Gary,
In his first Realization, Merrell-Wolff says that -- during the
experience -- he found the physical world to be distasteful, and wanted
to leave it, but decided to stick around to help others, and this seems
to be what you are focusing on. In his second Realization, which he
originally called the High Indifference, he realized that sticking
around or not didn't matter -- each was ok. So I think you are harping
on something that is not central to what he had to say. He did live
another 49 years after these events, by the way.
For sure, he rejects the philosophical concept of matter, but so does
Pirsig (when he rejects the "metaphysics of substance"). But you're
right that Merrell-Wolff does not, as far as I know, say anything about
it being part of mankind's duty to redeem (what we call) matter, as,
say, Sri Aurobindo does, or Isaac Luria (releasing the sparks of
divinity caught in the shards from the original act of creation), or as
in your quote below. I think there is something to this, though I think
you are taking the mythical description too literally.
The Buddhist phrase "nirvana is samsara" should also clue you that
Buddhists too do not consider withdrawal from the physical world to be
the Answer (though many practicing Buddhists may think so, but then most
religionists tend to be heretics in one way or another).
I don't know anywhere where Merrell-Wolff says "my way is the only way".
He does say that a change in consciousness is necessary, but surely that
is what every mystic says, isn't it? How are we going to release the
sparks if we can't even recognize their existence? The whole point of
treating everything as consciousness and not matter is to recognize that
our customary notion that there is this realm of dead matter is wrong,
and we need to treat it as alive and ware (e.g., as embodied Quality)
before we can think about redeeming it. To do that we need to overcome
our dualist habits of thought, which you seem determined to preserve.
Why else do you think I've been warning about the SOM-ish underpinning
of the phrase "the map is not the territory"?
- Scott
Gary Jaron wrote:
> Hi Scott,
>
> I found a quote from a Jewish Mystic that is on point. The point being that
> the physical is not to be ignored and is a source of truth. Which
> challenges Wolff's and the Hindu/Buddhist perspective in the unimportance
> of the physical aspect of reality.
>
> The quote is from Moses De Leon (he is the author of the Zohar.) it is from
> his book "Sefer ha-Mishqal" [I do not know enough Hebrew to translate
> Mishqal.]
> --------------------------
> 'The purpose of the soul entering this body is to display her powers and
> actions in this world, for she needs an instrument. By descending to this
> world, she increases the flow of her power to guide the human being through
> the world. Thereby she perfects herself above and below, attaining a higher
> state by being fulfilled in all dimensions. If she is not fulfilled above
> and below, she is not complete.
>
> Before descending to this world, the soul is emanated from the mystery of
> the highest level. While in this world, she is completed and fulfilled by
> this lower world. Departing this world she is filled with the fullness of
> all worlds, the world above and the world below.
>
> At first, before descending to this world, the soul is imperfect; she is
> lacking something. By descending to this world she is perfected in every
> dimension."
> ------------------------
> The soul, of course is our spark of the Divine Fire. Thus the Divine is
> perfected by becoming physical!
>
> Wolff misses this. His certainty blinds him to see beyond his beliefs.
> Hence his problem. There are always more ways to truth than one that we
> know. Doubt and uncertainty give us the wisdom to see beyond ourselves.
>
> I only disagree with Wolff when he tells me his way is the only way. That
> is the one thing I know for certain is false!
>
> Happy to live with doubt and uncertainty,
> Gary
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Scott R" <jse885@spinn.net>
> To: <moq_discuss@moq.org>
> Sent: Saturday, August 31, 2002 2:27 PM
> Subject: Re: MD Value and Time
>
>
>
>
>>You end up with:
>>"The point is that faith/ belief does not ever equal TRUTH."
>>
>>This is news? Merrell-Wolff's point is that Knowing the TRUTH requires
>>mystical transcendence, that once one gets it, faith/belief are no
>>longer necessary. I agree with him, that is, my faith is that he and
>>some other mystics Know what they are talking about. Your faith appears
>>to be that they don't.
>>
>>- Scott
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
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