The Ultimate Reality

Most persons have little trouble understanding the basic scientific teachings concerning the atomic structure of the universe. It is usually easy for the student to visualize these invisible electrical units attracting together and building up all the beautiful and varied shapes and forms. But what is usually not understood is the nature of the force that is functioning in and through the atomic worlds guiding the construction of all matter.

As we have seen in previous lessons, the universe is not a stable, concrete thing, it is a continuous changing process. In viewing the universe either scientifically or philosophically, we find that this process extends from the sub-atomic to the intergalactic and beyond. We find also that every phase of the process is governed by absolute and unfailing law.

The actual physical process that we view as our world is similar to the individual frames of a movie, which when animated from the one side projects to the other a continuous flowing stream of lights and shadows that give the impression of a concrete reality.

This continuous process we know as reality is not the result of blind mechanical forces, it is not the result of dead matter stacked into a stage for us to act out our lives. IT IS A LIVING PROCESS.

As the images of the movie screen are animated by the motion and light of the projector and lamp, so our universe of constant change is animated by some unknowable something we can only term THE ULTIMATE REALITY!

Pursuing the matter further, we find the term reality is used by philosophers to designate that something which is fixed, eternal, unchangeable, and which underlies the universe of changing forms and shapes, and also, THAT WHICH IS THE PRIMAL CAUSE OF THEM.

Something set the electrons into motion forming the first atom as well as the first sun. We know that this first cause or Ultimate Reality exists before and independently of atoms. In fact, the Ultimate Reality exists independent of all else. If the Ultimate Reality were dependent upon anything for its existence, it could not be the Ultimate Reality.

All the greatest thinkers of the past and present have always postulated the existence of some ultimate principle of reality which is in all things and through all things, and is the cause, support and sustaining essence of all that is. This unknowable reality has always been regarded as infinite, eternal, ceaseless and unchanging. Also it is considered the motive power and directing intelligence responsible for the existence of all that can be said to be in existence. In short, THE CAUSE BEHIND IT ALL.

The student may at this point ask, "why all this concern about an unknowable principle of reality? All I really want to do is master life and experience the best life has to offer."

The knowledge of reality is the key to all else. Instead of dealing with the effects of a shadow world, one can deal direct with the cause of all things. Also, at the very center of one's being is the source of all the power one can ever use in life--the Absolute itself.

To better explain this point of an ultimate principle of reality, we shall use a method familiar to the Platonic school of thought. Consider an object, any object, perhaps a globe made of paper, wood or any other material. Now imagine holding this globe in front of a mirror and gazing at its image for some time. This reflection would appear quite real as you could see it plainly and clearly. However, if the mirror were suddenly shattered, the reflection would no longer exist because it depended upon the mirror for its existence. The image was obviously not the ultimate reality. Again, imagine holding the same globe in front of you, and examining it quite closely. The globe would surely appear real as it could be readily perceived by the physical senses. Now imagine taking the globe, smashing it, and setting it on fire. The globe would be consumed and would no longer exist. Although the globe appeared quite real, it could not be the ultimate reality as it depended entirely upon the materials of its composition for its existence. Anything that can be perceived with the five physical senses can not be regarded as the ULTIMATE Reality, as everything perceived in this way depends entirely upon the materials of which it is composed for its existence, namely atoms. Anything physical can be destroyed by nuclear disintegration. So what exactly is it that is ceaseless, unchanging, eternal, and ultimately real?

Consider the IDEA or thought of a globe. Is there anything you can do to it? Can you do anything to destroy or alter in any way the IDEA of a globe? After thorough consideration, you must admit that the idea of a globe existed before you came along to conceive it, and will continue to exist long after you are gone. It has always existed as a latent potential and will continue even if the entire physical world disintegrates.

The IDEA is immutable, indivisible, ceaseless, unchanging, eternal and everlasting. But as eternal and ultimate as an idea may seem, it still cannot be regarded as the ultimate reality. All ideas of all things, and all possibilities of things exist now. But where? Where do ideas come from:

IT IS INCONCEIVABLE TO THINK OF IDEAS AS EXISTING SEPARATE FROM A MIND! Mind is the substance of ideas. If ideas are seen to be eternal, immutable, ceaseless and unchanging, then the mind in which they exist must also be seen as infinite, eternal, immutable, etc., etc., etc.

The mind which contains all knowledge of all things that are now, that have ever been, or that ever will be is termed the universal mental principle or more simply, THE UNIVERSAL MIND!

By searching for an explanation to the existence of the physical universe or phenomenal appearance, we have reasoned in an uninterrupted progression from the image of the object, to the object itself, to the idea of the object, and further, to the mind that contains the ideas. It is here that our reasoning, or more properly, our comprehension, can go no further. Because, not only in back of matter, but also in back of mind, lies the unconditioned source, cause and essence of all that is; the unknowable, the uncomprehendable, the unspeakable, THE ULTIMATE REALITY!!
There are not words to describe the undescribable; sufficient for our knowledge of the present, is to know that the Universal Mind is considered the first expression or manifestation of the Ultimate Reality. Also, it is the highest form of mental conception we can grasp with the finite mind of an ultimate principle of reality. The highest intellectual apprehension of the mysterious force that animates nature is that of a universal mentative energy working in and through physical matter which is responsible for its creation into specific forms, its orderly processes, its continued duration and future evolution.

The nature of the Ultimate Reality can not be known or cognized. The fact that a principle or thing (if we can label it even with these terms) cannot be known directly, in no way negates the existence of it. On the contrary, it is the inevitable report of the intellect, reason and highest philosophical thought, that there is a support, cause and sustaining essence of all that is, both mental and physical. What it is NO ONE CAN SAY.

