Issue 8 £1.75 $4 BESHARA

MAGAZINE

BESHARA Mae-Wan Ho . A MAGAZINE CONCERNED WITH UNITY 'Reanimating Nature' The Integrationof Science with Human Experience

Martin Notcutt The Club of Rome

Simon Blackwood Painting as a Means of Expression BESHARA PUBLICATIONS

Frilford Grange, Frilford, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 5NX Telephone enquiries: Oxford (0865) 243406

The Wisdom of the Prophets - Ibn 'Arabi Kernel of the Kernel - Ibn 'Arabi

Twelve chapters of the Fusus al-Hikam, Ibn ' Arabi's most The Lubb al-Lubb, incorporating the Turkish commentary of celebrated work, summarising his universal vision. English Ismail Hakki Bursevi. English version by Bulent Rauf. A version by Angela Culme-Seymour from Titus Burckhardt's treatise of instruction for the mystic who undertakes the

French translation. Journey to Union with God. Cloth £6.50 Paper £4.80 Cloth £4.80 ISBN 090497508 8 ISBN 0 904975010 ISBN0 90497500 2 Addresses - Bulent Rauf Whoso Knoweth Himself - Ibn 'Arabi "For those who want to come to understand their relationship

The Treatise on Being, translated by T.H. Weir. A concise and to Reality, what their purpose is, and how consequently they elevated exposition of the absolute unity of all existence, should proceed... " (from Peter Young's introduction). By the addressed to the most intimate consciousness. consultant to the Beshara Trust and schools, who died in Paper £3.3 0 ISBN 090497506 1 1987. Paper £4.80 ISBN0904975 126 Sufis of Andalusia - Ibn 'Arabi Intimations - J.G. Bennett Biographical sketches of some of the contempIatives and spiritual masters amongst whom Ibn ' Arabi spent his early Talks given to Beshara students in the last years of Bennett's years. From the Ruh al-quds and Durrat al-fakhirah, translated life, embodying his most mature and universal reflections. by Or R.W.].Austin. Paper £3.6 0 ISBN0 904975 029 Paper £7.50 ISBN0904975134 Personal orders in the UK, please add 75p p&l) fIr one book, 50p fIr each subsequent book in the same order. Overseas rates & trade tams on application.

ChishollTIe Antiques

5 Orrock Place, Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland Tel: 045076928

For the restoration of fine antique furniture and cabinet making

I,,,.. ,,,,, BESHARA

BESHARA

BESHARA Magazine wm started in 1987 m a

forum where the idem of unity which are now

emerging in many different fields - in science, economics, ecology, the arts and in the spiritual traditions - can be expressed. The word Contents Issue 8 'Beshara' is Aramaic (the root language of

Arabic and Hebrew) and means 'Good News' From Policies to People 4 or 'Omen of Joy'.

The Club of Rome has been a quiet force in environmental policy-making over the last 20 years. Martin Notcutt reports on their plans for the future

Art in the Service of the Sacred 9

Christopher Ryan attends the Second Te menos Conference, where he encounters Noh Theatre and the sacred landscape of the Aborigines

Reanimating Nature 16

Dr Mae-Wan Ho of the Department of Biology at the Open University reveals that a change of perspective is occuring in the natural sciences, emphasising unity and integration.

Courses at Chisholme House 26

Angela Holroyd asks Peter Young, the Principal, about the work of the Beshara School of Intensive Esoteric Education

Means of Expression 32

Simon Blackwood talks about his work as a painter

Reviews 35

Books Henty Bortoft on Goethe contra Newton by Dennis Sepper 36 Jane Clark on Science, Order and Creativity by David Bohm 39 Derek Elliott on Markings by Dag Hammerskjold 41 John Hill on My God, produced by Save the Children Fund 42

Theatre Stephen Hirtenstein on Signs and Wonders by Oded Te omi 42

Exhibitions Richard Twinch on Leonardo da Vinci at the Hayward Gallery 44

Regular Features

Editorial 3 11 Cover Picture: News - current events and comment from Alison Yiangou 47 Bosphorus Boat I/ Events - a listing of lectures, conferences and exhibitions, by Simon Blackwood plus Icon Collections in Britain 48 NEW

SCIENCE, ORDER AND CREATIVITY

Davirl Boftl'll ond F. David Pt'O/

In this thoughl�provoklng ne-w book, Davld Bohm. one of today's most foremost SCIentifiC thinkers. and Davld Peat, well�knoV\ln sCience writer. contend that sCience has lost Its bearings over the last century and become a narrow, abstl�acted and fragmented way of approaching natur-e and reality

December 1988: 300pp Pb: 0-115 -03079-X: [5.95

WHOLENESS AND THE IMPLICATE ORDER DavirL Bohm

A much acclaimed work that combines sCience and philosophy to propose a new model of reality.

Ark Paperback

1983: 213pp Pb: 0-7448-0000-5: [3.95

QUANTUM IMPLICATIONS Essays in Honour of David BohIn L::ditnl by BJ. Hilpy alld F. David Peal

A collection of original papers dedicated to Pf�ofessor Davld Bohm, hiS V\lol�k, and the issues raised by hiS Ideas. Contributions span a number of diSCiplines and Include some of the most distinguished SCientists of the day.

1987: 450pp Hb 0·7102-0806-5: [25.00

UNFOLDING MEANING A Weekend of Dialogue with David BohIn David Bo/uII

Unfolding Meaning IS the record of an Impor"Lant event. Professor Davld Bohm elaborates with rl group of people of vanous backgrounds hiS thoughts concerning mind. matter. meaning. the Implicate ol-der, quantum theory and related subjects.

Ark Paperback

1987 175pp Pb 0-7418-0064-1: [3.95

CASUALITY AND CHANCE IN MODERN PHYSICS David Bo/ulI

Professor Bohm provides a new Interpretation of quantum theory in the form of a sub-quantum mechanICal level which has both new kinds of casual laws and new kinds of statistical fluctuations.

1984: 170pp Pb 0-7102-0031 5: [4.95

Acclaimed titles from PHANES PRESS

Publishers of fine books on the spiritual and philosophical

Awakening Osiris: A New Transla­ The Pythagorean Sourcebook and Li­ The Drunken Universe: An Anthol­ traditions tion of the Egyptian Book of the Dead brary: An Anthology of Ancient Writ­ ogy of Persian Sufi Poetry. Translated of the by Normandi EHis ings which Relate to Pythagoras and with commentary by Peter Lamborn Western This new translation, made from the Pythagorean Philosophy. Translated Wilson and NasroHah Pourjavady. hieroglyphs, approaches the Book of by Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie; edited The Drunken Universe contains fresh world the Dead as a profound spiritual text and introduced by David R. Fideler. renditions of the greatest poetry of whieh is capable of speaking to us This is the largest collection of Py­ the Sufi mystical tradition arranged Tn nrd�r: today. The perspective of these writ­ thagorean writings to ever appear in around ten themes, including such Endns� enst nf ings suggests that the divine re,dm the English language. It contains the important motifs as The Secret, bnnk in US funds nr and the human rcalm arc not alto­ four ancient biographies of Pythago­ Awakening, Separation and Sadness, filiI MO and 52.50 gether separate; it suggests that the ras and over 25 Pythagorean writings, Love and the Lover, Union, Joy and surfac� pnsta!:�. natural world, and the substance of based on the premise that the prin­ the Perfect Man. Not only are the our lives, is fashioned from the stuff ciples of Harmony, Proportion and great luminaries of this tradition PHANES of the gods. Devoted like an Egyptian Justice govern both the physical cos­ represented, but so too are other scribe to the principle of "effective mos and the balanced soul. Complete important writers who are often PRESS utterance," Normandi Ell is has pro· with index, appendices, 400-titlc overlooked. " ... one of the nicest trans· PO Box 6114 duced a prose translation which reads bibliography, and illustrations, this lations of Sufi texts availablc"-Carl Grand Rapids, like pure, diaphanous verse. is an indispensable volume. Ernst writing in GNOSIS Michigan

Cloth, 228 pages, $21.95; Paper, Cloth, 368 pages, $30.00; Paper, Cloth, 146 pages, S I 5.95; Paper, $8.95. 49516 $1 1.95. $17.00. USA BESHARA

BESHARA

Frilford Grange, Frilford, Abingdon, Oxford OX13 5NX. Te lephone: Oxford (0865) 391344 Editorial Fax: Oxford (0865) 722103 ISSN 0954-0067

EGULAR READERS will no leading to a biology based on co-oper­ lark. doubt have noticed that the ation and interconnectedness, rather [TORS; Elizabeth R appearance of BESHARA has than fragmentation and struggle. Roberts, Cecilia Tw inch, changed with this issue. The change Mae-Wan Ho points out (p17) that Alison Yiangou has been dictated by the fact that the one of the features of this new biology ART EDITOR:. Lesley Abadi REV IEWS: Martin Notcutt, Derek magazine has expanded both in size is that it crosses traditional boundaries, ElIiott, Michael Cohen and in scope since it was launched two and involves psychology and sociology ILLUSTRATIONS: Julia Dry years ago, and has come to demand a as well as physics, chemistry and math­ ADMINISTRATION: Kathy different, stronger format to match its ematics. She goes on to consider the Cresswell content. It also now reaches a much parallels between the scientific mode of wider audience, and with new readers perception and the way the artist sees joining us all the time, this is perhaps the world. On this same theme, we also BESHARA is published by the an appropriate moment to reiterate the have articles on two of the giants of Beshara Trust, a registered educational aims of the magazine. Western civilisation - Goethe and charity, No. 296769. BESHARA is concerned with unity, Leonardo da Vinci - who, par excel­ and it is intended as a forum where the lence, transcend the separation between Subscriptions ideas of unity which are now emerging art and science that modern man has £9.00 per annum UK and Europe in many areas of human activity can be made, and a review of the works of $18 USA brought together and expressed. For David Bohm, who of all living scientists £10.50 elsewhere (surface Mail) many people at the moment, the need has perhaps done most to bridge the Airmail on quotation. for a unified perspective is most vividly gaps between disciplines. demonstrated by the state of the envi­ The integration which these great Readers in America and Australia can ronment. It is becoming clear, even to men exemplify comes not from piece­ subscribe through: politicians, that in order to take proper meal synthesis of facts or ideas, but Beshara FoUndation, care of our world, we need to treat it as PO Box 42283. San Francisco from an understanding of the essential California 94101 USA a single entity and take a wider view principles from which all knowledge or than that dictated by merely national springs. It is with this deeper under­ Beshara Australia or cultural interests. standing that BESHARA is really con­ Canonach RMB 2060, Bells Flat Road, In the past, BESHARA has reported cerned. The intention in bringing Yackandandah, Victoria 3749 on the ecology movement, and on sem­ together the unifying ideas which are Te lephone: (060) 271 573 inal events such as the Global Forum of emerging in different spheres - eco­ Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders in nomics, science, art, religion or whatev­ Advertising rates: Oxford last year. In this issue, Martin er - is that they will be seen not as sep­ £120 per page Notcutt investigates the work of the arate happenings, but as a single move­ £60 per half page Club of Rome, which for the past ment which encompasses not only the £40 per third page £30 per quarter page twenty years has been urging govern­ way we think, but the way we live our £20 per sixth page ments to undertake long-term global lives and conduct our affairs. Rate card and sizes on request. planning and a radical approach to As Peter Young says, speaking of the environmental problems. And in our purpose of the courses at Chisholme news section, we include reports on House, the challenge which we now Copyright on all articles is held by conferences and ideas which are begin­ face is to come to "an awareness which The Beshara Trust. Permission for mul­ ' ning to create a context within which a means not regarding (ourself) as an tiple photo-copying and reprinting is global perspective can develop. existing entity, or even regarding required. Another area where the idea of unity 'mankind' as an existing entity, but is strongly emerging is the physical sci­ knowing that the totality of mankind Beshara Magazine was designed by Hand in Glove of Oxford, produced ences. In previous issues, BESHARA and the world of nature - the macro­ on the . computer with has considered new ideas in cosmology environment - is reflective of one reali­ Quark Xpress are, typeset by and quantum physics. In this issue, Dr ty, and man's honour is to be of service Design Ty pes of Oxford and printed by Mae-Wan Ho reports on the life sci­ to that reality in looking after the cre­ Beshara Press of Cheltenham. ences, where recent discoveries con­ ation in a proper way; a responsible cerning inheritance and evolution are way." (p28). lane Clark

3 BESHARA

The Ta ngle of the WorldProblematique

From Policies to People

The Club of Rome Evolves

A report by Martin Notcutt

N A WORLD trying to come to invited to join the Club as individuals, by Frederico Mayor (Director of terms with global problems arising and not on account of the office they Unesco), Crown Prince Hassan of I from human economic activity, hold. Jordan and the Nobel Prize-winning such as the Greenhouse Effect, it may The organisation was founded in scientist Ilya Prigogine. be that the most influential body over 1968, to analyse and stimulate solutions the past twenty years has been the Club for three main kinds of problem: Personal contacts of Rome. Last autumn it held a major Because of its concern for the predica­ conference in Paris to fo cus on the a) Those which require longer-term ment of mankind, the Club of Rome needs of the world beyond the year thinking than can be entertained by has succeeded in drawing members 2000. At the same time, its members politicians constrained by elections from across important political divides assessed the progress to date, and laid b) Those which are too widespread to and from about fifty countries. Despite out plans for the future of the Club, be solved by countries acting in iso­ its elevated membership, it has thrived including major changes in its activities lation on informality; for twenty years it had and structure. c)Those which are an untidy tangle of no budget, and facilities such as an The Club of Rome is a private (not many diffe rent interrelated factors. office and secretariat were those provid­ secret) association of about a hundred ed by friends. people worldwide. They are all 'top The autumn conference, entitled The Above all, the Club has worked level' people, including engineers in the Great Transition: Reasons to Live and through personal contacts to make energy industries, life-scientists, Hope in a New Global Society', was decision makers aware of key facts. economists, philosophers, civil servants, opened by the French Prime Minister, Thus it has been all but invisible to the and a few heads of state. But they are Michel Rocard, and included addresses public media in its action, although its

4 BESHARA

name has become known. But there is Club. Some work away quietly, but in there were matters of critical impor­ little doubt that, directly and indirectly, some cases they have adopted a higher tance which it would be desirable to its members have played a big part in profile. Under the new structure, these plan for, not two weeks ahead, but the development of many national and national associations will play a bigger twenty-five years and more. Yet there international policies of great impor­ role in future, illustrating the concern did not seem to be any entity consider­ tance. They have often been able to of the Club to think globally, act local­ ing global matters on this scale, except slip through the rigid barriers of bureau­ ly. perhaps for an American think-tank cracy to communicate information Some of these national associations which had strong connections with the where it was really needed. are already extremely influential, and CIA. They wanted something essential­ One example of this has been its they are active in the USA, in most ly non-political. meetings of national leaders. The most major countries in Western Europe, and It wasn't just a question of longer­ successful of these was hosted in 1974 in Eastern Europe. In Poland the term planning which was necessary - by an Austrian Chancellor. It was national association includes members the size and complexity of the issues attended by about ten prime ministers, from the Communist Party, from the demanded new modes of thought. To out of fifteen invited. They came by Church, and from Solidarity, and has envisage them, the Club has employed themselves for a weekend, without any thirty seats set aside for young people. It the concept of the 'world problema­ teams of advisors, on the grounds that has been described by General tique'. This is a way to approach a clus­ nothing said in the meeting would be Jaruzelski as a "forum of national recon­ ter of interacting problems which are so reported outside. This meeting did have ciliation". In the Soviet Union the tangled tha� it is difficult to break them significant effect on the national envi­ Club's name is widely known as the down into distinct problems and apply ronmental policy of at least one of the result of an open exchange of letters in particular solutions. countries attending. But capacity to the press between Alexander King, the influence leaders is not everything. It President of the Club, and Mr Creative Instability was also at this meeting that one prime­ Gorbachev. The Club was originally established 'for minister said, "I agree with everything our self-education', and this aspect of you have said, but if I were to try and Origins its activity was fully evident in the implement it, I would be out of office - The idea of the Club of Rome took recent conference in Paris (October not in two years, but in two weeks. shape in Paris in 1968, the year when 25th-28th, 1988). The event was in Then you would have to spend a long student revolt brought the city to a two sections, the first entitled, 'New time educating my successor." standstill. Although there was ample Keys to Understand a Changing World evidence of concern among the young Beyond Year 2000'; the second was Think Globally, Act Locally for the quality of life, the attitude of 'Building up the new Global Society'. The Club has also had more public many governments was illustrated by a Although the problematique (the anal­ dimensions. These include the sixteen British prime minister, who said in that ysis of interacting environmental and or more reports which it has supported, year, "Two weeks is a long time in poli­ social problems) is still important, the the projects undertaken, and the tics ..." It seemed that much official conference focussed on two matters national associations, which are an thinking was done on a day to day which have a bearing on effective important element in the decentralisa­ basis, and that the tendency was to sup­ action. tion of the Club. port growth for growth's sake. One was instability, whether it The first report it produced was com­ The two founder members were appears as world financial and econom­ missioned in 1970, and made quite an Aurelio Peccei, who was president of ic disorder, or whether it is seen as cre­ impact when it first appeared. Entitled the Club until his death in 1984, and ative instability. The first session of the 'Limits to Growth', it was a speculative Alexander King. Aurelio Peccei was a conference was actually called the study, an extrapolation of trends of pop­ businessman, a charismatic figure of Philosophy of Instability . Among the ulation growth, growing levels of con­ enormous energy. He was in his time an people on the Panel fo r this session was sumption and environmental contami­ executive of Italy's two leading industri­ the chemist Ilya Prigogine, whose work nation, set against the depletion of al companies - a Vice President of the on 'non-equilibrium' systems in chem­ reserves of energy, minerals, etc. It Fiat motor company, founding its divi­ istry has pioneered a whole new kind of described a situation which would be sion in Latin America, and President of science. In this, instability and 'chaos' disastrous if it were allowed to contin­ Olivetti. Alexander King was in 1968 are seen as inherent in nature, and ue. Director General for Scientific Affairs indeed, essential to progress. The ideas The report had its shortcomings, and of the OECD (Organisation for have wide applicability, and this aspect to some extent the Club has been Economic Cooperation and Develop­ will be expressed in the Club's ongoing labelled by it ever since. But it gave ment), based in Paris. During World project on Governance in complexity substance to a debate which was long War II he had risen to head the United and uncertainty. overdue, and stimulated many major Kingdom Scientific Mission in studies. It has now appeared in 34 lan­ Washington. In this capacity he was Unique Responsibility guages, and has sold over 10 million responsible for the exchange of infor­ The second was the acknowledgement copies. It is a textbook in more than mation and experience between the that without the individual response, 1,000 colleges in the USA. United Kingdom and the USA on a no programme can be implemented. There are some twenty national asso­ wide range of scientific applications From this response comes the accep­ ciations modelled on the international ranging from penicillin to the atomic tance of responsibility, of servanthood. Club of Rome. They apply the same bomb. He has been president of the This acceptance liberates creative ener­ methods at the national level, and also Club since 1984. gy, and if it does not in itself liberate work in support of the international I t seemed to these two men that the servant from conditions of poverty BESHARA

or affluence, it frees him from subjuga­ tion by them. Technology and the Future As a result the Club has committed A Speech given by Alexander King when receiving the Erasmus Prize in 1987 itself to two projects. The first is a Declaration of Human Responsibilities (the natural companion to Human UR PRESENT society ...is domi­ ety is based materially on an enormous­ Rights) - outlining the responsibilities nated by technology. The con­ ly successful technology and spiritually of humanity (and human beings ) O sequences of the Industrial on practically nothing". Every step in Revolution two hundred years ago are technological progress from the use of SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT not even now fully assimilated, and yet the first flint implements, tools, to the we are in the midst of a second revolu­ nuclear armed, intercontinental ballis­ tion ... towards an information society tic missiles has added to the physical which is likely to cause still greater capacity of the human being, both in changes in the nature of society and in his struggle to better his physical condi­ the way in which each one of us lives in tions and, most obviously, in conquest the future. over his enemies. Science and technology, then, shape The tragedy of science is that it has greatly, very often subconsciously, our done so little to enrich the other experience and thought. They exist side aspects of human existence and the by side with the deep traditions of the imperative needs now are to master European past, but the two aspects are technological development in such a INAPPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT by no means harmonised. The dichoto­ way as to contribute to the general my is great and at some times even well-being of all people and to seek to painful. Even the economic system balance the material advances by culti­ which relies so heavily on technology vating social, moral, artistic and spiritu­ has not yet fu lly come to terms with it. al attributes. For example, the new It is implicit and still in the thinking of technologies, through automation and many economists that new technology the like, will erode the work-ethic and arises essentially in response to the greatly increase the life time quota of interaction of economic fo rces and is, leisure for everyone. But will this mere­ as it were, one of the muscles of Adam ly generate a vacuum in the lives of the Smith's invisible hand. There is of majority with a boredom which will be course much truth in this, however the filled by mechanical entertainment and Positive and negative cycles of development. new technology in many cases arises all sorts of trivia, or can it be used con­ From the UN's 'UNEP Profile'. from discoveries in the science labora­ structively to provide fulfilment and tories which could not be foreseen and development of the individual? In the towards itself, to the environment, and which lead to changes of course of next decades we shall reach many cross­ to future generations. direction of society. roads requiring decisions such as the The second is a project on Ethical Now the triumphs of technology one that I have mentioned. and Spiritual Values. This involves, have greatly magnified the materialist among others, Karan Singh, whose con­ preoccupations of our society. As THE RELATIONS BETWEEN science tribution to the World Wildlife Fund's Dennis Gabor, the Nobel Prize-winner and government were slow to develop. events in Assissi in 1986, was reported for holography and member of the Club Although many governments had, from in the first issue of BESHARA. of Rome mentioned: "Our present soci- the beginning of the century, supported This facing towards the individual is a new development fo r the Club, and from it stems the need, not only for would then be to sift, and highlight, for African Unity) and the help of the direct communication with 'institution­ and above all, to press for their conclu­ United Nations, but in implementation al' decision-makers, but with the widest sions to be implemented. it will be carried out through close co­ range of people. They therefore intend For many purposes we have ample operation with the local people. to approach the media far more than in information, and the urgent need is not the past. After the Paris meeting there for new research but fo r the enacting of Decentralisation was a press conference, and a dialogue what is evident. Consequently, the The Club has always been run on infor­ with 2,000 young people, held in the Club has also become involved in a mal lines. It has not required unanimity Grand Amphitheatre of the Sorbonne. number of practical projects. One is the for its decisions, indeed, it has never Sahel Operation, which has been been a democracy. It was, under Sahel Project undertaken at government level in Aurelio Peccei, a kind of benign dicta­ As to how the Club can best make use Africa to arrest the desertification of torship. Under Alexander King it has of its resources, there was recognition of the land along the southern and west­ been more of an oligarchy, in which the fact that there are many excellent ernborders of the Sahara. It was initiat­ half a dozen people were most active in research institutes worldwide, many ed at the request of some African lead­ decisions. reports, many programmes. The Club ers after a conference of the Club in Now in addition to the President, can serve these, not by commissioning Yaounde in 1986, and is now in prepa­ two Vice Presidents have been appoint­ additional reports, but by facilitating ration. It is being carried out with the ed: Ricardo Diez-Hochleitner and Kurt contacts between them. Its function agreement of the OAU (Organisation Furgler. The Club will have a small

6 Alexander King (left ) receiving the Erasmus Prize from Prince Bemhard of the Netherlands.

laboratories for particular sectors, it was it had any policy implications at all, solved by individual countries in isola­ only in the early sixties that science was a minimal element of cultural poli­ tion. and technology began to be considered cy and that to discuss it in an economic This small planet is shared by more in strategy and policy terms. The con­ context was a sort of prostitution. than 170 individual nation states, each cept of science policy, to a large extent Things have changed very greatly proclaiming the sanctity of national derived from our work in OECD (1), since that period. Nevertheless, much sovereignty and pretending to be mas­ was initially greeted with some suspi­ requires to be done and science requires ter of its own destiny. Arnold To ynbee cion. I remember that when we first to be regarded on a strategic level in a (2) put it: "The cult of sovereignty has announced the intention of the OECD much broader sense than through tech­ become mankind's major religion. Its to convene the meeting of science min­ nology. To day, however, we are interest­ Gods demand human sacrifices". Yet isters, the Minister of Education in the ed in the wider problems, the impact of the reality of sovereignty is increasingly Netherlands visited Paris to persuade technology on the world system. The illusory, the more so the smaller and the then Secretary-General to cancel most serious of contemporary problems poorer the country. The permeation of this meeting. He argued that science, if are global in nature and cannot be technology, the increasing global [>

executive board consisting of the time when it should wish to take it up. an equal response. The Sahel Project, President and the Vice-Presidents, despite its importance and direct bene­ together with Secretary General Global Response fit to the lives of many people, can only Bertrand Schneider and Maurice Over the past twenty years a direction serve as an example, a demonstration. Strong, and three others. It will have a has been achieved, and a research appa­ To communicate globally the Club larger council with about 30 members. ratus developed, which has the capacity must in fact go beyond the language of To assist in the integration of the to measure the burden on the global statistics and, as indicated by its project national associations, a common char­ environment of the way we live today. on Ethical and Spiritual values, enter ter for them was worked out at a meet­ The Club is now concerned to com­ the realm of universal meaning. ing of the Club in Warsaw in 1988. municate its findings beyond the circle Several months before his death The Club has also started to raise of the 'decision makers' to a global Aurelio Peccei said, "I am a pessimist funds, and has for this purpose estab­ audience. It wishes to attract "the par­ when I see how things are. I am an lished a foundation in Geneva. ticipation of all individuals, the non­ optimist when I see that there are ways Fundraising is being done through an governmental organisations and the in which things can be changed." On appeal going to 2,000 bankers world­ official institutions in the elaboration another occasion, he said that since the wide, organised by a banker in Austria. of interactive solutions." It wants to fo unding of the Club of Rome, "Every The Club has now accepted the grant work on a broad front, so that the diag­ indicator in the world has worsened of $100,000 previously offered to it by nosis of environmental problems, except for one, human awareness. And the Government of Finland, against the which are global, should be matched by that is fundamental."

