Things found in higher dimensions (video)

Zach Star (dimension video); Dhr. Seven, Pat Macpherson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Buddhist physics: The Sphere of Sensuality, where we live, is material, which is denser than the higher Fine Material Sphere of "shining ones," light beings, akasha devas. What are these kalapas or "particles" of perception? Each is a quality of matter, and each kind of kalapa has features. In that sense, each is LIKE a higher dimension or Platonic solids. What if matter were one substance, like clay, distinguished by geometric shape?

The Awakened One

From the beginning the wandering ascetic Siddhartha Gautama -- who soon became the Buddha, the "Awakened One," the "Scythian Sage" called Shakyamuni -- learned a form of serenity meditation that took him to an exalted formless attainment.

"Formless"? We live on a plane in the Sensual Sphere, above which exists a Fine Material Sphere, and beyond that, unbelievably, the Formless Sphere.

The first four meditative attainments called absorptions (Pali jhanas, Sanskrit dhyanas) correspond to the Form (Fine Material) Sphere. The next four correspond to four higher dimensions, the formless planes of existence. These "spheres" are called:

• the Base of Boundless Space
• the Base of Boundless Consciousness
• the Base of Nothingness
• the Base of Neither-Perception-nor-Non-Perception.

Chart of the 31 Planes of Existence

This Buddhist cosmology is explained in terms of a vertical arrangement of planes of existence, of which there are 31 mentioned, containing countless worlds. They are reached through these meditative attainments, which are very weighty good karma (actions). For they are purified states but not enlightened states.

They are "purified" insofar as they have temporarily suppressed the defilements that obscure knowledge and vision without uprooting the defilements. Insight wisdom permanently uproots them. Insight wisdom is an accomplishment worthy of the noble ones, the individuals at any of the four stages of enlightenment.

This discussion is speculative to try to conceive of what can be directly observed and exmined, so it is not merely pondering for pondering's sake. For realizing enlightenment/awakening, the Abhiddharma -- the "Ultimate Teachings" or "Teachings (Dharma) in Ultimate (Abhi) Terms" -- these kalapas must be seen and examined. How would it be possible with a defiled and impure mind?

All of the mind's powers are needed, its psychic abilities and supernormal faculties. Through meditation purified by the absorptions, it is also possible to visit (by remote viewing or a kind of astral travel) the 31 Planes of Existence here and now. So we can personally verify that they are real.