[Craig Matheson]

Correction:

St. George’s state-sanctioned slaughter (by the Byzantine government) occurred but 73 years before the Edict of Thessalonica (not the as stated 90 years); or, in 303 CE

… as the Word of Christ (so to speak) just kept spreading beyond such a ‘preventive measure’ by them Romans, which surely contributed to why They, in the end (or 313 years beyond murdering Yeshua/Christ) began to officially figure to align or merge with such a WoC as a means to control it—as They apparently accepted it couldn’t be stopped; but seemingly more of the opposite the more They tried to ‘kill it’—which reportedly took about the 67 years between the Edict of Milan (313 CE) and the Edict of Thessalonica (380 CE)

[Eric Scheske]

Craig: Thanks for posting these. It forced me to re-think what I’m trying to accomplish here (indeed, forced me to think about what I think . . . smile).

In response, I have zero doubt (even if it’s backed solely by faith) that the Church was born “tilting right.” As a Catholic, I believe Christ instituted the Church, and Christ, if the Hemisphere Hypothesis is true, had his neurological house in order . . . perfectly so, being Himself divine.

That being said, I appreciate your observation that the Church has not always tilted right. It’s a human institution: divinely implemented and guided, but administered by flawed humans, many of whom (including Popes) didn’t “tilt right.” In fact, I think the Hemisphere Hypothesis explains a lot of the problems within the Church today (and throughout its existence): As an institution, it tilts left these days . . . just ask any Jesuit who uses logic to kill any sense of mystery or awe, unless the mystery or awe serves the Jesuit’s left-hemispheric aim.

In this forum, I’m hoping people share ways that Catholic thinkers and saints have tilted right and how Catholic thought, traditions, and art have tilted right. I’d also like to hear suggestions about what things have tilted left.

Thanks again for chiming in.

Eric

[Charles Rykken]

I see this is not going as you had hoped. Dr. McGilchrist in TMAHE spent much time on extolling the wisdom of ritual and other ways to communicate with the laity within the Catholic Church.. I have been very enthusiastic in my interest in religion since I was seven years old. My take has been consistently right brain in that I really had no time for theology. I believed then, as a seven year old (1955), that the message of Jesus was a message to the heart. I grew up in a small (pop ca 3000) town in North Dakota. I read Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn at that time and was in full agreement with Mark Twain that the vast majority of parishioners were hypocrites. This set up a dichotomy for me from the beginning of the difference of a genuine spiritual sensibility as opposed to an allegiance with a church. When I was eight my father used the following analogy to exemplify the importance of being honest with one’s self. Imagine yourself on an open plain(This was very easy to do in the area of North Dakota where I lived) where you can see all the way to the horizon with great clarity. Then imagine that when you tell yourself a lie you plant a tree. The tree(lie) obstructs your view so that not only do you see the lie but you fail to see the truth that is covered up by the tree(lie). If you tell yourself enough lies you end up in a forest of lies where you can’t see any truth at all. That is you become lost in a forest of lies. That analogy terrified me and I made a sacred oath (one of less than ten such sacred vows I have made in my life, almost all before the age of eighteen) that I would never knowingly lie to myself. I went to all the churches in my small town to see the differences. There were only about six or seven. They were all protestant except one Catholic church. More than 80% of the inhabitants of this small town(Tioga) were of Scandinavian descent and so all but one of the churches besides the Catholic church were some variety of Lutheran church. My best friend at the time came from a Catholic family so we went together to see if I could attend a service at the only Catholic church in town. The priest of the church told me he would not allow me to attend unless I converted to Catholicism. That was a non-starter for me since that would require me to lie to myself. I have never attended a Catholic service. When I was twelve and moved to a larger town (Williston) with a quite large public library(maybe 50,000 to 100,000 books) I began to study Hinduism. I read “The Autobiography of a Yogi” as well as “The Third Eye” by Lobsang Rampa. See https://www.lobsangrampa.org/ for details as well as a free pdf of his book. I had grownup in a family of serious physical violence, almost entirely from my mother and my elder brother. My youngest brother committed suicide when he was only nineteen years old and I very nearly did the same on the winter solstice of 1977, two months after my twenty-nineth birthday. That was one of the occasions where I took another sacred vow that I would not commit suicide no matter how screwed up the world got. Although I do consider myself to be very sympathetic to the soul of Christianity, there are very few Christian organizations with which I would care to associate. One example would be the Quakers. I see hierarchy as a road to authoritarian rule. I also see it as an enemy of reason as there is a credo and liturgy(theology or left brain horseshit about God). I see the Nicene Creed as an example a of stupid mind fuck by the Roman Empire. Almost all of the protestant churches adopted the Nicene creed. That is why I see the so called Protestant Reformation as pure bullshit. The Nicene Creed was a creation of the Roman Empire to enslave the minds of the people. You should read “The Gnostic Gospels” by Elaine Pagels.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/126049/the-gnostic-gospels-by-elaine-pagels/