7 BESHARA

nature of the economy, the internation­ activity has increased between twenty­ ment in which our biological existence al transactions of the transnational fold and forty-fold, due partly to popu­ is rooted demands that our egoism be companies, these and many other fac­ lation, the increase in numbers, but not limited to our own lifespan, but be tors represent a de facto erod ing of partly to increased consumption of each extended to include that of our chil­ sovereignty. as prosperity and economic growth dren and grandchildren with whom we In this said situation, and in the face have been achieved. This of course has can identify, so that we shall strive, of rapid change, increasing complexity a very growing impact on the fragile selfishly if you like, to secure conditions and uncertainty, existing institutions, biosphere. which will allow a decent and humane both national and international, are However, I am convinced that the life fo r the succeeding generations. This proving woefully inadequate. The struc­ fundamental problem, both of the indi­ necessitates not only restraint, but also tures of governments, created for earli­ vidual and of the collectivity of indi­ a much deeper understanding of the er, simpler times, simply do not respond viduals which is society, lies deep with­ workings of the terrestrial and social to the present challenges. There is a in human nature. Egoism, or the 'life­ systems with greater awareness of dan­ need for a radical transformation, and force' as the Victorians used to call it, gers and possibilities. This demands this is true also for institutions of other provides the urge to survive, to prosper internal as well as external knowledge. kinds, including corporations and per­ and to excel; it is the driving force of Man is often regarded as a microcosm haps, more than anywhere, in the edu­ innovation and progress. But it is also of the totality of things. On the arena cational system. Perestrofka must not manifested as selfish and anti-social of human activity, I prefer to invert the remain the monopoly of the Soviet behaviour, brutality, the lust fo r power, concept to regard society as the aggre­ Union. domination over others and exploita­ gation of all its constituent human But structural changes, structural tion. units, in a conviction that fundamental innovations are by no means the total The struggle between the positive reforms of the life and societies and solution; they must be accompanied by and negative aspects of egoism is the nations can only be derived from devel­ new attitudes in politics and public life. central Faustian drama. For centuries opment, both moral and social, of the Viewed against the threats and promis­ individuals have been disciplined and individual to make possible a construc­ es of the present situation, many of the their negative characteristics kept in tive and balanced use of the egoistic antics of polities seem tragically absurd; check by hope of Paradise or fear of force. Tr ansposed to the religious idiom, such as the election of leaders on the Hell, but with the loss of faith in reli­ this essential need has perhaps been basis of the charismatic level of their gion and indeed of political structures best expressed by the mediaeval television image, or the denunciation and institutions, restraints have evapo­ Christian mystic, Angelus Silesius, who of politicians as vacillating and unreli­ rated; minorities refuse to accept the wrote: "I must be Mary and myself give able when they can be made to seem to decisions of the majority, there is disre­ birth to God". It would seem to me that change their views, where and at the spect for law and mounting terrorism. in the last analysis, real progress of the same time in reality the capacity to do These features, projected to the level race must come from evolution within. just this in the light of evolving situa­ of the collectivity, operate in the social Only through a deliberate cultivation tions should be a mark of statesman­ environment. National egoism can within our separate, private environ­ ship. Again, confrontation and mutual appear as a desirable love of country or ments is a society of integrity, harmony slanging between party representatives can be whipped up as chauvinism, and social equity likely to arise. and parliaments appears to dominate xenophobia, hatred of other countries parliamentary proceedings in many and finally war. These matters are sel­ countries, when a striving towards con­ dom admitted, and, when they are, are The Erasmus Prize was fo unded in 1958 by sensus would seem to be called for in generally shrouded in taboo. The low Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands . Its aim is the national interest. efficiency of Marxist economies, for "to award one or more money prizes annually in order to honour persons or institutions example, seems to stem to a large which have made an exceptionally impona n t IT SEEMS TO ME that each individual extent from a na'ive faith in human contribution to European Culture , society or exists in three diffe rent but linked envi­ nature, a presumption that people will social science. Past awardees have included ronments Simultaneously and that a give their best in agriculture, industry Charlie Chaplin, the composer Oliver projection of this concept describes the and elsewhere, without personal incen­ Messiaen and Amnesty International. It was workings of society. There is the exter­ tive; unrealistic. awarded to Alexander King in 1987 for his nal environment of the planet, the If this diagnosis is at all valid, it work on technology and science . internal world of the individual, isolat­ would seem that in addition to the tra­ This /Jonion of his acceptance slJeech is ed and hidden, and somewhere in ditional approaches, we need to take reprinted by kind permission of the Erasmus between and linked to both is the social positive steps, individually, nationally Prize . arena, where individuals react and and internationally, towards identifying ( I) Organisation for Economic Cooperation and extending zones of common self­ evolve common action for security, and Deve/o/Jment, based in Paris , of which prosperity and satisfaction. Little need interest recognising the reality of ego­ Alexander King was Director from 1958 until be said here concerning the problems ism, its limitations and its possibilities. his retirement. of the external environment; they are Living as we do on the edge of the (2) The historian , author of 'A Study of many and difficult and will become nuclear abyss, in a world of exploding History ' . increasingly so as world population population and ecological threat and in growth combined with more per-capita the midst of a new technological revo­ wealth increases the extent of human lution, it would seem vital to reassess Martin Notcutt grew up in South Africa activity with its demands for materials the situation within all three of our and came to England in 1972. He is a and energy. I estimate that within my simultaneous environments. Tr ustee of the Beshara Trust and currently own life time the totality of human Preservation of the external environ- works as a company analyst.

8 BESHARA

journal in which their true function could be expressed, which would draw Art in the Service of together people who shared our views." She went on to explain that the aim was not at all to simply revive past tra­ ditions. "Temenos is a recall to order of the Sacred the arts. By publishing criticism and dis­ cussions of past and present work, we aim to bring knowledge to bear upon Christopher Ryan reports on the second Temenos the present. We have tried hard to find contemporary writers and other artists - Conference painters, musicians - who can show that it is no less possible now than at any other time to produce the thing ONEY, THE wisdom symbol of the sacred arts of India, Islam, Australia itself. The aim is to create a climate, or the ancients, is perhaps the best and Europe. a context, fo r new work." H summary of the rich hoard of She and her colleagues were surprised nectars collected in the four days of the The Sacred Precincts by the level of response to the first Te menos Conference last October. Te menos means 'The sacred precincts issues, and by the contacts that were 'Yuelamu Honey Ants Dreaming', a pic­ which surround the temple', and this gradually made all over the world. ture in the sand-painting style by the conference stemmed from the arts Te menos readers began to form a net­ Australian artist Linny Nambaj imba review of the same name. Kathleen work, corresponding with each other Frank, was presented to Or Kathleen Raine, editor since its inception in independently of the journal. Out of Raine by the Aboriginals of Australia 1970 and the prime mover of this this came the first Temenos conference through the hands of the writer James event, explained that the review was in 1986. Cowan. In its directness and simplicity, originally founded in reaction to cur­ this extraordinary arrival highlighted rent attitudes towards art; "The Arts are A Theatre of the Soul the extent of the cross-cultural refer­ at all times the channel by which This second gathering began with ence and understanding at this memo­ knowledge is disseminated throughout a Yoshikazu Iwamoto, artist-in-residence rable event. Here, in the beautiful and society. Properly, they should be speak­ at Dartington, playing the shakuhachi, archetypally English setting of ing in forms which reflect sacred the melancholy flute of Japan. Then Dartington Hall in Devon, more than knowledge, that is, knowledge of reali­ Hideo Kanze and his Noh troupe initi­ 100 people gathered for a programme ty; but often in the modern situation ated us into the ancient and strange which included Noh Theatre , the they are not rooted in anything more form of Japanese Noh theatre. A helpful music of the Japanese shakuhachi and substantial than the personal opinions introduction and clear interpretation classical Indian Dhrupad, and papers on of individuals. We wanted to start a into western modes of expression by Professor Ta kahashi of To kyo University opened the door to appreciation, as, through a process of auditive and visual

via negativa - sounds so elemental, movements so stylised, calculated and ponderous - we were brought to still­ ness and silence. The papers began the next morning. Philip Sherrard in his 'Vision of the sacred - the choice before us,' deplored the split between imagination and rea-

Yu elamu Honey Ants Dreaming

A Painting by Unny Nambajimba Frank

This is a traditional story of the honey ant dreaming people of Yue lamu who went under­ ground. Many of them died and the honey ants now remain in these places of death. They return to the sacred site of Yuelamu on occasions before going to new nests to repro - duce . The honey ant lives mainly on mulga tre e s and comes out at night to collect honeydew and nectar, which is fed to other ants, who grow very fa t and bulbous wit h the store d honey. This honey is regurgitated to fe ed the other workers in times of drought , or whenev­ er fo od is in short supply.

9 BESHARA

son which has grown up in Western poetic monologue, the audience was This level of response is beyond intel­ society. Drawing on his deep knowl­ brought to feel deeply the sentiment of lect, and intellectual difficulty or sim­ edge of the Hellenic tradition, he this ancient people, for whom the ter­ plicity is irrelevant to it. ... The essen­ reminded us of the unity which under­ rain itself, with all its vastness and tial thing is not clevernessor the activi­ lay traditional metaphysics. This theme beauty, forms the very parameters of the ty of response, but a mind stilled by was reiterated by Brian Keeble, the pro­ spiritual world in which they live. sheer loveliness". prietor of Golgonooza Press, well­ Notwithstanding two hundred years of known for his work in revitalising pub­ European colonisation , there was In his final paragraphs, Malekin delin­ lishing as an art. In his paper 'Sacred effected a profound communication of eated a crucial distinction: meaning, making a seemingly foreign interior view as accessible as the rolling "The world is full of human beings who downs and dreaming spires of England. are searching for God in their own For Keith Critchlow, too, the forms ideas or their inherited conceptual sys­ of the natural world are full of meaning tems; yet, as Bbhme pointed out, to and significance; "One of nature's pri­ work through sharp speculation is to mary functions is to remind us of our work in an imaged ground, to arrive at unity ... ," he told us in his lecture an idea of something. As Plotinus 'Recurrent Principles of Sacred Art'. In remarked when discussing beauty: 'To an outstanding slide show, he pro­ see the divine as something external is gressed from the tomb of Bulent Rauf to be outside of it; to become it is to be on a Scottish hillside at the autumnal most truly in beauty; since sight deals equinox through images of nature to with the external there can be no examples of sacred art from the vision unless in the sense of identifica­ Christian, Islamic and Vedantic tradi­ tion with the object. And this identifi­ tions. "What we are looking at is cation amounts to self-knowing, self- . wholeness, displayed through fractions consCIousness " . Dartington Hall. Drawing by Peter Mabey of time, fractions of space. At any given Affirming that "The only true knowl­ Renewal and the Earth', he took from moment, wholeness is always that edge is unitive, beyond the discursivity the European mystical traditions, par­ which holds everything together, yet of a separated subject and object; all ticularly Meister Eckhart and the beau­ there is this magnificent variety passing other knowledge is relative and provi­ tiful works of the English mystic, in front of us ... It is an amazing illu­ sional", Malekin thus established him­ Thomas Traherne. sion, perhaps, but nevertheless intense self in a point of view that is shared by The dancer, writer and historian of reality as welL" all the great mystical traditions. art, Kapila Vatsyayan, gave us 'The The Reality of the Future Indian Perspective', taking us into the One of the highlights of the confer­ Activation of the Theme multi-faceted worlds of Hindu and ence for me was the paper delivered by John Ta verner's talk, 'Sacred Music in Buddhist thought, whilst Kathleen Peter Malekin, a lecturer in English the 20th Century' was presaged by his Raine, in her paper 'Poetry as Literature at the University of Durham. own music, which rang in the clarion Prophecy', brought us the words of the Unlike many who advocate a 'spiritual' tones of Bel Canto on Saturday night. poets. Steeped in her great loves, Blake approach to art, Malekin does not con­ This excellent choir, conducted by and Shelley, she explained prophecy in demn our present times, nor hark back Richard Egarr, chimed the evening's terms of creative imagination: "It is not to some golden age in the past. After song in the soothing hallelujahs of like second sight, a faculty possessed by what he refers to as "a period of excess Stravinsky, Messiaen, Arvo Paert and a handful of exceptionally endowed in potentially devastating material Ta verner himself. Their celestial ves­ people, but latent in all. Like poetry, it technology ", he believes that " ...what pers, followed by Kathleen Raine and is a gift of seeing and understanding the is happening in the world ... is a David Gascoyne reading their own world, people and events in terms of restoration of balance through a devel­ poetry, and later, the wonderful taste of the Imagination". opment of inner spiritual awareness." In Morris Grave's work through a slide A Reminder of Our Unity his paper, 'Imagination: the Reality of presentation of his paintings, the Thetis Blacker gave us a glimpse of this the Future', Malekin drew from sources unique opportunity to see and hear the world in action. With broad and bril­ as varied as Jacob Bohme, Plotinus and Dagar Brothers - renowned exponents liant strokes - and unselfconscious Shri Shankara, formulating a clear of the Dhrupad style of Indian music - drama - she described how the inspira­ expression of the 'mechanics' of a uni­ and the exhibition of works by Thetis tion for her work as a painter arose tive vision. Blacker, John Lane and others, all situ­ from her own interior journey in ated the conference beyond the level of dreams. Even more vividly evoked, "Applied to the artist, the Imagination simply 'talking about'. There was no however, was the world of the is the power to create forms ... which doubt that it progressed to the fully Australian aborigine, in James Cowan's can catch the wholeness within the expressed intention and activation of presentation 'The Open Air Cathedral: particle in such a way that attuned the theme, 'Art in the Service of the Landscape as Tradition and Metaphor'. minds will respond with analogous Sacred'. Through the morphogenetic transfer­ intuition. What is important here is the ence possible through the media of mode of perception, what Hseih Ho image representation, and James called 'the rhythm of life', not the sub­ Christopher Ryan is executive officer for Cowan's easy and at times passionately ject matter or the intellectual ideas. ... the Beshara Trust.

10 BESHARA News

A view on current affairs written

and edited by Alison Yiangou

ANew Perspective in World Politics?

HE LAST few months posals and to the important have seen extraordi­ insights which can be dis­ T nary changes in cerned in them. One is that world affairs. The transfor­ the human race is now faced mation of East-West rela­ with a qualitatively new tions; the 'greening' of Mrs opportunity for progress, at Thatcher; public recognition least in the socio-economic by the PLO of Israel's right and political spheres. Ta ke, to exist; the fact that such for example, his statement global concerns as the on economics: "The world's Greenhouse Effect are now economy is becoming a sin­ treated by the media as gle organism, and no state, headline, 'objective' news whatever its social system or Mr Gorbachev on December 7th 1988. UN photo 1725301 S.Lwin rather than as minority economic status, can devel­ group, 'fringe' topics - all op normally outside it. This state. Rather the responses force can no longer and must these point towards a funda­ places on the agenda the appropriate to the new con­ no longer be an instrument mental sea-change in the need to devise a fundamen­ dition must be appreciated of foreign policy. This perspective through which tally new machinery fo r the and appropriated. "Life is applies above all to nuclear our world is viewed. functioning of the world making us abandon estab­ arms. But that is not the But perhaps the most economy ...". Modern tech­ lished stereotypes and out­ only thing that matters. All striking examples have nology and communications dated views. It is making us of us, and primarily the appeared in the speeches of have made possible a situa­ discard illusions. The very stronger of us, must exercise Mr Gorbachev who, in tion where particular prob­ concept of the nature and self-restraint and totally rule Delhi and at the United lems need not, indeed can­ criteria of progress is chang­ out any outward-oriented use Nations, has been prepared not, be solved in isolation; ing. It would be naive to of force". to state a view not yet taken rather their solution can and think that the problems Mr Gorbachev conceives by any other world leader - must devolve from a prior plaguing mankind today can of the United Nations as the that the world is a single understanding of the be solved with methods main actor in this unfolding entity, and that responsibili­ requirements of the whole. which were applied or drama. In his view, its role in ty for it is universal. Secondly, Mr Gorbachev seemed to work in the past." effecting and monitoring The media have widely touched upon a principle This recognition of the these developments is cru­ reported, and examined the that has always been well­ need for a new approach has cial. His proposals for the consequences of, the practi­ known in spiritual teaching, led him to propose that the environment, the use of cal measures outlined in his that if there has been framework for international space, disarmament and speeches - unilateral troop progress from one condition relations should be peaceful international human rights reductions and the implica­ to a new one, then it is cooperation based on self­ all call fo r a real transfer of tions for NATO being the essential not to make con­ restraint, and that Rambo­ responsibility to the United prime examples. However, stant reference back to the esque aggression be discard­ Nations. This would mark a little attention has been paid modes and habits which ed. "It is obvious, for exam­ profound change in the way to the real depth of his pro- characterised the fo rmer ple, that the use or threat of our world is governed.

11 BESHARA

He has also recognised world politiCS would be Moscow entitled 'The Gorbachev's motives in that, for it to succeed, this inconceivable today. New Future of the United speaking out in this way. world organisation, consti­ prospects are opening up for Nations in an Inter-depen­ Some see it as a wily politi­ tuted as it is by numerous the United Nations in all dent World', which brought cal gambit to lull the West and diverse countries, must areas that fall naturally together 121 fo rmer minis­ into a fa lse sense of security. be guided by the understand­ under its responsibility: ters, parliamentarians, diplo­ Others see it as a calculated ing that unity and diversity politico-military, economic, mats, high UN and UN attempt to gain international are complementary aspects, scientific, technological, agency officials, academics help in solving the immense not oppositions. He has environmental and humani­ and researchers from every problems of his domestic called for the richness of the tarian. What is needed here continent. Development economy without either los­

diversity to be fully recog­ is joining the efforts and tak­ Forum, the official publica­ ing face or appearing to com­ nised, but for each and all to ing into account the inter­ tion of the United Nations, promise. Yet others believe be united in a common aim. ests of all groups of coun­ reported in December that him to be genuine. It is not In his United Nations tries, something only this this meeting "achieved a the place of this magazine to

speech he said: organisation, the United degree of frankness and real­ try to divine or comment Nations, can accomplish". ism rare in this field", and upon Mr Gorbachev's "We have come here to concluded that "changed motives, or what he really show our respect for the dig­ MR GORBACHEV'S fa r­ attitudes by Member States means by his remarks. But nity of this organisation, reaching proposals for the towards international organ­ rather, to emphasise that capable of accumulating the United Nations have neither isations in general were what was actually said was collective wisdom and will of captivated the imagination needed, and that the UN true and of great importance. mankind. We fe el that of the media nor have they reform and strengthening For a world leader to even states must to some extent been ecstatically received in proposals should be taken speak in this manner to an review their attitude to the Western diplomatic circles. seriously". international audience indi­ United Nations, this unique However they have already There have been many cates a new possibility in instrument without which prompted a Round Table in who have challenged Mr world affairs.

American cousins in their outward form of religions level of general scientific towards that which unites Changing knowledge - and propose them - their interior mean­ that most people just do not ing. In this case the word know that the problem is 'spirituality' is far from Patterns of Belief about to be solved. But it meaningless. It is, on the may be that the deeply intu­ contrary, that which people ited sense that a universe of are seeking to understand in RECENT IBA survey facts which would seem to such beauty and order must a way which is both more has revealed some contradict this view. One is have been beautified and universal, in that it encom­ A interesting facts that religious, particularly ordered, is one that cannot passes other bel iefs, and also about Christian belief in mystical, literature is one of be assailed by the fo rces of more particular in that at its Britain. Whilst the numbers the fastest growing sectors in cosmological explanation. heart is their own relation­ who attend church regularly the book market, with pub­ What we may well be see­ ship to the universe and to has greatly declined, 74% of lishers such as Penguin seek­ ing is a move away from the God. the population still claim to ing worthwhile new titles to believe that Jesus is the Son expand their 'Mysticism' of God and 60% believe that shelves. The other is that the Bible is the Word of the same IBA survey reveals God. This discrepancy has that 70% of people now Yeats the Seeker been interpreted by some to believe that "no one church mean that religious language or faith can be the only true has lost all agreed meaning religion". This would seem after Truth and that people now believe to indicate a much more without knowing what they widely felt ecumenism than Kathleen Raine reports on celebrations are believing in. The was previously thought. in India Independent, reporting on Further, in this golden age the survey on 27th Decem­ of science when the hunt is · HILE IRELAND tion; it has re-mained to the ber 1988, concluded from it on for the theory that will celebrates the Yeats Society of India to pay that "Britain is not only not explain 'life, the universe W half-centenary of homage to Yeats the great a Christian country; it has and everything'; it seems the death of W.B.Yeats as a seeker for spiri tual truth, become one in which that a recalcitrant 62% of national poet, patriot and who in his last years made Christianity is almost impos­ the population persist in fo under of the Irish National his total commitment to the sible for most people to believing that God created Theatre; while the academic spiritual teachings of India, imagine ...Words like 'spm­ the universe. Critics might world and the press are con­ and who with his Master, Sri tuality' and 'soul' seem cite those statistics which cerned with the stature of Purohit Swamy, translated meaningless" . show that the British trail far this world-poet from the the ten principal Upan­ There are, however, other behind their European and standpoint of literary reputa- ishads.

