physical existence物质存在

In The Early Sessions Book 2 (dictated in 1964), Seth offers a penetrating and subversive analysis of the concept of "physical existence." He points out that the physical world perceived by humans is not composed of continuous, solid, and permanent entities, but is a dynamic process in which energy pulses constantly arise and pass away, alternately presenting themselves. The following is a summary of the book's core treatment of the concept of physical existence:

1. The Non-Persistence and Instantaneous Replacement of Physical Particles

Seth clearly states that no particular physical particle persists for any length of time. A physical particle exists for an instant, disappears, and is immediately replaced by another particle ^[1]. Therefore, from one day to the next, no object is composed of exactly the same matter ^[2]. Although objects present rigidity and permanence to the human senses, this is entirely a highly misleading illusion ^[3].

2. Pattern Assumption and the Carrying of Psychic Energy

To explain why matter can present a stable outward form, Seth proposes a third actual property of matter: "pattern assumption" ^[1].

1. The nature of pattern: Matter assumes roles and flows within patterns. These patterns, which are filled with physical matter, are actually composed of "psychic energy" ^[1]. Furthermore, matter is caused by energy pulses, and these pulses adopt formal patterns pre-shaped by "the consciousness inherent in the energy itself" ^[2].
2. The continuity of pattern: It is precisely the existence of these patterns that gives matter the illusion of permanence ^[1]. When the energy behind them transcends the field in which matter operates, the patterns continue to exist like "afterimages" and gradually weaken ^[1]. For example, when painting a picture, one is actually creating new patterns through which energy can flow into physical form; this is also why the physical pattern of a painting often outlasts the painter ^[1].

3. The Alternation of Existence and Nonexistence: Pulse Intervals and "Antimatter"

This is an extremely distinctive aspect of the treatment at this stage. Seth explains that physical existence is not a seamless continuum, but involves an alternation of "existence" and "nonexistence":

1. Intervals between energy pulses: Matter is caused by energy pulses. Between each energy pulse entering the physical field and being replaced by the next pulse, there is a time interval ^[2].
2. Equal duration of nonexistence: Even measured by humanity's "far-fetched time system," between each interval of physical existence there is an interval of "physical nonexistence" of equal length ^[2]. Seth emphasizes that on the physical level, humans "do not exist" for as long as they "exist" ^[2].
3. Definition of antimatter/negative matter: From the human perspective, this interval of physical nonexistence is called "antimatter" or "negative matter" by Seth ^[2]. Each energy pulse leaves the physical field almost at the instant it enters and forms a physical object, leaving behind this interval of nonexistence before the next particle arrives ^[2].

4. The Continuous Creation of Matter and the Nature of Growth

Based on the above principles, physical existence is a process that is "constantly created" ^[3]. This view redefines the growth of life:

1. The non-physical extensibility of growth: For organisms perceived as living beings, their "growth" does not involve the extension of any particular physical entity ^[1].
2. Dynamic replacement: Because no particular physical particle has any persistence, growth is actually a dynamic process in which particles continually disappear, are replaced, and flow within psychic energy patterns ^[1].

In summary, in The Early Sessions Book 2, "physical existence" is defined as a state of instantaneous creation guided by psychic energy patterns and sustained by conscious energy pulses, in which existence and nonexistence (antimatter) continually alternate.

In The Early Sessions Book 3, Seth profoundly reveals the nonphysical nature, operational mechanisms, and limitations of "physical existence" (physical existence/physical system) by elaborating on the relationship between the physical body and its electrical counterpart. The core treatment is organized as follows:

1. The Electrical Nature of Physical Existence and Its Nonphysical Counterpart Seth points out that the physical body is not a purely material entity; part of it actually exists within a strong force field, and the entire physical body has its counterpart in that force field ^[1]. The physical body essentially exists as a nonphysical "electrical body" that possesses a special kind of mass but no weight, and whose characteristics are not changeable outward forms but different intensities and concentrations of electrical force ^[1]. If observed from the perspective of the electric field, the shape of this electrical counterpart bears no resemblance to the physical body shape familiar to humans; it is a unified identity formed by the cooperative operation of multiple electrical systems ^[2].