It goes into the early history of Christianity. You see, I see the dark side of human nature because of my early experience with violence and my adherence to self honesty. I see many people who want to lord it over other people for nefarious purposes. Nagarjuna, the second Buddha, never started his own school nor did he associate his name with any school at his time. There is the statement that unless you become as little children you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven and later says that the kingdom of heaven is among you. Also the bible says “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them”

https://biblehub.com/matthew/18-20.htm

The idea of community is held sacred among all the wisdom traditions but it is also true that where you have community you have various varieties of thugs and bullies. This is the dark side that few want to confront honestly. I believe it is the fear of death that holds such “spiritual” communities together and the thugs who run the scam know that and use it to their advantage. I have tried to associate myself with a few religious communities(never the Catholic Church) but the inevitable politics and bullies ascending to leadership positions have left me with very deep skepticism as to whether it is possible to have a genuinely honest group of people have a shared spiritual practice. One of the major blocks is how the left brain wants to create a credo and liturgy that is aimed at stifling open discussion. Part of that problem is the ugly fact that it is likely that only one in a thousand people have a chance to be be able to converse on such deep topics. As Dr. McGilchrist has pointed out, most of them (The one in a thousand who are able to have deep philosophical discussions. For the record I am 1 in 6,300 in IQ and 1 in 1,000 in openness to experience, both of which, I believe, are prerequisites to a deep discussion of philosophical topics)) have been co-opted by left brain capture, primarily mechanistic materialism. The Zen Buddhists who eschew all talking are guilty of falling into the bully trap as is shown by Brian Victoria in his books “Zen at War” and “Zen War Stories” This tendency of cowardice and wanting to suck up to the top dog is a deep seated flaw in the human character. It does not end well. The Quakers have tried their best to not allow anyone to bully anyone else and that is why I admire them most among all the Christian practitioners.

lobsangrampa.org

Tuesday Lobsang Rampa

Tuesday Lobsang Rampa

[Craig Matheson]

Hey Eric, I understand. But thanks for clarifying.

Time to tell if anyone else chooses to chime in, ring a bell or whatever else, … but, in this moment, allow me to clarify in the following fashion:

I work to respect whatever people believe, yet I believe it is precisely when people start taking things too personally (and/or as much to themselves — a.k.a. their image projected upon the world) is when people start getting hurt unnecessarily; when as much starts to ‘tilt left’ by such dangerous degrees.

Having said that, I’m not sure Christ/Yeshua ever did that; in fact (in the way I understand it) it was a notion of ‘the institutional establishment’ to which he was rebelling/speaking/standing against … so for him (or his image) to become tip-of-the-spear shaped to represent the metaphysical, driving force for any super-massive juggernaut of a warring machine—as so hellbent on conforming anyone whom disagrees with It/Him—seems a bit too convenient for suiting the purposes of a tyrannical mindset (and/or such a blackhole type mentality) which may’ve smartly sought to control His image in how It may come to form within the minds of others, for Their own interests.

In other ways, I’m under no illusion this is not how such systems come to naturally form per our third-dimensional physical realm & reality; especially if the Milky Way can serve as such an example/ model — whereby getting too close to such a corrupting centre of force/power means an end to such otherwise considered ‘cosmic innocence’.

Either way, thanks for the opportunity to throw this & that out there.

Blessings,

Craig

[Craig Matheson]

Eric, incidentally – possibly of akin interest – go ahead and print off a copy of the Vitruvian Man … and then split (vertically) the circle, as judiciously as you see fit.

Do you find some ‘tilt’ therein posed?

Not sure if it ultimately matters, but if that’s combined with the fact that his right eye appears more bright/enlightened looking relative to a darker look about his left eyeball, … then ?