12 BESHARA

Rethinking Man and Nature

AST AUTUMN 'The Instead man is seen as one Ecologist' devoted the among many creatures and is L whole of a special enjoined to recognise the issue, entitled 'Rethinking value of, and cooperate with, Man and Nature: Towards other fo rms of life. an Ecological Worldview' to Just as the spirituality the question of Deep which takes an absolute God Ecology (1) - a term coined as its aim appears in infinite­ by the Norwegian philoso­ ly varied forms, so the pher Arne Naess for an ecol­ diverse contributions to this ogy which emphasises a spir­ special issue reveal that itual dimension. Deep Ecology also is a widely Normally devoted to the varied platform. It includes scientific and technical articles by Henry Skolim­ aspects of ecology, 'The owski, who argues that deep Ecologist' is an internation­ ecology needs to develop ally respected publication both a cosmology and an which reaches as many as eschatology, and by Edward 25,000 readers world-wide. Goldsmith and Grover Foley The editors, Nicholas Hild­ calling for a formulation of yard and Edward Goldsmith, its laws. Arne Naess, in con­ thought the issue was going trast, in his contribution, to be a publishing disaster sees deep ecology primarily William Butler Ye ats in 1923 when they began to put it as a forum for those who together. But, Nicholas share a common point of Throughout his life Yeats Shinto and Buddhist; and Hildyard explained: "This view towards nature, whilst was concerned to discover, also his work 'A Vision' whole matter of Deep Richard Sylvan and David and to formulate in terms of shows evidence of consider­ Ecology needs clarification, Bennett emphasise that a his time and place, an alter­ able knowledge of Middle and The Ecologist' was in a spiritual tradition, such as native to the materialistic Eastern mystical sects. His position to do it. The special Tao ism, has much to offer in ideology then current. He final commitment was to issue came out at a time those areas that deep ecology was, with Edwin J. Ellis, the Vedanta. when everyone was talking has not yet formulated. first editor of Blake's The Indian celebrations about becoming 'green'. We Deep Ecology has been Prophetic Books - Blake incl uded a lecture by Prof­ felt that it was necessary to attacked and ridiculed as so who almost alone had chal­ essor Bushrui of Lebanon, point out that the big step is much 'eco-Ia-Ia' by 'Social lenged that ideology a centu­ authority on Yeats' indebted­ not just being a 'green con­ Ecologists' such as Murray ry before. He was for a time a ness to Arabic sources, who sumer' but to change one's Bochnin, who see environ­ member of the Theosophical in February gave the annual whole way of thinking". menral problems as being Society. In a thoroughly lecture for the Yeats Society Deep Ecology aims to purely socio-economic and professional and objective of India. Anne Yeats was bring about a change in the solvable in those terms. But manner he studied the evi­ present, and performances of prevailing world-view, which 'The Ecologist' has not dence of psychical research plays and other celebratory they see as based on mod­ received the stream of can­ which he compared with the events were included in a ernism - in which man abus­ celled subscriptions it feared; fo lk-beliefs of Western three-day conference at the es this earth to his own ends rather, the issue has elicited

Ireland, setting his friend India International Centre - ro one based on biocen­ a large response - not all, the

Lady Gregory to gather the in New Delhi. trism, whereby the whole editors hasten to add, in unwritten tradition of the Had that great world-poet earth is seen as an integrat­ agreement with what was people from cottage and been living, can we doubt ed, harmonious, ordered said. They have, as they had work-house. He was a stu­ that it would have been to whole. The spirituality it hoped, made a major contri­ dent for many years of India he would have looked represents is based on the bution to the debate, and magic, Kabbalah and allied as most truly representing biosphere, not on a perhaps found out that even traditions, again in a thor­ those values which for him monotheistic concept of 'hard-nosed' environmental­ ough and committed man­ were paramount - mankind's God, and - perhaps as a ists are beginning to consider ner. He read systematically spiritual quest and the rever­ reaction to centuries of mis­ the need for a fundamental the works of Plato and sal of three centuries of guided anthropocentrism - change in perspective. Plotinus; studied Noh the­ materialism as the world the position of man by virtue atre - a 'theatre of the soul' uneasily awakens to a re-dis­ of his being the image of (1) The EcolOgIst. Vol 18 No established in temples both covery of spiritual realities? God is not acknowledged. 4/5 1988.

13 13ESHARA

One event of the cyclic on a recent rush of cold phenomenon is known as El waters heralding the arrival The Greenhouse N ino, or boy-child, ie. of La N ina after 14 years of Christ, so named because the absence. Will this reverse effect (which usually occurs the warming effect? Does the and the Boy --child on a 4 yearly cycle) happens greenhouse effect itself con­ around Christmas in the east tribute to the process ? HE RECENT warming cyclic phenomenon in the Pacific. The arrival of El Nobody can be certain, but of the earth (the Pacific, which alternately N ino begins a period of glob­ what is certain is that the T warmest since records brings warm and then cold al warming. There is also an change in weather pattern began) has led to much spec­ water to the surface of the associated effect, known as has brought about a global ulation about whether the ocean. The ocean is so vast La Nina, or girl-child, which awareness of both the fragili­ 'greenhouse effect' (whereby (about a quarter of the reverses the effect and causes ty and unity of life on Earth, excessive carbon dioxide and earth's surface) that this is global cooling. and a global resolve, not other man-made chemicals thought to be the 'largest Scientists have noticed only by individuals but by stop the earth re-radiating known natural perturbation that there have been no La governments, to ensure that heat into space) is beginning of climate short of ice-ages' N ina (cool ing) effects since every effort is made to pro­ to happen. Many scientists (1) (climate being known to 1975, which is unparalleled. tect life . For this, in part, we now believe that the warm­ be so unpredictable that it is It is this which is thought to must be grateful to El N ino. ing and unpredictable said to be influenced by even have caused the progressive Richard Tw inch weather patterns have been the 'flap of a butterfly's warm-up of the earth. shown to be linked to a wing'). A tten tion is now focussed (1) New Scientist 11th Feb '89. Conferences

The purpose of this section is environment together con­ to draw attention to confer­ stitute a single living system. ences which have taken place For Mrs Crowley-Tu rner, recently. Our aim is not to however, the question thus give a detailed report , but to phrased cannot be answered give a taste of the curre n t because it is meaningless. If 'state of the art' in our soci­ rephrased "is there life in the ety's search for understanding. universe?", then it is answerable by a resounding IS THE UNIVERSE "yes", as affirmed par excel­ ALIVE? lence by the incarnation of Te ilhard de Chardin Centre , Christ in matter. London . November 1988 . Dr Sheldrake took a com­ This was one of an on-going pleteI y different approach series of major lectures that and considered how extraor­ the Te ilhard Centre has dinary it is that our Western organised over the last few dualistic, mechanistic cul­ years. The Centre exists for ture has come to regard the the education and promo­ universe as dead; since most tion of the thought of Pierre other cultures, both primi­ Te ilhard de Chard in - tive and advanced, have visionary, Jesuit priest and taken it to be alive. In a fas­ covered' in each age of new Clifton Cathedral in paleontologist - concerning cinating summary he out­ human evolution, and Bristol - more than 1200 the evolution and future of lined how the Western view become expressed in ways people gathered to discuss Man, which Te ilhard himself developed and how modern contemporary to that age. the theme 'Inner Ecology, saw as being to do with the advances in physics and cos­ Outer Ecology'. progressive spiritualisation of mology are 're-animating' THE SCHUMACHER J ames H i1lman, fo under of matter. the universe. He went on to LECTURES the school of archetypal psy­ 'Is the Universe Alive?' trace parallels between the Bristol. November 1988 . chology, spoke of the way in featured the biologist Rupert emerging 'new' scientific This was the eleventh annu­ which we tend to live out Sheldrake, the author and theories and older ontologi­ al lecture organised by the the great myths in our lives broadcaster Rita Crowley­ cal concepts, for example the Schumacher Society in hon­ and in our society. In partic­ Tu rner, and medical student similarity of field theory and our of its fo under, E.F. ular, he emphasised the dan­ Fiona Winters. the Aristotelian theory of Schumacher, author of ger of Titanism - the ten­

For Miss Winters the ques­ the anima mundi, or World 'Small is Beautiful' and 'A dency to inflation and tion is answered by the Gaia Soul. His talk prompted the Guide for the Perplexed'. In expansion for its own sake - Hypothesis, which considers thought that the same eter­ a venue which seemed to be and his feeling that that organisms and their nal truths are constantly 'dis- universally disliked - the Schumacher was right in his

14 BESHARA

emphasis on 'the small'; ie. In delivering the keynote the need for things to be address Steve Nation, their right size. Schumacher Secretary of the Lucis Tr ust, Beshara Trust was a brave man, he said, to took aim at the dichotomy A Change of Chairman talk of 'the beautiful' in an in human consciousness era when beauty was so between 'personality', the fter sixteen years as fact, I hope that I can now unfashionable. seat of selfish vision, and Chairman,Hugh involve myself in ways which James Lovelock, one of 'soul, which looks at the A To llemache has an­ were to some extent denied the world's few independent world in patterns of whole­ nounced his retirement from to me before". scientists and originator of ness and relationship'. "Pol­ the Board of the Beshara "The direction of the Trust the now well-known Gaia icies and attitudes towards Trust. Explaining his reasons continues to be in the same Hypothesis, extolled the pollution, poverty, nuclear he said: "The Trust has to hands as it ever was; and my virtues of 'small science', and weapons, race relations and move forward and I felt that position in respect to those described how his own work so on are defined by the view a change is now necessary so hands will remain the same. had been amongst the first we take of our self', he said. that this can happen. My All that has changed is the to demonstrate the damage "We need to acknowledge retirement is from the posi­ function.". to the ozone layer. Whilst that the goal of education is tion of Chairman, and has The new Chairman is many had latched on to eco­ to help a person grow into nothing to do with my inten­ Grenville Collins, who was logical issues, he felt that in their full creative potential tion to serve Beshara in elected by the Trustees at a many cases it was a limited as an individual who uses whatever way I best can. In meeting on March 2nd 1989. commitment based on self­ their intelligence, creativity interest, or at best, the inter­ and will in service." est of the human race. His Or Ursula King, who this passionately delivered plea year takes up the post of BESHARA FRILFORD on behalf of every organism Professor of Theology and on earth obviously struck a Religious Studies at the chord with the audience, as University of Bristol, devel­ he received a standing ova­ oped this theme in her paper tion at the end of his talk. 'The Spirit of the One The other speakers were World: Education for Global the poet, Robert Bly, whose Spirituality'. She emphasised mixture of poetry, music and the enabling power of ideas included a memorable knowledge and the need for rendering of the poems of realistic, not utopian, vision­ Basho; and Kathleen Raine, aries. "The whole of society who opened with a quote by must face the idea of spiritu­ Blake: "Although it appears al development in educa­ without, it is within, in your tion". Imagination". Describing A panel discussion with how modern science is in­ Robert Blackburn, Deputy creasingly coming to confirm Director-General of the Introductory Study Blake's vision of the unity of International Baccalaureate Fridays lOam- 1pm: Saturdays lOam- Ipm and 4.30- our outer and inner worlds, Organisation; Margaret 6pm: Sundays 4.30-6pm. she told us: "It is also our Quass O.B.E., Director of souls we destroy when we the Council for Education in Weekend Introductory Courses poison and pollute, and hack World Citizenship; and John 14th-16th April: 19th-21st May: 23rd-25th June: 2lst- and rack ...and loot and des­ Baines, Director of the 23rd July: 18th-20th August: 15th-17th September. ecrate the living earth whose Council for Environmental children we are." Education, explored the Te n Day Courses practical applications of edu­ 28th April -7th May: 11th-20th August. EDUCATION FOR A cation with a global perspec­ GLOBAL VISION tive, talking of their own Seminars Wo rld Goodwill. London. work and answering audi­ 29th April- Spiritual Dimensions of Astrological November 1988. ence questions. Symbolism by Abraham Abadi. Wo rld Goodwill, a non­ The final paper of the day 13th May -The Two Hands of God political movement organ­ was given by J ames Love­ by Rev. George Pattison. ised by the Lucis Tr ust, lock, who used images of 1st-2nd July- The Nature of Nature works for the establishment man's misuse of the physical by Rupert She/drake. of right human relations environment and waste of through the practical appli­ the earth's resources to draw Visitors are welcome at any time cation of the principle of attention to the dangers of goodwill. It sponsors an continuing with the self­ For fu rther information, please COl11aCl.- annual one-day Seminar, centred and solely material The Beshara Trust, Frilford Grange, Frilfo rd , Nr. Abingdon, this one on education being view which is prevalent Oxon OX13 5NX.- Te lephone.' Oxfo rd (0865) 391344. attended by over 400 people. today.

15 BE S HA R i\

The Ploughed Field' by Miro (49) . Photograph by David Heald & Myles Aronowitz.Courtesy of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum , New York .

Reanimating Nature

The Integration of Science with Human Exp erience

Dr Mae�Wan Ho

Based on a lecture delivered to medical practices. So much so that emi­ establishment science. It is a reaction nent scientists have been moved to against the extent to which establish­ the Scientific and Medical speak to the subject. For example, a ment science alienates us from nearly Network May Lectures, well-known British developmental biol­ all of our experience as human beings. ogist who is a Fellow of the Royal This is particularly evident in evolu­ London, 1988. Society recently placed the blame on tionary biology, though its roots lie in the romantic poets fo r putting science the mechanical, positivistic framework down in the public mind, because sci­ of all science itself. Fortunately, science N A RECENT survey among ence was too diffi cult for them. In his is currently undergoing possibly one of American high school students, sci­ opinion, science excludes not only the most important and wide-ranging I ence comes bottom of the list in romantic intuition, magic, the paranor­ upheavals in recent history. A global popularity as a career. Anti-science mal, but also any form of holistic think­ phase transition is sweeping across sentiment is on the increase among the ing, because that is just vitalism. many disciplines from mathematics and general public, coinciding with a rising To some of us, however, it is quite physics to biology and sociology. It may preoccupation with the paranormal, obvious that the present antipathy to be characterized as an emphasis on mysticism, and all forms of alternative science is not to science as such, but to integration over fragmentation, on

16 BESHARA

cooperation rather than competition, through the neo-Darwinian looking on our mechanistic conception of life on dynamics and process in place of the glass. Even in the West, there has processes. Most conventional tech­ static and mechanical, on nonlinear always been an alternative tradition niques kill the organism and break it distributed interrelationships and emer­ that resolutely resists fragmentation in down to pieces until no trace remains gent properties of collective wholes favour of integration and process. It of the living organization that is sup­ instead of linear, unidirectional or hier­ includes such distinguished figures as posed to be the object of our investiga­ archical control of incidental parts. poet-scientist Goethe: the much tion. The need for a new conceptual Most significant of all is the acknowl­ maligned evolutionist, Lamarck: the framework impressed itself upon me edgment of a reality in which we as sci­ embryologist Driesch: and closer to our with renewed urgency. At the same entists and human beings participate, time, d'Arcy Thompson, Alfred North time, I am convinced that the concep­ for this may put an end to centuries of Whitehead, ]oseph Needham, Richard tual revolution in science must be abstractions that has alienated science Goldschmidt, and C.H. Waddington, accompanied by an appropriate from humanity and humanity from to name but a few. Once we begin to methodology that enables us to study nature. see biology again in the light of nature's the organism sympathetically, as it is unity, mind and body will become living and developing. The Western Holistic Tr adition reunited through processes embracing It has always puzzled me why emi­ The new orientation takes as its start­ every level from the sociocultural to the nent scientists should say science is not ing point the unity and intelligibility of molecular, and even submolecular magic. In my experience, science is a world that is partly of our own mak­ domain. The organism itself - its func­ about reality, and reality is magical. It is ing. This orientation has major impli­ tions, volitions and actions - will then precisely that magical quality that cations for human action and creativity, be rightly perceived, not as the sole motivates the greatest scientists. as I shall demonstrate. consequence of natural selection, but as Einstein discovered relativity by "tak­ Many great civilizations both past a focus of being immanent to process ing a ride on a beam of light". Alan and present, have regarded the unity of and emerging simultaneously with it. Turing's work on chemical morphogen­ nature simply as a fact of immediate Thus relocated within nature, the esis, likewise, was inspired by "watching experience that needs no special plead­ organism becomes both actor and pro­ the daisies grow". Poetic intuition is ing. The history of Western science, ducer of the evolutionary drama. necessary to scientific insight. Goethe however, is remarkable for its major described his appreciation of living preoccupation with separating and The New Biology form as: reducing this unity into ever smaller An exciting new biological science is and smaller fragments. Alongside that indeed emerging. It arose out of a con­ " ...the urge to cognise living forms as is our own progressive alienation from certed effortto re-evaluate evolutionary such, to grasp their outwardly visible nature, which really began the moment theory by workers in all disciplines (2). and tangible parts contextually, to take the human mind set itself apart as We differ in detail, of course, but there them as intimations of that which is observer on a nature observed. From is a common vision. One major charac­ inward, and so master, to some degree, that vantage point, the drama of nature teristic of the new biological science is the whole in an intuition" (3). mysteriously unfolds, and we become its integration with physics, chemistry unwitting sufferers of an unknown fate. and mathematics on the one hand, and The process of creative scientific In the same way that the physical psychology and sociology on the other. thought, according to Goethe, begins as world was reduced to mechanisms and In this paper, I shall try to articulate my a perceptive act akin to the artistic atoms, so within biology, Darwin's the­ view of the new science especially impulse. Goethe spoke with the author­ ory reduced organisms to objects acted where biology interfaces with the other ity of a major romantic poet, whose on by blind selective forces in a hostile disciplines, and then to draw out its unique scientific contributions in both environment, and Mendelian genetics implications for human action and cre­ physics and biology are just now begin­ completed the disintegration of the ativity. ning to be recognized (4). He was, par organism into a collection of particles, The ideas for this paper have been excellence, the romantic poet who or genes. The extension of Darwin­ with me most of my life. They only understood science better than most Mendelism, ie. neo-Darwinism, into became coherent recently while I was scientists. social behaviour gave birth to the disci­ researching into bioelectricity and pat­ So, why do scientists who should pline of sociobiology (1). Its chief expo­ ternfo rmation in the fruitfly embryo in know better insist on taking the magic nents claim to account for social collaboration with Charles Nicholson out of science? I suggest it stems from a behaviour, culture, and even morals in at New York University Medical long tradition of mechanical, positivis­ terms of the natural selection of ran­ Centre. By using a relatively non-inva­ tic abstractions that has drained life dom mutations. Many have recoiled sive technique, we were able to obtain from nature, and stripped mind from from this final capitulation to crude continuous recordings of the extraordi­ matter, reducing matter finally to a col­ mechanism by severing our connec­ nary electrical activities in the embryo lection of indifferent particles engaged tions with biology altogether, thereby as it is developing. It was as though the in meaningless random motion. leaving humanity to the dilemma of a embryo was revealing to me its intimate Organisms as developing and self­ disembodied and hence impotent mind life-history in the most exquisite lan­ organized wholes, as perceived by pitched against the mindless automaton guage and music. I was put in touch Goethe, simply have no place within a of a body controlled by genes whose with the organism as never before. It scheme of explanations that rely solely sole imperative is to replicate. made me acutely aware of how little we on mechanical principles. With the Actually, there is nothing wrong with understand living beings, and how demise of the organism, its qualities our biology, nor indeed with biology in much violence we routinely do to such as consciousness, feeling, intuition general; it fS merely one's view of it organisms, including ourselves, based and mind, also vanished from the

17 HESHARA

scene, for they cannot be measured or the emergence and evolution of life. the storage of metabolic energy in the quantified even though we as living Indeed, it has been argued (7) that the form of electromechanical vibrations beings experience them intimately and 'laws' of nature are such as to make the and the transfer and transformation of concretely. Our task is to bring life back evolution of life and human beings pos­ this energy by resonance. The latter into science as a first step towards sible. This is the so-called anthropic occurs instantaneously, without loss, restoring all the vital qualities which principle. For example, if Newton's and is highly specific; in effect, the liv­ have been sadly misplaced. inverse square law of gravitational ing organism behaves like a high tem­ attraction were not exact, planetary sys­ perature superconductor. Resonant The Reanimation of Matter tems would not exist. The planets energy transfe r in turn organizes living In a sense, we can do better than that, would either annihilate themselves in matter by maintaining and generating for we can demonstrate that matter the sun, or be lost forever in extrastellar coherence at all levels (11). And this itself is alive, or animated. I first space. may be why organisms are sensitive to became aware of this through the work The extent to which matter is in subliminal electromagnetic signals from of Sidney Fox. He and his colleagues some sense alive can also be appreciat­ the environment. There is evidence discovered almost thirty years ago that ed from Bohm's reformulation of quan­ that they actually emit these signals a mixture of simple amino acids can be tum theory (8) which starts from themselves and use them for rapid com­ made to polymerise quite easily under universal wholeness. Every particle is munication over large distances (12). conditions simulating pre-biotic earth. embedded in a field, or quantum poten­ There has been a lot of con troversy These 'thermal proteins' are self­ tial, consisting of influences from all over the possible harmful effects of ordered in that the amino acids them­ other matter in the universe. One con­ electromagnetic radiation from high selve, determine their own sequence in sequence is that each electron takes on tension power lines and other sources. the resulting polymers. Furthermore, an identity by virtue of its distinctive The Central Electricity Gener:lting they exhibit an impressive array of vital position and life -history. Bohm remarks Board in Britain is finally conducting characteristics. These include a wide that he can see little diffe rence between its own investigation, after having variety of enzymic and hormonal activi­ living and non-living matter. resisted those claims for many years ties, and the ability to form 'micro­ Significant insights into living orga­ (13). All the evidence suggests that spheres' in contact with water, which nization have come from recent studies organisms are much more sensitive and behave like living cells in many of physical systems. For example, one of much more intimately connected to respects. One of the most striking prop­ the greatest puzzles about living organ­ one another and to the environment erties is the ability to react to electrical isms is how they can maintain and than we have previously suspected. stimulation by generating an action reproduce organization on a macroscop­ There is a deep kinship between liv­ potential (Fig. 1). In other words, like ic scale, while the physical world runs ing and non-living in the material pro­ nerve cells, they are irritab le, or down relentlessly into disorder in cesses that constitute the two realms. excitable. Excitability is considered one accordance with the second law of This kinship also expresses itself in of the major characteristics of living thermodynamics. Over the past 20 or so another important respect: the genera­ things. One could argue that it is more years, some physicists and chemists who tion of form. universal than reproduction, as a lot of have retained a strong sense of magic for living organisms, are coming up The Generation of Form with a plausible answer (9). The secret In biology, the pervasive influence of to life may indeed be resonance. Not neo-Darwinian theory gave rise to the quite the way Rupert Sheldrake (10) view of the organism as a sum of past had conceived of it, though his basic random genetic mutations accumulated

