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o Stars are best discerned from the lonely isolation of experiential depths, not from the illuminated and ecstatic mountain tops.
Both of the above reconciles the pain of earthly existence with the rewards of spiritual insight.
Lao Tse's philosophy also is a good example of awareness of elliptic symmetry of reality. He wrote in the Tao Te Ching:
o Goodness begets goodness, but to the one who is truly good, evil also begets goodness.
This reveals the transcendent and everlasting reality of goodness as opposed to the transitory nature of evil.
o The Tao that can be understood is not the eternal Tao. The God that is named is not the eternal being.
This points to the existential nature of true reality and the illusions of material labels.
The above examples beautifully merge the material and temporal with the eternal and spiritual. They are all somewhat logical and follow a linear path but twists upon itself in a paradoxical way that encompasses spiritual reality so that what we have is not linear or circular but elliptical.
Elliptic philosophy is very pertinent to solving daily life problems which is a part of the paradox of living in a material body while being indwelt by a divine spark. But this philosophy would not answer a given question with a solely material or spiritual answer, but would rather juxtapose the relationships between the body and spirit in such a way as to reconcile the seeming conflicts harmoniously.
For instance, people are always asking why they have to suffer in life. There has been many attempts at answering this question. The linear, materialistic answer might be that the world is a naturally harsh place and that the only way to survive is by pure strength of arm and keenness of thought. The spiritual, idealistic answer could be that only God knows and that we should have faith in whatever mysterious plans she has for us.
The above philosophies are based on distorted ideas of reality. But an elliptical answer to this question of the necessity of suffering would be:
The greatest affliction of the cosmos is never to have been afflicted. Mortals only learn wisdom by experiencing tribulation.
The above sentences seamlessly merge the idea that the problems in life lead directly to spiritual growth. It answers the question of the purpose of afflictions by making it the price of wisdom.
If we can fashion a personal philosophy that reflects the shape of elliptical reality, it would be ideal for coping with the seeming contradictions and paradoxes of life. Such a philosophy would be one more step toward self-mastery.
May The Qi Be With You!
Linear thinking is the way of science. Mystical thinking is the way of religion. Soul wisdom is the stuff of experience talking. Elliptical thinking is the way of manifesting all together, the part, the whole and the middle.
Elliptical thinking is not just thinking. It is a simultaneous occurrence of being and doing. All aspects are expressed, polarities balanced, thought and action seamlessly merged in body, mind and soul, matter and spirit.
Another way of understanding elliptical philosophy is by saying that it is implied. When addressing an issue one can go directly to the point, or conversely skirt around it and never get to the point. Scientific and linear thinking gets to the point and tackles the issue head on. Mystical and non-linear thinking takes things as a whole and encompasses the totality of the issue, not settling on pointed details. Elliptical thinking implies the point by taking into account the whole, and curving around the issue before settling upon it. A good example would be artistic works. An accomplished poet or a song writer does not get into detailed explanations but rather brings up words that imply the point. Sometimes one is not quite sure what the writer is saying, but one understands within one's soul, the point is received. It is the same with a painting. Too much detail and one might as well have a photograph. If it is too abstract, it becomes mystical and the point is lost. Most outstanding works of art are all elliptical, the point is there but it is implied.
In using revelatory information from personal as well as from various sources, many individuals have experimented with methods of manipulating reality that are elliptical. Just as practices that became the scientific method had been around a long time before it was actually put down in writing and used methodically, elliptical philosophy has been used for a long time, but its methodology is not well known to much of the world and its potential is largely untapped.
To simplify, elliptical philosophy is the effective and coordinated technique of using faith and ef
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