[Craig Matheson]

Eric, After all, perhaps to your point, Leonardo da Vinci’s notable patron was the House of Medici (or the Medici family) — said to have supplied four different Catholic popes during the 16th and 17th centuries.

[Craig Matheson]

Hey Eric,

Perhaps I should apologize granted usually mention of the VMan theory posed out here on this channel tends to be a showstopper.

By mentioning it, I hope it is NOT taken as an examination of your knowledge per developments to do with significant Catholic players in Renaissance Italy.

Best,

Craig

[Craig Matheson]

As I’m not too shy to share the theory despite how others may or may not see it, it holds that LDVinci somehow figured out what McGilchrist has (to such a hypothesis); whereby Iain seems to stop short in connecting the duo of counterbalancing respective natures per the opposite hemispheres to the notion of a naturally occurring so-called Cosmic Duality — as such a coincidence of opposites seem to be per (including, but not limited to) the:

– North and South poles to a planet;

– opposing ends to the spectrum of Mental Universe (Mentalism) …

Yin and Yang;

Good and Evil;

Above and Below;

Light and Dark;

Equilateral Triangle (Tetrahedron) and Circle (Sphere),

and so forth

– Left vs Right

– Up vs Down

– Helium vs Radium (spectrum to atomic mass)

– Positive vs Negative

– Male vs Female

… and anywhere else it can be seen to occur in the world, within ourselves, and beyond.

Why couldn’t have LdaVinci encoded something like that therein the VMan schematic?

He wasn’t smart enough to figure it out?

From what I understand he would’ve cracked open some skull per his human anatomy analysis, thereby he would’ve known of the duo of hemispheres.

Perhaps he somehow figured that the right hemisphere was up to something by nature of which the left hemisphere ‘stood’ naturally against.

Plus, he studying at the Platonic Academy in Florence with Marsilio Ficino and Giovanni Pico della Miradola, and these guys studied the then-freshly translated Ancient Greek Hermetica (as Ficino – a Catholic priest – had as so allowed it to be understood in Latin), and, as with the Kybalion of a modern day, there was much concern discussed respectively therein to the notion of said Cosmic Duality

[Craig Matheson]

Hey Eric,

I thought as though I gave my/a perspective to everything you were calling for … but perhaps just not it the way you were looking for it to be offered?

Either way, not to worry. I’ll stop chiming.

I hope you come to find what you were looking for per your such extension/outreach on this channel.

Craig

[Eric Scheske]

Craig: It’s all interesting. I wish I had reviewed this later. My day job is very demanding at year-end, unfortunately. I thought I saw a note come through on my phone (devilish reading device), in which you offered to send me two papers you’d written. I’d be interested, but I’m not seeing the offer here. Maybe it was in a personal message? I’ll see if I can find it.

[Craig Matheson]

Sure. No worries. Here’s the message (in part):

As the below-listed two reports of mine are currently within a typesetting phase to the OJPP (Open Journal of Philosophy) publishing process, anyone is welcome to email me for an advanced copy: cramath80@hotmail.com (my personal email address):

1. DaVinci’s Mental Code: Sacred Geometrics Identified Within Psychology; and,

2. The Noetic ‘Russian Dolls’ to Hermeticism: Western Esoterism, within Esoteric Christianity, within Neoplatonism, within Hermeticism”

Eric. Hopefully that clears up some of such concerns for you. If you want them, please let me know.

Best wishes,

Craig

[Craig Matheson]

For having just conferred with my managing editor at OJPP, perhaps it’s best I offer but the abstract so openly to both papers before the respective officially publish dates … so, here goes!

Truthfully, because I’m a bit of a rookie at this publishing stuff — although perhaps up-and-coming — must be sure to tread more learned & lightly:

DaVinci’s Mental Code: Sacred Geometrics Identified Within Psychology

Craig Matheson

Independent researcher, Barrie, Canada

Abstract

Objective Based upon notions to a mental vision of the Vitruvian Man, to determine if any obvious asymmetries exist within Leonardo da Vinci’s timeless schematic—which is famous for its highly symmetrical presentation.

Methods A qualitative analysis performed upon a Vitruvian Man print (taken from the namesake Wikipedia article) to: closely examine if the man’s head is positioned to noticeably tilt toward either direction – left or right – of a dissecting line superimposed for equally splitting(vertically) the circle in the schematic; and, to closely examine the man’s eyes for any artistic asymmetry therein drawn.

