X-Ω is what represents the foundation for secure knowledge or truth. A and Ω represent the reality of contrasts, and X stands for the relationship between them and the movement of them. The second Ω is what makes it possible to expand this tool and also explain the world's diversity. So the tool A-Ω-X-Ω stands for knowledge of the principles of ultimate reality, while the rest of the system is more centered around psychology and self-knowledge.
A-Ω-X-Ω is connected primarily with universal knowledge, analogical method, timeless now-centeredness, organizational numbers, and to counteract what I call "eternity blindness" – which is deceptive ideas about climactic purposes in eternity.
"Freeless man" is connected with creational causality, which is also represented by A-Ω-X-Ω. The basis of self-knowledge should be built around the fact that circumstances have primarily determined our choices. People do not have as much freedom as we tend to attribute them. The concept of "Freeless man" permeates all aspects of self-knowledge and should be established as early as possible.
"Masked man" is connected with cultural acquisition, upbringing, and cultural hypnosis. Like Freeless man, this is an aspect of the fact that we do not exist separately from others or our surroundings. Every human being will, and must inevitably, begin to imitate the surroundings in order to communicate and survive in the environment. This happens with or without conscious attempts at education from the surroundings. "Acquisition" (culture, knowledge) can therefore not be separated from our nature. It is also here that the egoism is predominantly inhabited, since the super-ego connects to prevailing values and suppresses our own nature rather than asserts it. "Masked man" contains a lot of false garbage that we have to clean ourselves from. However, some things we have adopted from the culture can be helpful and useful, for example, providing us with a common language that enables us to communicate more effectively.
"Biological man" is our physical body with its organs and functions, and is connected with physical health. Knowledge of this aspect of ourselves is important for maintaining physical health by eating sensibly, not stressing, knowing how much sun we can tolerate, what diseases we can protect ourselves from, and so forth. This is an important part of self-knowledge, but it is also the part that already gets the most attention in our culture. There is already a lot of information and advice on how we best keep our bodies healthy, so that's why I don't prioritize it in Timeless Education.
"Natural man" is our individual energy patterns and preferences – instincts. This aspect of self-knowledge is connected with the individual's "purpose" and "function," as well as concepts such as exchange of energy, reciprocal maintenance, and so forth, that support a sense of meaning and satisfaction. It is this part of ourselves that needs attention and self-expression to experience the feeling of freedom and substance. Tools belonging to Natural man are Bias Psychology, where certain characteristics of people can be categorized and analyzed, so-called "human types" or "personality traits." A lot of new terms are used here, but should not take too much time to learn, and they are most useful for providing words to character phenomena there often are no good words for. Also political ideas regarding, for example, "Triarchy" are connected with Natural man and its needs.
Another thing that is connected with Natural man is Eternal metamorphosis pattern, i.e. evolution. You can not talk about Natural man without also talking about evolution, and a sensible theory of evolution must be compatible with types, which the current theory of evolution barely is. It is, for example, important to understand that special qualities can not be inherited in humans as in animals. I would therefore like to offer an alternative or updated theory of evolution.
Criticism of our current science, such as the prevailing theory of evolution, is perhaps not necessary to maintain our so far established parameters for the evaluation of quality of life, health, responsibility, and development. But if our current theories have shortcomings, then it can not hurt to establish a more sane or probable theory, even if only as a placeholder. Understanding and truth is, after all, our highest valuation in these parameters.
"Temporary man" can refer to all other aspects of ourselves except for "Timeless man" (i.e. the previous aspects I have already talked about), but primarily it refers to our temporary attitudes and ways of relating to the world. This often indicates how developed we are and where we find ourselves in relation to "Timeless man."
"Timeless man" is the most internal and permanent that we are. It is our true and final identity that is experienced as an observing self-awareness or pure consciousness that is difficult to describe or define through symbols and language. Often we are not even aware of this inner aspect of ourselves because we identify with one of the aforementioned aspects and invent ideas of what we are or want to be. However, many people in every era have always been reminded of this deeper or "higher" Self through, for example, spirituality or religions, and it can be said that the concept constitutes the basis of all religion (where some religions have deviated from this foundation over time). It has also been a part of philosophy. Today, the concept sometimes also appears in psychotherapeutic contexts, even if it's perhaps not so common. Carl Jung attempted to represent it through the idea of the "collective unconscious", but it is difficult to determine if he really understood the sources he got his inspiration from.
Timeless man is closely connected with the evaluation compass. Since it constitutes a spiritual dimension, it's also related to discussions of things like reincarnation, metensomatosis, higher energy structures, dark quanta, and regions of complex numbers beyond our observable physical space-time world. How important these elements are for Timeless Education can be debated, but every reasonable education must deal in one way or another with religion and spirituality. Especially since consciousness is still difficult to comprehend.
What makes Timeless man important is that it is the only aspect of self-knowledge that can deal with circumstances beyond our control through a change of attitude. We could say that Timeless man, or the inner witness, is the only aspect of ourselves that can act freely through a choice of attitude and intent. And since morality is dependent on freedom and free will, only Timeless man can act morally, as well as define what is moral, namely a shift in attitude and to increase one's understanding of reality.
So that's the concepts in Timeless Education in general. For more detailed information regarding what you want to know, see [Youtube videos] or articles on the blog regarding the specific subject. And remember that educational videos in Swedish have English subtitles.
No comments:
Post a Comment