Meditating like an extra-terrestrial

What sort of spirituality would be practiced by an extra-terrestrial being? I find this an interesting question, one which points to a more practical question: “What sort of spirituality should be practiced by us right here on earth?”

Many people have pondered how the world’s religions would be affected by the discovery of extra-terrestrial life—particularly life from a civilization much more advanced than ours. Physicist Paul Davies, in his article “E.T. and God,” observes that Christianity would have the biggest problem with the discovery of alien superbeings because “of all the world’s major religions, Christianity is the most species-specific.” Jesus died for humanity’s sins, not those of extra-terrestrials.

Buddhists and Hindus, says Davies, “would seem to be the least threatened by the prospect of advanced aliens, owing to their pluralistic concept of God and their traditionally much grander vision of the cosmos.” Agreed. But this still begs the question of what sort of spirituality aliens would practice. How would Buddhists and Hindus have to expand their religions to accommodate an extra-terrestrial spirituality?

Or, would any expansion be needed at all? In other words, is there a common ground in Buddhism, Hinduism, or other capacious religions which could comfortably accommodate an alien religious expression?

Consider physics. Almost certainly the basics of human knowledge about atoms, molecules, elements, and so on wouldn’t be affected by contact with an advanced extra-terrestrial civilization. For these aliens wouldn’t be so alien as to live in a different universe.

They likely would perceive physical reality with different sense organs than ours, and “think” (if that is the right word) about what they perceive with different cognitive faculties. But earthly and E.T. physicists would be able to bridge these gaps by using the Rosetta Stone of material existence. However a hydrogen atom is described, with whatever words or symbols, that atom undeniably exists apart from the descriptions.

However, what would be the Rosetta Stone, or common ground, of earthly and alien spirituality? Obviously it couldn’t be any historical event that happened on only one planet (such as Jesus’ incarnation), since this wouldn’t be part of a shared reality. And it also couldn’t be a theology or metaphysics dependent on culture-specific concepts, for vast differences would almost certainly exist between earthly and extra-terrestrial cultures.

I think bare naked consciousness has to be the common ground. Not thoughts, emotions, and what-not that clothe consciousness, for these would be unique to humans and unique to aliens. And also not conscious perceptions of physical reality, for these are, by definition, of material origin. Thus I keep coming back to consciousness plain and simple when I try to imagine how earthlings could share a sense of spirituality with alien beings.

If a spiritual reality exists apart from the physical it can only be known by consciousness. Otherwise it would remain unknown. The nature of consciousness is a mystery. Yet it is clear and evident to both you and me right now. This is why it is such a mystery: obvious, yet hidden; right in front of our eyes (and also behind our eyes), yet unseen.

I meditate every day. I like to try to form my consciousness into an alien consciousness. I don’t know how well I’m succeeding. I haven’t met an alien with whom I can attempt to share meditation experiences.

Still, I suspect that any technologically advanced extra-terrestrial civilization would have explored the consciousness that produced those advances to as great a degree, and likely much more so, as has our own civilization. They would have stripped consciousness down to its core, to its essential irreducible reality—just as earthly scientists seek to discover the root of physical matter, energy, time, and space.

I like to imagine that the essence of my consciousness is the same as an alien consciousness. Maybe this can be called “soul.” Maybe it can’t. Whatever it is, whatever it can or can’t be called, I strongly suspect that the more empty it is, the more alike it is to extra-terrestrial consciousness.

I probably will never meet E.T. on the outside.

But I might be able to meet E.T. on the inside.

Comments

[Mahen Karthigesan]

I liked your article. I am very interested in Spirituality and Meditation. I teach meditation as well under www.srcm.org . I like to know more about E.T

Thanks

[i alien]

Here are some of my my thoughts on the subject.

What if we are the alien implants?

Is there a higher plane than this reality? How do you know that? What makes you unequivocally certain that the activity on this planet is not just a microscopic cellular function of a much larger brain system? What if the solar system is just a cell in the brain of OM? Relativity, yes, absolutism, yes, but the point of both is Yes, they are both equally reliant upon one another from the mortal to the immortal point of reference.

We speak of debates such as the alien dilemma of what if's and if not's regarding physical artifacts, but do we realize that this debate is an illusion of time? Time says things are impossible yet things happen in the one space where time cannot intrude into, the psionic field of no time. Some pursue the possibility of alien implants, some pursue the possibility of not pursuing possibilities, in either case, there is a greater possibility.

What if all this "time" while we argue and debate about having or not having alien implants, we are indeed part of a much more sophisticated alien implant that's lodged in the neck of a much higher, more evolved being? What if all our lives and memories are but a synaptic flicker that lasts no longer than a transdimensional nano second, which to us seems like a hundred years? I wonder what repercussions this would have for our conception or dare i say delusion of time.

It would mean that although we like to romanticize on the absolutism of time, the relativity of our size would lead us to the inexorable need to question this assumption. Can you for one moment, reach a higher ground in your mind? Can you imagine yourself gluiding above this earth, starring down at this species and watching it partake of it's unnecessary conflicts and social platitudes, it's sychophantic women and it's narcissistic men? What would your first thought be?

Would you say to yourself "how sad that such a species cannot see its own face in the metaphysical mirror, and that it is much more evolved than it thinks it is" or would you say "yes, that's about right, building ant hills and working mechanically to reach the end of its infancy, which will go no where"? Would you, on that higher plane, consider humanity a contemporary species that you can open diplomatic relations with, or would you consider it a transdimensional pet on a neurological leash?