20 mV intuition was in the right direction. by natural selection and preserved by Resonance refers to the transfer of heredity. Hence, the genes are regarded L, energy between systems vibrating at the as the generators of biological forms. ==+- same or similar frequencies. For exam­ The genes, however, only specify base ple, a tuning fork can transfer its vibra­ sequences of nucleic acids and amino­ tion to a string on a musical instrument acid sequences of proteins. There is Figure 1. Protocells and excitability. (a) which has been tuned to the same fre­ nothing inherent in the protein-syn­ Scanning electron micrograph of protocells quency. Resonance also occurs between thesizing machinery that tells us how to generated by mixing thermal proteins with molecules. Chemical bonds, when generate form. Biological forms are water. (b) Action potential in squid axon excited, will vibrate at particular fre­ (upper trace) compared with action potential notable for their reproducibility. But of prorocell (lower trace) (41). quencies, and transfer this vibrational reproducible forms also occur in the energy to other molecules with similar inorganic world. Snowflakes, for exam­ people I know do not actually repro­ bonds. Resonating molecules, like peo­ ple, have a range of shapes that are reg­ duce, but are nonetheless both irritable ple, attract one another and act in con­ ularly and repeatably produced, and and excitable! cert. This applies also to macroscopic nobody has ever suggested that genes I see Fox's work (5) in the same light systems: when resonating, these systems are responsible. The real explanation is as Lawrence Henderson's (6) 'fitness of act automatically as a coherent collec­ that specific forms emerge spontaneous­ the environment'. The Darwinian tive whole. ly and automatically when certain con­ notion of organisms adapting to the Organisms are made up predominant­ ditions are satisfied. There is no need to environment is at best incomplete, ly of electrical dipolar molecules, ie. appeal to natural selection or to special because it misses the reciprocal aspect molecules with well-separated positive genes. The role of genes may be to sta­ of the relationship: that the physico­ and negative charges. These are orga­ bilize forms that can occur given the chemical properties of matter are fit for nized in such a way as to fa vour both dynamical structure of the developing

18 BESHARA

system (14). patterns are made by the aggregation the stem, which fo llow precisely the I will give just one illustration of process of the slime mould amoebae Fibonacci series in mathematics (Fig. what I mean. The fruitfly's body con­ and the chemical reaction described by 4). He and his students wrote several sists of about fourteen repeated parts or Belousov and Zhabotinskii (Fig. 3). papers addressed to the problem of leaf segments, each recognizably different These examples of similitude between arrangement (phyllotaxis) (18) which from all others. Many genetic mutants biological and physico-chemical forms continues to exercise many biologists have been isolated, some of which lead to errors in the number of segments formed, others are associated with alter­ ations in the identity of the segments themselves. However, the altered forms, like the normal, cannot be said to be generated by the genes, because a sim­ ple environmental perturbation, such as exposure to ether vapour, can produce many of the same disturbances (Fig. 2) (15). Genetic and environmental per­ turbations produce similar forms because there is a dynamic process determining the possible forms. It is therefore, incorrect to suppose that the environmentally induced forms resem­ ble the mutant phenotypes, as is Figure 3. Similitude between biological and today. In another germinal paper, he implied by the term, phenocopy, used physico-chemical forms . (a) Aggregation of the showed how repeated structures such as to describe the former. Here, I would slime mould amoebae , (b) The Belousov the tentacles of j e 11y fish can be like to borrow the concept of similitude Zhabotinskii reaction (45) . described by chemical reaction and dif­ from the philosopher, Michel Foucault fusion through an initially homoge­ (16). Both kinds of fo rms, genetic, as Figure 2. Similitude in the range of larv al neous medium. This paper has inspired well as environmental, are related by forms generated by exposing early Drosophila a current generation of mathematical similitude. In fact, the entire set of embryos to ether vapour. The control larva is modelling of spatial patterns in living fo rms - variant and normal - are also in the centre (42) . organisms (19). Physical counterparts of the mathematical models have also been made, as for example, standing wave patterns created on thin vibrating plates simulate various animal coat colour patternsquite closely (Fig. 5). The notion of the similitude of form is central to our discussion. It is a prop­ erty of form that both transcends the particular material substrates yet encompasses the diversity of real pro­ cesses. I shall return to this theme towards the end of this paper. I t m us t be stressed that form is dynamic through and through. Goethe, who founded the science of form, or morphology, insisted on that (20):

"If we would introduce a morphology, we ought not to speak of the Gestalt, or if we do use the word, should think thereby only of an abstraction - a notion of something held fast in experi­ ence but for an instant. "What has been formed is immedi­ ately transformed again, and if we related by similitude, being transforma­ are of great interest, as the detailed would succeed to some degree, to a liv­ tions from one underlying dynamic mechanisms involved are completely ing view of Nature, we must attempt to structure. We can follow this path of diffe rent. What lies at the heart of this remain as active and as plastic as the similitude to the next higher plane. similitude is a rational core of nature example she sets for us." O'Arcy Thompson (17) was struck by such that both organic and inorganic the similarity between forms generated, forms may be described by the same This dynamic view of nature as process for example, by a drop splashing onto mathematical principles. Alan Turing is echoed cen turies la ter by Alfred the surface of milk, and the tentacles of was fascinated by the regular spiral of North Whitehead (21) who said, a jelly fish. Likewise, almost identical florets in the daisy, and leaves around "There is no holding nature still and

19 BESHARA

looking at it." Centuries earlier, Heraclitus had observed, "Upon those who step into the same river, different and ever different waters flow." The Taoists in China, too, saw nature ever­ transforming through the Ta o, an immanent transforming principle (22). All nature is thus interconnected by process.

The Interconnectedness of Nature It is remarkable how contemporary sci­ ence more and more brings home to us what we already know concretely and intimately from our own experience and intuition: that interconnectedness is primary, as much as separation is abstraction. The analytical tradition presupposes a separateness that does not exist, and is responsible for creating false paradoxes. Even as great a philoso­ pher as Immanuel Kant could not imag-

ine by what intellectual faculty we can Figure 5. Standing wave patterns generated on associate cause with effect. This para­ thin vibrating plates simulate animal coat dox is created by a Newtonian world colour patterns (47) . view in which reality is represented as instantaneous time slices (23); there dom mutations. So it is tacitly supposed being nothing to connect an earlier that organisms begin life with nothing instant (cause) with a later instant save the genes they inherited from the (effect), once we abstract away the previous generation, which is far from experiential being; for cause and effect the case, even if we assume that are but abstracted states of one continu­ We ismann's concept is correct. For ous process which we experience con­ organisms inherit much more; the cyto­ cretely as sentient, conscious beings. plasm and other maternal influences In analogy to that, neo-Darwinism (24) as well as the environment of the not only presupposes the separation previous generation (25). Social organ­ between organism and environment - isms inherit in addition, entire social the one varying independently and the orders and cultural traditions. These other selecting - it also reduces the socially constructed environments set organism into an initial state, the geno­ important parameters for development. type (the totality of the genes present One reason for the persistence of the Figure 4. Apical bud of Sedum acre showing in the fertilized egg), which causes the class barrier is precisely because the three sets of regular spirals when contacts final state, the phenotype (the entire inheritance of the social regime is between successive leaf-primordia are traced . organism itself). The separation much more tenacious than inheritance The first involves primnrd i a between organism and environment is through the genes. 1,3,5,7,9,11 ,13,15; the second involves ensured by Weismann's concept of the Recent advances in molecular genet­ 1,4,7,10, 13, 16; the third involves primord ia independence of the germplasm. In ics have indeed revealed that the genes, 1 ,6, 1 1 , 1 6; 4,9, 1 4; 2,7, 1 2; 5, 10, 1 5. As can be seen, the first spiral consists of succes­ other words, while the organism's body far from being static and unchanging as sive primordia differing by 2; the second by 3, or phenotype is subject to environmen­ they were previously imagined, are in and the third by 5. These are successive term s tal influences, its genotype is protected, reality quite flexible and dynamic. So of the summation series 1,2,3,5,8,13. and is passed on to the next generation much so that molecular biologists known as the Fibonacci series (46) . virtuall y unchanged but for rare ran- themselves have coined the term, 'the

20 BESHARA

fl uid genome', to describe the multitude between generations (28). argued that altruism, rather than of processes which mutate and rear­ I t is clear that the organ ism is an aggression is the human characteristic. range DNA, amplify or contract DNA integrated whole, genotype with phe­ He does not regard altruism to be sequences, move genes around, or con­ notype, body with germline. These innate, however. Rather, he sees it as a vert one gene to another. These pro­ wholes are themselves in continuity learned behaviour based on the univer­ cesses go on during development in with past and fu ture generations sal human capacity for empathy, that is, both germ cells and somatic cells (26). through the nexus of physiological, for deriving pleasure from other peo­ Particular changes in DNA can occur ecological and sociocultural relation­ ple's pleasure and distress from their dis­ repeatably in certain environments and ships. Within the life time of each gen­ tress. And hence, "satisfying the needs become inherited in one generation. eration, organisms not only construct of others, and thereby sharing their sat­ Somatic 'information', in the form of themselves and their environments, isfaction, is intrinsically rewarding". processes RNA, can be reverse tran­ they also enstructure future generations This empathy, as I have tried to show, scribed into DNA and become part of by setting or resetting the parameters comes from the experience of connect­ the genetic material (27). Thus, there for their development (29). Organism edness with other beings. As Bertolt is no absolute distinction or separation and environment engage in continual Brecht wrote, "We crave to be more between germline and soma, as far as mutual transformation by virtue of an kindly than we are". the organism is concerned. interconnectedness that reticulates in Thus, human nature is at source, nei­ The picture of gene action during space and time, knitting together larger ther good nor eviL Clairborne contin­ development we now have is very dif­ and larger units from families to com­ ues: ferent from that embodied in the 'cen­ munities to societies and beyond.

tral dogma' (the central dogma being When we fo llow these reticulations far " __ . Set up a social framework in which that information can travel from the enough, we begin to experience the men are encouraged to be altruistic and DNA to the cell but not vice versa) entire earth as one interconnected most of them will rise to the occasion; (Fig. 6). Instead of a linear, one-way whole, or a super-organism, as Lovelock set up one that encourages them to be transfe r of genetic information, there is (30) has intimated. And we may begin selfish and most of them will sink to it. a whole network of feedback interrela­ to resonate to every being that has ever If a society offers special rewards to tionships between organism and envi­ lived, from whales in the ocean to the those who pursue the strategies of dog­ ronment. One can immediately tiniest speck of microbe in the soiL eat-dog and 'I'm all right, Jack', then appreciate that it makes no sense to many people are, of course, going to use locate the cause of development solely Biology and Society those strategies." in the genes. Instead, it is diffu se and From the experience of connectedness distributed throughout the entire sys­ flows empathy, a feeling akin to love. Here it is appropriate to bring in the tem of organism-environment interrela­ (The ancients were right to think it is intimate relationship of science to soci­ tionships. Similarly, heredity does not love rather than gravity that binds the ety. Increasingly, it has been recognized world together). With love also comes a that almost no scientific theory is a Figure 6. Tw o views of gene action during fe eling of responsibility for the object of pure logical construct. It both takes development. (a) the central dogma, (b) the our affection. And that is the beginning root within a particular sociopolitical process view (48) . of a universal sense of morality which is context and feeds back into it. This is inherent to all sentient, conscious particularly evident in the case of a. ONA� hnRNA -+ ---+ mRNA --+Proteln beings. One can appreciate the wisdom Darwinism. of Confucius, who exhorted us to Young (32) identifies the three extend the love we have for our chil­ immediate sources of the Darwinian b ext. environment . dren to other people's children, and to metaphor as Paley's argument from extend the love we have for our parents design, artificial selection and Malthus' to other people's parents. He knew that principle of population. The first posed morality must be heartfelt, it must be the problem of adaptation: how it could

iot. to.. ironment based on real experience, and cannot be explained naturalistically. The sec­ be externally imposed. It is also as natu­ ond yielded the metaphor of 'selection'. ral as breathing and walking, and as the But it was Malthus' law that finally / rich plexus of feelings of which we are provided the mechanism for natural / capable. selection. Malthus' law was that as I . ' \ How then, did we arrive at the human population has a natural ten­ I " \ I ( DNA�.? .. n I Darwinian view that life consists essen­ dency to increase geometrically while food supply increases arithmetically, the \, ' tially in the struggle for existence of / / one against all and all against nature? population is held in check by pesti­ \' / " .". '-- ---' Why do sociobiologists claim that com­ lence, disease and famine. By transpos­ --- ing this law to the rest of nature, _.-.-" petitiveness, aggression, and worse, the propensity for rape or murder in males Darwin found the perfect solution to are universal human characteristics? Paley's problem. Whereas Paley stressed reside solely in the DNA; it does not Clairborne (31) points out that in reali­ adaptation, Malthus stressed conflict; inhere in any particular material sub­ ty, the overwhelming majority of and Darwin synthesized them by stance passed on from one generation human beings readily engage in activi­ proposing that str'lggle both explains to the next, but rather it is a property ties to help or benefit others, whereas and produces adaptation. arising out of the same nexus of interre­ only a tiny minority have ever commit­ The Darwinian metaphor had its ori­ lationships that catenate within and ted criminal acts. Therefore, it may be gin in the prevailing socioeconomic

21 BESHARA

view among the ruling classes that suf­ tions for their own acts." respectively. Our predecessors were fering was inevitable for the impover­ combating vitalism on the one hand ished masses of humanity. Much of the This completes the positive feedback and Fundamentalism on the other, and reason for the instant success of loop between the dominant sociocul­ therefore could see no real alternative Darwin's theory is that is was cut from tural ideology of the day and a scientific to mechanical materialism. It is not so the very fabric of Victorian English theory to which it gave birth. Social with us. The theory of natural selection society: mechanical materialism, posi­ Darwinism and theories of racial is already discredited by the empirical tivism and free market economy. As inequality formed the backdrop to the evidence now available (36). It pre­

Barzun remarked: "What brought him rise of the Nazi regime. sents a reduced and distorted view of rapid victory and prolonged sway over Is history repeating itself now with the organism and of its relationship his age was ... the ability of the age to sociobiology? Sociobiology is not just a with nature. It imposes a conceptual recognize itself in him" (33). In other parlour game for dons. Like Social framework that does considerable vio­ words, competition and the struggle for Darwinism, it has considerable sociopo­ lence to reality, not only in theory but survival were so much seen to be the litical implications. Bateson (35)points in practice as well. Because science and order of the day that everyone believed out: our perception of the world are interde­ they understood the theory, and more­ pendent, a distorted science can in turn over, that it must be true. Ultimately, "The emphasis on selfishness and the distort sociocultural reality through the natural selection - a metaphor bor- struggle for existence in evolutionary self-fulfilling prophecy. According to Vygotsky (37), mind itself is a social construct; it is a cooperative activity consisting of the interweaving of indi­ vidual human intentions, symbolic and practical acts. 'Mind' in turn shapes social reality. It is time we take matter into our own hands, as it were, by rec­ onciling our mind to matter and play­ ing an active part in nature's creative process. In order to make a start, I would like to demonstrate how art and science - the two great divisions of human cre­ ative activities - share the same realist basis. Let us recall the two ontological prinCiples of nature that we have devel­ oped so far: its rationality and unity. The rationality of nature is what makes it intelligible to us as archetypal forms or patterns. Another way of saying the same thing is that nature creates partic­ ular fo rms in both physico-chemical and biological domains which we can recognize as being related by some deeper unity. Nature's rationality is thus also its unity in the formal sense. The unity of nature encompasses besides, the continuity and interconnectedness of material processes in the physico­ rowed from life - was most easily mis­ Figure 7. Magrine's 'Ceci n'est pas une pipe' chemical and the biological realms. taken to be an apt explanation of life (49) . These two principles of nature may be itself. taken to be the epistemic of the new Darwinism epitomizes the develop­ biology has had an insidious confirma­ science. I am going to suggest that art is ment of a Zeitgeist in nineteenth centu­ tory effect on the public mind ...The possible precisely on the same princi­ ry Britain, which in turn lent credence political danger of representing all ples. to some of the most pernicious political human social relationships in terms of Michel Foucault (38) draws our ideologies in the present century. competition is that the expectation is attention to the enigma of Magritte's Barzun (34) continued: self-fulfilling. " painting of a pipe entitled, 'Ceci n'est

pas une pipe', or, 'Thi� i� not a pipe' "'Matter' and 'force', when applied to Art and Science (Fig. 7). Why should Magritte say it is human beings, fo und some dangerously The major weakness in most critiques not a pipe when it is so obviously one simple applications. And when the idea of sociobiology, as in those directed down to the last detail? What is the of force is embodied in the notions of against social Darwinism, is the almost answer to the riddle? It is that the Struggle and Survival of the Fittest, it universal and unquestioned acceptance painting of the pipe is not a pipe, nor shouid be expected that men will u�e of the foundation:; c;'. '::hich they are the representation of a pipe; it is an these revelations of science as justifica- based: neo-Darwinism and Darwinism object in its own right. It bears the

22 BESHARA

same relationship of similitude to the idea, or form, of pipeness as the pipe itself. Pipeness encompasses the set of all possible pipes and pictures of pipes. What both Magritte and Foucault are telling us, I think, is that we must see deeper into the merely common sensi­ ble reality, the seeming arbitrariness of the convention of language which hap­ pens to call a pipe a 'pipe', rather than anything else. When we do that, we arrive at the rational core that underlies the convention. This rationality is a pattern perceived, realised and created simultaneously through action or prax­ is. It is the same as that which under­ lies the generation of natural fo rms I have referred to earlier. There is a uni­ versal ground of reality fr om whence all fo rms and patterns are drawn . But reality is much more than that Figure 8. The hidden giraffe (50) universal ground. It is a shimmering presence of infinite planes, or subtle levels (39). It becomes transparent to Figure 9. The quantum potenrial in the two­ us in varying shades through the per­ slit experiment (52) . ceptive act. This simple fact has been obscured by a scientific tradition that abstracts away the perceptive being as much as it reduces the natural phe­ nomenon. Newton replaced the phenomenon of colour with a set of numbers designat­ ing the frequencies of light in the visi­ ble spectrum. The introduction of quantitative mathematical methods is entitled, 'The Hidden Giraffe', one arts, where the audience participates in into science led inevitably to the dis­ readily sees the fo rm of the animal. If the creation of an aesthetic experience. tinction between primary and sec­ perception were merely a passive intake Another point is that true art is never ondary qualities. Primary qualities are of sensory impressions, then the giraffe created out of nothing. It may be those that can be expressed as numbers; would forever remain hidden. It is an argued that great artists always draw by contrast, qualities such as colour, intuitive grasp of the whole that is from an intuited reality which is not taste and sound are said to be secondary required. The knower is not a passive immediately transparent to the merely (40). This is responsible for the mis­ observer, but "a participant in nature's common sensible. In other words, it is placed emphasis that only the primary processes"; she is "the apparatus in always a privileged insight, but an qualities were considered to be real. which the phenomenon actualizes as a insight into a transformed yet recogniz­ The secondary qualities merely resulted higher stage of itself', the knower and ably universal reality. As Joan Miro from the effect of the primary qualities the known constituting an indivisible insisted, "My figurations arose out of on the sense, being no more than a sub­ whole. matter" (42). Jective experience and not part of It is in this light that creativity may Miro's 'Ploughed Field' (page 16) nature. The consequence is that those be understood. A creative act is a spe­ seduces us, not because it resembles a features of nature encountered most cial perceptive act. It involves seeing ploughed field, but because it actualises immediately in experience are judged deeply into reality and drawing seduc­ a reality of animated nature to which to be unreal. In this way, colour, form tive patterns from that universal ground we resonate. We can see that in the eye and music are written out of nature. of similitude; seductive because they are and ear on the pine tree and the Bortoft (41) con trasts that wi th communicable to other experiencing ploughed field itself, which undulates Goethe's scheme, in which perception consciousnesses resonating to the same and moves as though it too, were alive. is active: we experience the quality of ground, being themselves likewise con­ Similarly, we see in David Bohm's pic­ colours by an act of perception. Our nected. This actualisation of patterns or ture of the quantum potential (Fig. 9) thoughts "re-create in the wake of ever­ forms, and the communion of shared an actualization of universal wholeness. creating nature". There is an extra-sen­ experience through a uni'/ersal ground The artist and the scientist both draw sory factor that transforms sensory data constitutes the essence of both artistic from the same reality ground, trans­ into cognitive experience. This can be and scientific creativity. We can at forming it and referring back to it. In so demonstrated by looking at Figure 8, once see that both are collective social doing they extend and enrich reality which at first glance seems to be a ran­ acts. They involve the conspiracy of an and our experience of it. They use dif­ dom collection of light and dark attentive inter-subjectivity. This is most ferent languages, but are both equally splotches. But as soon as one realizes it easily appreciated in the performing absorbing and magical. Ultimately,

23 BESHARA

McAllister Technical Services

HIGH-QUALITY, HIGH-PERFORMANCE SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS

• Scanning Tunneling Microscope • Mighty Mini MultiTM Cluster-Port with Full Digital Electronics • Slim Linear Motion Feedthrough and Data Acquisition System • Mini Conflat-Mounted Wobble Stick • High-Resolution Electron Energy Loss Spectrometer in Rotatable "Double C" • Custom surface analytical instruments, or "S" Configuration devices and components

McALLISTER TECHNICAL SERVICES Manufacturers of surfa ce analytical instruments and devices 24 14 Sixth Street · Berkeley, California 947 10 Te lephone: (4 15) 644-0707 · Telex: 91025011666 McAllister UQ · Fax: (4 15) 644-0290

======�======MRC BUSINESS INFORMATION GROUP PETER YIANGOU , LIMITED ======115 Magdalen Road, Oxford OX4 1RQ, England. Telephone: 0865-245908 ASSOCIATES Fax: 0865-722103. Te lex: 837585. International: +44865 245908

ARCHITECTS & SURVEYORS The MRC Group provides high­ quality commercial information on private and public companies worldwide, in the form of in-depth profile and status reports.

