Part 13: Knowledge & Perception

This article is part of the Unified Consciousness Framework series. To gain the maximum benefit from reading this series it would be wise to read them sequentially.

This part marks the beginning of the section of the framework that is focused primarily on looking at philosophical concepts, which we can, from another perspective, also think of as being the part of the framework that is specifically related to the subtler ‘density levels’ of the cosmos. The concepts contained within this section of the framework expand upon the points that were previously outlined in the methodology section. We can use the analogy of us ordering a meal at a restaurant to try and understand what each section of the framework represents. The prologue, the first two parts of the framework, represent the ‘amouse bouche’ of our meal. They are there to help set the scene, provide us with some flavour, but are not really expected to fill us up. The next six parts, from part 3 to 8, constituted the introduction section. Within the context of our meal analogy, these parts represent our starter course; they are a significant part of the meal, but not the most substantial part of it. 

The next four parts, from part 9 to 12, are the methodology section. We can think of the methodology section representing the moment we are given the menu outlining the dishes to come once we have finished our starter. By looking at the menu, we are able to see what will be served for our main course. In other words, it is the description of the dishes on the menu that gives us an idea of what each dish contains and therefore what the experience of eating them would be like. The majority of the framework is then contained within the next three sections which are the main body of the framework; the philosophy section, the metaphysics section, and the physics section. Each of these three sections represents a different part of our main course. We can imagine that the philosophy section represents the subtler elements of that course, which would be the aromas, colours, textures, sounds and any other parts of our dishes which are not solid. The metaphysics section then represents the slightly denser parts of those same dishes, which we can think of as being the sauces and purees. The physics section then represents the most solid parts of that main course, in other words, the solid pieces of food on the plates.

The process of eating our food begins at the subtlest density, by us first observing the shapes and colours on the dishes, as well as by us taking in the various different aromas. This sets the foundation upon which the rest of the experience becomes built. After having interacted with the most subtle elements of our meal, we then begin tasting some of the sauces and purees individually. Although these may not be the parts of the dishes which fill our stomachs, trying them separately helps us to be able to identify some of the meal’s key elements, its parts within the whole if you like, which helps us to discern the experience more clearly when we try all of its component parts together at the same time. Having gone through these various different experiences, we then begin to break down the solid parts of the meal, combining them with all elements of the dish, eating it as a combined whole. It is greatly beneficial to take a brief moment here to realise that each of these dishes exists at all different density levels at the same time, from the most subtle to the most dense. 

Taking this approach allows us to be able to discern all of the individual parts of those dishes and understand how they are all connected to each other once they have been combined together. It is greatly beneficial to take a brief moment here to register the fact that each of these dishes exists at all different density levels at the same time, from the most subtle to the most dense. We often struggle to see this though because we see these parts of the meal as being something entirely separate from each other, not realising that they are all parts of the entirety of the meal. Finally, in this process, we arrive at the summary section, which is the dessert course of our meal; a sweet ending to the whole meal that ties together the whole experience.

It is important to emphasise the fact that it is only once we actually eat the main course that we are finally able to experience what we read before as a description on the menu. You see, even though we may have read the descriptions of the dishes on the menu, this does not mean that we have experienced what is on it. In order to do that, we are required to order what is on the menu and then actually go through the process of eating those what we have ordered, which subsequently become placed on the table in front of us. Exactly the same principle exists with regards to our framework here. Reading the methodology and the points that outlined the foundation of the methodology results in us having intellectually come in touch with various different elements of the framework, perhaps even understanding these elements to some degree. However, experiencing the points outlined in the methodology section of the framework in our own lives requires us to not only have to read about it or know something about it, but to interact with it, digest it, integrate it, and internally realise those same principles as part of our lived experience.

Building the Framework Backwards

As was briefly touched upon in the prologue, another point to focus on, which is something that can greatly help us to come to a deeper understanding of what is contained within the framework, is why the framework has been structured in the way in which it has. Initially, at a glance, the approach taken would seem to be counter to what we would typically consider to be ‘the most logical’ way of going about developing a comprehensive understanding of the world around us. Usually, at least based on the way that we typically view the world and interact with it, we think that that the most appropriate way to go about studying the world and developing a contextual framework to understand it within would be by us interacting with the densest aspects of that world first. We would then take our findings from these various interactions and experiments and begin to build a framework from them, which then moves our understanding increasingly towards also understanding the subtler parts of that same cosmos.