Mysticism and Science

This book, written by a mystic, calls for a reconciliation between gnosis and science into a new synthesis which he calls 'gnoscience'. While the scientist can postulate that consciousness is fundamental, the mystic knows that consciousness is primary. It is becoming increasingly clear that no genuine synthesis of knowledge is possible on the basis of scientific materialism. There are also considerable problems with dualism. Interestingly, both the words science and gnosis mean 'to know'. They complement each other by looking outwards and inwards respectively: 'if science is confirmed by evidence derived from empirical observation, gnosis is confirmed by evidence derived from introspective revelation.' Gnosis is further defined as resulting from the elimination of the ego-mechanism 'by which a person is limited to a separate individual identity.' He also understands this mechanism as a subtle mental obscuration whereby 'the eternal Consciousness which is essentially one becomes perceived in the awareness of the individual as separate entity.' This framework can make sense of both science and the spiritual quest. However, no reconciliation can come about unless science acknowledges the validity of gnostic insight. This is an underlying theme within the Network, which is made explicit in the Mystics and Scientists conferences. Any grand unified theory must contain consciousness (or perhaps be contained by consciousness) if it is to be complete.