physical universe物质宇宙

In The Early Sessions Book 1, Seth provides a unique and profound exposition of the concept of "physical universe." He points out that the physical universe is not an objective, hard entity independent of consciousness, but rather a "camouflage pattern" and "materialized feeling" shaped by humanity's own consciousness, sensations, and inner vitality.

First, the essence of the physical universe is "physical materialized feeling." Seth uses a painting as a vivid analogy: just as a painting is feeling solidified on paper or canvas and manifested in the physical universe, subject to that universe's laws, so too is the physical universe of our plane itself a materialized feeling, except that it possesses more dimensions than a painting ^[1].

Second, humans are the true creators of their own physical universe. Seth explicitly states that humans, using the inner vitality of the universe, have personally created the typical "camouflage patterns" of their own physical universe, just as one breathes patterns onto a windowpane ^[2]. Humanity will eventually discover that it has created its own physical universe ^[2]. Notably, this creation is more direct, more real, and less distorted in the dream state. Seth reveals that the physical world is to a greater extent the product of humanity's "dreaming self" than of the waking state ^[2].

Furthermore, regarding the "laws of nature" in the physical universe, Seth offers a subversive explanation. In our physical universe, the action of "mental enzymes" appears relatively rigid, static, irreversible, and permanent, which has led scientists to casually label these phenomena as "laws of nature" (that is, apparent causality) ^[3]. Seth acknowledges that because specific causes in the physical universe usually produce specific effects, it can be said that these apparent causal laws apply within the physical universe (that is, in "one's own backyard"); but these laws are not absolute, and outside the physical universe, the same causal relationships do not necessarily produce the same effects ^[3].

Finally, the physical senses in the physical universe have a dual role. On the one hand, humans in the physical universe are easily imprisoned by their senses, and when they try to explore beyond the senses, they often find nothing ^[1]; but on the other hand, it is precisely through these earthly senses (for example, the perception of music or beauty) that humans can glimpse realms beyond the physical universe and realize the existence of the "beyond" ^[1].

In summary, in the context of The Early Sessions Book 1, the physical universe is a dimensional system created by humans through dreams and inner vitality, mediated by the senses, and characterized by specific apparent causality.

In The Early Sessions Book 2, Seth provides an in-depth exposition of the nature, construction mechanisms, limitations, and relationship with consciousness of the "physical universe":

1. Consciousness is the source and ongoing creator of the physical universe: The physical universe and everything in it are the result of consciousness, rather than consciousness having evolved out of the physical universe. Consciousness not only created the physical universe but also continues this creation at subconscious levels ^[1]. The cooperative aspects of consciousness construction constitute the entire structure of the physical universe, and one subdivision of primary construction is called "distorted mirror construction" (such as procreation), which is an attempt to reshape the self on the physical plane and ensure self-continuity ^[2].

2. The law of universal cooperation and mutual maintenance: The cornerstone of the physical universe is unwavering cooperation. Humans do not maintain the physical universe alone; all living beings (such as cats, birds, etc.) assist in maintaining the physical properties of the universe by projecting and constructing their own physical images ^[3]. This cooperation manifests at the microscopic level in the collaboration of atoms and molecules, which combine through the law of "value fulfillment" ^[4]. All life conditions participate in the formation of the physical universe. An individual's construction of an object (such as a television set) utilizes the combination of atoms and molecules and emits vibrations that are subconsciously received, thereby assisting other observers in forming similar replicated constructions ^[5]. This cooperative process currently occurs unconsciously, but if humanity continues to explore, it will eventually consciously recognize the role it plays in this ongoing physical creation ^[6]. Every new life (new libido) entering the physical realm immediately and unreservedly assumes the responsibility of maintaining the physical universe ^[7].

3. Microscopic construction and "condensed comprehension": The ongoing creation of the physical universe is not maintained by a localized subconscious within the brain, but by the cooperative consciousness (gestalt) of every atom and molecule that constitutes the body. Each atom and molecule, within its generalized consciousness, possesses the ability to construct energy into physical structures ^[1]. This is because each atom and molecule contains within itself a "condensed comprehension" of the entire inner universe, which enables them to engage in extremely diverse combinations ^[8].

4. Camouflage patterns and the limitations of the senses: Physical forms in the physical universe are essentially "camouflage patterns." Human outer senses are equipped only to perceive their own camouflage patterns and cannot perceive other universes that coexist with them ^[9]. Although the camouflage patterns of the same species are consistent enough that individuals of that species can perceive roughly the same surrounding environment, no species (including humans) can perceive the entire system. Scientists can only discover more camouflage patterns and cannot perceive patterns outside the system ^[9].

