Mystery of the Soul Part 6

The many theological hypotheses and theoriesreferred to metals as the subject of their
regarding the survival of consciousness aretransformation, they were actually referring to
without a basis from the scientific standpoint.the human soul.
Orthodox science even look askance towards theThe acceleration of evolution was referred to by
findings of parapsychology. Accounts such asthe Master Jesus when he mentioned the "strait
Near-Death Experience, spontaneous past lifeand narrow path." According to him only the few
recall, hypnotic regressions, Out-of-the-Bodywould discover this path. These are the teachings
Experience, and psychic phenomena in generalthat the Master promised to give to his disciples
seemingly point to the immortality of the soul;at a time when they were totally prepared for it.
however, conventional science still find suchThese esoteric doctrines and mystical practices
occurrences inconclusive. Fundamentally, science,are "lost" in the present-day teachings of the
however, does not oppose the notion of theChurches. We need not say any more of this.
existence of the soul or of its immortality; it is atAt present there are many esoteric schools and
present researching through empirical methods toorganizations, both East and West, helping
prove or disprove it. However, it is realized thatmankind to evolve at a rapid pace. Among the
the phenomenon of the soul does not readilycreatures of the four kingdoms, man is the only
submit to objective analysis. Science realizes theone able to take his evolution into his own hands.
limitations of its instruments in the detection ofBy working with nature, humanity would make
the existence of the soul.much progress. If society en masse reaches the
There is another aspect to immortality and thisconsciousness level attained by the saints there
concerns the physical form. Physical immortality iswould be no more wars and needless conflicts.
an ancient belief and is to be found in manyThis is not an impossibility. Mortal, human thoughts
cultures. In legends and in tales we find the thememake us believe in our limitations--limitations that
of physical immortality repeatedly. The possibilityactually do not exist.
of its attainment is well believed in among mostSoul culture helps us to rapidly evolve and to
metaphysicians. There are many highly spirituallyreach the goal set for us human beings by our
developed yogis who are said to have reachedProgenitor. In soul-culture there are three basic
the state of physical immortality. We personallypractices to consider: meditation, energy-work,
possess the secret teachings that according toand soul-refinement.
our preceptors in metaphysics, allow one toMeditation
acquire immortality not only of the soul, but ofMeditation is the most basic practice in soul-culture.
the physical body as well--at least, it extendsIt has been engaged in by saints, prophets, sages,
man's life-span way beyond the norm.and mystics throughout the ages. There are
In Taoism spiritual and physical immortality aremany meditational methods designed for various
both given careful consideration. Regarding physicalpurposes. The Hindu yogis have their own
immortality, there are many alchemical formulasmethods of meditation, just as the Buddhists and
supposed to immortalize the material body. Thosethe Taoists have theirs. The Western Tradition
who achieve physical immortality are called hsien.also possesses its own forms of meditation.
To the ignorant these alchemical formulas areThe basic purpose of meditation is to attune one's
supposedly made out of mineral or herbalconscious mind with one's Higher Self, one's Soul,
substances; but to the knowledgeable, they referor one's inner divinity. In prayer we speak and the
to the internal processes of chi or energy. Thehigher Intelligences listen; in meditation, the higher
methods for attaining spiritual immortality isIntelligences speak and we listen. Hence,
associated with the spiritual realization of Tao, themeditation helps us to receive spiritual and divine
Absolute, the "Mother," the "Source of all things."impulses emanating from God and one's highest
To Lao Tzu, death does not touch the one whobeing. Inspiration and self-empowerment are the
has realized the Tao.result of true meditation.
According to certain spiritual teachings immortalityIn the more advance practices of meditation we
is the continuous awareness of Self-existence andare led gradually to higher and higher dimensions
being without ever lapsing into an unconsciousor planes of consciousness where we would
state no matter what psychological and physicalultimately unite or become aware of our
conditions or transformations take place such asSpirit--the Monad. This attainment is referred to
sleep, concussions, or death. It is the state ofby Western writers as "Cosmic Consciousness." In
realizing one's divinity and unity with the Source ofan ancient scripture we are taught a method of
all. Immortality and the state of being eternal aremeditation:
associated with one's divine Parent. Unless one"The Self, the inner spirit, ever dwelleth within the
recognizes and is aware of this unified statehearts of men. Patiently separate Him thou from
between one's identity and the Divine Being, onethe cover of the body in which He liveth, even as
is not immortal, one merely undergoes variousthou takest off the blades of a reed-plant. Him
changes and is subjected to the whimsical forcesknow thou as pure and immortal; know thou, He
of nature. Immortality from this point of view isis pure and immortal." (Kathopanishad, II. 6.17)
not something that we automatically acquire whenEnergy-Work
we pass through transition. It is a state that weBefore the advanced practices of meditation may
may acquire here and now. The realization ofbe successfully carried-out, one's whole force-field
one's unity with God is the confirmation of one'sand energy-structure would have to be purified,
perpetual existence. There are many systemsstrengthened, refined, awakened, restructured,
that purport to teach the aspirant the methods ofand empowered. This practice is referred to as
acquiring mystical realization and unification withenergy-work.
