From International Viewpoints (IVy) Issue 5 - March 1992 A New Epistemology (Epistemology: the part of philosophy that deals with the origin, nature and limits of knowledge. World Book Dictionary, 1979. Ayn Rand's definition is: "cognition as a subject of study"). by Peter Shepherd U.K. (Chairman of Mental Development Ltd. UK). Readers of "International Viewpoints" will probably be aware of Irene Mumford's advanced-levels case handling procedure, Dianasis. I would like to describe the philosophical basis of the system of Mental Development which her son, Gregory Mitchell has been delivering for over twenty years. Mental Development Ltd has now taken on the management of Dianasis, which becomes an advanced self-analysis technique for suitably prepared Mental Development students who have not previously had contact with scientology, as well as for free scientologists who have attained a stable case state equivalent to the scientology 'clear'. Mental Development provides case handling and solo auditor training as required to set up for Dianasis. Mental Development takes the view that as a human being, one needs a philosophy - an integrated view of existence. In order to progress from a stimulus response 'concrete' mode of operation to a mature conceptual understanding of life, it is necessary to integrate observations, experiences and knowledge into abstract ideas, i.e. into principles. The useful function of the unconscious mind is the further integration of conscious principles with the data base of memory files and programmed (genetically and by suggestion from parents and culture) fundamental drives. It functions like a computer with the conscious mind programming it. It's 'print out' is in the form of emotions - which are estimates of the outside world calculated according to inner values Self-determinded emotion But if firm, rational convictions have not been reached the unconscious is programmed by chance, it's left to run amok, and its output will have a corresponding character. 'Garbage in, garbage out' is the harsh formula applying to the relationship between a man's thinking and his emotions. On the basis of a knowable universe and of a rational facility to grasp it, a man can define proper ethics, politics and aesthetics - based not on neurotic compulsions but on creative freedom of choice, not on envy but on self esteem and will for justice. Level 2 Being in good communication, in order to confront, understand and handle reality as-it-is, therefore becomes the first priority and work in Mental Development begins here, on 'Level 2'. (Level 1' - the trauma and unfinished business of childhood - only needs to be engaged in if it obstructs progress and for this a range of "Five Minute Analyst" techniques are used if it becomes necessary, to get a student over the restimulation and back into present time reality. This Analyst is available at all times on the course, supplementing the Instructor, so an individual student's problems can be dealt with - usually by two-way comm and word-clearing, or if necessary flying rudiments or traumatic incident reduction. If further handling is needed the student is referred for full analysis of the problem, but usually just five minutes is enough, hence the name. Emphasis is on development, not therapy. since the mental techniques taught have the power to break down the barriers caused by trauma). The course is held on one evening each week but the student is expected to study the written materials at home during the week (using study tech) so course time can be devoted to checkouts and practical excercises. These centre around training on the communication cycle with special skills of questioning, listening and concentration. There is a trickle entry (As opposed to all students starting the same evening). so students can progress at their own pace (twinned with another of similar capability) - the course normally takes 12 to 20 weeks. What objectivity requires is an active mind, capable of assuming the responsibility of judgement, to discern truth from falsehood and reach firm conclusions, at the same time being prepared to adjust the calculation should new evidence become available. Level 3 Having learnt on Level 2 to examine extrospectively - "What do I know?" and "How do I know it?", the field of introspection may be safely entered. On Level 3 inner space becomes objectively understood and mastered. Techniques serve to integrate the whole brain - the student gains improved access to the right hemisphere parallel or synthetic processing (e.g. in recognising a face - taking a large number of elements and instantly synthesising them into a whole). (Readers are referred to IVy 3 page 26 to 29, Gregory Mitchells article "The Duality of Brain Functioning: The two Hemispheres"). Mnemonic techniques for increasing memory are taught - these make full use of the imaging capability of the right brain and the natural associative properties of human memory. This enhances his symbol space of working memory and better strategies for thinking, calculation, and reasoning are internalised. By reducing left hemispheric dominance and becoming used to accessing right-hemisphere faculties as an intrinsic part of thinking, the tendency is reduced of repressing 'uncomfortable' material into the right brain and shutting off access. The introspective questions of "What do I feel?" and "Why do I feel it?" can now be answered objectively. Ayn Rand, one of the root sources of Mental Development, writes: "Without a ruthlessly honest commitment to introspection, you will not discover what you feel, what arouses the feeling and whether your feeling is an appropriate response to the facts of reality, or a mistaken response, or a vicious illusion produced by years of self deception. The men who scorn introspection take their inner states for granted and let emotions determine their actions - they spend their lives struggling with incomprehensible inner conflicts, alternately repressing their emotions and