Results The man’s head is determined tilting toward his right half/hemisphere of the circle. Also noticeable: the man’s right eye appears being of a much brighter look relative to a darkness observable about his left eye: and, an outline to an inverted equilateral triangle identifiably shaded surrounding his left eye, whereas a more contrastingly circular shape appears as so shaded around his right eye.

Discussion Once a certain awareness is drawn to such artistic anomalies, they can become so clearly observable that one may wonder if Leonardo da Vinci did as much intentionally. And if so, then why? This paper details a hypothesis necessarily built upon the assumption that Leonardo intentionally embedded such cues within his Vitruvian Man whereby speculations toward a hemispheric brain theory can be established, of such cryptic nature given a then-pronouncedly authoritarian Catholic Church, whereupon he may have figured it possible to receive credit posthumously if ever such notions were proven valid. Incidentally, the concerning analysis as to why the Vitruvian Man’s head tilts in such a fashion aligns with Dr. Iain McGilchrist’s peer-reviewed findings to a hemispheric hypothesis.

Key words

Vitruvian Man; hemispheric brain theory; DaVinci Code; Sacred Geometry; Leonardo da Vinci, Dr. Iain McGilchrist

[Craig Matheson]

The Noetic ‘Russian Dolls’ to Hermeticism: Western Esoterism, within Esoteric Christianity, within Neoplatonism, within Hermeticism

Craig Matheson

Independent researcher, Barrie, Canada

Abstract

This report offers argued theory & supporting evidence for how the theistic philosophy of Hermeticism intellectually coursed across time to lay philosophical path for the downstream development of the noetic hybrids known as Neoplatonism, Esoteric Christianity, and Western Esotericism. Accordingly, it is contended that long have Hermetic tenets philosophically existed encoded within the foregoing hybrid approaches, ideas and/or movements; all aimed at mastering such a speculative study. Moreover, discussed theory per this report sets forth that, since the dawn of said/three noetic derivatives, at their respective cores – to varying degrees -each of these Hermetic ‘Russian Dolls’ (so to speak) has religiously revolved around a handful of central tenets to Hermeticism, thusly the creed came to foundationally serve aid – in part – for: the establishment of each said noetic hybrid; reaffirming timeless origin story for each; and, as a suspected cornerstone to such pagan practice within forms of so-called ‘secretive societies’ to Western Esotericism. Through discussion & analysis of apparent facts concerning certain historical figures—such as Socrates, Plato, Plotinus, Marsilio Ficino, Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, Leonardo da Vinci, King Henry VIII and others—the contention is that it becomes increasingly clear that throughout the corresponding time periods to said historical figures, as well as for present-day kindred considerations, Hermeticism has ever played an important psychological role – if only symbolically – whereby the Hermetic Caduceus currently serves as a symbol or standard for public health around the world.

Keywords

Hermeticism, Neoplatonism, Esoteric Christianity, Western Esotericism, Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci, King Henry VIII, Giovanni Pico della Mirandola,

[Craig Matheson]

Charles,

Thank you for sharing that you chose to per your message.

First of all, not that I believe suicide is some sort of irrecoverable post-life sin—especially not in the way some human-speaking-for-god may figure—but, I’m glad you made your decision to not.

On the flip side, my mother failed to getting ‘witchcrafted’ by my father during the late 1980’s as she was then-realizing the relatively high degree of bipolar function to her brain much later in her life compared to my younger such cosmic compulsion to realize. She was pretty much a genius at whatever she put her heart & mind toward, but when ‘loved ones’ (as in my father) serpentinely begins mastering devilish designs for Hermit Crabbing your entire life, while always claiming innocence … (cough) … GASLIGHTING!!! … while simultaneously working your children snake-like against your loving image, well, sometimes things can get a tad tricky within family to say the least.