The European market leader in its field, the group has specialist divisions covering the marine, oil and commodities sectors. MRC Consultancy Services offers special investigations in legal, political and strategic areas. Specialists in Cotswold Designs and Country Properties

Offices: Oxford, Holland, New York Sherborne Sta bles, Sherborne, Nr. Cheltenham, and Hong Kong Glos GL54 31)Z. Tel: Windrush (045 14) 43 1 /372 Fax: Windrush (045 14) 697

24 BESHARA

meaning derives from our active and 12. FA Popp , 'Experiments on the Creation eds . (2) See also M.W. Ho (25) collective participation in nature's cre­ of We ak Coherent Biophowns by the DNA 28. M.W. Ho, 'How Rational Can Rational ative process. Molecule', paper presented in Worksho/) Morphology Be' A Post-Darwinian Rational Conference on Basic Issues in the Overlap and Ta xonomy Based on a Structuralism of Acknowledgments Union of Quantum Theory , Biology and the Process', Rivista di Biologia 81 , 1 1-55, 1988. Philosophy of Cognition, Elbow Beach Hotel, 29. MW. Ho (28) . I am very grateful to Ron Brady for Bermuda, April 15-27, 1988. See also FA. 30. J.E. Lovelock, 'Gaia: A New Look at extended discussions during the forma­ Popp , 'On the Coherence of Ultraweak Life on Earth' , (Oxford : Oxford Univeristy tive period of this paper. My thanks are Phowemission from Living Tissues ', C. W. Press , 1979) . also due to Peter Saunders and Brian Kilmister, ed., 'Disequilibrium and Self­ 31. R. Clairborne, 'How Homo sapeins Goodwin fo r sharing their knowledge Organization', Wordrecht: Reidel, 1986) . Learned w be Good' , Horizon S/)ring, 30-35, and inspiration with me over many 13. See article in 'The Times', Friday, Marc h 1974 . years. 18, 1988. 32. R.M. Young, 'Darwin's Metaphor' , 14. M.W. Ho 'Environment and Heredity in (Cambridge : Cambridge University Pre ss, Development and Evolution', M.W. Ho and 1985) References and Notes PT Saunders , eds . (2) . See also G. We bster 33. J. Barzun , 'Darwin , Marx, Wagner' , 1. E.O. Wilson. 'Sociobiology ', (Cambridge , and B.C. Goodwin, 'The Origin of Species: (New York: Doubleday Anchor, 1958) . Mass.: Harvard University Press , 1975) . A Structuralist Approach' , J. Soc. Bioi. 34. J. Barzun (33) . 2. See the fo llowing collections of essays: Struct. 5, 15-47, 1982; B.C. Goodwin, 35. P. Bateson , 'Sociobiology and Human M.W. Ho and P. T. Saunders , eds . 'Beyond 'Morphogenesis and Heredity', M.W. Ho and Politics', S. Rose and L. Appignanesi, eds., neo-Darwinism: Introduction to the New SW. Fox, eds . (2). Science and Beyond, (Oxford : Blackwells , Evolutionary Paradigm' (London: Academic 15. M.W. Ho, A Matheson , PT Saunders , 1985) Press, 1984) ; ].W. Pollard , ed. 'Evolutionary B.C. Goodwin, and A Smallcombe, 'Ether­ 36. MW. Ho (26) Theory: Paths into the Future', (London: induced Disturbances in Segmentation in 37. L.S. Vygotsky , 'Mind in Society ' , Wiley, 1984) ; M.W. Ho and S.W. Fox, eds . Drosophila melanogaster,' Roux Arch. Devl. (Cambridge , Mass.' Harvard University 'Evolutionary Processes and Metaphors ' Bio/. 196, 511-521, 1987. Press , 1979) . See also R. Ham! , 'Mind as a (London , Wiley, 1988) 16. M. Foucault, 'This is Not a Pipe', Social Formation', ] Margolis , M. Dransz 3. R.H. Brady , 'Form and Cause in Goethe's (Berkeley : University of California Press, and R.M. Burian , eds., Relativism and the Morphology'; FAmrine , FT. Zucker, and H. 1983) Human Sciences , (Dordrecht: Martinus Wheeler, eds . 'Goethe and the Sciences: a Re­ 17. D'A W. Thom/)son, 'On Growth and Nijhoff Publishers , 1986) appraisal', ( 1987) . Form' , (Cambridge : Cambridge University 38. M. Foucault (16) . 4. H. Bortaft 'Goethe 's Scientific Press , 1 9 14) . 39. D. Bohm (8) Consciousness', (Tunbridge We lls : Institute 18. P. T. Saunders , ed. 'Alan Turing on 40. AN Whitehead (23) for Cultural Research Monogra/)h Series No. Morphogenesis' , (Amsterdam: North Holland 41 H . Borwft (4) 22, 1986) Publishers , in press) . 42 A Jouffrey, 'Miro' (C.L. Clark trans/.), 5. S.W. Fox, 'Evolution Outward and 19. See r. T. Saunders , 'Deveio/J1nent and Lundun., Art Data, 1987 Forward', in Ho and Fox (2) . Evolution', M.W. Ho and P.T. Saunders , 43 Redrawn from S.W. Fox (5) . 6. L.J. Henderson, 'The Fitness of the eds . (2) , and references therein. 44 From M.W. Ho, 1988 (26) . Environment', (New York: Macmillan , 20. R.H. Brady (2) 45. From AT. Winfree and S.H. Strogatz, 1913) 21. AN. Whitehead, 'Concept of Nature ' , 'Singular Filaments Organize Chemical Wa ves 7.J.D. Barrow and F.J. Tipler, 'The (Cambridge : Cambridge University Pre ss, in Three Dimensions . !. Geometrically Simple Anthropic Cosmological Principle', (Oxford : 1920) Waves ', Physica 8D, 35-49, 1983 . Clarendon Press, 1986) . 22. ]. Needham, 'The Grand Ti tration, 46. Redrawn fr om R. Snow, "Problems of 8. D. Bohm, 'The Manifest and the Subtle Science and Society in East and We s t' , Phyllotaxis and Leaf Determination", Levels of Reality', paper presented in (London: Allen and Unwin, 1969). Endeavour 14, 190- 199, 1955. Workshop Conference on Basic Issues in the 23. AN. Whitehead , 'Science and the 47. From ].0. Murray , 'How the Leopard Overlap and Union of Quantum Theory, Modern World', (Harmondsworth: Penguin Gets Its Spots', Sci. Am. 258, 80-88 , 1988 . Biology and the Philosophy of Cognition , Books , 1925) 48 From M.W. Ho, 1986 (25) Elbow Beach Hotel, Bermuda , April 15-27, 24 M.W. Ho, C. Tucker, D. Keeley, and 49. Guggenheim Museum Collection, New 1988. See Also, D. Bohm, B,] Hiley, and P. T. Saunders , 'Effe ct of Successive York. P. N. Kaloyerou , 'An Onwlogical Basis for the Generations of Ether Tr eatment on 50. Redrawn from H. Borwft (4) . Quantum Theory', Physics Report 144, 323- Penetrance and Expression of the Bithorax 51. Guggenheim Museum Collection, New 348; 349-375 , 1987. Phenocopy in Drosophila melanogaster' , J. York . 9. H. Frohlich, 'The Biological Effe cts of ex/) . Zoo/. 114, 257-268 , 1983. See also 52. From D. Bohm , B ]. Hiley, and P. N. Microwave.1 and Related Questions', Adv. M.W. Ho (14) Kaloyerou (8) . See also C. Philipedies, C. Electronics and Electron Phys. 53, 85-152, 25 . M.W. Ho, 'Heredity as Process: Dewdeney and B. J. Hiley, 'Nuovocimenw' 1980. To wards a Radical Reformulation of 52B, 15, 1979 . 10. R. Sheldrake , 'A New Science of Life', Heredity', Rivista di Biologia 79 , 407-447, (London : Blond & Briggs Ltd., 1981). See 1986. See also S. Oyama , The Ontogeny of Mae-Wan Ho is Reader of Biology at the also BESHARA Issues I and 2. 1 nformation , (Cambridge : Cambridge Open University, where she has been devel­ 11. M.W. Ho, 'Coherent Excitations and the University Press , 1985) . oping an alternative to neo-Darwinian evo­ Physical Foundations of Life', paper presented 26. M.W. Ho (25). See also M.W. Ho, 'On lutionary theory and practice. She has in Workshop Conference on Basic Issues in the Not Holding Nature Still: Evolution by co-edited two volumes of essays: 'Beyond Overlap and Union of Quantum Theory, Process Not by Consequence', M. W. Ho and Darwinism: Introduction to the new Biology and the Philosophy of Cognition, S.W. Fox, eds . (2); M.W. Ho, PT Evolutionary Paradigm' (Ho and Saunders), Elbow Beach Hotel, Bermuda , April 15-27, Saunders , and S.W. Fox, 'A New Paradigm Academic Press, London 1984 and 1988 . Also w appear in B.G. Goodwin and for Evolution', New Scientist, 27 Feb. 41-43 , 'Evolutionary Ptocesses and Metaphors (Ho P. T. Saunders , eds., 'Epigene tic and 1986 . and Fox), Wiley, London, 1988. She is cur­ Evolutionary Order' , (Edinburgh: Edinburg h 27 ].W. Pollard , 'Is We ismann's Barrier rently researching bio-electromagnetism University Press , in press) . Absolute" , M. W. Ho and P. T. Saunders , and living organisation.

25 Courses at Chisholme House

[NCE BESHARA MAGAZINE began, we have often Chisholme House been asked about the other activities under the When the Beshara Tr ust first fo und Chisholme in 1973 , the house and S umbrella of the Beshara Tr ust, particularly the work of the estate were derelict. Over the yean , the house has been restored to the Beshara School of Intensive Esoteric Education at its original Georgian style and outbuildings have been converted to stu­ Chisholme House in the borders of Scotland. So last summer dent accommodation . All the main activities - meals , study, meditation and devotional practices - on all courses take /Jlace in the house . As we sent Angela Holroyd, journalist and prospective student, many as three courses , involving up to 50 people , can be running at any to talk to the Principal of the school, Peter Young, about the one time . aims and intentions of the six month intensive courses which the Trust has been running since 1975. good news which can free us from the illusion of self if we are What does the word Beshara mean? receptive to it. At one point I thought that I understood what Beshara is; Beshara means 'Good News'. It is reputed to be the word the now I am quite sure that I don't. And it seems that this not angel Gabriel said when he announced the coming of Christ knowing is altogether more satisfactory and healthy, because to Mary at the Annunciation. Beshara was his first word; what we study here leads us to the conclusion that Beshara is 'Good News, a son is to be given'. It is common to three not at all something which is invented or brought about by major world traditions; it is firmly entrenched in Hebrew, in people. It is a name for a movement from the one reality to the Aramaic language of the gospels and in the Arabic lan­ the individual man. Beshara is from the Divine side, and guage, which are the three languages of the Abrahamic tradi­ therefore for a human being to claim to understand it would tion. Perhaps one cannot get more universal than that; if be at best partial. All of us who are involved are still finding there were a word which was also common to the Hindu, out what it is, and I think that will continue. Buddhist, Ta oist, ete. traditions, then perhaps that would be Yo u see, in a sense, what is happening now as Beshara is the word, but there is not such a universal language. not new. Ever since there has been man capable of knowing himself, there has been an emergence of what might be What would you say Beshara is ? called 'the perennial tradition' which has been known to a fe w. It has emerged in the great figures from time to time, in It is good news in that it is the perennial announcement from Socrates, for instance, or in Lao Tzu. What is new about our interior, from our essence, of its essential oneness to our­ Beshara is that the knowledge is accessible to all people. This selves, which is its exterior. If you think about it, this is the school, for example, is open to anyone, from any tradition.

26 BESHA Ri\

No prior knowledge is necessary, only a readiness and a will­ I hope that a certain connection becomes established for ingness to learn. people, which is completely irrefutable for themselves - not for others, but for themselves - that they are in relationship Can you tell me how the school began ! to one reality, and that they are the possible place of com­ plete mirroring of that one reality to itself. Even the certain Perhaps here we won't be able to talk about what happened awareness of that possibility is a source of constant growth. except at the observable level. In terms of that, there was a So one could say that it is not that the end result is expected tremendous interest in spiritual matters at the end of the six­ at the end of the course, but that the effect will be felt at ties/ beginning of the seventies in this country, with everyone every moment of their life to fo llow; that they go on in dashing off in diffe rent spiritual directions. In London, a awareness and growing understanding and actualisation of nucleus of people formed who were interested in a real spiri­ that possibility. tual direction, but without wanting to attach themselves to a And of course, they will be qualitatively different, in guru or a teacher. They wanted to get to the heart of the knowing how they stand in respect to one reality, one God. matter, without any intermediary. Also in London at that They will inevitably be different, not in what they do - that time was a Tu rkish man by the name of Bulent Rauf, who, may also be different, of course, but that isn't the point - but rejecting the idea of himself as a teacher, pointed in the in the quality of their living. This will inevitably have effect direction of the work of Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi as being the on others, but again, the effect is not the point. basis for an approach in this way, without a formal teacher. Eventually, in 1971, a charitable Tr ust was formed with the So what you're saying is that their approach, just to their ord i­ idea of acquiring a property where people could go and study nary, everyday lives , will alter considerably. these things - an open centre where they could go fo r the time they had available. This was how the first Beshara cen­ Since what we do is nothing other than our intention and tre, Swyre Farm in the Cotswolds, came about. Bulent Rauf attitude brought into visible play, then if our intention is a stayed as consultant to the Tr ust, but in a very retiring posi­ whole one, what we do will be whole. tion, until his death in 1987.

As time went on, the need was recognised for a situation That just about answers the next question I was going to ask you, with a formal structure - a beginning and an end and a cur­ which is , in what way will someone who has done the course be riculum of study, and so the intensive courses began. Bulent different fr om someone who hasn't! was consultant in all aspects of the establishment of these courses and their curriculum, which is not exclusively Ibn , Arabi, but starts with Ibn ' Arabi and goes on to the study of texts relating to the essential matter from all the major spiri­ tual traditions.

What do you think is the main reason fo r /)eople going on a Beshara course?

Of course, they will all say it in diffe rent ways, and everyone does come with a particular need. However, we would like to think that the main reason that they come is for what they find here, which is the proper understanding of the possibili­ ty of self-knowledge. In other words, the main reason that people come is in order to understand themselves and their relationship to reality. It is as if we are brought up nowadays without a context for understanding these things.

And Beshara /)rovides that context!

Beshara first of all shows that there is a context, and then points the way beyond it. The context is just a beginning, because beyond it there is a real integration in being. Peter Yo ung- And this is revealed to us , or perhaps I should say , we reveal it to ourselves , whilst studying on courses! I must make clear, though, that going on a course at Chisholme or at Frilford or at the new school that is just The courses here first establish the context for self-knowl­ starting in Australia, is a great help, but it is not absolutely edge. For some students, this may result only in their begin­ necessary; there is no exclusivity in this matter. What there is ning to undo knots that have become tied over twenty, thirty in this school is a source of help which can take effect over a or forty years. But I believe that in most cases it is more than very short period of time. For the people who come, this is that, and it certainly does not stop at the end of the course. necessary; because they have their lives, their families, work, Development goes on. ete. and even six months is a long time to take off.

What do people get out of it! I know that you don't get a piece of What would you say to someone who said "I can read I bn paper at the end of six munths , saying that you have achieved 'Arabi's work alone , at home. Why do I have to go on a course such and such; but what do you hope people come away with! and take myself out of my life as it is at the moment?"

27 BESHARA

I would say, if it is true, very good. Get on with it, do it Study days do consist largely of poring over books, for around quickly. But if there is any reservation in them, then I would fo ur and a half hours during the day. Other periods are taken say, look at the reservation. Are they sure? Because it is much up with meditation - for three half-hour periods during the easier when there are more of you. Christ said "When two or day - and in the evenings, devotional practices. There is also three are gathered together in My name ...", and there is a a period in the afternoons when the students work. The work reality to that situation, and a help from it, which is not nec­ days are more or less the same, except that where there was essarily going to be available when you are sitting at home. study before, there is work, and vice versa. But I do not wish to convince anyone that they should The two work days following the study days are very neces­ come on a course at Chisholme, because the only prerequi­ sary, because it is important that what is studied is put into site is a readiness and willingness to learn. The only students practice, and that that very intensive activity be assimilated. who should come are those who know that they want to come and to learn. So you alternate two study days and two work days until you

come to six. Do you rest on the seventh day I I have certainly fe lt, on my visits to Chisholme , that the other people matter very much. I t reminds me of a time when I was No, we don't. It's right the way through, for six months. taking a correspondence course in poetry . Studying at home, it There are one or two days off, but even they have to be was just my ideas , and I noticed an enormous difference when r understood in the context of what we are doing; there should started to do it as part of a university course. I fe el that the people be no slacking off of awareness, which is the aim. of Beshara would reflect your own need to , for instance, go in a different direction, or would mirror things happening within you. Do the students have any outside contact at al[l Do they see other

groUJ)S of people , for instance I Yes they do. The possibility of coming to real knowledge, self-knowledge, alone is always present for everyone. But in For this first six month period, the students really stay within practice, it is the rarest of the rare who come to certain the grounds. To wards the end, we invite lecturers from the knowledge in this way. Most of us need all the help we can major religious traditions, and also scientists, biologists, get, because we delude ourselves constantly. And as you say, physicists, to talk about their various disciplines. And as we being mirrors to one another, and being in a situation which are so close to a Tibetan Buddhist monastery at Samye Ling, is a total mirror, is enormously beneficial, and you are shown which is only 30 miles down the same valley, then rather your illusion very quickly. than invite them here, we sometimes take the students there, Also, the rightness of a certain intention in yourself is to sit in on some of the teachings. The idea is that they go to encouraged and allowed to blossom, just as a plant with a sin­ hear the same thing; because truth is one, however it appears gle potential will do well in one part of the garden and not in and whatever clothes it wears. another. The conditions should be right, and anyone who says, well the potential is the same, hasn't taken into account Has anyone ever left a course? the conditions. It may well be that he is in the right place, in the right part of the garden. But is he certain? Some do, but very rarely. Perhaps, 1 in 20 or 1 in 30 decide that it is not for them, and that's fine. It seems also that Beshara acts as a sort of catalyst. Why do you think that this sort of course is so essential now? If by Beshara you mean the courses and the physical location, What is it about life today that makes them so necessary to peo­ then yes, it's true. ple?

Can we go on to talk a little about the format of the courses . One way of answering that is that it is evidently so. There is What happens on theml a tremendous need, and you only have to speak to people to identify it. The other is in terms of a global spiritual evolu­ Apart from short courses - ten day introductory courses tion. I think that we are at the point of history of a rite de which are for people who can't come on a longer course, or passage, about to go through - or maybe are already going who haven't yet decided that they want to commit them­ through - an extremely crucial isthmus. In terms of maturity, selves for six months - we run two sorts of six month courses this could be described as something between the teenager at Chisholme. One is introductory, and the other is and the responsible adult. Frankly, the way that we conduct advanced, for people who have already completed the first, ourselves politically and in everyday terms, globally, is less and they have different formats. than one would expect of one's own teenage child; we fight, The introductory course, which is the one we are really we don't act with any responsibility towards our fe llow talking about now, is a highly structured situation which human beings; our approach is entirely selfish. This crucial begins shortly before dawn and continues until quite late at isthmuseity will be got through only with proper understand­ night, with very little respite. The reason for this is to make a ing of the self; or perhaps I should say, of ourselves. complete break with all that has gone before, with all that The teenager, you see, thinks that he exists, that he stops one's life has been and with one's habits, and become totally with his own body. The adult who goes into a family situa­ devoted to a single aim. tion knows that he doesn't stop with his physical body; his The course is study oriented, but by study we don't simply family is also his self. This is simply a way of explaining a mean poring over books, but study in every aspect of the day. spiritual awareness that man has to come to; an awarene�s We have days when we study and days when we work, but which means not regarding himself as an existing entity, or study is expected to be continuous. even regarding 'mankind' as an existing entity, but knowing that the totality of mankind and the world of nature - the Can you giveme some idea of how the day is spent? macro-environment - is reflective of one reality, and man's

28 BESHARA

Students on the 18th Course at Study There are no teachers at the Beshara Schools. There is a curriculum, and supervisors who co-ordinate the study, but most of the sessions con­ sist of discussion amongst the students . The material studied is wide­ ranging. The core of it is works by 1bn 'Arabi but also included are the Tao te Ching: the Bhagavad Gita: the Acts of SI. John from the Apocryphal Gospels : and selections from the Mathnawi of the gre a t Persian mystic and poet }alal'w:!din Rumi.

Birds on the Chisholme Lake Chisholme breeds its own poultry , and keeps a variety of ornamental birds .

Fikret, a student on the 18th course , making a cake for afternoon tea. Chisholme employs two fu ll-time cooks , and the students help with the vegetable preparation, washing up and cleaning. They also make cakes and biscuits , yoghurt and jams . The manner of cooking, serving and eating fo od is considered very important, and it is always of a very high standard.

honour is to be of service to that reality in looking after the back; he knows what is needed. At the moment that the creation in a proper way; a responsible way. request is made, he knows and does, and that is how one Now this may not come about overnight; we have taken should be in a state of perfect awareness, whatever one is what are apparently very wrong turnings in the past - maybe doing - sitting, relaxing reading a book, or digging in the gar­ they were necessary and maybe they weren't, I don't know - den. Action is at the right moment in the right quantity, and but now things are happening, and something big has got to this is serving reality, because we say: all service is to God, happen to make a huge shift in consciousness. First of all the whatever the appearance. Whether you think that you are possibility has to become apparent, and this is where I think serving a human being or looking after chickens, all service is we are today; making the possibility a possibility by letting to reality. people know that it is there. As for the actual shift - only God knows how that will happen, and it has to. This is an attitude which 1 always fe el is very clearly demonstrat­ ed in the kitchens at Chisholme. One of the fe elings that I have This idea of service is very important on the courses , is it not? when I hear things like this is that it is very daunting. Do you Especially in your attitude towards work l think that people feel that they may not be up to scratch and are

put off coming I Service is extremely important, but it has to be understood properly. It is not simply to do with doing work, although You could look at it that way; on the other hand, we main­ through doing work, one can come to a proper understanding tain that everyone who comes to Chisholme is brought. If we of how it is to serve. If we were to take the example of serv­ serve, as we hope we do, the reality, then we don't bring ing food at the table; a good servant does the job perfectly, them, they are brought. They bring themselves, if you like, with perfect balance; he should serve in such a way that he is but what is it in themselves that brings them? It is their own not noticed, and so that he does not intrude too much of love to know the truth, and that in itself is truth. There is no himself into the situation, so that he is saying silently, look at doubt that it can appear daunting when you begin to see the me, what a good job I am doing. But neither does he hang largeness of the situation, but the reason that there is a

29 BESHARA

The insurance agency which puts

your insurance cover to work for . ' . ", charity. ;,� '" Charity Link is the insurance agency with one important difference - all profits are donated :jt to charity. ".--. . [{� ! I Wil h Chal'ily Linkyou gl!1 I Ill! samc scrv ice. C,II'C and ,', ��'.) COVI'I' as wilh anv olhl'l' agl'll('.v , \'Oll also gl!! Ihl' .§t� sal isfaclion of din,("ling l)I"ofils 10 Ihl! ("haril.v of .V Olll' ·.·r choi("I!. !; i Beshara School of :' !I .;:.� To make your insul'ance work for chal'ity, contact Intensive Esoteric '�:' Charity Link at: .• .:. .•. :WO Ba thy Road ' , Education j�. Doncaster ON.! OQ"- '/' � /.-} ••� ..... j

Courses Summer 1989 �}irJ,T&�I{i{;:mi���;�i'l�f.���(t�\t\rrili1}��f� Six Month Intensive Courses A pril 1st - Sept 30th 1989 October 1st 1989 - March 31st 1990

Fusus al-Hikam Readings April 15th - 23rd May 20th - 28th June 24th - July 2nd July 22nd - 30th August 19th - 27th September 16th - 24th

One Month Retreat August 19th - September 16th

Third Course April 1st - September 30th

For dates of 9 day introductory courses, and details of any of the above, please Hand knits and knitting kits contact the Secretary. in quality yarns Beshara School of Intensive Esoteric Education For catalogueand samples send SAE to Chisholme House Roberton, Nr. Hawick 23 Southmoor Road, Oxford OX2 6RF Roxburghshire, Scotland TD9 7PH Te lephone: 0865-5 14488 Telephone: Borthwick Brae (045 088) 215

30 BESHARt\

school is that none of us are really what you call 'up to es that happen here, for instance - and I regard this as an scratch'. If we were, there would not be a need for a school. entirely good thing. They do not come back hecause they have hccome institutionalised and can't do without their Do you find that people become institutionalised after six months 'shot' of institutional food and living, but because to be in of this son of intensity ? How do they manage when they leave , the ambience of the awareness of oneness, and to be for instance? amongst those who do like to discuss these things, is a plea­ sure. It is their life blood. It can be a shock. For six months the point of reference has been one being, one existence. While it may have begun as a The intensive cour.les at Chisholme House begin in April and Ocwber premise, it ends in a degree of certainty, and to find that peo­ each year. A fu ll /Jrospectus is available fr om the Secretary, see /Jage 30 ple in general do not live their lives in awareness of this can for the address. Fur details of courses in Australia, please write to be a shock. And things stand out as not confotming to this Beshara Australia, address on page 3. point of view; the way decisions are made, the way people think and so on. At the same time, this awareness of non­ Phorographs by John Farnham , except for the phorogra/Jh of Peter Yo u ng conformity is an endorsement of what they have studied. which was taken by Greg"OT Stevenson of Hawick. But I think the danger of institutionalisation is fa irly remote over a period of six months. People do like to return to the school - many of them choose to do the further cours- Angela Holroyd is Cl writer and editor who lives in London.

The Chisholme Estate Chisholme has about 136 acres of land and two fu ll-time managers are em/J[oyed w maintain it. A/Jart fr om the lawn and gardens around the main house there are kitchen gardens which /Jroduce vegetables and flowers , and areas cultivated fur timber.

