The Known, The Unknown and The Unknowable(Mysticism, Spirituality and Symbolism)

"You control the barrier between your consciousness
and what you seek. You merely need to open your mind.
The truth is, all knowledge, everything that is and was
and will be, is everywhere --- out there, and in all of us."
- Oma Desala (to Daniel Jackson)
Stargate SG1, "Reckoning, Part 1"

In our journey through our Current Incarnation in the material realm
we use our rational and logical mind to make judgments, come to
Decisions, evaluate options, and Learn new skills.

Our rational and logical mind is a powerful tool which helps us to
examine and assess the conditions, Choices and potential dangers
which confront us during our physical lifetimes.

Our rational and logical mind has complete access to all that is
Known and all that is Unknown. However, as powerful as our
rational and logical mind may be, it does not have access to,
and therefore cannot comprehend and explain, the Unknowable.

With these Thoughts in mind, let us now take a close look at the
Known, the Unknown and the Unknowable.

The Known consists of all of the things we have already Learned
and know to be True and factual.

Some examples of what we Know are: simple addition and
subtraction, the sun rises in the east, the law of gravity (if we
drop something it wall fall to the ground), how to walk and run,
how to read and write, plus all of the other things we have
already Learned which competently serve us in our daily lives.

However, it is important to understand that the Known does not
consist of Beliefs, Opinions, Hopes, or blind Faith which either we,
or someone else has planted into our consciousness.

The Unknown consists of all the experiences, knowledge and
skills that are available to us in this physical realm which we
have not yet come to Learn, understand and utilize.

For example:

We may not know how to speak Portuguese. However we can
Learn how to speak this, or any other language, by simply
taking a course in that particular subject.

Similarly, we may not Know how to sing, paint, draw, drive a car,
perform magic tricks, speak in public, throw a baseball, play a
musical instrument, perform calculus or understand the movement
of the stars and planets.

However, although these things may be currently Unknown to us,
they are definitely Knowable. The obtaining of any Unknown
knowledge simply requires that we take the Time, and make the
effort, to Learn these new skills, concepts and attributes.

The Unknowable:

"Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind."
 - Donovan, singer and songwriter

The Unknowable consists of all of the cosmic concepts and Divine
Truths which can never be understood and explained by the rational
and logical mind.

These are the concepts which tease, baffle and mesmerize us.
The more we try to rationalize The Unknowable the dizzier and
more awe-struck we become.

Within The Unknowable we find all of the metaphysical (beyond
the physical) Truths and doctrines which can never be grasped by
us through any of our Thought processes; no matter how hard we
may try.

Ancient texts tell us of Deities which existed before the beginning
and which will remain long after the end. How can this concept be
explained rationally and logically by the use of clumsy and
limiting Words?

It cannot. For infinite Truths cannot be grasped and explained by
the finite mind.

Ancient texts also tell us of Deities which are self-created,
self-begotten, and only-begotten. Again, how can this infinite and
Divine Truth be understood and explained by a rational and logical
mind which is restricted and limited in the way it can process only
finite information?

How many of us have tried to grasp the concept of eternity?

We imagine that we are proceeding to the most outer limits of
all that is. We finally arrive at what we think is the boundary of
eternity, but what happens then? If this is the end then it cannot
be eternal. And if this is the boundary of eternity, that alone tells
us that there is something beyond this boundary; something on
the other side. Therefore, eternity never ends; no matter how we
may try to imagine and rationalize that it does.

Furthermore, not only does eternity have no end; it also has
no beginning! How mind-boggling is this concept to the rational
and logical mind? We know that eternity is a Divine Truth.
Yet, on the other hand, we know that eternity can never be
rationally and logically understood and explained.

That is why the ancients Chose the Circle to Symbolize the
eternal, the everlasting and The All.

The only way the area and the circumference of a Circle can
be measured is by the use of a formula which contains the
mathematical function called pi. Pi is an irrational number.
Regardless of how many decimal points we use to calculate
pi, we never come to an ending digit. Pi represents the concept
of eternity in that although we can come closer and closer to
understanding pi we can never fully resolve this mathematical
formula.

Pi is the perfect concept of the Circle; of the eternal; and of
Divinity itself. For, no matter how much we learn about the eternal
and Divine, we can never fully grasp, understand and explain
what it is with our finite and limiting minds.

This is what the Tao Teh Ching is referring to when it states that
"one who knows the Tao cannot tell (explain) it".

The realm of The Unknowable is the realm of insight and intuition;
Gnosis and epiphanies; inner knowing and Divine revelation.

Although The Unknowable can be accepted to be real and True, it
can never be verbally explained. The Unknowable is the Veil of Isis
which no mortal may pierce.

We acknowledge, and pay homage to, the The Unknowable each
time we conclude our Prayers with the word "Amen".

Amen is a variation of the Words Amon, Omon and Amun which
appear in ancient texts, legends, and metaphysical teachings.

