Metaphysics isn’t physics. It’s a branch of philosophy that attempts to explain the fundamental nature of being. It examines the true nature of being and reality, whether visible or invisible. It includes the power of thought to create (the relationship between mind and matter), intelligent consciousness and more.
It is a form of spirituality, but it is not a religion.
There are many different spiritual practices worldwide that are metaphysical in nature:
- yoga
- meditation
- even prayer
which can transcend religious belief and become the process of attaining unity with all there is.
The word comes from the Greek ‘meta’ (beyond) and ‘physika’ (physics) – the science of what is beyond the physical. Aristotle coined the term, but he credits earlier philosophers with the teachings that all things derive from a single first cause.
Much of what is taught in metaphysics cannot be understood by the logical mind.
[content_box_light_green width=”75%”]For example … eternity. Many people believe that eternity is time going on forever. But it’s really the absence of time. You’ve probably experienced being happily busy with your favorite activity, and time stands still.
You simply are not aware of the passing of time. That is eternity.
(That’s why boring lectures last an eternity too… the hand on the clock refuses to move!). But the logical mind can’t comprehend this. The spiritual mind – the right-brain way of thinking that is attuned to the intelligent universal consciousness – gets the concept. It doesn’t need to explain it.
Eternity just “is.” Infinity just “is.”[/content_box_light_green]
You probably have your own metaphysical questions:
- What is the meaning of life?
- Why am I here?
- What is reality?
- What is my purpose?
- What is God?
- Is there more than this physical existence?
- What is consciousness?
- How was everything created?
… and more…
A lot of metaphysical study is done through introspection, usually meditation.
Metaphysics is above all a process of self-discovery!
Ultimately, you arrive at your own truth – no matter what any spiritual teacher may tell you. Even the Buddha said, “believe nothing, even if it comes from me.” What that means is not that there is no one truth – truth is as individual as the way we each perceive the world.
Confused? Understandably! This is what metaphysics attempts to explain.
Or rather… you will learn how to explain these questions for yourself.
Metaphysical studies teach you some important concepts:
- You already possess all the knowledge you need. It is within you.
- You are connected to God, or Infinite Being, or Source, Creator, Consciousness, Energy, Force… whatever name you give the power that created everything.
- Metaphysics will push the limits of your beliefs and allow you to explore alternative beliefs – and ultimately allow you to come to a truth that is pure and unbiased.
What does metaphysics teach you?
Metaphysics teaches you to be truly open-minded to new ideas, possibilities and interpretations. On some level, even the wisest of us is constrained by conditioned beliefs we don’t even know we possess. Meditation and other metaphysical practices help us identify these conditioned beliefs and delete them.
Metaphysics explores the concepts duality and non-duality.
[content_box_light_green width=”75%”]For example – What is “emptiness”? On the surface, the answer seems easy: emptiness is the absence of something.
Usually we mean something that can be perceived by the physical senses – like a liquid, a solid or a gas. But… when you dump out all the liquid or solid out, the container is still full of something.
It’s full of air, right?
So then how can the container be “empty” when it’s actually FULL of air? So fullness and emptiness are just different aspects of the same thing!
You can’t have one side of the coin without the other; no up without down, no light without dark, etc. No something without nothing.[/content_box_light_green]
Our perceptions of the world are challenged in metaphysics.
To become open-minded is to be open to alternative perspectives and to look beyond words and our physical experience to the true nature of things.
These are the sorts of fun discussions you can have with yourself about the nature of being and the nature of reality.
Let your heart guide you in your explorations – your higher self already knows exactly what you need to be learning at this point in time. As you gain more and more of these sorts of insights, you will take down the walls of limited thinking, brick by brick.
And then, the understanding of the true nature of being will be clearer to you.
Metaphysics is a fascinating journey beyond the physical world. As you study its principles and ponder the questions that the logical mind cannot comprehend you learn a lot about yourself and your true nature in the process.
