Beyond Conventional Wisdom

By Albert Amao Ph.D.

This book is a collection of groundbreaking essays in the area of metaphysics and Esoteric subjects. The book covers several contemporary topics of extreme interest. Some of the titles are: The Paradox of Life, Fallacies and Deceptions in Occultism, The Fallacy of Predictions, Psychological Resistance to Wholeness, The “Original Sin,” The “Adversary and the Redeemer,” From Fear to Faith, The Dialectic and the Qabalah, among other influential topics. These subjects have been of utmost importance in the developing of the author’s intellectual and personal growth from a provincial and materialistic state of mind to a spiritual and broader awareness in fields related to the conception of man and the universe. Therefore, the articles are the product of long reflections, meditations, and a life long search for the spiritual meaning of life. 

 

Furthermore, the essays attempt to demystify and dispel basic misconceptions accepted as true by common opinion. They examine and question several fundamental erroneous concepts traditionally believed and accepted as conventional wisdom. In addition to informing and educating the reader about some very innovative issues, they will also help to separate “the grain from the chaff,” so to speak, regarding preconceived misconceptions on metaphysical and other related areas of thought. In that sense, this book is definitely thought provoking, as it challenges many customary beliefs

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 29, 2006
• ISBN: 9781467092609

Albert Amao Ph.D.

Mr. Albert Amao is a graduate of San Marcos University, Lima-Peru, one of the oldest universities of the American continent. He holds a Ph. D. in Sociology; he is a C.S.W., and Holistic Counselor. In addition, Dr. Amao is a Qabalist, who has been teaching Qabalah, Esoteric Tarot and astrology for the past 20 years. Mr. Amao has belonged to several metaphysical and Qabalistic fraternities, where he has been trained in Esoteric Astrology, Yoga philosophy, Alchemy, and Qabalah. Lately, Mr. Amao as Operative Spiritual Scientist has been practicing Holistic Counseling integrating short-term treatments such as Clinical Hypno-counseling, Energy work, and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Dr. Amao gives lectures and seminars on Metaphysics, Holy Qabalah, Esoteric Tarot and astrology for spiritual growth. He is available for workshops and lectures as per request.            

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© 2006 Albert Amao. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 08/11/2023

Second edition. (First edition was published on 12/29/2006)

ISBN: 978-1-4259-7532-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4670-9260-9 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Credit: The BOTA Tarot keys have been used with permission of Builders of the Adytum, 5101 North Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA. 90042

Disclaimer: permission to use Builders of the Adytum images in no way constitutes endorsement of the material presented in this book.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

To my spiritual Master, Paul Foster Case,

perhaps one of the greatest Qabalists and

Tarotists of the twentieth century.

CONTENTS

PREFACE

FOREWORD

I. THE PARADOX OF LIFE

1. Is Life a Dream or a Theatre?

2. The Yearning to Go Back HOME

3. The Longing to Reconcile with the Father

4. The Placebo Effect in Esotericism and Occultism

II. FALLACIES AND DECEPTIONS IN OCCULTISM

1. Fallacies and Occult Deceptions

2. The Hermetic Tradition and the Transmission of Secrets

3. The Occult Thinkers of the Renaissance

4. Éliphas Levi and the Occult Revival

III. THE FALLACY OF PREDICTIONS

1. Introduction

2. Credentials

3. The Fear of the Unknown

4. Divination Versus Fortune Telling

5. Prediction Versus Validation of Past Events

6. Prediction or Suggestion?

7. The Power of Choice

8. Consciousness Creates Thought-Forms

9. The Magic of the Present

10. The Fortune Sellers

IV. THE POWER OF THOUGHT

1. Cognitive-Behavioral Theory

2. The New Thought Theory

3. Esoteric Psychology

V. FROM FEAR TO FAITH

1. About Faith

2. About Fear

3. About Worry

4. Worry and Anxiety

5. Exploring Some Irrational Beliefs

6. The Big Trauma

7. Historical False Beliefs

8. Faith and Fear Are Based on Beliefs

9. Dissolving Irrational Fears

10. Faith and the Bible

VI. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESISTANCE TO WHOLENESS

1. Introduction

2. Psychological Viewpoints

3. The Concepts of Psychological

Resistance and Psychological Reversal

4. Dialectical Psychology

VII. GENESIS OF THE ORIGINAL SIN

VIII. THE ADVERSARY AND THE REEDEMER

IX. JESUS’ LAST WORDS ON THE CROSS

X. THE DIALECTIC AND

THE HERMETIC PHILOSOPHY

1. Dialectic

2. Dialectic and Logic

3. The Dialectic and the Seven Hermetic Principles

XI. THE DIALECTIC AND THE QABALAH

1. The Dialectical Qabalah

2. The Dialectic and the Sacred Tetragrammaton

3. The Dialectic and Esoteric Numerology

XII. EPILOGUE

BIBLIOGRAPHY

APPENDIX 1

ENDNOTES

PREFACE

Many secular and religious books have been written explaining man’s purpose in life and others denying the existence of a purpose of life. In this book, I try to explain this dilemma through personal experience seeking for a meaning of life in many philosophical, metaphysical, and esoteric schools.