Within such skullduggery, my emotionally-retarded father preyed on her increased vulnerability in prayer / her increased ways to meditation (as a means to become a more compassionate person), but, in truth, she didn’t need much work to do on that end … as she continued her search beyond physical things being depended upon for true happiness. She was as if the Giving Tree archetype to the Shel Silverstein namesake story … as I currently know her to still give metaphysically post-life; having fallen to suicide by 1990—arguably more of ‘a saint’ than any possible Church delegate may understand.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1TZCP6OqRlE&pp=ygUoc2hlbCBzaWx2ZXJzdGVpbiByZWFkaW5nIHRoZSBnaXZpbmcgdHJlZQ%3D%3D

Personally, I’d sustained my own substantial suicide attempt back in 2012. The identified culprit? Daddy-issues — for him (as a d-bag know-it-all Atheist; identified being almost as bad as the opposite by sporting ever his own religion of absolutism around per Whatever He says) having planting his own particular brand of ‘seed of god’ in my young head by cunningly/charmingly trashing any form of spirituality anyone else may’ve chased (including that my mother was chasing while alive; in turn tricking my brain to develop grave embarrassment for her loving image) he – by default – became all there was ‘left’ for my mind to settle upon—His foolish image.

Hence, it took me such a scientific-approach through CBT (such numerous Thought Records of practice per the system) to rebuild my identity, without any of that/His crap involved, going forward for learning ‘how to be’ absent anyone else’s Idea of God being germane to my psychic structure in individuation.

Charles, to your mention about people going for spiritualism mainly for an imbalanced fear of death, couple things:

– the archetype of a witch wishes to live forever for excessive fear of death, probably because of them knowing a ‘hellish experience’ awaits (in just working off of the many ‘hellish’ NDE testimonies I watched via YouTube)

– Carl Jung, to avoid such excessive fear, advised people to see death more as a beginning to a new chapter in being (in so many words), while, in about 1958, he saw such excessive fear trending possibly toward a problematic state of mass psychosis — gone cataclysmic during Covid-period?

At any rate, thanks again for expressing per your post. I felt to sincerely understand the lion’s share.

In efforts here to wrapped up my post, a poem for which you may associate:

THE SEEKER’S PATH

While heavy may seem the load

along the burdensome taxing road,

If compassion remains the goal,

then freer releases the soul.

[Charles Rykken]

It sounds like you have not had an easy life. CBT is a lot like Buddhism. In fact, I think of CBT as a secular form of Buddhism without all the karma talk and rebirth. I also see enlightenment as opening a free channel of communication or awareness or being with your right hemisphere. However, the subconscious priming from early life or serious trauma from any period but especially early life makes the Buddhist approach problematic. The idea (non-idea?) of emptiness is very abstract and I have met more than a few quite bright people who seem to not be able to get it. The reason for pure land Buddhism is honesty about that. I am presently immersed in developing the ability to heal and/or learn to live with whatever scars are not going to vacate the premises of my subconscious. I believe that the pursuit of wisdom is the best choice for having joy and happiness with staying power. The world is pretty messed up but that doesn’t necessarily mean we have to give up. I like the way they say it in South Korea. They put their fist in the air and “fighting” in English. Between fight, flight and freeze, I choose fight. It is extremely sad (and shocking) to see how many people are dying of fentanyl overdoses. I keep close to my passions and loves. That’s a helluva lot better than doping out!

[Craig Matheson]

Hi Charles,

Thank you for sharing on all that, as you’ve done.

Firstly, I like to say that I think you are nailing it on all fronts discussed, including per:

– CBT to Buddhism;

– how usually it seems wiser to endure the pain rather than to dope out (ahem, per Yeshua’s/Christ’s lead-by-example message? … for to somehow make some reasonable sense about such abundant vibes to suffering passed/passing around this ‘funny’ world?;

– fighting as a means to make sense of this largely kooky, and much seemingly god-forsaken, world (at least in a way to which any given identifying-Catholic may preach oppositely; all the while, no matter how good one person’s day is going … somebody, arguably much more innocent, somewhere else in the world, is getting physically destroyed); and

– so on.

Secondly, reference my life as a rough go … granted CBT and other cognitive discoveries, I now much more realize that there’s ordinarily a lot to be thankful for—if one is hellbent on looking to mentally offset misery—and somebody always has it worse. But, I’d agree in that certain mental stains can last on a brain no matter how much someone else may not understand; whereby how could another plumb get the depths of another’s path & struggle granted the complexity per each human (of which Carl Jung perhaps clinically/ academically understood more per than anyone else — the term Individuation derived resultantly), where we all tend to struggle dearly in truly understanding the contents of our own respective psyches.

That said, that which doesn’t kill apparently can make stronger in particular ways.