Part of the paradox of the Two Truths is that the presence of Absolute Truth does create an absolute reference point for relative truths even though Absolute Truth is, itself, without any reference points. The absolute absolutists are partly correct that all reference point of relative truth become false in the context of referenceless Absolute Truth. However the dynamic of the Two Truths is reflected into the domain of relative truth and this creates a continuum of relative truth.
On one end of the continuum is what might be called “relative absolute” truths which are true in the whole domain of relative truth. Many of the Alchemical Principles, especially what I call the Principle(s) of Karma Mechanics, attempt to give expression to some these. These relative truths are so like absolute truth that they share in the inexpressible quality of Absolute Truth. Any attempt to give expression to “relative absolute” truths will be paradoxical and/or incomplete. It is easier, however, to get a touchstone on absolute relative truths than on Absolute Truth itself. That is to say it tends to be easier to derive methods from “relative absolute” truths then direct indications of Absolute Truth. Most attempts to give indication about absolute truth aren’t much good except as sign posts to realizing absolute truth. It is easy to say things like all “all phenomena are empty” or “all phenomena are illusory”, both of which are very meaningful indicators towards absolute truth, however, they can’t be utilized except as stepping stones of investigation that lead to realization. “Knowing” that phenomena are illusory when your lover leaves you doesn’t stop you from suffering, realizing it does. Now, knowing that all phenomena are illusory will allow you to look for the illusion in the midst of suffering which will both lead to realization and a shortening of the suffering cycle. So knowing them can inspire the application of method but they don’t lend themselves directly to understandable method, their true power lies in their realization. Relative Absolute Relative truths tend to more readily lend themselves to doable methods. For example the principle of cause and effect states that for every effect there is a cause. This easily translates to the method of identifying and initiating the correct cause for any desired effect.
On the other end of the spectrum is what can be considered false. This is ‘truths” that have no genuine functionality or only perverse functionality. Because what is believed to be true becomes at least to some extent, true for the believer, every ‘truth” has some functionality however in some case that functionality is perverse and thus false in relation to the continuum created by the of reflection of the dynamic of the Two Truths within the domain of relative truth. For example someone may believe they are worthless and by virtue of that display the “quality’ of worthlessness but this is a perverse functionality.
In between these two ends of the continuum is diverse range of relative truths of varying scopes of functionality. One very interesting and apparently “objectively” verifiable map of this continuum was created by David Hawkins and is described in his very fascinating and, I believe, very important book, Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior
. In it he describes how the map was derived and it application in many different arenas of knowledge. In brief the map was derived from an extensive research project using muscle testing. What he discovered is that muscle testing on the truth of any given statement provide nearly universally the same results (He discovered 3%- I think- of the population would get the opposite results but those got opposite results across the board rather then on specific statements.) It did not matter what the person consciously or even unconsciously believed about a certain statement, everyone tested got the same result about the same statement. If his methods can be verified then this is an astounding result with profound implications and clearly demonstrates the truth that there is functional spectrum of relevance within the domain of relative truth. (There are a few points in his map that I am not certain about and I am looking forward to an opportunity to experiment with the methods and ideas presented)
July 26th, 2008 at 11:06 am
[...] from this paradigm are inherently unsustainable because the tenant or views of reality are on the continuum of relative truth very far from the absolute end of the continuum. Basically they are, for the most part, completely [...]