REPORT OF THE INTUITION

The term "intuition" is defined as:
"A direct knowledge or awareness of something without conscious attention or reasoning; non-intellectual perception or apprehension."

In addition to the report of the intellect and reason regarding an absolute reality, man's own interior feelings have always caused him to sense that something which is beyond himself, and at the same time in back of and within himself, that transcended his intellect and reasoning processes. At the very center of his own being, man has always sensed something of a mystical nature which he knew intuitively to be the very essence of his being, as well as the cause and force responsible for his existence and all that he beheld with his senses.

Throughout the ages, many terms have been applied to represent this unknowable "something." We shall list a few of them here:

Life Force, Life Principle, Elan Vital, Infinite Intelligence, Universal Mind, Divine Mind, Creative Will, Creative Intelligence, Creation, Primal Cause, Eternal Parent, Ether, Spirit, Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost, Heavenly Father, Unseen Hand, All-Seeing Eye, Supreme Being, Cosmic Intelligence, Cosmic, Consciousness, Mother Nature, The Light, The Law, The Christ Mind, The Cosmic Ray, The Way, The Blissful Void, Clear Light, Ultimate Reality, The One, The All, Supreme Self, The Godhead, and last but not least, GOD!!!

As we can see, the name we choose is not important. The list is endless. What IS important is that what you are trying to describe ACTUALLY IS!

The universal intuitive perception and conception of an intelligence and power of some kind, that is responsible for the creation and orderly function of the physical universe, is the inevitable report of man's own interior feelings; that there is a reality in which we live and move and have our being, and which lives and moves and has its being within us. This intuitive report does not seem so far fetched, when we stop to consider that all the beautiful and varied phenomenon that we perceive with the physical senses are the result of atoms lining up together according to an invisible blueprint.

Take crystals for instance. In the millions of years that crystals have been forming, the atoms have been lining up and adhering together according to certain symmetrical patterns that result in precise geometrically arranged cleavage planes and external faces. How do invisible electrical units know how to line up in perfect geometric angles unless there's some form of pattern or blue print for them to be guided by? We can account for certain crystalline structures by saying they are determined by lines of force existing within the atom itself. But when we are confronted with more complex forms of matter, the force field theory begins to weaken. For instance, certain fossil imprints of fern leaves are estimated to be millions of years old. They reveal that the fern leaf has not changed its shape or vein structure at all in millions of years. It becomes difficult to account for vein structures and leaf patterns without admitting the existence of not only an internal, invisible blueprint, but also some guiding intelligence directing the formation of matter along the predescribed lines of form.

When we consider that the human skeleton is primarily the result of a particular element cohering together and for all practical purposes can be considered as a large calcium deposit, we stand in awe of the fact that these electrical units arranged themselves so cleverly to form a nice round skull, having circular cavities with smoothed edges for the delicate organs of sight to sit comfortably and rotate smoothly as they view the universe in which they live.

This is not to mention the nice arrangement of these calcium atoms into intricate vertebrae which stack one on top of the other to form a human spine. And what of the delicate bones in the hands and feet? We can not help attributing this orderly arrangement of atoms to some guiding intelligence. If atoms were attracted together blindly it would result in a formless mass of solid matter and not the same complex pattern over and over again for millions of years without change.

In studying the formation of matter from the simplest crystal to the formation of a thousand year old oak, to the most complex living organisms, we find invisible atoms attracting, repelling and cohering into specific visible structures and forms. These observations lead to the ultimate conclusion and main part of this lesson, THAT THE ATOMS OBEY SOME LAW OR FORCE THAT IS INFINITE, ETERNAL AND OMNISCIENT.

If all physical forms are built upon an invisible blueprint, our question is, who is the architect responsible for such infinite variety and perfection?

We have already seen that all ideas of all things exist in the Universal Mind; it now appears that the Universal Mind exists in and through all things. This unseen force, through the medium of the atoms, directs and controls the formation of all physical matter as well as the dissolution of all substance.

"IT APPEARS THAT THE UNIVERSE AND ALL THINGS IN IT ARE MADE UP OF THE ENERGY OF THE MIND BEHIND IT WHOSE IDEA IT WAS!" (Vera S. Adler, "The Finding of the Third Eye"). It is this unseen intelligence that contains the idea or blueprint upon which all forms are built. It is this omniscient mind that attracts the atoms from the invisible ethers and directs their formation. It is this energy which is in all and through all and of which all things are made and sustained. It's as if energy were poured into the mold of the idea held in the mind of the Absolute.

Throughout the rest of the lessons when referring to the Absolute we shall use the terms, Spirit, Universal Mind, and Infinite Intelligence, because these terms best convey the nature of reality. The term, Spirit, is really the best we have to conotate that something which permeates all space and is alive and conscious. Without any religious overtones try to accept the fact that the term, SPIRIT, is the best we have to describe or explain the vital, irresistible force and infinite intelligence we see unfolding itself as the universe.

We end this lesson with the following poem:

SPIRIT OF THE ABSOLUTE

Spirit lives in matter,
In matter it is concealed.
It seems quite a paradox
Through matter it is revealed,
But deep in the core
Of all existence,
The Holy Spirit resides.
In all and through all
Is where the Spirit hides.
Existing as the sea of
Life, Knowledge and Bliss.
The Ultimate Reality
is found to exist,
The pure, clear, energy
Of God consciousness.
Never to be seen by mortal eyes.
All shapes
and forms
are but Spirit in disguise.
Made not of atoms
but from Spirit
all the atoms came
To reveal to our senses
The illusion of the
Physical plane.
An end to Spirit
There can never be,
For Spirit exists
through out eternity.
Separate from Spirit,
It is impossible to be,
For Spirit is the center
Of our identity.
One with the Infinite,
Should be our goal.
Deep in the depths,
Of our unfathomable mind
Lies the mansions
Of our Soul.