Toward a Quantum-Etheric Theory

I am beginning to feel like a Ken Wilber fan boy here. I am reading Excerpt G: Toward a Comprehensive Theory on Subtle Energies and I am nearly brought to tears by Ken’s gorgeous thoughts on subtle energies (etheric, astral, psychic etc).
What are Subtle Energies:
Theories on subtle energies go back thousands of years. There are versions of this model in Egyptian, Chinese, European, Jewish, Islamic, Indian (and many other) traditions. Ken’s version:

Table 1. Levels of Energy and Consciousness (from Excert G)
Is Quantum Potentiality a Subtle Energy?
One point that I have been confused on is Quantum Mechanics. Where does Quantum Mechanics fits in the Great Chain of subtle energies? Quantum Mechanics (and lately string theory/M-theory/k-theory or whatever the hell Ed Witten is calling it these days) is extremely popular among the New Age, metaphysics, Law of Attraction rock stars (Deepak, the Secret, What the Bleep.. no hate here, I love them). Philosophers, new agers, shaman, mystical fanboys/girls throw around the words “quantum mechanics” all the time (usually without knowing what the hell they are talking about, or at least I don’t know what the hell they are talking about).
Is Law of Attraction a Modern Mesmerism
I can’t help but be reminded of mesmerism and 1920s spiritualism of when I read some new age material. Animal magnetism (aka Mesmerism) was the metaphysical theory of Franz Mesmer in the 18th century. Mesmer’s theory was based on what he called “magnetic fluid” that he claimed was in every one and could be used to cure the sick (sound familiar… Reiki and qi gong have similar theories but different practice, east Indians have myriad practice and theories on something similar… maybe he was on to something). Like our modern day metaphysical theories on Law of Attraction and other new age theories, Mesmer’s animal magnetism had a following in France, but the scientific community didn’t accept it. Some of his clients claimed to be cured by his techniques. Although animal magnetism never took hold in modern science, a 19th century physician named James Braid took his techniques and developed a little something called “hypnosis”.
Like Mesmer’s animal magnetism, I believe some new age theories (Law of attraction, mystical connections to quantum mechanics) are on to something but as of right now the theories are to vague, simplistic and perhaps (as Ken says) naive to take hold in the community (namely science and academia) that can develop it. There is clearly a hunger for answers as people (laypersons, even some scientists and religions) all over the world flock to the latest new age, material-spiritual, quantum mechanics theories such as the material we see in things like “What the Bleep do We know?!” and the Secret.
The Philosopher with the Einstein’s Brain
Ken Wilber has blasted the new age movement, the Secret, What the Bleep and anything even remotely similar. He’s got a lot of arguments about the material, but his main problem (beside what he calls “Boomeritis“) seems to be their theory of reducing nondual spirit to (physical) Quantum phenomenon. Having read HIS version of how Quantum Reality relates to spirit, I must say that he has made me a believer.
His theory makes perfect sense. From what I understand, he is saying that spirit by itself is nondual, meaning it has no opposite so it is truly beyond infinite/finite (for even ‘infinite’ has and opposite, ‘finite’). Spirit has NO reference and no qualities that we can somehow measure and quantify, whereas quantum material do have qualities and opposites. Essentially, even though Quantum potentiality is incredible magical (spookiness at a distance, as Einstein called it) it is NOT equal to spirit as spirit.
Although spirit is manifest as soul (spirit-as-soul), as mind/causal (spirit-as-mind), as prana/etheric/astral (spirit-as-prana), as physical/gross/atoms/matter (spirit-as-matter), and each of the those have opposites, spirit-as-spirit has none so there is nothing we can say about it. It is beyond what we can symbolize with words and thought. Many mistake quantum potentiality for spirit-as-spirit but it is actually spirit-as-prana.
Ken Wilber’s Summary of Quantum Realities
Following the great philosopher-sages (such as Nagarjuna, Plotinus, and Shankara), we can summarize the reasons that any sort of quantum or subquantum events are not Spirit:

1. Any quantum reality has some sort of characteristics, qualities, or dimensions that set it apart from manifest matter; but Spirit is radically shunya of drsti (empty of any and all qualities, including that characterization itself)—e.g., quantum vacuum has vast energy, spirit is unqualifiable.
2. Any quantum reality is different in some important ways from gross matter; but Spirit is not different from any manifestation, but is rather the Suchness or Isness of whatever arises.
3. Quantum reality has an opposite (e.g., non-quantum reality), but Spirit is radically nondual.
4. Spirit is dimensionless; quantum reality is merely in a different dimension.
5. And, most important, quantum material energy comes directly out of prana, not out of spirit (i.e., matter crystallizes out of spirit-as-prana, not spirit-as-spirit).

The Secret is Fake: talking to Mr. Kjerulf

 

 My response to Alexander Kjerulf on the Secret:

Hi Alexander,

Good stuff.  I love theSecret and I’ve referred to many people.  But you makes some good points.

1. No proof that famous historical people knew the secret:  I guess this depends on context.  Many of the famous people eluded to on the site [thesecret.tv] are world class go-getters (especially in their prime).  But did they know the “law of attraction” by that name… I doubt it.

2. No proof that the Law of Attraction was kept secret (conspiracy):  I kind of saw that bit as a dramatization put in the Secret. 

Although one might argue that the Holy Roman Church [et al] annihilated many sects that actively practiced the Law of Attraction (i.e. Rosicrucians.. if you look closely you will see this name flashed in the title sequence of the secret BTW..  The Rosicrucians -occult,societies, gnostics, heretics and others- that practiced the Law of Attraction a.k.a “magic, thought forms, visualization” or anything that did not conform was destroyed… this purification was done by Nazi Germany, the Holy Roman Empire, and other nationalistic empires that wanted complete control.  Many churches go out of their way to discredit to this day.) 

3-5. The Secret is Pseudo Science:  As I’ve said in a previous post, I won’t even pretend to understand what quantum physics has to do with mysticism, but I do have pretty strong oppinion about the dogmatic even religious steps that science seems to have taken.

Apparently, the belief in pseudo science is on the rise in the U.S. http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/070218_ap_us_science.html
This includes UFOs, psi, astrology, mind over matter and many others.
The scientific incrowd throw them ALL out wholesale.  There is such a stigma in the “accepted” scientific community that even an honest open minded question into the POSSIBILITY of the above areas deemed pseudo science can be career ending.  Personal experience and phenomenology are also thrown out so that one is supposed to question their own sanity prior to believing their own eyes. 

I often ask myself, who has a monopoly on reality?  Science or Religion?  Neither, of course.  Both are simply measurements and guides on life and reality but somehow people have completely reversed this.  Somehow, we have become the mere measurements of science and the puppets of religion with human perspective and life as a passing anomaly or a sin to be cleansed.

So do I believe that the human mind can influence the physical reality?  I believe that an awakend mind is the most power force in the world.  Able to split atoms, influence others, attain deeper understanding of the environment and more importantly, able to make up its own damn mind.

spiritual mystical quantum physics