These terms all mean "hidden" and "Unknowable" and refer to that
one power, that one essence and that one Unknowable beginner
and end of all creation which we refer to as Divinity.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My Email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2012

Stress (Self-Created vs. Externally-Imposed)

There is a classic psychology study, regarding Stress, involving
two monkeys, a bell, and an electric shock. It goes something
like this:

Monkey "A" was given an electric shock every other time the
bell rang. This monkey was able to adapt to the specific Cycle
of shock vs. no-shock and suffered minimal, if any Stress. No 
harm came to this monkey.

Monkey "B", on the other hand, was randomly shocked when
the bell rang. Therefore, this monkey could never anticipate which
ring of the bell would provide the electric shock and was unable
to adapt. Monkey "B" suffered extreme Stress and died of a heart
attack.

This experiment is an excellent example of the difference between
anticipated Stress, which we can control, and un-anticipated
Stress, which we cannot control.

By taking this line of thought one step further we can classify
Stress into two different categories: Self-Created Stress (which we
can anticipate and manage), and Externally-Imposed Stress (which
we can neither anticipate nor control).

Externally-Imposed Stress: This is the negative Stress that bears
down upon, and wears out, the majority of people. It is the
unexpected and fearful type of Stress that ages us before our Time
and destroys us both physically and mentally. It is a primary source
of heart problems, stomach problems, and psychological trauma.

Nearly everyone who has worked at a job has, at some time,
experienced Externally-Imposed Stress. No employee is immune
to Externally-Imposed Stress. It affects everyone from upper
management all the way down to the most common laborer.

It results from external Events, Decisions, and Actions which are
entirely unexpected and beyond our control.

Some examples of Externally-Imposed Stress are:
...the expectancy to meet deadlines which are continually being
changed, sped-up, or even cancelled
...unreasonable quotas
...merit reviews which our "superiors" continually bludgeon us with
that keep some menial promotion, or raise, just beyond our grasp
...political infighting.

The list of "rat race" Stress that affects the majority of adults is
endless.

How many adults sacrifice their Sovereignty for a thankless "job"
devoid of personal growth and integrity only to be rewarded with
Stress?

How many adults dully, and semi-consciously, look forward to only
one thing in their life: the "finish-line of retirement"?  Only to be then
kept alive by heart and stomach medication.

And, what is perhaps even worse, having almost never exercised
their minds, these same people often end up having little or nothing
to offer society, either mentally or spiritually, when they eventually
"retire".

Furthermore, how many of these people die shortly after reaching
that "finish-line of retirement" having wasted the gift of Incarnation?

The people who fall into this category are the Monkey "B" alluded
to at the beginning of this article.

Self-Created Stress: This is the expected and anticipated kind
of Stress that is part of the everyday life of the Lone Wolf, the
Trailblazer, Wizards and Wanderers, and all those who pursue
new Horizons.

These persons are the independent businesspersons, private
investors, inventors, explorers, and makers of history. These are
the individuals who face life on their own terms and accept all of
the failures, setbacks, and successes that are a part of their
personal and unique Incarnation.

These individuals understand and embrace the Stress which is
part of their special Journey. They understand that their Road
will sometimes be rocky before it becomes smooth; that some
unexpected crises must be experienced if they are to eventually
experience success in whatever Quest they pursue.

They live their lives, and make their Decisions, by relying on
their talents, skills, imagination, creativity, and experiences.
In other words they face the obstacles of life armed mainly with
their Wits.

And because they are constantly faced with options, Choices,
and anticipated crises, their mental faculties and Decision-
making muscles are sharply honed to handle Stress. Therefore,
for these people, Stress has a minimal affect on their mental
and physical well-being.

These are the individuals who can run their businesses, pursue
their experiments, and plan their next pursuit long after the
average person has succumbed to the boredom of "retirement".
And they do it with a gleam in their eyes and an enthusiasm in
their demeanor that is only found in a naive, excited, and curious
child.

These are the individuals who never think about the "finish line of
retirement" for they are much too busy looking forward to new
projects, ideas, and plans. For these people each new day is a
new dawn in which they expect and anticipate new Adventures.

These individuals are the Monkey "A" alluded to at the beginning
of this article who boldly says: "bring on that electric shock, I can
handle the Stress".

Conclusion: All aspects of our Divine Nature are like muscles.
They must be constantly exercised, used, and pushed to their
limit if we are to make them strong and resourceful. When we
stop using our skills, our mind, our imagination, and all of the
rest of our mental and spiritual muscles, they atrophy.

They wither, become weakened, and either tear or break at the
first sign of Stress. When this happens they are no longer a
viable and valuable component of our being.

Therefore, if we are to face life head-on, master Stress, and
truly enjoy our Journey through our Incarnation, it is our sole
responsibility to continually hone our mental and spiritual
muscles just as we would our physical ones. For only then
are we able to nimbly overcome the surprises and Stress
that are a normal part of all physical Incarnations.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2011