myths迷思

In The Early Sessions Book 2, Seth provides an in-depth exposition of the relationship between "myths" and so-called "hard facts." He points out that myths are not illusory fantasies; on the contrary, in many cases, myths are closer to the deeper reality of the universe than the hard facts of the material world.

First, myths are humanity's psychological distortions and translations of inner truths at the material level. Seth explains that human survival at the material level requires a specific mode of focus, and this focus limits the operation of a larger range of consciousness focus. Therefore, humans must distort certain facts in order to exist in the material world. And "myths" are precisely humanity's psychological attempts to understand these facts that must be distorted ^[1]. At the same time, although so-called "hard facts" seem to be opposed to symbols and myths, they themselves are also necessary distortions, without which the inner self could not survive in the physical universe ^[2].

Second, myths are closer to Reality than so-called "hard facts." To the rational mind, hard facts seem to indicate that an anthropomorphic God does not exist, which places intelligent people in a dilemma: either believe in myths or believe in hard facts. However, Seth clearly states: "The fact is that myths are closer to reality than facts." ^[3] The truth behind myths always exists, carrying deeper revelations that transcend material appearances ^[1].

Third, myths possess a "Reality" that transcends historical facts. Seth uses the symbol of the "Crucifixion" in Christianity as an example. Rational adults know that a single male deity in heaven who threatens to punish sinners is logically untenable ^[4]. The historical Crucifixion may not have happened to a person called Christ at a specific time and place. However, because humanity created this myth out of its own needs, this "Crucifixion," which did not historically happen in the way the myth describes, possesses a Reality equal to, or even greater than, what it would have had if it had occurred as a so-called "hard fact" ^[4].

Finally, the God myth is a bridge connecting humanity with the inner self. Seth points out that humanity has always indulged in the dream of creating a God similar to itself but superior, possessing the highest qualities that humanity admires ^[1]. This "God myth" enables humanity to objectify its so-called higher instincts, and the concept of God has represented, in the past and present, a connection with the "inner self" ^[1]. In the past, belief in this God (which was the hard fact of that time) enabled intelligent people to focus their psychic abilities through prayer ^[1]. Although from the perspective of hard facts, the kind of God humanity imagines does not exist, "God did once exist as humanity now imagines him to have existed" ^[1].

In summary, in this portion of the early sessions, Seth positions myths as a psychological mechanism that transcends the limitations of material history and connects the human inner self with deeper reality. Although it manifests at the material level as a "distortion," the truth and Reality it carries far exceed the "hard facts" of the material level.

In The Nature of Personal Reality, Seth provides a unique and in-depth discussion of the concept of "myths." He does not regard myths merely as fictional stories, but closely links them with the development of human consciousness, natural guilt, ancestral belief systems, and the deep creativity of the psyche.

1. The Origin of Myths and Natural Guilt Seth points out that the emergence of early human myths and their variations is closely related to how human consciousness confronted "good and evil" and "freedom of choice" during the course of evolution. In early times, humans had to cope with the natural environment like animals, and "natural guilt" played an important role in this. For example, in order to survive, humans initially had to define predatory animals as "evil," and this early survival law and emotional charge became the biological foundation for the subsequent development of various myths and their variations ^[1]. As the mind developed, this wisdom, law, and belief based on early survival experience was inherited by later generations through intergenerational transmission, forming deep-rooted collective beliefs ^[1].

2. The Projection of Ancient Myths onto Modern Concepts of Health and Morality Seth emphasizes that many of modern people's daily experiences and value judgments are directly or indirectly connected with "ancestral ancient myths and beliefs" ^[2]. Especially in the field of health and disease, people often cannot escape moral judgment. For example, influenced by ancient myths and beliefs, some people regard illness as a moral stain, or go to the other extreme—beautifying illness as a noble experience necessary for saving the soul, confusing suffering with sanctity ^[2]. These highly simplified moral judgments are actually old beliefs and ancient myths dressed in new clothes, seriously hindering people's understanding of personal value and the nature of reality ^[3].

3. Psychic Creativity and the Modern Myth of "Half-Human, Half-Divine" Beings Through the process by which Ruburt created the novel The Oversoul Seven trilogy, Seth reveals the mechanism by which the deep creativity of the psyche produces "mythic figures." He points out that the creative products that leap out of the human psyche (such as characters in a novel) do not have flesh and blood, are not subject to the control of time and natural forces, but are eternal beings that know more than their creators. Seth describes these psychic children as "deities half human and half divine" ^[4]. This phenomenon demonstrates the profound interaction between the deep unconscious and the conscious self within the psyche, and is a living presentation of the truth of the human psyche ^[4].

4. Consciousness, the Unconscious, and the Negative Projection of Collective Myths The operation of myths is also closely related to the balance between conscious thought and unconscious activity. Conscious thought is the director and synthesizer of unconscious activity ^[5]. When people repress the unconscious and emotions out of fear, these repressed energies and distorted ideas form powerful emotional charges and are projected outward ^[6]. At the collective level, this projection can cause a nation to project its own fears and negative traits onto "enemies" or specific races, faiths, or skin colors, thereby creating new, destructive collective "hostile myths" in modern society ^[6].

In summary, the "myths" described by Seth are vehicles of belief developed by humanity from early survival experience (such as natural guilt). They not only influence modern people's judgments about health and morality through ancestral intergenerational transmission, but also materialize as "half-human, half-divine" images through the deep creativity of the psyche. Understanding the nature of myths helps humanity straighten out the relationship between the conscious and the unconscious, and avoid blindly inheriting outdated restrictive beliefs.

In The "Unknown" Reality Vol 2, through Robert Butts's notes, a distinctive perspective on the concept of "myths" is presented. First, regarding the core definition and truth value, Robert points out that, whether or not they conform to science, in the conventional sense myths may contain "the deepest truths" for our species, and the source of these truths may very likely come in part from "other realities" [chunk:20060, 20061]. Second, myths are the intuitive presentation of multidimensional reality in the camouflage universe. Human beings lack conscious understanding of "probable realities," but our species possesses a "distorted, intuitive knowledge" of these probable realities, and this knowledge manifests in our "camouflage universe" in the form of "myths" and "strange phenomena" ^[1]. Third, the book focuses on the distinctive aspect of "androgyny" (the union of male and female traits) in myths. Robert finds that when humanity lacked conscious understanding of concepts such as androgyny, the deities in ancient myths frequently displayed images merging male and female traits, indicating that ancient myths reflect the truth of the multidimensional self beyond a single physical gender ^[1]. Finally, religious myths often serve as symbols of the unity of opposites. For example, in a religious context, Christ can be seen as a symbol of androgyny, representing the unity of opposites such as consciousness and unconsciousness, feminine and masculine, this reality and other realities, mysticism and practicality; and many ancient sects also held that before Eve was created, the original Adam was actually both male and female. These images all accord with humanity's intuitive effort to unify the inner male and female traits ^[2]. In summary, this book emphasizes that myths are a bridge connecting the physical camouflage world with other realities, and a unique mechanism by which humanity preserves deep intuitive knowledge about probable realities and the multidimensional personality [chunk:20060, 20061].