2. The Differentiation of Physical Organs and Mind/Brain at the Material Level In physical existence, the brain exists in physical form, but within the electrical structure it is only a part of the "mind"; the mind itself has no physical presentation in the physical body, but exists in electrical form ^[1][2]. Furthermore, organs exist in electrical form in the electrical counterpart, but skin does not exist in the electrical counterpart, although physical skin does indeed contain electrical force ^[1][2].

3. The Translation Mechanism of Thoughts and Emotions in Physical Existence In the physical system (physical existence), thoughts and emotions cannot manifest directly; they must be translated through a "method of interrelationship" and given physical reality ^[2]. This is entirely different from the electric field environment, where thoughts are constantly moving, more or less independent spheres of electrical systems, and emotions are definite charged actions that can act directly upon the environment and be directly perceived without any intermediate steps ^[2].

4. The Source of Actuality in the Physical Field and the Limitations of Science Physical existence (the physical field) is not a self-sufficient independent world; its actuality is entirely the result of the cooperative fusion of many other independent systems ^[2]. However, the limitation of human science lies in the fact that scientists observe and understand electrical and chemical systems only in relation to the physical system, failing to discover other charge forces that do not obviously protrude into the physical universe ^[1][2].

In summary, Seth's treatment of "physical existence" at this stage emphasizes that the physical world is only the result of a deeper, more direct electric reality presenting itself through translation and fusion.

In The Early Sessions Book 6, Seth provides a multidimensional and penetrating analysis of the concept of "physical existence," revealing its nature as a specific state of projection, its noncontinuous operational mechanism, and the true relationship between consciousness and the physical body.

First, the ego plays a specific role in physical existence, but this dominance is temporary. Seth points out that during physical existence, the ego is the dominant psychological entity, but after departing from physical existence, the ego will no longer maintain this dominance ^[1]. At the same time, other layers of the self (which have experienced self-consciousness in other existences before the current existence) are also receiving training through their own experience, sharing physical life with the individual and continually reaffirming their characteristics and abilities ^[1]. Seth himself is no longer bound to physical existence by strong emotional ties, and therefore does not need to adopt a past ego for communication as other communicators do ^[1].

Second, physical existence and the objects within it are essentially illusory constructions of consciousness. Seth clearly states that physical objects fundamentally do not exist in the way they appear to ^[2]. All physical matter that humans see is their own construction, perceived by translating a wide range of reality data into terms that the physical senses can receive ^[2]. Sense data themselves have a reality independent of any particular object; when consciousness tunes into a specific intensity of energy, it automatically translates this into physical data and perceives physical objects ^[2]. The external environment is actually the materialized manifestation of the inner climate ^[3].

Third, physical existence has a "noncontinuous" pulse characteristic. To the physical senses, the body and objects appear to persist continuously, but in fact, as energy enters and leaves atoms, there are "intervals" in which matter does not exist at all ^[4]. Humans are completely unaware in consciousness of these extremely brief intervals in which they "do not exist" as physical organisms; instead, through a mechanism similar to a "mental afterimage," they produce the illusion of physical continuity ^[4]. During these intervals, consciousness still exists, but not in any physical form; when consciousness reestablishes itself in physical reality, it loses the memory of these nonphysical intervals, but the inner self retains all memories ^[4]. Furthermore, dreams allow consciousness to free itself from physical reality ^[4].

Finally, current physical existence is essentially a "projection" ^[3]. Activities based on the framework of the current existence must be initiated within the system of chemical and physical properties that makes physical existence possible ^[3]. In order to maintain life within the physical organism, consciousness must return to it, but this does not mean that consciousness depends on the body ^[3]. In other future existences, there will be an endless series of projections, and those projections will no longer have the chemical basis known to humans ^[3].