31 BESHARA

Paintin� as a Means of Expression

Simon Blackwood talks about his work

Simon Blackwood (40) is a painter living in the Borders of themes; and each one is enlivened by the fact that he was Scotland. His paintings are in collections throughout the world , praising through it. If it is not like this, then it becomes self­ and his first British exhibition is takingplace in April 1989. aggrandisement, and one can see the evidence in the work; the paintings become dead. I can see it, when it happens, in my own work. FIND IT DIFFICULT to say why I paint. There are so many diffe rent reasons, but once you start, it becomes THE BEST ARTISTS are not really inspired by nature as an I almost obsessive, to the point that you are constantly external object, but by an inner vision. Monet travelled conceptualising in that arena. What you are motivated by, throughout France, looking for a 'motif' or something which what draws you, is the fundamental desire for love; the love would fire his vision. He wrote letters to friends and gallery of beauty. This is a passionate force; it becomes your life, and dealers in despair about not being able to find the right if it is not passionate, then it is not life. object. Then when he found it, it was so simple. I particularly I am fortunate in being able to involve myself every day in admire his series of paintings of a haystack. Nobody had ever a direct relationship with this passionate response, whether chosen such a simple thing before. You could say that some of in painting or in other activities. The relationship hetween the objects he chose were not so simple - Rouen Cathedral painting and cooking, for instance, is one that has interested for instance, but all he took from that was the entrance me a lot. Both involve the transmutation of base ingredients porch, and he sat in a shop window with his easel painting from one state to another in what one might call an alchemi­ the same thing for weeks. His paintings are not really about cal process. And just as a well-prepared meal will itself arouse Rouen Cathedral; what he - and all the Impressionists, but the appetite of the guest, so a painting should arouse a kind especially him - said they were looking for was to capture of hunger for beauty in those who see it. the moment. Later on, he had the revelation, through a life­ One thing that has recurred in my painting is the desire time of looking, that what he had always been searching for not to fix an object. This is not vagary, but a conscious desire was the spirituality of things. This was at a time when he not to define the essential elements of an image, so that the spent most of his time looking into water; at reflections and painting grows out of itself as well as from the original image, the movement of light in water. It was his intense desire to which in my case is usually nature. And ultimately, it encounter this spirituality which led him on. becomes lost in the real element which defines it, which is The Arabs say that light comes from the eye and moves light. outward, rather than the way we see it in the West, that the The understanding of light has many diffe rent levels. You eye is merely receptive. I find this interesting, because it can talk about it, as people do with the impressionists, on the means that our attention determines what we see. Therefore, level of creating an atmosphere, of creating light and dark, our development, spiritual or otherwise, determines the harmony and balance. Or you can talk about it as the origin things as they are. We don't, perhaps, directly change a tree of all expression and communication, the point from which when we look at it, but there is nevertheless a real sense in beauty loves to be known. From this point of view, what which the quality of our vision effects it. motivates the artist is not just his own desire to create images And vice versa; just as your state determines what you see, of beauty. There is also the force of beauty, the will of beauty what you see determines your state. It is a circular situation. itself to be expressed, to be communicated in whatever way, So the process of painting is not like some people think, that whether the man has a brush in his hand or a broom. you have an idea and all you do is transpose this to a drawing It is because it is so clear to me that the artist is just like a and fill in the areas between with colour. Every student at art tool, or a brush, for this sort of vision that I can't identify college knows that as soon as you put a mark on a piece of with the modern tendency to revere the artist. If you look at paper, all the other possible marks come into play; they line the work of someone like Rembrandt, you can see that the up like a huge edifice before you. This can be totally daunt­ man was inspired, and that he knew where the inspiration ing or it can be welcoming, depending on you, and how you came from. He didn't want to be the prima-painter, or what­ are; how strong is your willingness to be positively motivated ever the equivalent of a prima ballerina might be. His satisfac­ towards truth. If you are not, then you can get involved in all tion was in the work, and in his relationship with the ideas. sorts of tangents, conjectures and confusions. Most of his great paintings, of course, were religious in their But you never know from the beginning what that final

32 BESHARA

Bosphorus - Early Morning

Yo ung Apple Tr ees

33 BESHARA

image is going to be. It is a doubly creative process; if you are Minimalists have claimed identity with a spiritual way, painting from nature like Monet did, mostly outside, then emphasising the clean simplicity of objects, like the Japanese. you are looking at the object and trying to recreate it, but Similarly, the Conceptual movement with which I was you are dealing with the object on the paper at the same involved in the early '70's, which will accept almost anything time. It is this process which is like an echo of the ordinary as art. The thinking, essentially (although it is all mixed up man looking. with other philosophies) is that the world is beautiful, the If the thing is right, then everything to do with the paint­ inner vision is beautiful and all that is necessary is for that ing - the artist, the brush, the canvas - become tools through reality to be pointed out. which real perception can take place. By real perception, I This is true, and perhaps it is what painting is about. But mean perception of reality beyond fo rm. I believe that this is still, there is the other part of it, which is the motivation. what all human beings are striving for, and what all artists are Once the signs and symbols are freed, then everything is pos­ striving for, whether they know it or not. This is not to place sible for the artist; he can paint like Leonardo da Vinci or art above everything else; it is just one expression of it, and if sculpt like the chap who put the bricks into the Tate Gallery, someone like Monet were able to communicate by pointing or he can be in it simply for the money. But this very free­ to a tree, maybe he would have done that. But who would dom begs other questions, such as what is the best way of have listened? painting. And when I look back historically, I see that all the But look at the value that modern man, capitalist man, people I think are the greatest painters have been involved places on a good painting. Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' sold last in what one might call a spiritual quest, or in a quest for self­ year for some extraordinary sum and is now hanging in a cor­ knowledge. And this is something which strikes a chord with porate building in Japan. His 'Irises' sold recently for $59.6 our modern society, where it seems that people are urgently million! I believe that the reason behind the purchase - and looking for some real meaning in their life. We have become why the Impressionists in particular gather this sort of inter­ so conscious of it, I think, because of the threat of it ending. est - is because people who work in those sorts of environ­ We are much more aware of the results of our actions now ments need contact with the world such artists reveal; it's not than we have ever been, on a global scale, and this is what I just an investment. When you consider that cave-dwellers find so marvellous about our age - we are becoming globally painted, and that human beings have decorated their homes conscious. from the very earliest times, then perhaps this is not so amaz­ It is a particular kind of artist who has the integrity to align ing. Painting and looking at pictures is obviously something himself with an inner vision, regardless of fashion. I was quite essential in human nature. astonished when I found that Egyptian art didn't change for 2000 years, and that each artist was anonymous. I find this THIS IS A VERY confusing time in the art world, when extraordinary, because it shows that the religious quest, the artists, and the art-buying and art-viewing public, don't really spiritual quest, was more important to them than fame. I know where they are going. There is a language to art; a kind don't believe that they were suppressed, because they of sign language which requires common understanding as couldn't have created objects of such great beauty if they much as a written languages like English or German. Up were. The artisans were free. You a have a similar develop­ until about 1850, it was quite straight-forward; art was a rep­ ment in the Islamic tradition, in the extraordinarily beautiful resentation of what you saw, like photography. Then Picasso court paintings, where only one or two of the very greatest began to go to the farthest extreme of image-making, taking artists ever became known by name. people's imaginative ability as far as he could, away from Whereas in our time, there is an attitude, especially among recognisable objects. As did Cezanne, who dissolved the critics and gallery owners, that contemporary art should landscape into a series of blobs or strokes, dashes, until in develop in a certain way; that originality - not of thought some cases there are no recognisable objects in the picture, but of form - is the most important thing. Te chnique is just colours. These people paved the way for abstraction taken to be the meaning, and any apparently non-progressive where the relationship is between pure colour, pure shape, step is considered to be merely retrogressive. I say this rather like a child's approach. In each of these modern because people say that I paint like Monet, or like the schools of painting, the language is totally diffe rent - people Impressionists, but this is merely a technique. It is not like write books about the language of Picasso, fo r instance, and creating the Morris Minor in 1988 when you can have a once you have understood it, then you can decipher all his Datsun Prairie, because what matters is the meaning. paintings. But the vocabulary you need to understand the What is so misunderstood is that Cezanne knew this; he whole lot has become huge. wasn't trying to create 'original' art; he was working with Since Cezanne and Picasso, there has been a movement himself and with his vision; and he was bound by his own into free expression, until we have reached a situation now desire to encounter that vision. This is the sentiment with where anything is possible; you can put a canvas on a wall which I align myself. I am accepting of all the ramifications with a slit down the middle and people will call it art. We of the modern movements; I can see the truth in it and the have a wonderful museum of modern art here in Edinburgh, relevance of it. But a lot of it does not reach out; does not use and I recently went to see a work by Donald Judd, called its language to reach fo r something greater than itself. For 'Installation Piece'. I walked into a huge white room where it me, the truth of painting lies in those men and those works was meant to be kept and couldn't see anything at all. So I which represent the quest for the highest truth. thought 'This is obviously a conceptual piece'. But as I walked out, I suddenly noticed a thing like a radiator on the Interview by Christopher Ryan wall, and this turned out to be the Donald Judd. Now this is Minimal Art, which has become so minimal that it is barely Paintings courtesy of Breyberry Ltd. recognisable. This sort of work is extending the parameters of art, say­ Simun Blackwood's exhibition is to be held from 1 I th to 2 I st April 1989 ing, we can go this far and still get it into a museum. The at the gallery of Anthony Mould, 173, New Bond Street, London W I.

34 HESHARA Reviews

an ideological book, many of its argu­ ments are sceptical of the proposition that we will be able to pin the universe down in an all-encompassing 'Theory of Everything'.

Science and Creation by }ohn Polkinghorne SPCK, London, 1988. P/back,113pp , £4.95 John Polkinghorne was a Professor of Mathematical Physics until he became an Anglican priest. This book contin­ the most promising approach to achiev­ ues his informed exploration of the ing the complete unification of physics, common ground between science and the so-called Theory of Everything'. In theology which he began with his pre­ • • • in brief 1988, Paul Davies and John Brown col­ vious book 'One World' (SPCK 1986). laborated to produce a radio programme Whereas with 'One World' he asserted Science in which they interviewed the leading the unity of the search for knowledge, physicists working in the field. This here he concentrates on specific areas, Chaos book, fo llowing their previous success starting with 'Natural Theology' which by }ames Gleick with 'The Ghost in the Atom' (see he defines as 'the search for the knowl­ Heinemann , London , 1988. H/back , BESHARA 6), is drawn from the origi­ edge of God by the exercise of reason 392pp , £12.95 nal transcripts, and starts with an excel­ and inspection of the world', and going Over the last 20 years, scientists in lent introduction to superstrings, which on to discuss such things as the new many disciplines have been focussing exhibits all the clarity and readability theories of order and chaos, the overlap their attention upon phenomena which we have come to expect of Professor in ideas of creation and a Creator, and are inherently unpredictable and irregu­ Davies. The book includes conversa­ the nature of 'theological science'. lar - things such as the onset of turbu­ tions with Michael Green, Stephen lence in fluids, the weather or the pro­ Weinberg and the late Richard Mysticism cesses of the human body. It has been Feynman, who thought that the whole discovered that such 'chaotic' phenom­ theory was a waste of time. Fusus al-Hikam Volume 3 ena are subject to unexpected regulari­ by Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi ties and this has given birth to the The World within the World Ismael Hakki Bursevi's translation and whole new science of 'chaos'. James by John D. Barrow commentary Gleick, a journalist with the New York Oxford University Press , London, 1988 Translated into English by Bulent Rauf Times, interviewed most of the pioneers H/back,398pp , £20.00 Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi Society, London , of the field to produce this readable and This vast and thought-provoking book 1988. H/back , 238pp, £40.00 very accessible book. He gives a histori­ by one of the most versatile thinkers in The 'Fusus al-Hikam' is the major work cal and anecdotal account which both science today explores the assumptions of Ibn 'Arabi 0165-1240), who was appears to be scientifically accurate and which underpin our modern, scientific known as the 'Greatest Sheikh'. lsmael also manages to convey the sense of world view: that the universe is Hakki Bursevi, himself a scholar and intense excitement attendent upon a ordered, that it is logical, that there are mystic of stature, translated it into new idea whose time has come. laws of nature which can be described Turkish in the 18th century, adding a by mathematics, that it is governed by commentary which is considered the Superstrings something which is outside of our­ best of the many that the book has Ed. P. Davies and }. Brown selves, etc. It traces the development of inspired. The theme of the Fusus is the Cambridge University Press, London , these ideas from the very earliest civili­ infinite wisdom which is at once 1988. P/back, 234pp, £6.95 sations in China, Greece and India, to unique in itself and many-faceted in its Superstring theory is another new area the 'leading edge' of cosmology and representations; in form, the book is an of science, which many physicists feel is fundamental particle physics today. Not exposition on the meaning of each of

35 nESHAI\A

the 27 prophets from Adam to been translated from the ancient Temenos la Muhammed. This volume includes Greek. This edition has been produced Ed. Kathlecn Rainc chapters on Jacob, Joseph, Hud, Salih, in collaboration with Kairos, and Distributed by Element Books ,Bristol, Jethro (Shu'ayb), Lot, Ezra (Ozeyr) and includes a fo reword by Keith Critchlow. UK and Phancs Press , Michigan USA. Jesus. 1989, P/back, £9 .95 General This edition of the arts review (whose John of the Cross purpose is outlined on page 9) includes Selected Wr itings Henry Corbin on 'Emblematic Cities', Ed. Kieran Kavanaugh , O.CD. William Chittick on 'The World of SPCK, Paulist Press , London 1987 Imagination and Poetic Imagery P/back, 326pp, £13.50 according to Ibn 'Arabi' and Patrick This is a welcome addition to 'The Pye on 'The Intellectual Act in El Classics of Western Spirituality' series Greco's Work'. There is poetry from which has brought many mystical works Gennady Ay gi, Kathleen Raine, Jeremy of importance to English speaking read­ Reed and Fernando Pessoa; reviews by ers. John of the Cross (1542-91), a S. H. Nasr, John Mitchell and Keith Spanish monk who collaborated with Critchlow; paintings, in colour, by the St Te resa of Avila in reforming the Huichol Indians of Mexico and draw­ Carmelite orders during the 16th cen­ ings by Ameena Ahuja. tury, is one of the greatest mystical writ­ ers of the Christian tradition, and con­ Jung - A Biography sidered by many to be its greatest poet. by Gerhard We llr This new translation by Kieran Shambhala , New Yo rk , 1988 Kavanaugh includes an introduction to H/back ,550 pp , £20. his life and thought by Ernest Larkin This book is a straight-forward biogra­ and selections from all his major works: phy, of which Franz Jung, c.G.J ung's 'The Ascent of Mount Carmel': The son, says (on the dust-cover) that it is Dark Night': 'The Spritual Canticle' "the best available biography (and) a and The Living Flame of Love'. thoroughly reliable piece of documen­ tation". Apart from three short essays at God Within The son of a Kurdish Prince. From 'Sultans the end of the book - one on western The Mystical Tr adition of Northern in Splendour' . consciousness and eastern spirituality, Europe one on lung's contacts, dialogues and by Oliver Davies Sultans in Splendour disputes with well-known figures of the Darton , Longman and To dd , London , by Phi lip Mansel time, and one on lung's influence - 1988. P/Back, 224pp, £7.95 Andre Deutsch, London , 1988 -Gerhard Wehr does not attempt an Oliver Davies has written this book H/back, 192pp , £17.95 examination of J ung's ideas but con­ because he believes that the mystical An account of the last years of the tents himself with giving an excellent tradition of Northern Europe has a Ottoman sultanate, this book is notable introduction, with a thoughtful com­ flavourquite distinct from that of Spain mainly for the wealth of archive mate­ mentary and many pithy quotations or the later movement in 17th century rial in the fo rm of photographs and por­ culled from both Jung's formal writings France, and that the voice of the men traits. and his personal correspondence. and women who comprise it should be heard. His book starts with an account of the life and work of Meister Eckhart, the great German mystic, and goes on Goethe Contra Newton to cover his fo llowers, Johannes Ta uler by Dennis L. Sepper and Henry Suso. Also included are the Cambridge University Press .1988 Dutchman, Jan van Ruusbroec, and the H/back. 222p/) . £27.50. ... in depth English mystics Richard Rolle, WaIter Hilton and Julian of Norwich, plus the Henri Bortoft anonymous work 'The Cloud of the Unknowing'. HE T HEM E OF this book is no means the only field in which clearly expressed by the title. Goethe worked scientifically. His work The Theology of Arithmetic T Dennis Sepper is concerned in botany, for example, is of equal Translated by Robin Waterfield specifically with Goethe's project for a importance (some would say more). Phanes Press , New Yo rk , 1988. P/back, new science of colour and the contro­ However, it was with his work on colour 130pp , $13.95 versy which this aroused as a result of that he achieved an unwelcome, Attributed to Iamblichus (4th century his attack on Newton. He seeks to elu­ although self-inflicted notoriety. (1) AD), The Theology of Arithmetic' is cidate why Goethe was led to make Sepper shows how Goethe's achieve­ about the mystical, mathematical and such an attack, when it seemed to be ment can be illuminated by the history cosmological symbolism of the first ten against his own nature to do so, and and philosophy of science. In so doing numbers. It is the longest work on also what role this polemic played in he fo llows the pathway taken by number symbolism to survive from the the establishment of his scientific pro­ Goethe himself, who came to under­ ancient world, and has never before ject in the field of colour. This was by stand that science could only be under-

36 BJ-:SHAR!\ stood by recovering the historical dilettante, who had no firm grasp of crepancy he experienced between the dimension which was essential to it. what science is really about. phenomena and the accepted theory This is invariably covered over in that led him to undertake a further series of very common approach to science, GOETHE'S CONCERN with colour experiments and observations. These, both in his day and our own, which arose out of his interest in art he believed, let the phenomena speak believes that scientific knowledge is (Newton's arose out of his technical for themselves so clearly that it would simply gained directly by induction interest in improving telescope images). be immediately apparent to everyone from observation and experiment. During his first journey to Italy (1786- that the accepted theory was wrong. In Sepper shows how Goethe also began 88) he fo und that artists were able to the event, the opposite to what he from such a position of naive induc­ give rules for all the elements of paint­ expected happened. Goethe experi­ tivism, and how, as a result of his failure ing except colouring. This was unsatis­ enced great resistance to his work and to communicate his discovery effective­ factory to him because he believed that he became isolated from his contempo­ ly to others, he went on to discover for the work of art was Nature realising raries, standing on his own on this himself that scientific knowledge is sit­ herself (Nature was always feminine fo r account. So he went more deeply into uated in a historical context and not Goethe) on a higher level through the the question, going into the history of simply 'read off' nature directly. artist. Hence he believed that the same earlier ideas about colour and into the history of science. It was through this deeper investigation that he discovered that science is intrinsically historical (thus becoming a precursor of the understanding of science which was to emerge clearly only a century and a half later). The results of this intensive labour were eventually published as the 'Theory of Colours' (Farbenlehre ) (1810). A complete translation of this work has not yet appeared in English (to the best of my knowledge ).The translation published in 1840 misses out the polemic against Newton, and all of the historical part. Perhaps this is why Goethe's advance beyond induc­ tive empiricism towards understanding science as historically situated knowl­ edge has not been recognised. Sepper brings this out very clearly in what seems to me to be the major contribu­ tion which this book makes to under­ standing Goethe's science. He describes how Goethe's thinking shifted towards the possibility that there are several ways of concei ving things, each of which has its own value. These Vorstellungsarten (ways of conceiving) were explored by Goethe through his historical studies, and he came to see Goethe (1749-1832) . Courtesy of the Goethe Institute . such exploration, and the historical awareness which it developed, as a nec­ What emerges from Sepper's account kind of lawfulness as was to be found in essary part of doing science. of his early struggle is just how modern nature must be present in art; the divi­ He contrasted the atomistic, Goethe's understanding of science was. sion between art and science simply mechanical and mathematical Vorstel­ Now that the historical situatedness of didn't exist for Goethe. So he set out to lungsarten with his own way of conceiv­ scientific knowledge has been widely discover the lawfulness in the phenom­ ing, which he thought of as more recognised (2), it is easy to understand ena of colour. inclined to the genetic, the dynamic why Sepper says that he has "come to To begin with "like everyone in the and the concrete. He saw that an atom­ believe that Goethe has an ampler con­ world I was convinced that all the istic intelligence would see nothing ception of science than Newton, that colours were contained in the light; I wrong with Newton's theory, but to he has a sounder notion of what an had never been told otherwise, and I limit our understanding to this one way empirical methodology required and a had never had the slightest reason for of conceiving would be to make the sci­ firmer grasp on the epistemological and doubting it ....." (p24) But not having ence unnecessarily one-sided. This is philosophical issues involved." (px) seen the experiments upon which this why he had to attack Newton: because Yet how different this is to the usual Newtonian theory was based (as he in science he could not tolerate the picture which is presented of Goethe as supposed it to be), he decided "to see authoritarianism which takes hold of the amateur of science, the dabbling the phenomena for myself". The dis- what is only a part and insists that it is

37 BESHARA

the whole. Sepper says that "the evolu­ nature is reduced to the requirements of tions fo r colour in terms of light alone, tion of Goethe's understanding of the a method. The requirements of a partic­ Goethe saw that light and dark are nec­ Vorstellungsarten apparently has escaped ular method of investigation are thus essary, and saw the origin of the differ­ notice" (p.96). He indicates how this is given a false ontological interpretation, ent colours as being in the dynamical linked with the growth of Goethe's which has the result of impoverishing interaction of the two. The interaction ideal that science should become a nature in the eyes of man. Given this or interpenetration of the two poles of many-sided activity, encompassing a reduction, the task then becomes to light and dark gives rise to the sec­ plurality of ways of conceiving. This is explain the differences within a partic­ ondary polarity of red, orange and yel­ in contrast to the reduction to a single ular secondary quality (eg. the differ­ low on the one hand, and blue and vio­ way of thinking which had been the ence between red and blue) in terms of let on the other, depending on whether ideal of Newton and others in the primary qualities. So Newton explained the light is darkened or the dark is development of mathematical science the diffe rence between red and blue in lightened. It is at the meeting of these in the seventeenth century. terms of differences in speed between two secondary poles that green arises. the corresponding light corpuscles. He So the so-called spectrum of light is BY GOING AMPLY into the details, this proposed that the slower moving cor- no such thing for Goethe. It is instead a book brings us to see how Goethe came polar interaction of light and dark in a to understand Newton and his experi­ way which is quite different to their mental work better than anybody else mechanical addition (which would pro­ in his own time. He came to under­ duce grey). It is a striking fe ature of stand that Newton did not say that Goethe's approach that he is able to white light is really a mix of colours discover a necessity in the qualities of which can be split up by a prism. All the colours, and in their relationship to the German scientific compendia avail­ one another, which no quantitatively able to him at the time got this wrong - based science could discover. We just as the physics textbooks available understand, fo r example, why red is red to schools in Britain today get it wrong. and why it appears in the spectrum in Goethe got it right, and in doing so just that particular position which it leapt far ahead of his contemporaries in occupies relative to other colours. his understanding of what scientific knowledge both is and is not. THE ESSENCE OF Goethe's way seems What Newton proposed, in tune with to be in the demand that everything be the new philosophy of his time - the known in context. Nothing less than revived philosophy of atom ism - was this could count as understanding for that light is ultimately composed of him. In every respect he strove to see Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) in cl 726. tiny corpuscles. It was these which comprehensively; indeed, this striving Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery. entered the eye and ultimately, in some to see comprehensively seems to have unknown way, gave rise to the experi­ puscle gave rise to the sensation of blue been the very spirit of the man. The ence of vision. The atomistic philoso­ in the sensory system, whereas red was basis of his complaint against Newton phy, which was recovered from the due to corpuscles which moved more and mathematical physicists (and, in works of Epicurus and Lucretius, fitted quickly. The other colours were associ­ another context, against Linnaeus) is in well with the equally new quantita­ ated with intermediate speeds. that they were selective instead of com­ tive approach which was concerned Basically the same view is held in sci­ prehenSive. They took one aspect of a with measuring nature. Atoms and ence today. It is only the details which phenomenon and tried to base their number (understood now as 'quantity' have changed - instead of moving cor­ understanding of the whole on that only) go together as readily as hand and puscles, colour is now explained in alone. glove. This in turn led to the distinc­ terms of a wave motion, with high fre­ We can see Goethe's comprehensive­ tion between the so-called 'primary' quency waves (short wavelength) giv­ ness acting at different levels. First he and 'secondary' qualities. Those quali­ ing rise to blue in the sensory system, sees that the colours become intelligi­ ties which are readily mathematizable, and so on. ble in the context of their surroundings. ego size, motion, shape ete., were said to Goethe would have none of this. He Then he goes on to show how any par­ be 'primary' and it was supposed that believed that light was simple and ticular observation or experiment only these alone were real. Any other quali­ homogeneous, and that all the phe­ becomes intelligible in the context of ties of nature, such as colour, had some­ nomena of colour must be understood all the other observations and experi­ how to be reduced to primary qualities, in their own terms instead of referring ments with which it belongs. So he and the effect by which we recognize them to mechanical causes. His way of vehemently rejected what Newton them (ego the perception of red) was science enhances nature instead of insisted upon: the notion that there is thought to be the result of some sup­ impoverishing it, showing how the phe­ an experimencum crucis, a single pivotal posed interaction between the primary nomena are intelligible in themselves experiment on the basis of which his qualities responsible and the human instead of explaining them in terms of entire theory could be established. In sensory system. There is, then, no something which is alien. He recog­ the 'Theory of Colours' he sees the pris­ colour as such in nature, but only in nized that colours only appear at an matic colours within the context of human experience. edge or boundary, when this is seen other manifestations of colour, physio­ This doctrine of primary and sec­ through a prism, and that this is an logical and chemical as well as physical, ondary qualities is really an instance of essential condition. Whereas Newton and includes the effect of the diffe rent methodological reductionism, whereby tried to understand the physical condi- colours upon the human being. So here

