by StefanEmunds

Objective Proof vs. Subjective Verification

We live in two worlds, the external-objective and the internal-subjective world, the world of proof and the world of faith.

Psychology has struggled to establish itself as a science because it deals with subjective phenomena. Who has issues – the psychologist or the patient?

The same holds true for enlightenment. It is impossible to prove that God exists, neither heaven, afterlife, illumination, nor Nirwana (cosmic consciousness).

When you place your foot on the path of enlightenment you will experience a little surge of isolation. You will lose those people who restrict themselves to sensual objectivity, proof, and common sense.

The internal world is a wilderness, an unchartered, ever-changing landscape, where fantasy and truth mingle. You need a treasure map. Buddha gave us a treasure a map. So did Jesus.

How do you know whether an enlightenment map is original? Only one way to find out. This is where faith comes in. We got to place a (reasonable) bet on a truth and see where it takes us. For example, I assume that I am an immortal soul because I have a strong feeling that it is so. A part of me doesn’t seem to age. Do I have proof? I don’t, but I bank on it till proven otherwise.

I wrote earlier that it is impossible to prove cosmic consciousness. That’s not quite right since we can experience it. On the path of enlightenment, subjective verification replaces objective proof.
Every true enlightenment treasure map has verifiable landmarks and treasure. The first enlightenment Christians lived by this truth and put subjective verification before all else. They idealized gnosis, the knowledge of God.

Jesus was into enlightenment, not religion. He had issues with his religious contemporaries, the Pharisees. “Damn you,” he said, “You lost the key to enlightenment (the kingdom of heaven) and all you do now it preventing people from finding it.” And he boosted our faith: “Whatever I can do, the least of you can do too.”

Enlightenment = reasonable faith

Religion = unreasonable hope.

Religious people – no offense – bank on the external world. They believe that God is somewhere in outer space. They believe that acting according to rules redeems. They rely on the scripture because it is something they can touch. They are fond of changing the (external) world.
Those who pursue enlightenment, concern themselves with the internal world. They have faith in their own evolution and the acquisition of wisdom and understanding. They know that the words of the scripture reveal but also conceal, and set their heart on subjective verification.

Faith is a scientific attitude. Scientists formulate reasonable theses in which they put their faith until proven or disproven. Do you believe in Einstein’s relativity theory? Right, that is a trick question. How many people on Planet Earth have verified it? The only way to do so is by studying physics for a few years and perform the necessary experiments. Do you see the analogy with enlightenment?

Subjective verification does not end with a mystical experience or a spiritual vision. We complete it by taking wisdom and making a positive change in the external world. We are creators, not escapers, who strive to bring spiritual concepts into the objective, external world for the service of mankind.

Subjective verification is a key component of enlightenment psychology. What is enlightenment psychology? Enroll in the free email mini course to find out:

Image attribution: Myriams-Fotos @ pixabay.com