Unfolding Consciousness Vol II:

Unfolding Consciousness: Exploring the Living Universe and Intelligent Powers in Nature and Humans Volume II Peering Down the Microscope – Man’s Internal Landscapes Volume II is a microscopic exposition of the complete constitution and nature of the human being. As such, its purpose is to extend considerably the scope of Volume I on this subject. Here the author progresses well beyond general remarks about body, soul, and spirit, or mind and consciousness, in favour of an in-depth exposition of the subtle (i.e., non-physical) bodies of the human being on all levels from the spiritual to the physical. Establishment science in its current paradigmatic state of limitation, circumscribed by the five physical senses, obviously has nothing to proclaim about the subtle bodies—and so should desist from attempting to deny their validity. However, since time immemorial, the sages and hierophants of the Mystery Schools, and all cultures world-wide, have provided unassailable evidence about the geography and contours of the inner constitution of human beings, something which has also been intuited by scientists with an awakened mystical faculty. To this end, in order to show their commonality, the author draws mainly upon the profound occult doctrines expressed in a modern scientific format through the nexus with the modern Theosophical Society, but also from other great centres of learning, supported, whenever possible, by the work of legendary scientists (like Sir William Crookes, OM PRS and Erwin Schrödinger, FRS) who have progressed far beyond the confines of purely materialistic concepts. This Volume is written in three sections and is copiously illustrated and referenced. The Prefatory sets the scene by briefly reviewing the message of Volume I focussing on the fundamental question of who, or what is a human being, and what is meant by mind and consciousness from the standpoints of science and occult science. The first section, spanning Chapters 1 to 5, comprises major expositions from occult science on the composition of the human being, i.e., his constitution and nature. Such understanding provides the foundation for explaining death in terms of a change of state of consciousness, and not its extinction, as almost singularly promulgated by science. Accordingly, the dynamics of the cyclical transitional process, involving death, after-death states, and subsequent reincarnation is explained and justified, along with related phenomena such as apparitions. The second section, covering Chapters 6 and 7, commences by clarifying common misconceptions. This is followed by a comprehensive exposition on a major theme of this volume: justifying why the human being cannot be thought of merely as a bio-physical machine, nor the human mind equated with the brain which, in turn, cannot be regarded, even in principle, as ‘just a computer’. The third section, comprising Chapter 8, draws together teachings from a wide range of sources, ancient and modern, from the East and the West, specifically to demonstrate their common origin in the perennial philosophy. Lastly, the Coda is a rather novel way of summarizing the contents of Volume II and leading on to Volume III. Volume II closes with three appendices. Appendix A provides robust evidence from numerous academic, peer-reviewed scientific journals in support of the existence of an ether—a precept of occult science—which has supposedly been disproved for all time by mainstream science on the basis of the 1887 Michelson-Morley experiment. Appendix B supplies more details about the function and role of the mysterious bridge that connects the two levels of the mind. Appendix C discusses the common tendency of spiritual societies to adopt a conformist mindset and how this serious bar to progress can be avoided. This Volume also makes the case that occult science, comprising the wisdom of all ages, is unavoidably an enormous subject. Thus, it demands a holistic approach based on universality of enquiry. Hence, a one-track purist approach is neither sensible nor true to the spirit of the esoteric and occult tradition. This is the reason for stressing the importance of teachings from other great streams of learning not directly connected with the Theosophical Society, whilst showing their confluence and nuanced differences with the latter, entirely in harmony with its Second Object: ‘To encourage the comparative study of religion, philosophy and science.’