THE TOTAL SYSTEM
Multidimensional Pyramid
The holon priciples lead to the assumption that each animal species has a group-entity
that exists in an M-D environment. We also must assume species-entities for
the plants, and we assume that physical matter is a projection from an M-D whole,
as modern physics suggests. Based on these assumptions, it is logical that these
group-entities are themselves parts of even higher order wholes, forming holons
of unimaginable greatness and transcendence. One arrives at a single super M-D
entity for the planet earth, as some scientists suggest (64). Then there is
an M-D entity for our solar system, our galaxy, and so on. Finally there is
an ultimate entity that encompasses all that exists, visible and invisible.
We shall call it "All-Entity".
This view of the universe agrees with that of David Bohm, the physicist mentioned
before (Sect. 2). He makes the following statements: "Physics has shown
that the mechanistic order doesn't fit experience" (65). Also: "the
universe is an undivided whole" (66). Bohm speaks of an "implicate
order" and an "explicate order" of the universe. The implicate
order is the invisible reality from which our visible reality, the explicate
order, emerges. He believes that life and consciousness are part of the implicate
order, and that they are immanent in what we call inanimate matter.
Multiple Holons
Before we proceed with our journey into the M-D realm, it is necessary to understand
the relationship between multiple holons that are stacked across several dimensional
orders, where the parts of one holon are the wholes of others, and so on. We
shall call the holon described in Section 3 a "simple holon". It is
useful to introduce the following two definitions. a.) A "source-entity"
is a whole at any dimensional order to which a part belongs, regardless how
many orders are in between. A source-entity is like any ancestor, no matter
how many generations ago. b.) A "sub-entity" is any part that belongs
to a source-entity, regardless how many orders are in between, like a descendant
from any ancestor, no matter how many generations ago.
With these definitions, the following holon principles for multiple order transitions
can be formulated.
MULTIPLE HOLON PRINCIPLES
MHP1 *All holon principles for a simple holon apply also to multiple holons.*
For instance for HP1: if entity "A" has more dimensions than "B",
and "B" has more dimensions than "C", then "A"
has more dimensions than "C". MHP1 means that we can make statements
about wholes and parts without knowing how many orders are between them. For
instance, we can apply the holon principles for the humankind-entity and individual
humans without knowing exactly the subdivisions in between, such as different
races or different psychological character types.
MPH2 *Any entity of a higher order is invisible to another entity of a lower
order.*
This has been stated already for the simple holon (HP4). For the sake of completeness,
MHP2 points out that all entities of a higher order are invisible, not just
the source-entity, because they all have more dimensions. For instance we cannot
directly perceive the selves of other persons, as we cannot our own.
MHP3 *The differentiation and separation between sub-entities increases with
the number of orders between them and their source.*
This is because each additional dimension of a source-entity provides an additional
degree of freedom with which parts can differ from each other. For instance,
the members of one human race-entity differ less from each other than all humans.
MHP4 *The source-entities of all orders are immanent in a sub-entitiy.*
This statement is equivalent to HP9, except that it includes also all source
entities of higher orders beyond the immediate whole. The logical proof of this
is similar to the one given under MHP1. MHP4 says for instance that immanent
in a person are humanity-entity, earth-entity, All- Entity, and whatever source-entities
are in between (see "Human Psyche", this section.)
MHP5 *A source-entity has simultaneous and direct access to all its sub-entities
at all lower orders, without the need to pass through the intermediate orders
sequentially.*
This is because of its added dimension. For instance we can see in a crystal
form all points, lines, and planes simultaneously because we perceive in 3-D,
the third being the added dimension.
MHP6 *From a sub-entity's point of view, its source-entities of progressively
increasing orders appear stacked in a successive sequence.*
For a consciousness to proceed from a lower order to higher orders, it appears
necessary to pass successively from one order to the next, because each higher
order remains invisible before every upward step. This is in contrast to MHP5,
which allows the source-entity to cross all lower orders in a single step.
MPH7 *Higher order source-entities are more deeply immanent.*
This statement amounts to a definition of "depth of immanence". The
more order levels exist between a source-entity and a sub-entity, the more deeply
immanent it is in an entity. Psychologically this corresponds to the observation
that the humanity-entity is on a deeper subconscious level than the inner personal
self.
MHP8 *Deeper levels of immanence correspond to lesser privacy.*
This is because the deeper immanent source-entity encompasses more sub-entities.
