Myth and Truth

So . . . what is truth?

2006-12-13T06:53:00.000-08:00

This is a question that has exercised philosophers (as well as mothers of reculcitrant children) for millenia.

One definition which certainly deserves consideration is "the conformity of thoughts to things". This idea rests on the idea that 'out there' in the universe are things that have their own reality, and 'in here' (in our consciousness), are ideas that can be precise.
Try arguing against this proposition and you will find that you quickly need the precision of ideas to do so. So is this definition self-evident? Well is it?

This is not the truth?

2006-12-11T07:08:00.000-08:00

Assagioli was an Italian Psychologist who developed an approach to Psychology that took account of the spiritual nature of Man. His Egg diagram shown above, captures in a simple way the relationship between the centre of consiousness or the 'I' (in the Centre) and the Self or Higher Self, at the top. When being trained in Psychosynthesis, which is the system he developed, it is a practice to write on the edge of the board - "this is not the truth". Of course this does not mean the ideas are untrue - just that any formulation of truth must, by its very limitations, fall short of The Truth in its fulness.
We become closer to the Truth, when the filters inside our 'Egg' of consciousness become purified. For Assagioli, this could occur through the practice of Psychosynthesis and accompanying spiritual exercises.
A Google search on Psychosynthesis will provide much on which to follow up. Those in or near London may find clicking here provides further useful information.

Plato's thoughts on Thought

2006-12-11T04:15:00.000-08:00

Plato - who has rightly been called the Father of Modern Philosophy had some very useful ideas on thinking and truth which are as applicable today as they were in his time (4th Century BCE).
He separated four distinct categories of knowledge.

The lowest is the perception of appearances - which he called Eikasia. This is knowledge which is obtained directly by the senses, like shape, colour and texture.

The next level is that of opinion, which Plato called Pistis of belief. This embraces our knowledge of material objects. When the mind is operating at this level it takes things at 'face value'. The evidence of instincts and the senses are seen as 'true'.

Real knowledge, meaning an understanding of reality rather than partial truths, is knowledge of what Plato called the Intelligible. This is the abstract realm of causes and entirely above the material realm as such. There are two aspects to this just as there are two aspects to the material realm (Eikasia and Pistis).

The level of relatively universal ideas Plato called Dianoia. This is the realm of Reason as such. (Reason is capitalised here as it is seen as a Divine gift.) Reason can deal with the material realm but it does so, as it were, from above; it sees things in terms of their real abstract causes.

The highest level of what can be known, Plato called Noesis. Here the Intuition operates and grasps ideas directly. The Truth is seen through direct contact. At this level there is no doubt because this is entirely above any process of reasoning or estimation. The Ideas touched are Pure and Universal and are seen intuitively in their relation to everything else.

The Platonic use of the term 'Intuition' is different to its current day usage - where it means virtually the same as instinct. In Plato's theory we are dealing with a unitive visive power of the Soul, that 'sees' truth it its wholeness.

How does this relate to Truth and Myth?

When myths are considered from the lowest two levels then they appear as fables and tales merely for children (or those with childish minds), for they clearly are far too fantastical or outrageous to be true. However, myth approached with the higher faculties reveals profound spiritual truths. These are the truths that are considered as obvious and yet 'veiled'. The veil is drawn if they are considered from a consciousness entirely chained to the material realm, that suggests only the material is real. Such a viewpoint sees the explanation of everything, including consciousness, as arising from the material realm. Plato (and others who have effectively exercised Noesis knew this was not so.)

Blind Faith

2006-12-10T07:38:00.000-08:00

Homer is considered the author of two of the greatest cycles of myths ever produced, The Illiad and The Odyssey. He lived (if indeed he was an individual) around the dawn of recorded history. He is represented as blind because his sight is inward - to the wisdom within and above.
These myths can be seen as full of symbolism that is extraordinarily subtle. An exploration, in process, of The Odyssey can be found here.
The word 'myth' has a root meaning that may come from the word 'murmuring'. There is a sense in which the myth murmurs a truth that goes way beyond historical facts. Being full of symbols that can far transcend the material realm, the myth, carefully considered, can help the consciousness to ascend far above the everyday and mundane.
The Greeks recognised this and considered their mythic dramas to have a cathartic quality, that in some sense cleansed the Soul.

Classical Bloggers?

2006-12-09T01:07:00.000-08:00

It occurs to me that blogging has a history - and were computers around in Roman times one of the first would have been Marcus Aurelius.

"The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts, therefore guard accordingly and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature."

More on this seminal thinker can be found here.

Another early user of this genre was Blaise Pascal. He was a first rate mathematician and penned his ideas of life and its meaning in his famous 'Pensees'. Interesting background on his life and thought can be found here.

"In every dialogue and discourse we must be able to say to those who take offense 'of what do you complain?'."
Blaise Pascal

Myth of Psyche

2006-12-08T03:42:00.000-08:00

Apuleius wrote the story of Cupid (Eros) and Psyche in the Fourth Century, published in his Metamorphoses (or Golden Ass). It has been suggested that this was not just an entertaining fable but teachings from The Mysteries, which therefore had to be suitably veiled. This story has been brilliantly retold by C.S. Lewis in his "Till We Have Faces".
Althought themes in the original story can be found reflected in fairy tales (of the Beauty and the Beast type), the story by Apuleius presents some profound ideas about the nature of the Soul. One will be considered here. Psyche has been spending nights with her mysterious husband - whose face she has been told never to look upon. He only came to her after dark. Otherwise whe was on her own in her sumptuous palace. Her sisters say that her husband must be a monster, and that is why he is hiding his face by day and refusing light at night. Psyche should take in a taper and light it to see what her husband truly is.
She waits till he falls asleep, and then lights a taper. She sees her husband is beautiful beyond all comparison. But in adoring him she drops hot wax on his face and he awakens. He is deeply saddened for he now knows that Psyche must start her wanderings - and (apparently) lose him. She wakes to find herself on a desolate hillside. Her journey back to her true husband then begins.

It is in a story like this that the truths of evolutionary modern science meet their limitations. It is not that evolutionary theory is wrong, but it just entirely leaves out the concept of the Soul. Without an understanding of that principle, the mistake is made of seeing human beings as fundamentally material beings, where consciousness is a fortuitous occurance. Apuleius knew this was not so.

For Psyche is nothing less that the individual human Soul - perfect in essence but often foolish in action, through ignorance of her true nature. When the Soul turns to lower forms of truth (symbolised by her sisters) she acts instinctively or only from the dictates of 'common sense'. She needs 'proof' about her husband. However, the only light she can use is that of a taper (a pathetic little light, indicating the undeveloped nature of her own consciousness). When she sees her husband Eros's true nature she is unable to sustain her contact with him. In looking at Eros she is looking at the perfection of Spirit. The undeveloped Soul cannot hold that Vision of Reality, and so the 'fall' represented in both Myth and Religion, starts.

Psyche has to undertake many trials in order to return to her true home. Her journey is the same as our journey - back to the True.