indulging in emotional fits, regretting it, losing control again, rebelling against the mystery of their inner chaos, trying to unravel it, giving up, deciding to feel nothing - and feeling the growing pressure of fear, guilt and self doubt! (Ayn Rand "Philosophy - Who Needs It", (Signet) 1974 (Pages 17-18)). The one-to-one analysis which accompanies level 3 (to achieve the Stable state necessary to be able to take responsibility for one's own case resolution on Dianasis) further assists the student to come to terms with his rationalisations. Again in Ayn Rand's words: "Rationalisation is a cover up, a process of providing one's emotions with a false identity, of giving them spurious explanations and justifications - in order to hide one's motives, not just from others but primarily from oneself. The price of rationalising is the distortion of one's cognitive faculty - instead of perceiving reality, reality is made to fit one's emotions." (Ayn Rand "Philosophy - Who Needs It", (Signet) 1974). The Hologram Hypothesis A hologram is a three dimensional image made with the aid of a laser, a source of coherent light waves. To produce a hologram a single laser light is split into two seperate beams. The first beam is bounced off the object to be photographed; the second collides at the film plane with the reflected light of the first, producing an interference pattern, recorded on film. As soon as a light is shined on the developed film, a three dimensional image of the original object appears. Unlike normal photographs, every small fragment of a piece of holographic film contains all the information recorded in the whole. Holgrams contain a fantasic capability for information storage. By changing the angleat which the laser beam strikes the film, or the beams wavelength, it is possible to record many different images on the same surface. A one inch square of film can store the same amount of information as contained in fifty large dictionaries. A great deal of evidence indicates that memory, perception and the mind generally may be based on holographic principles, explaining the virtually unlimited potential of brain functions. Further, there is evidence to suggest that our world and everything in it are in actuality holographic images, projections from a level of existence literally beyond space and time - the static world of Theta in scientology terms. MEST is seen as solidified Theta, in other words Theta is the implicit underlying frequency realm (equivalent to the laser waves) with Static as the source. Put another way, there is no reality above and beyond that created by the integration of all consciousnesses, and the holographic universe can potentially be sculpted in virtually limitless ways by the mind. The main architects of this astonishing idea are two of the world's most eminent thinkers: University of London physicist David Bohm, a protege of Einsteins and one of the most respected quantum physicists, and Karl Pribram, author of the classic neuropsychological textbook "Language of the Brain". There is a need for a natural philosphy that goes further than physics alone can go, but remains in harmony with it. Living organisms and conscious minds must be included within it along with the particles and fields of physics. David Bohm has developed such a philosophy based on the concept of undivided wholeness implicit in relativity, Quantum physics and holograms. Karl Pribram discovered how the memory works on holographic principles, with the brain a processor of holographic information to resynthesise images in inner space. Further biochemist Rupert Sheldrake has extended the hypothesis to the role of animating matter and providing an understanding of evolution and the nature of a 'living planet'. The holographic model provides an hypothesis to explain the connection between the material mind, it's spiritual analog and dimensions beyond time and space - the underlying frequency realm of the hologram. It makes sense of the entire range of spiritual and psychic phenomena. It validates the Axioms which Hubbard introduced at about the time Bohm laid out his ideas in "Wholeness and the Implicate Order", which shows how ahead of his time Hubbard was, for these theroies are still not accepted by authorities who have a vested interest in maintaining a materialistic world view. No-mind This data should have spin-offs for case-handling and a firm theoretical grounding will clear metaphysics of mysticism and demonstrate the seniority of concepts and considerations in the actual universe. The case relating to the composite (spirit-mind-body) is resolved on the upper parts of Dianasis (an eight part rundown). Similarly, the 'case' relating to the functioning and programming of the brain is resolved on advanced Mental Development levels by speeding up verbal and arithmetic functions to the point where integrated functioning is necessary and the brain literally reprogrammes itself to operate with parallel simultaneous pathways of thought. The spirit considers and conceptualises without the need for language; similarly the highest realm of brain functioning is an intuitive, non-verbalising Zen-state of 'no-mind'. The brain as a barrier to spiritual awareness in Present Time is thus broken down. It is expected that further research and integration of these two technologies will eventually demonstrate this crucial metaphysical paradigm and bring it into the objective sphere - that of operating Thetan, in and out of the physical universe. Bibliography (Ayn Rand "Philosophy - Who Needs It", (Signet) 1974 Peter Russell "The Brain Book" (RKP) 1979 Good Introduction to Mental Development. Michael Talbot "The Holographic Universe" (Grafton) 1991. Good introduction to holographics. Four more mind-expanding books: Karl Pribram "Language of the Brain" (Wadsworth) 1977 David Bohm "Wholeness and the Implicate Order" (RKP) 1980 Rupert Sheldrake "The Presence of the Past" (Fontana) 1989 Itzhak Benthof "Stalking the Wild Pendulum" (Wildwood) 1977