38 BESHARA

he strives to see colour phenomena as Science, Order and Creativity many papers putting forward an alterna­ comprehensively as possible. by David Bohm and David Peat tive theory. This is often referred to as a Finally, Goethe strives to see the sci­ Bantam , New York , 1987 'hidden variable theory' ; ie. one that ence of colour itself in the context of Routledge , London, 1989. P/back, proposes that the behaviour of quantum the history of science - "We might ven­ 280pp , £5 .95 mechanical particles is not fundamen­ ture the statement that the history of tally random or unpredictable, as the science is science itself', he says. Here Quantum Implications Copenhagen interpretation asserts, but he put scientific knowledge back into Essays in Honour of David Bohm is caused by forces which are not appar­ the context of the thinking that pro­ Rowledge and Keagan Paul, London, ent. Bohm suggests that the electron duced it. This enabled him to recognise 1987. H/Back, 455pp, £20.00 has associated with it a field called the how Newton's theory was presented by 'quantum potential' which guides its Newton himself as if it could be 'read Jane Clark actions. This potential, or field, has off' his experiments, and how Newton some unusual properties; the most did this by decontextualising his own important of which, as Bohm describes work. At the same time, Goethe's AVID BOHM is one of the most in the excellent essay which opens recognition of the irreducible historical interesting and important 'Quantum Implications', was that it dimension of scientific knowledge, and D thinkers alive today. Recently makes explicit "the crucially significant particularly the typology of the ways of retired as Professor of Physics at new feature of wholeness ... which Bohr conceiving (Vorstellungsarten) which he Birkbeck College, London, his pioneer­ had shown to be implicit in the quan­ developed, enabled him to see the prac­ ing work on quantum theory over the tum theory". (p37). He goes on: tical possibility of there being a much past forty years has influenced a whole more comprehensive kind of science. generation of scientists and has found a " ...cla ssically, the whole is merely a Here "comprehensiveness must include wide audience outside his field. result of the parts and their pre-assigned not only the object in its manifold rela­ 'Quantum Implications', consisting of a interactions .... With the quantum tionships but also the variety of human lively collection of papers by colleagues potential, however, the whole has an subjectivity, the many ways of experi­ such as Roger Penrose, Richard independent and prior significance such encing the object" (p.l87). Feynman and Brian Goodwin - many that, indeed, the whole may be said to Sepper's account brings out Goethe's of which warrant a whole article to organise the activities of the parts". striving for comprehensiveness on these themselves - is a testament to his influ­ different levels. It is not always an easy ence within his profession. This sort of In 1957 he extended the idea further, book to read because of the density of anthology is common in the scientific and in his book 'Causality and Chance detail which it necessarily contains. But world at certain important moments - in Modern PhYSiCS', suggested that whatever stylistic shortcomings the in this case, Bohm's 70th birthday - but quantum mechanical particles are book might have in places, we must be they are not normally suitable for the 'unfolding' from an unmanifest level of grateful to its author for the trouble he general reader. It is a comment on the existence which he called 'the impli­ has gone to in providing us with an breadth of Bohm's vision that, whilst cate order'. It is worth quoting further account of Goethe's philosophy of sci­ much of it is too technical even for from Quantum Implications: ence as this is reflected in his work on someone moderately educated in colour. physics like myself, it includes a number "So the thought occurred to me: per­ of 'non-scientific' essays accessible to haps the movement of enfoldment and 1. We may well suspect, though , that had anyone. These encompass such subjects unfoldment is universal, whilst the Darwin also been in Goethe's past, for the as dreams, Zen Buddhism, the philoso­ extended and separate forms that we same length of time as Newton , then we might phy of Hegel and the Renaissance commonly see in experience are rela­ also have to consider Goethe's polemic against Magi, art, and a revealing interview tively stable and independent patterns, Darwin! That seems very likely when we with Renee Weber entitled: "Meaning maintained by a constant underlying reflect on how, until very recently, Darwin has movement of enfoldment and unfold­ been accorded the same kind of authoritarian as Being in the implicate order philoso­ status in science that Newton later came to phy of David Bohm". ment. This latter I call the 'holomove­ have. Surely, Goethe would have detected the Bohm has an impressive pedigree as ment'. The proposal was thus a reversal same kind of one-sidedness in the Darwinian a physicist, originally making his name of the usual idea. Instead of supposing theory of the mechanism of evolution that he in plasma physics in the late 1940's. In that extended matter and its movement detected in Newton's theory of colour? 1951 he published a highly acclaimed are fundamental. .. we are saying that text book on quantum mechanics the implicate order will have contained 2. Thomas S. Kuhn 'The Structure of which is still used on many undergradu­ within itself all possible features of the Scientific Revolutions" 2nd. ed. University of ate courses. Through it, he attracted explicate order as potentialities, along Chicago Press 1970; also Kurt Hubner, the attention of Einstein, who fe lt that with the principles determining which 'Critique of Scientic Reason" University of the standard approach to quantum of these features shall become actual. Chicago Press , 1983. mechanics - the so-called 'Copenhagen The explicate order will in this way Interpretation' of Niels Bohr - was flow out of the implicate order through Henri Bortoft teaches phyiscs, philosophy incomplete. Subsequent meetings with unfoldment, while in turn it 'flows and the history of science at Tonbridge School. He has given several courses of the great man, and a deepening under­ back' through further enfoldment. The Goethe's way of science for audiences in standing that quantum mechanics and implicate order thus plays a primary UK and USA and has published a mono­ relativity theory were in some areas role, whilst the explicate order is sec­ graph 'Goethe's Scientific Consciousness', fundamentally incompatible, led Bohm ondary ... (Octagon Press, 1986. ISBN 09054- also to question the orthodox approach. "This approach implies, of course, 67410X). In 1952, he published the first of that each separate and extended form

39 BESHARA

David Bohm (right) with Krishnamurti . Photograph by Mark Edwards , courtesy of the Krishnamurti Foundation . in the explicate order is enfolded in the Professorship at Birkbeck College, lished as 'The Ending of Time', in 1980. whole and that, in turn, the whole is where he established a relationship (2). enfo lded in this form (though, of with the mathematician, Basil Hiley, Also in 1980, he published course, there is an asymetry, in that the and began the project of developing a 'Wholeness and the Implicate Order', a form enfolds the whole only in a limit­ mathematical formulation which is still collection of essays which extended his ed and not completely defined way). in progress today. ideas into the realms of philosophy and The way in which the separate and culture. In this, he argues that reality is extended form enfolds the whole is, BOHM'S IDEAS HAVE not yet been an undivided whole, and it is our own however, not merely superficial or of widely accepted or, he claims, even fragmented thought processes which secondary significance, but rather, is properly understood by the scientific divide and partition it. In 'Science, essential to what form is and to how it establishment, who, perhaps unsurpris­ Order and Creativity', aimed also at a acts, moves, and behaves quite general­ ingly, find it a large step to give such lay audience, he similarly argues that it ly. So the whole is, in a deep sense, weight to unmanifest degrees of reality. is our rigidity and fixity of thought internally, related to the parts". (p40) (Hiley and Peat tell us that Pauli, patterns - our clinging to beliefs - unwilling to accept it, accused Bohm's which prevents us from participating in He goes on to explain that this first approach of being 'metaphysical'!) (1). true creativity. He coins the term 'gen­ implicate order is in turn influenced by But they strike an instant chord with erative order' to indicate " ... a deeper a second, super-implicate order which anyone who has studied the mystical and more inward order out of which the "stands in relationship to the first as a traditions, or the holistic sciences of manifest form of things can emerge cre­ source of fo rmative, organising and cre­ people like Goethe or Plato. The very atively. Indeed, this order is fundamen­ ative activity"; all of which tends universality of the principles he out­ tally relevant both in nature and in towards "the possibility of considering lines also produces a breadth which consciousness" .(p 151). Thus, the con­ the cosmos as an unbroken whole takes them beyond the boundaries of cept of the implicate order becomes a through an overall implicate order". science as such. For instance, he special case of this more universal (p44). The task of expressing this intu­ formed a relationship with the mystic degree. itive vision in a scientific form has and spiritual teacher Krishnamurti, who Bohm and Peat suggest that we des­ become his life work. In 1961, he deeply influenced his thought, and perately need new ideas at the moment. moved to England to take up the some of their many dialogues were pub- We are confronted globally with a cri-

40 RESHARA

sis, in which the negative effects of our oppositions, be they particles or view, which he feels needs to happen at actions threaten to engulf us on every nations. Science need not lurch, as a global level. level, and yet we seem unable to act Thomas Kuhn has suggested it does, If there is a fault with 'Science, Order effectively to solve the problem. Bohm from one fixed paradigm to another; and Creativity', it is that it occasionally tells us that this is because the problems society need not expect great changes fa ils to convince me that even the themselves stem from the way we to necessarily entail upheaval and con­ authors believe that all this will actual­ think; if we don't change radically, and frontation between opposing points of ly happen. As such, it skirts, rather soon, then we will not survive. The view; we need not see a great gulf than completely falls into, utopian ism concepts he has developed in his between science and art, or confine the and occasionally becomes prescriptive physics are forged here into an effective ability to create new forms, to have rather than illuminating. But against language and a tool through which to new insights, to special gifted people or this, is an impassioned plea for action. discuss how, and from where, we might particular times of human history. If we It is not enough any more that creativi­ develop new ways of thinking and are willing to put aside our assumptions ty should be confined to a few 'great' being - and consequently, acting. about reality - about ourselves, our people, be they political leaders, artists, " ...creative intelligence originates in society, even our religious belief - and saints or scientists; everyone must take the infinitely subtle depths of the gen­ cultivate what Bohm calls 'conscious part. "The ultimate aim of this book", erative order, which is basically not in awareness' (a kind of active passivity of it finishes, "has been to arouse an inter­ the order of time" he says on page 225. mind which constitutes openness) then est in the importance of creativity. we are all invited to participate in the Whoever sees this importance will have IT WOULD DO neither the authors nor flow of the 'whole stream'; the 'timeless the energy to do something about fos­ the reader justice to try to summarise moment' of the generative order. tering it ... All great changes have the wealth of insight and information begun to manifest themselves in a few contained in this book. The subjects "Through (the generative and impli­ people at fi rst, but these were only the under discussion range from an expla­ cate orders ), it becomes possible to 'seeds' as it were of something much nation of how science arrived at its pre­ understand the unfoldment of creativi­ greater to come". 'Science, Order and sent fragmented state to the nature of ty from ever subtler levels, leading to a Creativity' is not an easy book to read, social and cultural revolutions, taking source which cannot be limited or but it is immensely reward ing, and in art, music, the new scientific theo­ grasped in any definable knowledge or highly recommended to anyone who is ries of chaos and fractals, evolution, the skill. This source cannot be restricted concerned about the nature of reality as development of language, the meaning to particular areas, such as science and it appears in our time. of religion, the nature of thought itself; art, but involves the whole of life . and much more. I found the chapter Therefore the creative urge which is ( 1) Even Eins[ein disliked i( because although 'What is Order?', a particular pleasure. called for will have to be general and [he theory is causal, i( is not detenninistic in Here, Bohm delineates his perception pervasive, rather than limited to special the classical sense. Rather, i[ contains within i[ (he possibility of non-local connections that all that exists is ordered. Thus, we fields". (p269) between panicles in a quantum sys[em, (ie. are faced not with an opposition panicles seem to be connected, even [hough between order and chaos, but a contin­ The aim, therefore, is not to achieve [hey are widely separated in space) ; a prospect uum in which different degrees of order fixed objectives, or solve a limited cate­ which Eins[ein abhorred, but which has since are manifest, ranging from the low gory of problems, but to initiate a new been verified by experiments by Alain Aspec[ degrees of simple geometric shapes to modus operandi which is as fluid and in (he mid 1980's. high, even infinite, degrees manifesting integrated as the interior degrees from as apparent randomness. which it draws. An important part of (2) Gollancz, London, 1985 . Such a unitative and integrated Bohm's prescription for bringing this approach informs throughout. There is about is dialogue; the ability to meet Jane CIark studied Engineering and PhYSics no need, Bohm and Peat maintain, to and discuss creatively with people of at Birmingham and Warwick Universities. see the world in terms of fragments and different or even opposing points of She is currently editor of Beshara Magazine.

Markings this diary, which he describes as "a sort depends the result of your action". by Dag Hammerskjold of 'White Book' concerning my negoti­ Shining through the whole book is the Translated by Leif Sjoberg and ations with myself and with God", that sense of a man motivated not merely by W. H. Auden Dag Hammerskjbld was such an indi­ a set of ideals, but made malleable by a First issued 1963 . Reissued by Faber and vidual. living truth. "You will know Life and be Faber 1988. P/Back . 186pp . £3 .95 Hammerskjbld led an extraordinarily acknowledged by it according to your successful public life , culminating in degree of transparency, your capacity, Derek Elliott the post of Secretary General to the that is, to vanish as an end and remain United Nation before his tragic death purely a means". (p133) "In our age the road to holiness necessari­ in an aircrash in 1961 . Occasionally, in The United Nations is an organisa­ ly passes through the world of action." this collection of poems, pensees and tion with unique aspirations, the signif­ (p23) aphorisms, there are clues to how he icance of which, rather than the perfor­ saw the performance of an office which mance it has been allowed up to now, is T IS ALWAYS fascinating when a he considered as a duty or a calling. especially relevant to our times. leader in the secular world, entrust­ "Success," he says on page 128, "for the Existing to carry out the peaceful inten­ I ed with large responsibilities, glory of God or for your own, fo r the tions of its member states, it is more reveals an interiority to action which is peace of mankind or for your own? passive than any elected government. singularly spiritual. It is evident from Upon the answer to this question Nevertheless, an international body

41 BESHARA

ennobled by a declared veracity and ence of the elector and the elected . plicity of many of the 'non-religious' occasionally peopled by those who live Only one - which you will never find who speak purely from their own per­ its ideals is bound to have a kind of until you have excluded all those super­ sonal experience. But in all cases the transforming influence on the tasks it is ficial and fleeting possibilities of being nature of the question itself elicits an asked to perform, and more, on the way and doing with which you toy, out of honesty in the response, and the sheer those tasks are perceived. Here Dag curiosity or wonder or greed, and which number and variety of such responses Hammerskjold comments on the hinder you from casting anchor in the collected in this book serves as a vivid nature of the 'neutrality' of being a civil experience of the mystery of life, and illustration of 'the many ways to God'. servant: the consciousness of the talent entrust­ Indeed their very juxtaposition gives ed to you which is your eye". (p38). each of them a greater depth by setting "In the last analysis, this is a question of them in a context greater than their integrity, and if integrity in the sense of Derek Elliott read Religious Studies at own individual vision, and illuminates respect for law and respect for truth Sussex University. He now designs and them as refractions of a single theme. were to drive him into positions of con­ makes furniture in Gloucestershire. In reading 'My God' there cumulates flict with this or that interest, then that a strong sense of the very real inward conflict is a sign of his neutrality and My God activity of man fac ing towards his Lord not of his failure to observe neutrality - Letters from the Famous on God and with openness and honesty. It is this then it is in line, not in conflict, with the Life Hereafter that gives the book a special quality and his duties as an international civil ser­ Ed. Hayley Mills and Marcus Maclaine sensitivity and makes it of particular rel­ vant". (p22) Pelham Books . 1988. H/back .180pp. evance at this time. £9 .95 (All proceeds to Save the Children 'Markings' is a delightful book, and Fund) John Hill read Social Anthropology at bears out the reputation that the author Churchill College, Cambridge. He now runs had with those who knew him. Its John Hill Cl landscape gardening business in utterances reveal a man who brought Gloucestershire. himself completely to the writing of HIS BOOK is a wide and won­ them, and it sometimes hits notes of derful collection of answers to startling clarity. The book is not a liter­ T the questions "Who or what is ary work; the poetry is if anything you r persona I concept of God? What do rather dull. Its joy is the almost Zen­ you believe happens when you die?" Theatre like fragments into which the reader These two questions were asked of can dip in and out, always emerging over a hundred people from all walks of with something valuable. Here are a life - religious leaders, politicians, sci­ few of the many gems: entists, novelists, actors, musicians ete.; Signs and Wonders people of strong religious convictions or A Journey into Jewish Mysticism "Never look down to test the ground none at all. Some answers were single sentences, some several pages long. before taking your next step: only he Written and /)layed by Oded Te omi. It is stimulating and compelling light who keeps his eye fixed on the fa r hori­ November 12th - 19th 1988, New End reading, and not only because of the zon will find his right road." (p3 2) Theatre , Hampstead . gossip-column fascination of reading "What you have to attempt - to be what John Cleese, Jonathon Porritt or Step hen Hirtenstein yourself. What you have to pray for - to Sir Fred Hoyle have to say on these become a mirror in which, according to matters. It is the wealth of human "Can you give me a hand?" the old man the degree of purity of heart you have response to these intimate and pro­ asked. The three-wheeler was lying on its attained, the greatness of life will be found questions that is itself very mov­ side in the road, and would have require d reflected". (p32) ing. a great effort to right it. While a few of the answers are flip­ "Well, I'm sorry but I'm afraid I can­ "Maturity: among other things - not to pant, the majority have addressed the not." Te omi was tired, it had been a hard hide one's strength out of fear and, con­ question with depth and sincerity. For and fr ustrating day and his search for a sequently, live below one's best." (p87) Sir Yehudi Menuhin, for example, the real mystic, a true Kabbalist, was proving first contributor, "God is a great circle hopeless . "I am the vessel. The draught is God's. all-encompassing, infinite and eternal "You can but you don't want to." And God is the thirsty one." (p88) in its ever-changing myriad parts, yet "What do you mean? How do you know all related in motion ... "; Shirley I can?" "In the last analysis, what does the MacLaine tells us that "when conceptu­ "How do you know you can't if you word 'sacrifice' mean? Or even the alising God I see brilliant white light haven't tried?" word 'gift'? He who has nothing can and I feel that the light is Love"; while give nothing. The gift is God's - to Arthur C. Clarke admits, "I don't HIS CONVERSATION with an God." (p88) believe in God, but I'm very interested insignificant old plumber in the in Him ...". T middle of a village in Upper "At every moment you choose yourself. There is often a striking contrast Galilee was one of the many pearls that But do you choose yourself? Body and between the doctrinal responses of the Oded Te omi offered in a compelling soul contain a thousand possibilities out religious exponents who express their play entitled "Signs and Wonders". It of which you can build many 'I's'. But corporate creed with many references was a pearl not only for the delightful in only one of them is there a congru- and quotations, and the touching sim- way in which the story was told, but

42 BESHARA

also for the subtle meaning which the whose attractiveness almost makes him himself; whose unrest is not general but story conveyed of the nature of a spiri­ give up the whole idea; and the old directed towards a search for the truth tual quest. As it turned out, the man who can hardly walk and yet rush­ about himself". These are sentiments plumber was precisely the kind of man es down the hillside of the cemetery that one feels Oded Te omi would share, he had been looking for, an Elijah fig­ with his coat-tails flapping like a great for his play is a passionate declaration ure who subsequently instructed him. bird. I certainly cannot do justice to the of the spiri tual search. The play is a true story, based on scenes Te omi evoked so beautifully, for What really marked this play out as Te omi's personal experience, of a jour­ this was the ancient tradition of story­ unusual was not that it was superb the­ ney into the Jewish mystical tradition. telling coupled with the modern the­ atre or an entertaining story, but that it It is written by someone who is at once atre, to provide a solo performance of managed to convey the meanings of both inside and outside that tradition, a immense power which kept the audi­ spiritual teaching. It became clear that person who is discovering the true ence spellbound for almost two hours. of the events that Te omi laid before us, meaning of his heritage for the first The setting was extremely simple: not one was insignificant or unimpor­ time. Oded Te omi is a seventh genera­ three boxes, covered in cloth, which tant. Everything in our lives can be tion Sabra, a world-class actor, director served as seats or tombs or speakers. touched by a vaster meaning that and playwright, whose previous one­ There was none of the baggage associat­ changes our 'flat' perceptions into a man show 'Above and Beyond' ran for ed with so much modern drama, no multi-faceted and never-ending dance. over 500 performances. He has won the Israeli Harp of David award three times, and has appeared in many plays and films.

"SIGNS AND WONDERS" starts with a dream in which Te omi sees his dead father's head in a clock-face amidst a pile of old books and manuscripts. His father tells him:"a bird will suddenly appear, a wandering bird will appear". Teomi is convinced that this dream is important, and in his search for the meaning of this cryptic sentence, he is led to the ancient centre of Safed (see notes on page 44) where the great mas­ ters of Kabbalah lived and are buried. The first stage of his quest is marked by the dilemma of whether "there is a guiding light that is leading me on this journey" or whether it is just a matter of imagination. Beginning at the Isaac Luria Synagogue, he goes through a series of meetings with various people including the plumber, culminating in a visit to the old cemetery at Safed and the tombs of the great masters like Joseph Karo, Moses Cordovero and Isaac Luria. He is taken to a cave where he becomes the tenth member of a kabbalistic Oded Te omi. Drawing by Evelyn Morrison minyan and learns the meaning of the make-up, no props, no scenery or spe­ covenant which every Jew can make to cial effects. In the small New End Thus the conversation with the plumb­ fulfil his destiny. His particular duty as Theatre at Hampstead, which can hold er took on a diffe rent and enlarged sig­ an actor is to pass on this story to his up to 100 people, Te omi insisted on a nificance, putting man's responsibility audience. maximum of 70. into clear focus: real change is possible Teomi is an actor of consummate All this reminded me of the theatre­ and the only requirement is the resolve, skill, and no member of the audience craft of Jerzy Grotowski, the well­ the desire for it. "You can but you don't that night can have remained unaffect­ known director of the Polish want to." The tragedy of modernpeople ed by his marvellous portrayals of the Laboratory Theatre in the 60s and 70s. is not our inability to act, but that once people he met. His descriptions demon­ Both have stripped the performance of having seen what action is required, we strated not only an acute sense of obser­ all but the most essential, ie. the fall back into an unwillingness to vation but also a wry sense of humour: human being and his condition. As behave in accordance with that vision. I> there was the man who looked after the Grotowski wrote almost 20 years ago, synagogue with his great concern for "we are concerned with the spectator Stephen Hirtenstein studied History at timing ("if you want to meet a kabbal­ who has genuine spiritual needs and Kings College, Cambridge. He is editor of ist, it's all a matter of timing; you're a who really wishes, through confronta­ the Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi Society Journal mere 400 years too late"); the girl tion with the performance, to analyse and currently teaches in Oxford.

