The_Flash_of_Immaterial_Reality_A_Transcendent_Experience

1. The Flash of Immaterial Reality: A Transcendent Experience Title: The Flash of Immaterial Reality: A Transcendent Experience Tags: #SpiritualAwakening #Immateriality #Transcendence #Traditionalism #EvolianThought 1. Sudden Awakening to Immateriality: The experience of immaterial reality occurred abruptly, without warning or cause, while engaged in a mundane conversation. This highlights the spontaneous and unpredictable nature of transcendent experiences, which transcend ordinary perception. 2. Reversal of Perception: The ordinary relationship between body and consciousness was inverted. The Self no longer felt contained within the body but instead perceived the body as existing within the Self, emphasizing the primacy of spiritual inwardness over material externality. 3. Dimensionless Point of Being: The Self was experienced as an abstract, dimensionless point containing the entirety of existence in a nonspatial manner. This reflects the traditional metaphysical notion of the center as the source and container of all reality. 4. Transfiguration of Reality: The experience revealed a dual perception of reality—both the ordinary material world and the immaterial, spiritual dimension coexisted simultaneously. This duality underscores the hierarchical nature of existence, where higher realities encompass and transcend lower ones. 5. Independence from Rational Speculation: The experience arose independently of philosophical or scientific thought, suggesting that true spiritual realization transcends intellectual abstraction. Rational speculation alone cannot grasp the direct perception of 1/6

2. immateriality. 6. Critique of Materialism: The ordinary sense of reality, rooted in material resistance and spatial occupation, was revealed as limited and illusory. This challenges the empirical criterion of material reality, exposing its inadequacy in comprehending higher spiritual truths. 7. Coexistence of Realities: The experience demonstrated the coexistence of material and immaterial perceptions without contradiction. This aligns with the traditional view that different levels of reality are not mutually exclusive but hierarchically integrated. 8. Spiritual Deafness: The rarity of such experiences is attributed to the overwhelming focus on material reality, which obscures deeper spiritual perceptions. This reflects the need for inner awakening and attunement to higher dimensions of existence. 9. Symbolism of the Inner Palace: The experience is likened to the "holy palace within" described in various esoteric traditions, symbolizing the innermost center of spiritual realization. This echoes the Evolian emphasis on the primacy of the inner over the outer. 10. Initiation into a Double Life: The experience marks the beginning of a dual existence, where one can navigate both the material and spiritual realms. This reflects the traditional path of the initiate, who transcends the limitations of ordinary life while remaining grounded in the world. This account embodies the essence of Evolian thought, emphasizing the primacy of spiritual inwardness, the hierarchical structure of reality, and the transformative power of transcendent experiences. "Heaven is nothing other than spiritual inwardness. " Many years have passed since I first encountered the experience of immateriality. Yet, the impression it left remains vivid and enduring, etched into my memory as much as transcendent experiences can be. 2/6

3. I will now attempt to convey this impression humanis verbis (in human terms), drawing it forth from the depths of my consciousness. The sensation of immaterial reality struck me suddenly, without warning or apparent cause. Fourteen years ago, while standing on a sidewalk near the Strozzi Palace in Florence, engaged in conversation with a friend, I was abruptly overcome by a profound shift in perception. The topic of our discussion, likely esoteric in nature, bore no relation to what I experienced. It was an ordinary day, and I was in sound physical and spiritual health, free from fatigue, excitement, or distraction. In an instant, as I spoke or listened, the world and all things within it transformed. I became acutely aware of my incorporeity and the immaterial essence of the universe. I realized that my body existed within me, and that all things were inwardly contained within my being. Everything converged upon the deep, abyssal center of my existence. It was a sudden transfiguration, as if a ray of sunlight pierced through a dense cloud cover, illuminating the world in an ephemeral, transcendent light. I perceived myself as a dimensionless, abstract point, within which the entirety of existence was contained in a nonspatial manner. This was a complete reversal of ordinary human sensation. The Self no longer felt confined to the body; instead, it perceived the body as existing within itself, experiencing everything sub specie interioritatis (from the inner perspective). The terms "within," "inner," and "interior" are not used in a geometric sense but to convey the inversion of the relationship between body and consciousness. This experience was overwhelming, positive, and original. It emerged 3/6

4. spontaneously, grafting itself onto my ordinary perception of reality. It surfaced swiftly, asserted itself clearly, and then vanished, leaving me in awe. As Dante wrote, "What I heard was a note of the eternal poem." Even now, I feel its sacred solemnity, its calm power, and its stellar purity within my innermost awareness. This was my first encounter with immateriality. I have endeavored to describe this experience as accurately as possible, even if my language lacks the precision of philosophical terminology. I acknowledge that my philosophical competence may not match the depth of these spiritual experiences. Yet, it must be recognized that philosophical rigor is not the sole lens through which such phenomena can be understood. As the Gospel says, "The spirit bloweth where it listeth" (John 3:7), indifferent to one's philosophical qualifications. In my case, this shift occurred independently of any scientific or philosophical speculation. I believe this independence is not accidental. Rational speculation often leads only to conceptual abstractions, which are incapable of provoking the direct experience of immateriality. Ordinary life is rooted in the sense of material reality—what is solid, tangible, and resistant. This empirical concept of matter is tied to bodily existence and the human way of perceiving reality. However, as scientific analysis progresses, the solidity of matter dissolves into molecules, atoms, and beyond, revealing a reality far removed from the empirical concept of matter. Similarly, philosophical idealism abstracts the material world into the realm of the Self. Yet, conceptual acknowledgment of spirituality does not equate to the direct perception of spiritual reality. One can adhere to idealism while 4/6

5. remaining spiritually blind, mistaking spiritual epiphanies for mere acts of thought. The empirical sense of material reality retains its value, even as it coexists with other ways of experiencing reality. The discovery of immateriality does not negate the validity of material perception. Both can coexist, even if they appear contradictory to reason. My fleeting experience demonstrated the simultaneous coexistence of spiritual and bodily perceptions of reality. It was an elementary yet profound initiation, akin to the experiences described in the Bhagavad Gita, the Pymander, and the writings of the Kabbalists, Philalethes, and St. Theresa of Avila. It marked the beginning of a dual existence, where the hermetic dragon gains wings, capable of dwelling on earth or soaring beyond it. Why, then, are we typically deaf to this perception? Why does it fade? What purpose does it serve? These questions are not easily answered. Spiritual deafness may stem from our conscious focus on material reality, which obscures other sensations. Just as the melody of violins dominates our attention, the deeper notes of cellos and basses often go unheard. Similarly, the monotonous hum of existence may remain unnoticed until it suddenly strikes our awareness. This comparison, though imperfect, offers a glimpse into the nature of such experiences. Yet, I fear it may not satisfy the reader. Thus, I conclude this reflection, mindful of the limits of time and discretion. Metaphysical part: From this aspiration, through an internal magical process, one must 5/6

6. achieve a "change of state," culminating in the alchemical opus transformationis: "self-transformation is the essential prerequisite for higher consciousness, which recognizes no 'problems,' only 'tasks' and 'accomplishments.'" 6/6