The map is not the territory. It is a map…..a perspective. There are many maps. There is one ‘Territory.’ The purpose of checking out a map is to acquaint, familiarize oneself, orient……..

The Buddha identified three levels of wisdom…..1. Awareness, 2. Intellectual inquiry. 3. Direct Personal Individual Experience with the information. Look at how the Buddha’s 3 piece map of wisdom compares to the three stages of Kripalu Yoga.

Read more: The Three Concepts

I would like to give credit to my teacher Rav Berg who writes about “the three concepts” in his book, “Nano, Technology of Mind over Matter.”

Three key concepts can be extrapolated from this “map” that have the power to unleash a transformation in physics and biology beyond all current imagining.

There is nothing that arises in our ‘world’ that does not first begin in the realm of consciousness. Consciousness always precedes physical expression without fail. All physical manifestations first begin as an idea. An idea or thought is considered part of the realm of consciousness. The same principle holds true for atoms, electrons and protons. They are all manifestations of consciousness. Consciousness is the thread that weaves through all of Creation. This is the first concept.

The other two concepts for understanding the natural world relate directly to the nature of consciousness. Specifically, there is one law that governs the realm of consciousness and there is one force that influences consciousness. The moment one truly understands the one law and the one force, all paradoxes in physics are reconciled, all conflicts vanish.

The one law states that in the realm of consciousness like attracts like and opposites repel. Everything that occurs (arises and passes away) in our reality flows from this one law.

The one force that influences consciousness is an opposing power, a countervailing force that uses the one law to conceal itself, and thus propels the world toward increasing chaos (2nd law of thermodynamics and Chaos Theory).

Now this is where it gets a little funky. Remember, it is but a map.

The one force is called Sa-Tan. The word Sa-Tan is the most corrupted and misunderstood word in the human language. Translated properly it means Adversary. Adversary refers to a force that relentlessly propels this world- and our individual selves – away from the Source of true reality. Since true reality is perfect order, the further we move away from it, and the greater the distance and space, the greater the increase in disorder.

Therefore, the Adversary is the Cause of the increasing disorder that occurs in the physical domain. On the individual level, the Adversary impels us to receive instead of share, and it is this act of receiving that distances us from the Source of perfect order and happiness.

Now, to explore just a bit deeper into the spiritual aspect of the three concepts read the blog post entitled “The Treasure.”

The concept of the matrix is just another “map of the territory.” A map is a perspective. I think that the matrix metaphor is a useful one in our seeking of what is true.

Think of the matrix compared with the 5 Koshas in yogic philosophy. The Koshas are translated as “veils.” The Matrix is a kind of veil which keeps the truth hidden. In the movie the Matrix, Morpheus tells Neo that the matrix is all around him hiding him from the truth.

Neo has a CHOICE. He can take the blue pill and stay oblivious or he can take the red pill and awaken to the reality of things (Dharma).

Here we are. In a world where many are awakening to the sense that something is not quite right. Something is off. What is it? I suggest that the matrix is becoming apparent. I recently began reading a book I obtained some 20 years ago. It is called THE MATRIX WARRIOR; BEING THE ONE written by Jake Horsley. This book is an excellent deep er dive into this map of The Matrix.

I would like to offer Five perspectives that, taken as a whole, includes all possible Perspective. Then, I would like to juxtapose this five set Perspective with other “maps of the territory.”

WHY? Good Question.

ANSWER: We are here to find the patterns of Sankhara and dissolve them. This is the path of The Buddha and All Enlightened Masters. Confronting The WHY and The How and The What of existence

These five perspectives describe every angle of how anything emerges. Individual humans and collective societies and cultures often “reduce” their understanding of Truth to one of four perspectives. One of the perspectives cannot be reduced. This reductionism is an attempt to understand, capture and own the territory of Truth. However, to really be “The whole Truth and Nothing but The Truth” one must engage all of them.

To start, I would like to introduce a map I have mentioned in passing but we have not spent a lot of time on.

Ken Wilber and Integral Theory: The Four Quadrants.

Here is a 35 minute video that is an excellent overview.

Now, Taken as a whole, the 4 quadrants create what is called a Holon. Nested Hierarchies of Holons create a Holorchy.

The fifth perspective is a transcendence of the four or rather the whole of the parts.

Now, let’s compare The Koshas, for example;…….The five “bodies” or “sheaths” or “veils” which we are made of in yogic philosophy. The Physical (the it), the energetic (the we?), the mental/emotional (the I?), the higher self (The its?) and the Bliss Body – The Transcendent!

Check out this map of Kuhn’s paradigm shift model……

For a more mystical perspective check out this article by one of my favorite Kabbalists……

https://kabbalah.com/en/articles/finding-the-pattern/

I am sure most of you are aware of The Grief Process presented via Elizabeth Kubler Ross’s work on Death and Dying. It is a five step process that begins with DENIAL and ends with ACCEPTANCE. In between there are three stages often listed in the order of first, ANGER, then BARGAINING, , then DEPRESSION.

I have been contemplating this process in light of the current paradigm shift we are all experiencing, whether we know it or not. Some call it “A New Normal.” Some say we are going to experience a “Great Reset.” And others say it is going to be “The Great Awakening.” Some theologically inclined people would call it, “The End Times, The Great Tribulation, The Rise of The Anti-Christ, The Return of Jesus Christ, The Age of The Maschiach.

What ever you call it, I believe, all of us are going through The Grief Process as we transition from the old to the new. The paradox is that we learn in our Vipassana inquiry that the dominant truth of our existence is ‘The Nature of Impermanence; Annica.” And even though we know that things are going to change we go through this emotional process of grief. The strength of the emotion is different with different people. I guess the level of grief experienced correlates with the strength of the attachment to that which is changing.

Just one more thought on this subject. I have found that the three middle stages appear in different order of sequence depending on the person. I know some that get angry first and then depressed after which they enter into bargaining before reaching acceptance. I know some that start with bargaining – get angry – get depressed, then, maybe, enter into acceptance. I know others who’s first reaction is to go into depression then start bargaining then get angry before reaching acceptance. What is your process?

It is how we are wired that determines the order of our process, the intensity of the process and the sustainability of the process. A great Zen Master said, “It’s like we are all traveling around a big circle. Does not matter much where you are at. The important thing is to keep moving; don’t get stuck.”

Personally, I am experiencing this process intensely at this time. For me, it’s not so much the grief of losing the past but rather the uncertainty of the future. I am finding myself more reactive than normal. I am not depressed and I am not bargaining. I am certainly not in acceptance. I probably have one foot in denial and one foot in anger.

I have often talked about “the battle.” Perhaps this is one way to understand that the battle is within. Things are going to change. It may be hard. All indications are that it is going to be difficult. And perhaps this is the point at which GOD comes into play and one’s relationship to GOD. And whether you choose to use another word for GOD it matters not.

The great wisdom is to experience the rapidly changing impermanent nature of all that is all the time. It is like a big pulse every second. Boom-Boom-Boom-Boom……..On-Off-On-Off…..Here-There-Here-There…Empty-Full…..Yang-Yin-Yang-Yin.

Clif High predicts that by October 28th we will have experienced and event that will, forever, change our perspective. That should be interesting. Anyone have any ideas on what that event might be? I have a few ideas….If you aren’t signed up with choice times please do. Sign in so you can post a comment…..