5. The limitations of the physical universe and "necessary distortions": The physical universe imposes restrictions on the extension of personal identity, because here the basic gestalt freedom is severely limited. Therefore, complete "whole entities" cannot exist in the physical universe; only separated, partially disconnected portions can exist ^[10]. Furthermore, so-called "hard facts" are often distortions of the outer senses, but these distortions are the necessary framework for the inner self to survive in the physical universe ^[11].

6. Antimatter (negative matter) and intervals of nonexistence: The physical universe does not exist continuously. Between the transformation of energy pulses into matter there exist "negative intervals," during which the physical universe does not exist. These equal amounts of nonexistence intervals constitute "antimatter" (or negative matter), which exists simultaneously with the physical universe, possesses antigravity and antispace, and cannot be determined to exist by measuring mass or weight ^[12].

7. The manipulative role of the self: In the operation of the physical universe, the inner ego organizes the entire energy field, while the outer ego is responsible for manipulating this gestalt composed of energy and consciousness within the physical universe ^[13].

In The Early Sessions Book 3, Seth provides an in-depth and multidimensional analysis of the concept of the "physical universe," overturning the traditional perception of it as possessing absolute objectivity, permanence, and singularity.

I. The Nature of the Physical Universe: An Aggregation of Individual Symbols and Psychic Consensus Seth points out that the physical universe is not an objective entity independent of consciousness, but rather a "highly cohesive physical data" created by individuals in cooperation with one another ^[1]. It is essentially "an aggregation of diverse personal symbols," and for any two people, its basic attributes (such as color and spatial position) are never absolutely identical ^[1]. The physical universe appears unified and regular only because humanity, through a kind of "collective madness," selects a very small number of similarities from near-infinite chaos and names that selection the universe ^[2]. The force that sustains this physical universe is precisely psychic rapport and telepathy at the level of the psyche ^[2].

II. The Formation Mechanism and Inner Vitality of the Physical Universe The formation of the physical universe originates from "inner vitality" ^[3]. At the beginning of the universe, psychic characteristics gathered into units of attraction (that is, mental enclosures), which formed as much matter as possible around themselves and combined with one another to form more complex structures (such as molecules and atoms) ^[4]. Seth emphasizes that if the physical universe existed only on the physical level, that would be the greatest miracle, because logically it would be "impossible" ^[3]. Furthermore, the brain in the physical universe is only a very small portion of the psyche made manifest in matter, while the true "inner self" and the "unconscious" do not occupy space within the physical universe ^[5].

III. The Parallel Development and Energy Circulation of the Three Universes Seth proposes a parallel and interdependent system composed of the "physical universe," the "dream universe," and the "antimatter universe (negative matter world)" ^[6].

1. Parallel and reciprocal relationship: The dream universe and the negative matter universe are "by-products" of the physical universe, produced when inner energy attempts to shape itself in physical terms ^[7]. There is a close mutual influence among them; for example, humanity's taming of fire in the physical universe enriched the symbolic freedom of the dream universe ^[8].
2. Regeneration and flow of energy: Energy that appears to be lost, dissipated, or unusable in the physical universe (that is, entropy in physics, which Seth points out is merely an illusion from the physical perspective) actually seeps into the dream universe for transformation and regeneration, thereby sustaining the continued existence of the physical universe itself ^[9].
3. Boundlessness: Although for convenience of discussion they are treated as closed systems, in reality there is no clear boundary between the physical universe and the dream universe; any barrier is artificial, and they merge with and influence each other ^[10].

IV. The Ego and Manipulation of the Physical Universe The ego is a product of the physical field, developed after physical birth ^[11]. The inner self adopted the "ego" in order to manipulate and operate within the physical universe ^[11]. Seth emphasizes that before undertaking serious or extensive psychic exploration, a stable and balanced relationship must be established between the ego and the physical universe environment; otherwise the explorer will lose his or her footing ^[12].

V. Unique Perspectives and Early Terminology At this stage, Seth used many distinctive metaphors. For example, he compared the multidimensional universe to an "imaginary fruit," with the physical universe being merely "the outermost layer of skin" of this fruit, and humanity's space exploration being nothing more than circling around on this layer of skin ^[13]. He also called physical actions in the physical universe "camouflage symbols of inner action" ^[14], and pointed out that the electricity we perceive in the physical universe is only a kind of "echo emission" or "shadow image" of the infinite pulsations within the electrical universe ^[15].