the divine being, they usually belong to theThe various components of the microcosm that
esoteric section of our world-religions; like religionhas to be worked upon in energy-work includes
proper, some of these mystical schools believethe physical body, the chakras, the aura, the
theirs to be the best. Popular metaphysics as aetheric channels, the etheric webs, the electronic
whole, embraces many of the above conceptsbelt, and the subconscious mind. There are
regarding immortality.material and psychic toxins accumulated in the
The desire for immortality have also taken holdvehicles of the Personality that have to be
on the minds of computer engineers. To theseeliminated; and karmic stains that have to be
scientists the computer is analogous to the humanremoved. These negative energies causes lots of
brain. They hope that one day a super-computerproblems, not only in one's higher spiritual
would be created where every function of thecultivation practices, but also in daily life. Many of
brain would be duplicated, and that it would beour so-called bad-luck stems from these etheric
possible to transfer or download the human mindrubbish accumulated upon our system.
and consciousness into it thus creating an artificialSoul-Refinement
habitation for the soul-intelligence. This is theirEvolution requires soul-refinement. In order to
strategy for immortalizing the soul-"a ghost in theraise one's vibrations and improve the quality of
machine" reality. Related to this is the suppositionone's force-fields it is also necessary to refine
that computers and micro-chips would be soone's soul-nature, one's character. It is a person's
advanced and sophisticated in the near future thatlow character that generates and attracts
it would probably generate artificial intelligence-thatnegative energies and it would be senseless to
is, thoughts and feelings of their own.constantly perform energy-work when the time
SOUL FACULTIEScould be spent in more beneficial meditational
The soul has various psychic faculties thoughpractices. For this reason, aside from
most of them are not being used by the averageenergy-work, one has also to work upon
person. The use of these faculties often result inspiritualizing one's character--getting to the root of
strange paranormal activities or phenomena. Mostthe problem, so to speak. Almost all religions
psychic phenomena associated with the dead areteaches this aspect of mysticism--a moral
actually caused by the living. For instance,standard is set for us to follow. However,
hauntings are often believed to be "dead persons"sometimes we find it difficult to live up to the
appearing to the living, while in most casesstandard laid out for us. Sometimes we may
hauntings are caused by the astral forms ofconsciously know a thing to be right, but
people who are asleep and inadvertently appearingsubconsciously we are impelled to think, feel or do
to others.the opposite. We experience an inner conflict.
Some of the various psychic faculties are:Metaphysics offer certain methods to overcoming
Clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience,this conflict, and to restructure the subconscious
telepathy, psychokinesis, precognition, soul-travel,mind with positive energy patterns.
and bilocation. These psychic faculties may beCONCLUSION
developed. It is not merely a gift. Those who areIt is regrettable that this work could not be
born with them usually have acquired thempresented in a more perfect manner, and that it
through psychic-training programs in past-lives.remains much to be desired. What we have
The "powers" that we mentioned above arewritten in this paper merely represents the tip of
considered to be the lower faculties of the soul.the iceberg. There is much more to be taken into
These powers belong to the etheric, astral andconsideration than what we have addressed in
lower mental bodies. There are higher spiritualthis paper. The Ancient Wisdom is a storehouse
faculties and these are associated with the higherof metaphysical knowledge and we advise the
components in the microcosm, such as the Higherinterested reader in mystical matters to delve into
Mental, Buddhi, and Atma.its study. Certain aspects and knowledge
SOUL CULTUREconcerning the whole immaterial part of man, as
Spiritual evolution, when left to nature, progresseswell as the destiny of the Soul goes way beyond
at a snail's pace. Plant-like consciousness may takethe understanding and reach of conventional
millions of years just to reach the animalscience and psychics. Nevertheless, There are
consciousness stage. Human beings, likewise, inmany more things that could be said about the
the natural course of evolution would similarlySoul, not only from the metaphysical point of
require eons just to attain human perfection orview, but also from the anthropological,
godhood--the next kingdom above humankind.psychological, philosophical, and religious
However, there are spiritual practices that assistsperspective. It is for this reason that we appeal
one to shorten this time tremendously. Whatto the reader to do some personal research and
would take a million years could all unfold in aacquire the necessary information that would lead
single lifetime. This was alchemy's biggest secretto a greater understanding of the Soul--not solely
discovery--the transformation of lead, which isin an intellectual way, but also experientially in a
symbolical of the imperfect human being, intomystical manner through spiritual cultivation. In the
gold, which represents the perfect man. Why waitearly stages of this paper we spelled the word
for nature to transmute lead into gold when itSoul with a small first capital-letter; now we end
could be done in the laboratory by duplicating andthis work using an upper-case. After studying this
accelerating nature's processes? This was thepaper the reason should be obvious. One last
alchemist's reasoning. Though they exotericallyadvice: Know Thyself!