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Article Title: The Sensing Capabilities of the Spiritual Soul
Author: A.O. Kime
Category: Philosophy
Word Count: 2,360
Format: 65 characters per line
Website Source: http://www.matrixbookstore.biz
Article URL: http://www.matrixbookstore.biz/spiritual_soul.htm
Author’s Email Address: [email protected]
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The Sensing Capabilities of the Spiritual Soul
by A.O. Kime
Since I’ve already addressed the spirit world and metaphysics,
this article will be more focused. It would probably be helpful,
but not necessary, if you read those and my other phenomena
articles first for a little background. However to address the
spiritual soul, one can’t get overly specific so I’m limited to
how focused I can be. After all, this is metaphysical phenomena
we’re talking about. It boils down to languages lacking the
necessary descriptive terms (semantics) for metaphysics. In other
words, something must first be described in a way everyone can
relate to. Semantics can also lead us astray which the ancient
mystics often complained about. They once posed”¦ “Do languages
assist or create understanding?” Something to ponder.
To get an idea what one’s spiritual soul might actually be (after
death), the natural tendency is to first visualize being without
a body. Well, that is obvious but it would also mean you could
not see, hear, feel, taste or smell”¦ that’s because these senses
are brought to you courtesy of your body. Importantly, it also
means that if you were still able to think and be aware of your
existence, you wouldn’t be doing so in any ”˜location’. In other
words, in order to be in a location requires a physical presence
therefore you couldn’t ”˜be’ anywhere, only everywhere. Your
existence would be as pervasive as the spirit world itself, which
is, being everywhere at once. Of course, without sight, you
wouldn’t know where you were anyway”¦ also time would probably be
meaningless. This assessment would seem true if one was stripped
of all senses which a body provides and not provided with
replacement capabilities. That scenario seems to be a possibility
but let’s dig deeper”¦ continuing with the assumption we do have a
soul and it can survive death.
So, either the soul is provided with replacement sensing
capabilities or it isn’t. If the soul isn’t, but still has
awareness, that would still have significant meanings. From that,
one might think we would then ”˜become’ part of the spirit world
but I can’t quite say it that way if, as it seems, we already
makeup the spirit world. It is not known how two ethereal
existents can possibly join nor has it been established there is,
or can be, more than one ethereal existent. If indeed there
exists but one, then that relegates the matter of ‘becoming’ to
an ”˜already is’. That would mean the spirit world is, in effect,
one. But hold on… if there are distinctions within the
metaphysical realm, that would change everything, even though it
wouldn’t be physical differences. To make a distinction means to
find a ‘difference’, any difference whatsoever. Within
etherealness, differences might only exist mentally or
psychologically, as in ideas, thoughts and dreams. It could also
entail differences in intentions and modus operandi. Actually,
between living entities, one could probably find just as many
ethereal differences as physical differences… whether between
humans or even between a dog and cat. Finding distinctions within
the spirit world may not be a problem after all… that is, for
someone already there.
Senses and distinctions
To discover whether or not ethereal distinctions exist in order
to determine whether all ethereal things represent the essence of
God, a distinction needs to be made here as well. That is, in
what manner do these things represent the essence of God… are
they different representations? Well, that’s a different subject
and an age-old problem for philosophers, trying to find
distinctions within the ethereal. It is one thing to create
distinctions, as most do; it’s quite another to discover them.
For now, let’s put that dusty old problem back on the shelf and
concentrate on what senses, if any, we may receive after death. I
think it is most likely that we, as souls after death, would
acquire new sensing capabilities. I suspect that would be the
case because it seems doubtful they would be the exact same
senses a human body has. One might want to claim we have six
senses if we included our intuitive nature. No problem, we can
say six, however our sixth sense may not be a bodily possession
but already a possession of our spiritual soul”¦ as it seems so.
