Doug Fisichella...
Douglas Fisichella is a Student of the Arcane School founded by Alice A. Bailey and a life long student of the worlds religions
Soul Contact
The soul, as a principal occupies much of my attention as I study. I think it is important to take each of the principals we study and examine our understanding of it in an effort to keep ourselves grounded. Of course there is always value in considering topics like these, even if it is nothing more than an exercise of the intellect, but there is a greater reason to consider the nature of the soul than in random mental machinations. It brings to the forefront of the mind some of the most fundamental questions and attitudes of the human family. Who am I? Where did I come from? How did I get here? Where am I going and how do I get there? Of course this reflects my understanding in the here and now and is sure to continue to evolve as my consciousness expands.
We all wonder what happens when the body dies and if there is life or any fragment of what we identify as "self" after that moment of transition. Many of the tenets of the world religions are based on this very question. Much of the misunderstanding of the human constitution is based on the misinformation about this very subject. Many of the childish views people hold seem to be born of rosy explanations for children and even adults from earlier cultures about what may have happened to the elders of families in whose absence they now have to continue their lives. We have been told by countless traditions that they are now "in a better place" and are no longer in pain, yet we mourn because we are never sure that our faith is based in truth rather than a hope that it is the case because at that moment we also face the eventuality of our own transition into the unknown. Even if faith is strong we mourn the loss of contact with them and long for their companionship.
For lack of empirical evidence the materialist refuses to believe in anything he cannot see or detect with scientific instrumentation regardless of the fact that science is constantly revising its view based on new findings and more and more sensitive instruments. We can now verify the photoluminescence of plants and countless other phenomena which the spiritual teachings have presented for ages. All of the major religious systems of the earth have supposed the existence of the soul in their own way and witness accounts have detailed the process of its exit from the physical frame, but we can’t detect it when it has gone so the question remains for most, unanswered. This area is left to faith.
The ageless wisdom teachings tell us that this is the conscious witness, the dweller within and that we can change our identification from the personality or form to this more rarified and energetic aspect of our constitution. As we learn about these differing aspects we learn to identify our “selves” in different ways and realize there is more to us than our physical form. This, perhaps because it is re-assuring to us in some ways is dismissed by some as if anything that gives us relief from the fears of loss or our own mortality is as much useless fairytale.
I believe the existence of the soul and there are a number of reasons for me to keep this idea as a working hypothesis as I continue my studies and meditation practice. First and foremost, it resonates with my own consciousness as the only legitimate possibility. The idea forwarded by the fundamentalists of religious faith of the existence of eternal bliss or damnation based upon the living of the life on earth for a few short years enforced by a jealous and angry God who is also the personification of love is at best ludicrous.
Secondly, as I practice I see the changes in my life that are predicted by the teachings. My intuition is growing and my ability to see the inner side of happenings has undeniably improved. I have physical and emotional responses and experience mental states in meditation that I have never encountered before. I am aware on a different level so by definition my consciousness has changed by these practices and as I have come into closer contact with this aspect of myself, part of me knows it is my soul.
I cannot claim direct experience of definite soul contact due to the wariness of a decidedly 5th ray mind. We are taught that there are experiences that will leave one in absolute certainty of the reality of the soul, and of the Master. I have had neither in my physical brain consciousness, but I have had many subtle indications and they correlate to the experiences of other disciples as described in the teachings, so my empirical mind gets so see the predictions manifested in progression.
In 8th grade science class we looked through a microscope at a cloud chamber with a “mildly radioactive” substance in a cloud chamber. The experiment was designed to show us the trail left behind a gamma particle as it was thrown free, like the trail left by a jet as it crosses the sky. The teacher was careful to remind us that we never saw a gamma particle. What we saw was evidence of something that we call a gamma particle. In a similar manner I know my soul and I am sure if you search within you will find something you may call a soul.
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