43 BESHARA

Notes on Signs and Wonders the talmudic period had been buried. Solomon Alkabez, his brother-in-law. Notable is Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai, His great contribution was the total known as the father of Kabbalah, who synthesis of the Kabbalistic tradition up had escaped from the persecution of to his day, and his work remains the the Emperor Hadrian by hiding with key to the proper understanding of his son in a cave fo r 13 years, where Kabbalah (from the root 'to receive', they were instructed by Elijah in the the term means 'Tradition' ie that mysteries of the To rah. which is received both temporally and The community which thrived in the eternally). Among his many books are 16th century was remarkable in many 'Pardes Rimmonium' (Orchard of Pome­ Safed. ways, none more so than in the fact granates), 'Or Yaqar' (The Precious A small town in the Galilean hills that mystical practice was not seen as Light) which is a huge commentary on some 20 miles north of the sea of confined to the rare or special initiate, the Kabbalistic text book, the 'Zohar' , Galilee, Safed emerged in the 16th but was openly proclaimed as the and a short but very influential work century as one of the great spiritual birthright of each and every human 'Tomer Devorah' (The Palm Tree of centres of the world, and became syn­ being. The following are some of its Deborah). His disciples included onymous with the tradition of celebrated masters: almost all the great Kabbalists of Safed. Kabbalah (the Jewish mystical tradi­ tion). The community of Jews who Joseph Karo (1488-1575) Isaac Luria ( 1534-1572) lived by this elevated valley were Probably born in To ledo, he was taken Born in Jerusalem, he spent his early drawn from all over the Western world, by his family when he was nine to years in Egypt, studying the 'Zohar'. In having gathered as a direct result of the Turkey, where he lived for 40 years. late 1569 he travelled to Safed where expulsion of the Jews from Spain in There he met prominent Kabbalists he studied with Moses Cordovero, "our 1492 and the subsequent warm wel­ such as Solomon Alkabez. In 1537 he teacher, may his light be prolonged". come extended to them by the moved to Safed where he became the Following Cordovero's death, Luria, Ottoman Empire. (The Sultan Bayazid pre-eminent legal authority. His work who was also known as the 'Ari (lion) II is reputed to have said of the Spanish 'Shulhan 'Arukh' remains the authorita­ became the centre of an extraordinary King Ferdinand who ordered the expul­ tive code of Jewish law for traditional circle of students, amongst them sion: "Can you call such a king wise Jews. He was also a great mystic; he Hayyim Vital who became one of the and intelligent ? He is impoverishing had no earthly teacher but received major expounders of his teaching. Luria his country and enriching my king­ inspiration directly: "As I was reading committed almost nothing to paper, dom.") the Mishnah, the voice of the beloved saying: "It is impossible, because all Thus Safed, being close to the large knocked in my mouth and the lyre sang things are connected with one another. community at Damascus, became a of itself'. His diary, 'Maggid Mesharim' I can hardly open my mouth without major textile and trade centre. Even contains exhortations to the spiritual feeling as though the sea bursts its dams today, it bears evidence of its Iberian life. and overflows." Although his activity origins; the Jewish quarter at To ledo in Safed lasted just over two years, his may very well have been a model in its Moses ben J acob Cordovero influence upon later generations has construction. But above all, the town (1522-1570) been so profound that the kabbalistic was chosen because of its great and Probably bornin Safed, he studied law tradition after him is often referred to ancient sanctity, where many rabbis of with Joseph Karo and Kabbalah with as Lurianic Kabbalah.

rejected as of little value . These despised The invitation arrived on the 12th of and rejected goods which were left behind January between 9.30 and 1O.00pm in Exhibitions by many buyers I shall load onto my fe e­ the form of an item on Radio 3 (The ble donkey and shall carry them not to big BBC's classical music channel) cities but to poor villages and distribute announced as:-

them, taking a price as the wares I offe r Leonardo da Vinci may be worth.' The Leonardo Cylinders Sydney Anglo, formerly Professor in Hayward Gallery , London HIS EXQUISITE expression of the History of Ideas, University College 26th January - 16th April 1989 Leonardo's humility and wisdom Swansea, discusses recent and extraor­ T is quoted by E.H. Gombrich in dinary discoveries with Leonardo da Richard Twinch his excellent preface to the catalogue of Vinci scholars. this fascinating exhibition. It is 'Seeing that I can find no matter of much Gombrich's hope that visitors to the With increasing incredulity one lis­ use or delight, because the men before me Hayward will "be able to find out what tened to a description of the discovery have appropriated to themselves all the it was that the learned men before of certain wax cylinders recorded by useful and necessary subjects , I shall do Leonardo had rejected and what he left Leonardo 500 years ago! It transpired what the poor man does who comes last to for us on the stalls of the fa ir." Since that scholars had long ago known that the fair: since he cannot provide himself then many reviews have been written Leonardo had had the capacity to make with any other stock he picks up all the and this reviewer likewise comes last to such recordings but until now the evi­ things which the others had seen but the fair. dence was lost. 'Recordings' made by

44 BESHARA

Leonardo himself were played back with suitable crackles and hisses - but it was not until the explanation by the Mona Lisa herself that she suffered from Bell's palsy (which paralyses the face) that incredulity was stretched too far. How could the epitome of mystery, the smile of the Mona Lisa, be relegat­ ed to the level of a physical condition? So there are no cylinders, the radio pro­ gramme was but an amusing and clever invention (that would have appealed to Leonardo whose own sense of humour comes across in such sketches as item 38: Cats, Lion & a Dragon). But what matter, since Leonardo speaks with no - ..7 ... less immediacy through the writings and works displayed at the Hayward Gallery. This exhibition pays tribute to him as artist, inventor, scientist and engineer. At its heart is the greatest range of

Leonardo drawings ever assembled , . I including 88 works from the Royal Library and loans from other major I "- . libraries all over the world. There are also thirteen large-scale models of his ) ('" �. . engineering designs, including a spec­ (. .,. ....�� tacular version of his flying machine, Studies of cats (c1513-14). From the Windsor Royal Library. with a 36 foot wingspan, which has been specially built, and elegant com­ cific aim. Seeing his work gathered and ink. That the flow of blood in the puter simulations of his mathematical together reveals that his manner of heart should lie chronologically ideas. working followed a definite interior between the gentle beauty of the Virgin What is most evident in the work is logic, albeit inaccessible to anyone but and the destructive power of the deluge passion; a passion so intense as to take himself. is interesting, since it is traditionally in Leonardo into every known and For instance, his love of water and the heart of man that apparent oppo­ unknown corner of human knowledge, spiralling vortices was to run through­ sites are united. admitting no limitations and no bound­ out his life and appears in many guises. The reader might say that to read aries. To Leonardo there was no barrier At the exhibition there is a wonderful such meanings into the work is stretch­ between Art and Science and, as so sequence of drawings entitled 'The ing a point too far and, like the wax eloquently expressed by Gombrich, he Vortex'. The catalogue explains: "The cylinders earlier, must be relegated to would not have understood the distinc­ vortex epitomises in tangible form playful fantasy. But this would be to tions that we make. Leonardo's passion for geometry, and miss the meaning known to 'the men the geometry of his passion for motion", before me '. In the unified world of the "To his contemporaries 'art', arte, meant and indeed, many of these works are medievals, nothing was out of place or skill, much as we still use the concept reminiscent of recent studies on the happened 'quite by accident', and the in 'the art of war' or 'the art of love', self-organisation of water flow in chaot­ relevance of coincidence and analogy while 'science', scientia, meant knowl­ ic systems. The chronological order was measured by the degree to which it edge. Leonardo emphasised again and (which is unfortunately not the way revealed truth. This is what Leonardo again in his writings that the art of they are shown at the exhibition) meant by 'experience and observation', painting had to rest on knowledge." demonstrates a spiral of its own: first which is rather different from what we there are studies of a water screw and mean today. Some of his apparently Leonardo's passion was thus for knowl­ perpetual motion pumps and wheels, strictly anatomical drawings (eg. item edge; but not merely for its own sake. followed by a map of a breakwater and 52 The Principal Organs of a Woman') The knowledge for which he searched eroded banks, then a study of the head owe as much to inherited symbolism as was that which would be both useful on of Leda displaying intricately woven to strict observation. To quote the cata­ a practical level - even if that meant hair. Then, studies of water passing logue "The heart, lacking atria, and the designing ingenious weapons (such as a obstacles and falling into a pool leading spherical womb, with prominent horns prototype armoured car or rows of mor­ on to a spiralling Star of Bethlehem and internal 'cells', are conceptualised tars) for his powerful patrons - and (with other plants) and culminating in structures, blending inherited wisdom also, ultimately, serve the purpose of an exquisitely delicate study of a sleeve with design according to functional beauty in bringing his paintings to life. of the Virgin. The series is complete prescription. " What he studied arose from necessity with an anatomical study of the vortex Looking at The Vortex' series in ret­ rather than pure whim and he did only motion of blood in the heart and, final­ rospect, the interior logic is clear, and as much as was necessary to meet a spe- ly, a Deluge study in black chalk, pen each study can be seen as a preparation

45 I3ESHARA

for the next. Much is made of the criti­ worked. Looking at a video intellectu­ tion between art and science, neither cism that Leonardo did so many things alises the process of learning whilst would it have recognised the distinc­ that he finished very few, because of his Leonardo well knew that education tion we make between spirit and mat­ impatience to move on to something comprises a balance of fe eling, experi­ ter, soul and body. To the medieval new. But this is to misunderstand the ence and thought. This is adduced by mind it was not that the spiritual was a motivation which lies in being of ser­ his own processes of experimentation dimension of the material, but rather vice to truth and following its dictates and in particular his love for drawing - that the material was a dimension of according to its own order, rather than where the hand, eye and mind are the spiritual, which is inherently uni­ trying to impose an order upon it. focussed. The hand is traditionally the fied. Geometry is that in which the Impatience is, perhaps, a concept we extension of the heart (wh ich is why integral relationships within the unity apply when we do not understand what hand-shaking is such an important are both expressed and made intelligi­ is happening; indeed Leonardo claimed greeting). The expression in drawing ble. Leonardo being steeped in the wis­ that to rush to finish something abbre­ thus ensures that the mind does not dom of this age, also well knew that viated the result and only after each divide the technical and practical from neither the spirit nor the geometry aspect had been examined in great the faculties of intuition and fe eling which reveals itself to the intellect are detail (such as the paws of a wolf in that perceive the beautiful. static, but both are in constant move­ item 39), could something reach com­ ment. The resultant expression is pletion. Here again, we find a differ­ WE CAN LOOK AT Leonardo as a man known as beauty, which is of the ence between the modern concept of in time, but with g;_at men there is also essence or spirit and appeals directly to 'finished' and the medieval understand­ a trans-historical meaning to their lives. mankind through intuitive understand­ ing of 'completion', which has its origin His specialness was recognised even by ing or the 'spiritual vision' which is in a greater order. his contemporaries, from whom most of centred in the heart. Within this frame-

LEONARDO STANDS AT a turning point in man's knowledge and develop­ ment. On the one hand he is of the Middle Ages and pays respect to 'the men before me', yet he presages many of the great achievements of western science - the most well-known being that of flight - which have been based on what has been called 'empirical knowledge'. What the exhibition shows is the enormous breadth of his study, and how, only now, are technolo­ gy and higher mathematics able to con­ vey a portion of his vision. The com­ puter graphics provided by IBM (who sponsored the show) use the latest 'ray­ tracing' techniques to animate the stud­ ies of shadows on spheres (items 100 &102), truncation of Platonic solids to create other regular polyhedra (item Deluge Study (c1515). From the Windsor Royal Library . 104), the growth of trees, the complex his researches and thought were hidden work of understanding, the five bodily perspective used to balance the compo­ in coded and personal notebooks - senses and the intellect are seen as the sition of his painting of the Last Supper though not from us. Giorgio Vasari said faculties of this spiritual intuition and 3-Dimensional generations of of Leonardo in his Lives of the Artists rather than as separate entities. Leonardo's centralised church designs. in 1550: To understand this is to begin to There is also an extraordinary wooden understand the all-inclusiveness of model some 1.2 m (4ft) high of a "The most heavenly gifts seem to be Leonardo's restless search for meaning church based on these designs (though showered on certain human beings. and perfection. What Western science the design owes as much to historical Sometimes supernaturally, marvellously, has lost in its ever greater capacity to research and modern interpretation as they all congregate in one individual. dissect the world is a sense of the beau­ to Leonardo's own sketches). Beauty, grace and talent are combined ty and order of the whole which he por­ The other models of lifting gear, cogs, in such bounty that whatever that man trays so vividly. Perhaps we can learn ball bearings etc., though elegantly undertakes, he outdistances all other most from Leonardo's 'vision' and made, were unfortunately too precious men and shows himself to be specially example in which each aspect of life to be actually worked. My children endowed by the hand of God. This was and each detail, however apparently (and myself) were dying to turn all the seen and acknowledged by all men in insignificant, reflects the perfection and handles - but had to make do with the case of Leonardo da Vinci." sweetness of the whole. looking at a video of them working. It would have been much more in keep­ Much is made of the 'spiritual dimen­ Richard Tw inch studied architecture at ing with Leonardo's spirit of experiment sion' of Leonardo's work, but in the Cambridge and at the AA. He runs a com­ and observation to have made durable, same way that the medieval mind puter software company and is computer practical models that could actually be would not have understood our distinc- correspondent on 'Building Design'.

46 l\ E S H ,\ R ,\ gvents

LECTURES AND Russell, author of 'The HH the Dalai Lama will give scientist, engineer and inventor. SEMINARS Awakening Earth'. Lam Rim (The Graded Path) Includes the largest collection Information : Medical and Te achings and the Kalachakra of his drawings ever assembled Scientific Network, The Old initiation - one of the highest Morphic Resonance and the and models of his inventions School House, Hampnett, of the tantric yogas, which is Collective Unconscious specially built. by Northleach , Glos . GL54 3NN. considered to be a powerful Rupert Sheldrake Te l: 045 1 -60869 fo rce for world peace. It is tradi­ 20th April 1989. Analytic tionally given openly to large MIRO 1929·1941 Psychology Club, Essex Church, groups, thus giving ordinary 3rd February - 23rd April London W8 Music, Cosmology and people a chance to establish a Whitechapel Art Gallery, Information from: Dr Paul Number by Jocelyn Godwin karmic link with the London El Black, 36 Briavels Court , Ashley Wednesday 12th July, Institute Kalachakra. There will also be A spectacular show of one of Road, Epsom , Surrey. Te l: of Complementary Medicine, other events, including lama the greatest talents of surreal­ Epsom 27264. London dancing. ism. Many exhibits have not Information: Medical and Information from: Thubten previously been seen outside The Annual Te ilhard Scientific Network , see above Dhargye Ling, 2658 Lo Cienega Spain. Lecture Avenue , Los Angeles , CA Cosmic Evolution, Human 90034. ROYAL TREASURES FROM History and Trinitarian Life CONFERENCES SWEDEN'S GOLDEN AGE SCIENCE '89 (1550.1700) by Professor Raimundo THE 2ND ECKHART Panikkar. British Association for the 17th March - 18th June CONFERENCE Royal Academy, Piccadilly, Wl 21st April 1989. Faulkner Hall, Advancement of Science 14th- 16th April, We st Collections of jewellery, tex­ London September 11th-15th, Sheffield Wickham, Kent tiles, and armour, plus Queen Raimundo Panikkar is a distin­ These annual events are the Speakers include Gai Eaton on 'Edinburgh Festival' of British Christina's Coronation throne. guished scholar of comparative 'Eck hart and Ibn 'Arabi,' Rev. religion, and author of many science, drawing together scien­ Professor Rowan WilIiams on ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART books, including 'The Vedic tists and laymen for lectures 'Eckhart and the Spanish DEGREE SHOW Experience'. covering every aspect of the Carmelites', Simon Tu gwell and current scene. You can book for 7th-17th June 1989 Information fr om: The Te ilhard Oliver Davies. Centre , 23 Kensington Square , the whole jamboree, or just go South Kensington, London Information from: The Eckhart London W8 5HN. Te l: 01 937 along to the occasional lecture. Includes work from the Visual Society, Blackfr iars, Buckingham 5372 This year's topics include new Islamic Arts Centre directed by Road, Cambridge . Te l: 0223 materials, quarks, black holes Keith Critchlow. 352461 and communication. Utopia or Oblivion? - The Information: Or Connie Martin , RUSSIAN TREASURES Vi sion of Buckminster THE TEILHARD BAAS , Fortress House , 23 1st May - 31st October, York Fuller CONFERENCE by Roger Golten Savile Row, London WIX lAB. About 60 exhibits which are May 5th, Charing Cross Hotel, Being and Becoming too precious or fragile to travel London June 2nd-4th. London Colney, IBN 'ARABI SOCIETY have been encased in holograms Roger Golten is the chairman of St Albans, UK (USA) SYMPOSIUM for this remarkable exhibition. a Buckminster Fuller network. The first conference at a new The Reality of Man They include exquisite gold Information fr om: Wo rld venue, this year's speakers 30th September - 1st October jewellery, ivory figurines and Goodwill, Suite 54, 3 Whitehall include Ursula King on ' The Berkeley, California, USA. icons. Court, London SWIA 2EF. Te l: Spirit of the Earth': Fr Gerard The third American symposium Information : St Saviours 01 839 45 12 Hughes SJ on 'The Vision of St on the great Andalusian mystic. Archaeological Resource Centre , Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises' and Information from: Ibn 'Arabi York . Te l: 0904-6743211 The Ecological Crisis as an Or P Gaffney on 'Scientific Society, PO Box 1899, San Evolutionary and Spiritual Possibilities - Ethical Horizons'. Francisco , California 94 101- Challenge Information from: Sr Frances 1899 USA May 20th, Imperial College, Kelly, Lore to Convent, Hatfield Rd, St. Albans ALl 3RQ. Te l: London If you have an event you would 0727 53185 An open conference hosted by EXHIBITIONS like to be included on this page , the Medical and Scientific please send information to: KALACHAKRA FOR Network. Speakers include Or The Events Editor, Beshara WORLP PEACE Henryk Skolimowski, Monica LEONARDO DA VINCI Magazine , Frilford Grange , Bryant (Director of the July 10th- 18th, Los Angeles. January 26th -16th April Frilford , Abingdon, Oxon. There International Institute for A public gathering for both Hayward Gallery is no charge; however, inclusion is Symbiotic Studies) and Peter Buddhists and non-Buddhists. Celebrates Leonardo as artist, at the discretion of the editor.

47 l\ t: S H ,\ R A

• Icon Collections tn Britain

T SEEMS that there is a Christian religious art has growing public interest always been dominated by I within the UK in icons. the depiction of the human Over the last fe w years, the form - in contrast to, say, British Museum has been Islamic art, where the prohi­ establishing a National Icon bition on the use of icons Collection in London, and has resulted in an expression last Octo ber Blackburn based on geometry, pattern Museum opened a special and the forms of nature. But gallery to set up the second in the 8th century, an permanent exhibition in Iconoclastic movement arose Britain. in Constantinople which Icons are images of sacred shook the very foundations persons, executed in paint­ of the Empire. The ing, mosaic or sculpted, and Iconoclasts believed icons to are themselves considered to be equivalent to idols. They be sacred objects. They have argued that the nature of been associated with the Christ, being both divine Byzantine Church since the and human, rendered iconic very earliest times, and the representation impossible, art was carried to Russia after for "the image of him must its conversion in the 10th either be picturing the century, where they took a divine, which is impossible, distinctive form. or it pictures the human The British Museum nature alone, thus breaking Collection comprises eigh­ the unity of Christ's person." Russian St. George . Courtesy of the Tr ustees of the British Museum teen pieces, six of which are (1) This view was officially of outstanding quality. The adopted by the Byzantine apprehended by the soul. 17th century Anatolia, two first, a 14th century Thessal­ Emperors Leo II and The eye can grasp only the late (l8th and 19th century) onikan icon depicting fo ur Constantine V; consequent­ visible fo rm. 'Vladimir Virgins', and a New Te stament scenes in ly, icons were banned The doctrines of John of Greek 'Lady of the Unfold­ miniature, was acquired in throughout the Empire and Damascus finally prevailed ing Rose'. The other is gen­ the 19th century; the others an era of persecution ensued. and it is this which is cele­ eral, and includes an 18th have been added recently. Opposing the Iconoclasts brated as 'The Triumph of century Russian icon of Abel They include a notable rep­ were the Iconodules, who Orthodoxy'; a theme which the first martyr, depictions of resentation of St Peter, prob­ had as their spokesman the was often to be depicted in Elijah and John the Baptist.: ably painted in Constant­ greatest theologian of the the great era of Byzantine art a Russian 'Birth of John the inople in the early 14th cen­ age, John of Damascus. He which fo llowed. The British Baptist' dated around 1500 tury: a 'crusader' icon of St held that the Iconoc lastic Museum piece is unique in and a late 18th century George: a Russian St George arguments were invalidated being the only example 'Archangel Michael', as well (at present at Blackburn ) by the Incarnation: since known to be painted before as the 'St George' borrowed also painted in the 14th cen­ Christ had taken on a the fall of Constantinople in from the British Museum tury: and a Constantin­ human fo rm, he could be 1453. It contains a represen­ Collection. opolitan John the Baptist depicted in a form, and so tation of the 'Hodegetria', painted around 1300. could his mother and disci­ (Mary who Shows the Way) Blackburn Museum , Museum In November, a major new ples. "It is not divine beauty which was special to Street, Blackburn , Lanes. piece was added. Entitled which is given fo rm or Constantinople and believed Te le/Jhone : 0254 667 130. O/Jen 'The Triumph of shape, but the human form to guarantee the safety of the Tu esday to Saturday IOam-5/Jm. Orthodoxy', it commemo­ which is rendered by the city. The original was said to The British Museum , Great rates the end of Iconoclasm painters brush. Therefore, if have been painted from life Russell Street, London WC I. in AD843, and the restora­ the Son of God became man by St Luke. Open Monday to Saturd ay tion of images to Eastern and appeared in man's The Blackburn collection lOam-5pm , Sunday 2.30-6pm. Christendom. The event it nature, why should his image consists of about 25 works of depicts is of great interest in not be made?"(2). For John, art, and is divided into two (I) Sir Stet'en HUl1ciman , 'I3y�(mcine Style that it reveals some of the image was essential as a sup­ parts; one based on Mary ond Civiliso[ion·. Penguin. 1975. (2) John of Dam""ctl' "J)efcl1\c of Hoh' meanings of the sacred art port for contemplation, as and the Christ child, includ­ lmagt!s'. quo red in 'The Icon ', Brackl'll form. absolute beauty can only be ing a 'Hodegetria' painted in Books. 19i12.

48

BES HARA A MAGA ZINE CONCERNED WITH UNITY