"Beyond Conventional Wisdom"

  

                BEYOND CONVENTIONAL WISDOM

                                 (Questions and Answers)

                                                           Albert Amao Soria

        

I came across this article in some old files saved on a flash drive, which I wrote as an explanation for my book “Beyond Conventional Wisdom.” I find it very relevant and actual, even though it was written Dec. 27, 2006, 18 years ago. The article contains the foundational ideas I expanded upon in my later books. Although it was never published, I believe it deserves to be shared to explain how my main ideas have evolved over time and come to fruition in my subsequent works. I think that those who follow my work will benefit from reading it. 

1. In a nutshell, what is the book about? 

The core concept that underpins these essays is the challenge to the so-called “conventional wisdom” that governs most aspects of our lives. Many of the ideas embedded in this 'conventional wisdom' are in conflict with reality. As we grew up, we were not given a choice to select our religion, moral values, or beliefs; we were ignorant and incapable of discerning what to believe or not; hence, we accepted as accurate what our parents, teachers, mentors, religious leaders, and the dominant culture class imposed on us. As children, we believed everything adults told us, and this formed our personal creed, our faith, and our outlook on life. This outlook on life (creed) is so deeply ingrained in our minds that it shapes our destiny.        

The text explains that human beings often exist in two simultaneous worlds. One is the external universe (EU), which is the shared reality we experience on Earth and in space. The other is the personal universe, referred to as "Your Own Universe" (YOU), which is the world created in our minds based on the beliefs and teachings passed down by our parents and teachers. These two worlds often conflict with each other and cause problems in our lives.

The book "Beyond Conventional Wisdom" critically examines the role of mass media in shaping our beliefs and behaviors. It suggests that people have a natural tendency to uncritically accept and pursue what is dictated by "conventional wisdom" from their mentors, teachers, parents, societal culture, and the mass media. The book delves into how big companies spend a significant amount of money on advertising and promotion to create needs and make us believe that their products are necessary for our happiness. They also create commercial holidays like Valentine’s Day, Father’s Day, Mother's Day, Grandparent’s Day, Halloween, and so on, in order to make their products essential to every holiday celebration, contributing to the modern "consumerist society." Mass media advertisements are based on specific psychological principles and appeal to people’s unconscious feelings and emotions to persuade them to buy things they don't need, neglecting their spiritual needs.

Consequently, it is imperative to break herd mentality and base our outlook on life on coherent principles according to the laws of nature and reality. These essays will give the readers key ideas for reflection to enhance their awareness in life and facilitate their personal self-exploration for self-fulfilling inner discovery.     

2. What is the Paradox of Life? 

The fundamental paradox of life is that humans seem to live in two different worlds, which pull them in two directions: the imaginary life, called Maya, and the real Inner/Spiritual world. Mystics, sages, and masters of life tell us that our world is in perfect harmony. We may ask, if the universe is in perfect harmony, why is there so much misery, sickness, injustice, and suffering in the world? Why do few people have too much wealth, and the majority have too little?

The paradox of life is that an ordinary person may not understand the apparent inequalities and contradictions in the world until they experience a higher level of understanding. These contradictions and inequalities are necessary for human awareness development. A materialistic person trying to understand this paradox is like a mouse trying to know how Albert Einstein's mind works. The wise ones, the real initiates, understand that things in the world are precisely as they should be. The Law of Polarity will always be present in life for the sake of physical manifestation in the three-dimensional world, and these contradictions, limitations, and sufferings are necessary for testing and developing human consciousness. Refer to the essay "The Adversary and the Redeemer," which is part of a book. 

3. What is the Greatest Philosophical Paradox? 

Ever since humans gained the ability to think, they have pondered questions about the origin of life. This has led to the development of two main branches of philosophy: Materialism and Idealism. Materialism asserts that the world consists solely of physical matter and energy, and our understanding depends entirely on sensory evidence. Idealism, on the other hand, posits that a Supreme Being created everything, which forms the basis of many religions. A metaphysical approach seeks to reconcile this paradox by suggesting that everything in the world, including matter, is an expression of an unseen "Something" that permeates the entire universe. This substance has been referred to under various names, such as Spirit, One Force, and Universal Life-force.

The book aims to address enduring questions using modern scientific and philosophical speculations. These questions include: What is the purpose of our life? What is reality? What is the difference between Spirit and matter? What is the role of man in the arena of life? What is faith, and do we need it to live in this life? What is fear, and how does it differ from faith? Is there any point of connection between science and religion? The book also examines the fallacies and deceptions on which many esoteric and occult doctrines are based. 

4. Is there a Meaning of Life? 

Many secular and religious books have been written explaining man’s purpose in life, while others deny the existence of a purpose in life. In this book, we try to explain this dilemma through personal experience, seeking a meaning of life in many philosophical, metaphysical, and esoteric schools.   

 The above questions have been crucial to the author’s intellectual and personal development. The author's university education was essentially materialistic, which contradicted his Catholic background. During this search, he became familiar with Marxist/Leninist theories, learned about the basic ideology of Marxism/Engels/Leninism, and delved into the works of G. Hegel, K. Marx, F. Engels, V.I. Lenin, and L. Trotsky. The author's initial, naive idea was to strive for global equality and justice, aiming to mitigate injustice and poverty in the world.