Not in 10,000 years could we ever imagine what other types of
senses there could be. To imagine an unknown sense would be
impossible for mortals. Consider this, of any of our current
senses, if we lacked any one of these, they could not be
otherwise imagined”¦ and not even after they were explained. For
example, even after having explained colors to someone blind,
they still cannot fathom colors. At any rate, I don’t know if all
our current senses would be necessary but wouldn’t we want
eyesight? Or would we need eyeballs for that? It would seem so. I
think the most likely scenario is that we would acquire a
different set of senses, perhaps more magnificent than our
current five (or six). While eyesight would be a sense we would
rather not do without, there could be something better.
While we know how important our current senses are for existing
on earth in the physical form, they may only be applicable to, or
necessary in, the physical realm. At any rate, we may not need
them elsewhere, not those particular ones. Since it is impossible
to imagine what our new senses (if any) would be, we can’t follow
this trail any further. It is to only expect we’d likely acquire
a new set of senses if we got any at all. I suspect we would
however, a precedent was established when we got those we have.
As to how we acquire them is another question, an enormous
question. If we knew that, it would tell us reams about the
spirit world.
To exist without any sensing capabilities at all would seem a
discouraging prospect if that were the case. What then would be
the purpose for having awareness? What else could one do besides
think and dream? Again our ability to understand fails us, much
as it fails us to fathom an unknown sense. However we’re often
given clues if we seek them, even dreaming tells us something…
more-so than the dreams themselves. In addition to what science
contends, I think occasionally we are also experiencing the
activities of our spiritual soul in dreams, what it does when
we’re asleep. This seems to occur only in some dreams however,
those with more clarity and continuity, those which don’t seem to
rely on our memory banks. Those types of dreams may offer clues
as to how our soul will conduct itself after our death. But not
to get off on this tangent, for more on dreaming see our webpage
Dreams, dreaming and afterlife dreamers.
How the spiritual soul is expressed
If we are already the essence of the spirit world subconsciously,
which Plotinus (205-270), the founder of Neoplatonism,
effectively believed, it’s a matter how this is expressed. For
one thing, he did not refer to the subconscious mind as such;
rather it being the ”˜intelligence’ (of the mind) I’m fairly
certain, at least to the extent one can compare metaphysical
concepts. At any rate, it has been my contention our subconscious
mind has outside connections, all of us subconsciously connected
to the same pool of ”˜being’ and intelligence… and thus, to each
other.
Plotinus was a firm believer in the soul; more-so that it was an
integral part of his three tier ”˜system’ consisting of (1) God,
(2) intelligence and (3) the soul. I think he was right in trying
to express those distinctions in such a way, especially how we
commonly perceive these three apparent existents. It can’t be a
literal interpretation however… that implies they are different
and therefore a ‘part’ of etherealness and what can ‘part’
possibly mean in etherealness? Anyway, I don’t think there can be
a distinction quite that clear. We should keep in mind they are
only ‘effective distinctions’.
Since only our conscious mind is unique, and if there is to be
individuality (at all) in the afterlife, then the conscious mind
must somehow contribute to the makeup of the individual soul. One
way to explain this long-held belief (in the individual soul) is
to first refer to the distinction between the subconscious mind,
which is not unique, and our conscious mind which is. So what
does consciousness and subconsciousness have to do with the soul?
One way to describe it is to say the soul is the child of both
since, it seems, both contribute. The concept of a ‘subconscious
mind’ was a great scientific step forward and a great distinction
but few such distinctions exist and why I keep relying on ”˜in a
sense’ and ”˜effectively’. Until someone stumbles upon more good
descriptions such as the ‘subconscious mind’, metaphysics can
only be addressed in vague terms.
It is not ironic I am using the word ”˜sense’ in two different
ways, one when I refer to our five senses, the other when I state
”˜in a sense’. While a different contextual meaning, when it comes
to describing the essence of the spirit world, ”˜in a sense’ can
be taken literally. In other words, in a world without shapes and
forms, of vagueness, whatever existents there may be, whatever
transpires, can only be sensed. The result will not be a clear
picture”¦ no more than any analysis of a particular taste or
smell. Therefore I suspect any new senses we may acquire will be
somewhat similar to our current senses of taste and smell. I just
don’t think we’ll get anything as vivid as what eyesight
provides, but I hope I’m wrong.