This principle seems to contradict experience, because we tend to think that
our most private thoughts and feelings are most deeply immanent. But there is
a difference between individual and immanent thoughts. The deeper the immanence,
the more it is shared with others.
All-Entity
We can now make some definite statements about the nature of M-D reality, beginning
with All-Entity. All-Entity is the source-entity of everything; all other entities
in the universe are Its sub-entities (HP3,MHP1). The entire universe is a holon
with All-Entity being the whole. All-Entity and Its parts are one and the same,
seen from different points of view (HP6). All-Entity has an infinite number
of degrees of freedom (HP1). It includes in Itself all aspects, capabilities,
and potentials of everything that exists (HP3). For instance It has all human
aspects, but beyond these an infinite number of others. All-Entity has no individuality,
if we mean by individuality to be different from others. There are no others
on that level to be different from. Being the source-entity of everything alive,
All-Entity is the very essence of life. It transcends and resolves all differences
between entities in the universe (HP5). Thus All-Entity is ultimate harmony.
Love is harmony between living beings, therefore All-Entity is ultimate Love.
The lower the order from which All-Entity is viewed, the more It appears differentiated
into discrete individuals (MPH3). All sub-entities, no matter what order, are
equally close to All-Entity (MHP5). The dimensions of All-Entity provide a direct
communication path even to the lowest entity. So, while we are aspects of humankind,
we are also direct aspects of All-Entity. There is no danger of being blocked
by some "middle management" in between. Therefore an individual can
influence its entire species through a "divine spark".
Since All-Entity encompasses everything, Its consciousness is aware of everything,
including every thought and deed. Every thought and every deed is a direct part
of All-Entity. There simply is no division between All-Entity and us (HP5).
A whole and its parts are one and the same, just seen from different points
of view (HP6). We cannot be separated from All-Entity. The only separation we
may feel is due to our limited minds, our common sense. Since we cannot be separated
from All-Entity, we are immortal. We shed our body as a tree sheds its leaves.
Fear of death comes from excessive identification with physical reality, from
lack of M-D understanding. Being immersed in All-Entity does not deprive us
of our individuality. Any part maintains its uniqueness though it is totally
merged with its whole. The different levels of dimensional orders make this
possible (HP7&8).
All-Entity is the root source within us. It is the reason why we must trust
our inner strength, the reason why we are entitled to self confidence, no matter
what our station in life. Since All-Entity, the essence of life and consciousness,
is immanent in everything, there is no "dead" matter. There is consciousness
in every atom. What we call dead matter appears so to our senses because we
cannot sense the life within it. We know that the molecules, atoms, and subatomic
parts are very active indeed in their world. This activity must be regarded
as a form of life. Our American Indian friends have always been closer to this
kind of understanding. We have good reason to appreciate their tradition that
has kept these ideas alive. David Bohm, the physicist mentioned before, says
that life is implicit in what we call inanimate matter (67)(68)(69). Philosophers
had made such statements in the past. G.W. Leibniz claimed that the same principle
of consciousness that expresses itself in the mind of man is active in inanimate
matter, in plant, and animal (70). The valiant effort by scientists to determine
the beginning of life on earth appears futile from a holistic point of view,
because everything that exists is alive, period. Also in M-D terms, there is
no beginning, because there is no time as we perceive it, to be discussed in
the next section.
Since M-D reality is immanent in all appearances of our world, people who believe
that our physical world is the only reality have a good reason to think so.
One can point to objects and claim that they represent all the reality there
is, because all reality is indeed immanent in them. There is no higher reality
outside our world, no "heaven" beyond outer space. One approach to
Yoga enlightenment is to concentrate on an object, perhaps a flame, until one
senses its inner reality, which eventually turns out to be the inner reality
of everything else. Another approach is to concentrate on the present moment,
because it contains all reality. Every flower that emerges from its seed, every
birth of any kind, demonstrates the immanence of life. The closest contact with
the ultimate reality is within our selves, as the great mystics of all ages
have proclaimed (71). Fritjof Capra, nuclear physicist in Vienna and publisher
of several books, draws compelling parallels between the findings of modern
physics and the religious philosophies of the East: Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese
thought, Taoism, and Zen (72). He writes for instance: "Modern physics
leads us to a view of the world that is very similar to the views held by mystics
of all ages and traditions" (73).