However, materialistic theories were found to be insufficient in solving the world's economic and social problems. Moreover, materialistic knowledge did not fulfill the author's search for spiritual meaning. This led the author to explore various occult and mystical schools, including Freemasonry, Qabalah, and Rosicrucianism, as part of his ongoing spiritual evolution.

            The author's exploration of the meaning of life and search for answers provides readers with insight into the author's evolving ideologies. It is important to note that these ideologies are not dogmatic or narrow-minded but open to rational and scientific knowledge. The author's intellectual development involved a dialectical process, leading to convictions based on reliable and verifiable knowledge in metaphysical and scientific realms. The author followed René Descartes' Methodic Doubt throughout this journey, as outlined in his book "Discourse on Method." It is essential to consider that modern philosophy and science share the foundation of this approach. According to this notion, all theories and customary beliefs must be rigorously tested using reason and scientific demonstration. The author hopes his discoveries and clarifications will aid readers in their personal and spiritual development. As the Bible advises, "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). 

5. Are Science and Religion opposites to each other?

      Throughout our civilization's history, there has been a conflict between science and religion. We used to believe that religion was divine inspiration holding infallible wisdom. However, in the early twentieth century, the new understanding of the natural world brought about by the discoveries of quantum mechanics overturned rigid forms of rationalism that claimed observation through the physical senses was the only way to know reality honestly. This modern view of our world is more open to ideas of truth and reality than the strict rationalism of the past. These essays aim to break free from ancient superstitions, such as fortune-telling and "secret knowledge" purportedly held by esoteric organizations, rather than revive them.  

In the early 20th century, two prominent physicists, Albert Einstein and Max Planck, both received the Nobel Prize in physics. They significantly altered the scientific principles on which the prevailing science was based at that time. Albert Einstein introduced the theory of relativity and his renowned equation E=mc², demonstrating the equivalence of matter and energy. Shortly afterward, Max Planck delved into the nature of reality and pointed out that the basis of reality is consciousness. In his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, he stated: "There is no matter as such. All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force which brings the particles of an atom to vibration and holds this minute solar system of an atom together." He further posited, "We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent mind. This mind is the matrix of matter."(The highlight is ours).     

 Likewise, at the very beginning of the twentieth century, new scientific discoveries in the field of Biology, such as the decoding of the human genome, have demonstrated that all creatures in the world, from simple ameba to the most complex human beings, have a common ancestor. In other words, all animals, such as mice, insects, rats, or human beings, originated from one common source. The Esoteric and occult sciences go further as they maintain that everything in the universe, including mountains, rocks, plants, stars, galaxies, animals, and man, has an origin and lives in the mind of One Supreme Being.     

7. Is the Dialectic Method a new scientific tool? 

King Solomon once said, “There is nothing new under the sun,” a sentiment demonstrated in the thought-provoking essay "The Dialectic and the Hermetic Philosophy." The proponents of dialectical materialism, Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and Vladimir I. Lenin, claimed that their ideas were not new but had roots in ancient Greek philosophy that dates back more than two thousand years. Dialectic, they argued, is the science of universal connections. However, the notion of the dialectic principles was expressed in the small book "Kybalion." The authors of this tractate who identified as Hermetic Initiates, asserted that their teachings were passed down in secret temples and institutions thousands of years ago. In this book, they extensively expound upon the seven Hermetic principles. These principles align with the laws outlined in dialectical materialism, as discussed in the abovementioned essay.

The Dialectic, as well as the Hermetic Principles, considers everything in the universe in their mutual conditioning and interdependency, whether in the material, emotional, or spiritual realms; it deals with general laws of the development of nature, society, and the process of thinking. It holds the view that the world does not consist of permanent and fixed objects but rather is in a permanent change and eternal movement. To know this conception is fundamental to understanding the true nature of things in the physical and spiritual realms.     

7. What are the Fundamental Laws of the Dialectic?

      According to materialism, the fundamental laws of the Dialectic are as follows:

a) The law of Universal Interaction stresses that everything is interconnected and mutually dependent. Nothing exists in isolation.

b) The law of Universal Movement expresses that everything in nature, society, and human thinking is always in movement and change, a process of growing and dying. The Dialectic does not consider nature quiet and still but subject to permanent movement and constant modification as something renewing itself and in continual renovation.

c)  The law of Co-existence of Opposites (also known as the unity of the contraries) is the source and cause of motion and development. This is the essence of the Dialectic method. The Dialectic criterion is that the objects and phenomena of nature carry implicit contradictions, which in turn are complementary to each other.  

d) The law of Double Negation postulates the criterion that the objects and phenomena of nature carry inside them their own contradictions, and the struggle between them constitutes the inner making of their transformations. Therefore, the process of development is the result of the contradictions inherent in the object. It is the conflict between opposite tendencies that makes things grow, develop, and decay. 

e)  The law From the Quantitative to the Qualitative Changes is the principle that postulates that the sum of an innumerable number of small quantitative changes during a period of time can produce qualitative changes. It shows that the development of any phenomenon is the result of continuous small, unnoticed, and progressive alterations. 