The strange relationship between the soul and two senses
There is a strange similarity, and perhaps a relationship,
between the spirit world and the senses of taste and smell.
That’s not to say we would necessarily taste or smell anything in
the afterlife, they just seem to be in a category of senses that
are similar. While human senses have never been looked upon as
being classifiable but maybe they should be. For example, when
smelling a rose, one can’t describe the unique sensation since
words do not exist to explain it; conversely, most everything
seen can be explained. In other words, vision may be an exclusive
sense applicable only to the physical realm… and perhaps
hearing. Taste and smell seem entirely different while touch
seems somewhere in-between. Since the particular taste and smell
of something is indescribable, as indescribable as anything
metaphysical, this tells us something very important. It tells us
that’s the type of reality the spirit world consists of, which
is, indescribable vagueness. That is why we can’t pin it down,
explain it in precise terms.
I once stated that we, as individuals, in someway
(subconsciously) make up the spirit world because I didn’t
believe it is divisible. I said ‘subconsciously’ because this is
where our very existence dwells. Well, in a sense, and only while
in human form. I’ll need to work on clarifying that more I
suppose. As to any afterlife existence, I believe it will then be
demonstrated that existence itself can be a matter of degree,
determined largely by worthiness and somewhat by knowledge. For
example, to a very small degree, hardly noticeable, even humans
seem to exist in varying degrees, not physically of course but
mentally. As I said, this ‘degree of existence’ may not be really
evident until later, expressed more in the afterlife. How one
obtains this knowledge, that which empowers, concerns the Divine
Intellect and as to one’s worthiness… well I don’t need to
elaborate on that.
For all believers, the goal is an afterlife. However this is
perceived, it seems evident that worthiness, desire, empowering
knowledge and even faith, in conjunction with each other, are
determinates. While religions maintain that faith alone will
acquire a satisfying afterlife, I remain skeptical; it surely
requires much more effort. This afterlife, however wide the
gates, and whatever it turns out to be, I think empowering
knowledge (specifically) could open up infinite other
possibilities in the hereafter. Empowering (spiritual) knowledge,
which we acquire before death, could have a bearing because of
how Mother Nature operates. In this case, the survival of the
fittest ‘mentally’.
Progress awaits distinctions
In trying to explain anything related to the metaphysical realm,
it is hard to be more specific. The mystics were right; languages
fail miserably in explaining anything metaphysical but that is
also due to a lack of understanding. To develop descriptive terms
for metaphysics has been, and will remain, quite a challenge. As
it is, our language will only take us to the border, as if an
alien language is spoken on the other side. Progress awaits these
much needed distinctions.
If we are to become a distinguishable entity in the afterlife, an
individual, albeit created through a process we know nothing
about, even if we only existed in a dream state, and were not
active participants, it would still be an existence… wouldn’t
it? If it’s not to be active participation, will a dream state
suffice? Well, if it was a dream state, we wouldn’t be in a
position to know so it wouldn’t matter. Besides, I don’t know
anyone who clamors about not being a bird for example… you take
what you get. And, depending on one’s memory banks, it could be
sweet dreams… or a nightmare. Who knows, perhaps worthiness and
empowering knowledge determines if there is to be active
participation. On the other hand, the spirit world may not need
any extra help. After all, what could we possibly contribute? The
spirit world certainly wouldn’t need our ‘judgment’. Some souls
might even seek some sort of ‘independence’ but as to that
possibility, I wouldn’t hazard. At any rate, some or all of this
spiritual information can be extracted yourself through the
Divine Intellect but how much, if any, depends on you. Reading
more articles within our Phenomena section should be, I believe,
of some help finding your way. My two books further explain how
to tap into the Divine Intellect, albeit in a roundabout way.
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Resource Box: © A.O. Kime (2003) A.O. Kime is an author of two
books plus some 70 articles on ancient history, spiritual
phenomena, political issues, social issues and agriculture which
can be seen at http://www.matrixbookstore.biz
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