8. What is the contribution of this book?

To clarify and dispel fundamental beliefs incorporated in the so-called "Conventional wisdom." One of the fundamental contributions of this book is the proposition of the Qabalistic Dialectic Method to resolve most of the paradoxes of life. In Qabalah and Hermetic and Occult science, the thinking process is essentially dialectical. It considers that all things are interconnected and interdependent. It acknowledges the oneness of life as it is expressed in the apparent duality of the external world. All these apparent paradoxes have a point of conciliation and reveal a transcendental truth on a higher order of knowledge.

The dialect method can also be applied to metaphysical matters. For instance, in the Old Testament, the Hebrew word Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh (the Tetragrammaton), a four-letter noun יהוה, stands for the generic name GOD. It is formed by four consonants, has no pronunciation, and is not rendered into any language. 

According to the American Qabalsit Paul F. Case, the Tetragrammaton יהוה is a Hebrew verb meaning “to be.” Its true significance is "That which was, that which is, that which will be." This demonstrates the eternal immanent substance that permeates and sustains everything in the universe. The Sacred Word encompasses the past, present, and future, transcending time, space, and movement. Additionally, God gave another name to Moses: אהיה, EHYEH, which is translated as “I AM.” Modern explanation of the name אהיה, EHYEH reveals that the correct rendering is “I Shall Be,” representing "I am becoming." This insight is crucial for our exposition, as these two terms express an indwelling presence in the progression of change and becoming. This essence of the Qabalistic Dialectic Method considers the universe and everything in it as being in an eternal process of transformation and becoming.  

9. How this book is related to the so-called Aquarian Age 

          As we begin the Aquarian Age, modern science, notably quantum physics, has concluded that the universe and everything in it are made up of energy. Some physicists have suggested that this energy is ultimately composed of waves of light. Ancient wisdom further asserts that this Universal Energy or Force is conscious, omnipresent, and omniscient. This idea aligns entirely with the Hermetic Principle of Mentalism, which states that the entire universe is alive in God's mind.

The upcoming Golden Age is expected to be marked by knowledge, light, and human solidarity. During this time, a gradual shift in human consciousness will occur, altering our perception of reality beyond the limitations of the three-dimensional level. Delving into the implications of the Aquarian Age is beyond the scope of this book, but for a detailed and comprehensive study, one can refer to my book titled The Dawning of the Aquarian Age. 

10. How would the reader benefit from reading this book? 

The essays aim to inspire readers to reconsider their misconceptions and false beliefs about life. Even individuals who identify as agnostic, atheist, or undecided in their beliefs will find intriguing ideas to reassess their views on life and the universe. For example, an atheist or agnostic must believe in something that commands their respect and loyalty, something beyond the present moment; in denying the existence of a higher power or absolute, they implicitly acknowledge its existence because one cannot deny something that does not exist. Some scientists are now suggesting the existence of a superior mind that governs the universe. In this way, these essays offer a platform for readers to engage in discussions and contemplate age-old questions about their existence on Earth and the meaning of their lives.

Modern science has rejected old-fashioned ideas and beliefs that were once considered accurate. We often trust what we see and rely on our logical thinking, but this can lead to deception and problems in our lives. Since the Enlightenment, our understanding of the world has drastically changed. Advancements in science and technology have allowed us to gain deeper insights into our world and the universe beyond. New scientific discoveries have disproven many old beliefs that were once unquestionably true.

In this collection of essays, the reader will find a coherent and logical way to reconsider untested beliefs and assumptions about life and the universe. They are the result of profound reflections on shared beliefs, erroneous religious assumptions, and negative patterns that hinder individuals from living a fulfilling and successful life. Additionally, some essays address psychological, religious, and spiritual uncertainties that many people seek to resolve. In this sense, the book can be seen as a tool to aid readers in their personal journey of self-discovery, helping them unlock their full potential. 

11. What is the concept of the Oneness of Life?  

This collection of essays draws from various philosophical, metaphysical, materialistic, and religious beliefs to offer a unique perspective on life. Our exploration and pursuit ultimately affirm the interconnectedness of all life and the unity of humanity. According to Jesus Christ, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:40) and “I and the Father are One” (John 10:30), beautifully conveying the concept. Science is beginning to acknowledge the possibility that the world is a mental creation, and Quantum Physics is now proposing the interconnectedness of everything.: John Richardson states “No matter what we do, we can never be separated from Being. No matter what we think, we are never alone. And no matter how we feel, our projection of having a separate and personal free will is always a by-product of the secondary collapse.”

Philosopher Herbert Spencer postulated the existence of an “infinite and eternal energy from which all things proceed”; this statement concurs with the Hermetic principle of Mentalism as well as modern Physics, such as Quantum Physics. That is to say, the universe is mental or “mind stuff.”

The practical and concrete application to our daily life of the conception of the oneness of life and brotherhood of human beings boils down to the injunction: Love your neighbor as yourelf.

For more information, visit the following websites: www.amazon.com/author/amao