The fundamental idea underlying these essays is to question the so-called conventional wisdom under which we conduct most of our lives. The majority of this conventional wisdom involves irrational concepts that generate conflicting situations in our lives. Therefore, it is important to take the time to evaluate and explore under which assumptions we are living our lives. The quality of life, our sorrows and miseries, or joy and inner peace, are in direct correlation to the presumptions that we dwell upon.

On the other hand, the essays also attempt to demystify and dispel basic misconceptions accepted as true by conventional wisdom. It appears that man has a natural tendency to uncritically accept and go after what is dictated by conventional wisdom. This book is a collection of thought-provoking and groundbreaking essays in the areas of New Age philosophy, religion, and modern metaphysics. In that sense, I have attempted to find answers regarding the conception of man and the universe in light of modern philosophy and metaphysics. These subjects have been of the utmost importance in my intellectual and personal development.

These essays are the products of long reflection, diligent research, and study to find the nature of reality and the meaning of life. Growing up in a strong Catholic environment that conflicted with the materialistic teachings I received in the university created a spiritual and intellectual crisis when I attempted to harmonize my Catholic beliefs based on church tenets with modern science and philosophy. I saw all the structures of knowledge and religious convictions that I had long cherished as absolutely true fall apart. Since I could not get reasonable answers to my growing doubts about Catholic dogma, I turned to Protestant teachings for answers to my inquiries. However, Protestantism did not provide me with satisfactory solutions either. My disorientation deepened as my doubts and concerns continued chasing me.

My university education was eminently materialistic, which was in clear contradiction to my Catholic background. During the 1970s, Peruvian state universities, especially San Marcos University, were strongly influenced by communist ideology. At that time, the vogue of most talented students in the university was to become knowledgeable in the theoretical ideas of Marx and Lenin. As an enthusiastic student and infected with the fervor of the moment, I became familiar with the Marxist/Leninist theories. Immersed in this university environment, I did not want to be left out, so I started becoming proficient in the basic ideology of this philosophy as well as familiar with the biographies of Hegel, Marx, Engel, Lenin, and Trotsky. The students’ innocent ideals at the moment were to change the world to a new one, where there would not be injustice and poverty.

However, reality is tough. Unfortunately, these materialistic theories were inadequate to solve the economic and social problems of the country. Also, materialistic knowledge did not satisfy my own quest for a spiritual meaning of life. By the time I finished the university, I started reading books borrowed from a local library on subjects related to Buddhism, parapsychology, and Yoga philosophy. The book of Yogi Ramacharaka, Fourteen Lessons in Yogi Philosophy, helped me a great deal in harmonizing the past contradictions of my Christian beliefs with science and technology. Later on, I became a student and then a teacher of cosmobiology (scientific astrology) for graduate students at the Great Universal Fraternity in Lima, Perú. My ongoing spiritual evolution took me to several occult and mystical schools such as Freemasonry, Qabalah, and Rosicrucianism.

These essays are, therefore, fruit of extensive reflections on fundamental premises regarding customary beliefs, false religious assumptions, and negative patterns that prevent man from living life fully and successfully. In addition, some essays deal with psychological, religious, and spiritual uncertainties that most people need to have resolved. In this sense, the book could be considered a means to help the reader in his/her inner personal exploration for self-discovery. If this task is undertaken, it will help to unmask and integrate the shadow of the personality that precludes man from fully developing his potentialities.

I sincerely hope that this explanation gives the reader a clear idea of my ideological evolution, which was never dogmatic or narrow-minded, but instead open to any rational and scientific knowledge. The dialectical process of my intellectual development allowed me to reach convictions of knowledge that were reliable and verifiable in the metaphysical realm. The basic principle on this journey was not to accept or deny anything without a rigorous analysis and test. I followed the method of the French mathematician and philosopher René Descartes, Methodic Doubt, expounded in his book Discourse on Method. In fact, modern philosophy and science have their foundation in this kind of approach. Under this notion, all theories and customary beliefs have to be tested in the fire of reason and scientific demonstration. I sincerely hope that my own discoveries and my ideological clarifications help the reader in his or her own search for personal and spiritual development. As the Bible exhorts, "Be you transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom. 12:2).

We should learn to break the herd mentality and to base our outlook on life on coherent principles according to the laws of nature and reality. These essays intend to give the readers key ideas for reflection and meditation to enhance their awareness of their role in life and to facilitate their life journey. In the last instance, it is my hope that the reader will find in these essays thought provoking material to ponder as he or she considers in which direction his or her life is going.

For those readers who are not familiar with the meaning and correlation of the Hebrew letters, with the Tarot keys and Astrology, at the end of the book, there is an appendix that can be consulted to find the correspondent significance. It should be mentioned that this book was developed based on the fundamental ideas outlined in the essays of my book entitled New Age Reflections.

At this point, I would like to express my gratitude to my friend Edwin Heck, who graciously read, and made insightful comments to the initial manuscript.

Finally, I will gladly accept all critiques and constructive comments about the ideas expressed in this book. Any bigoted, prejudiced, and dogmatic opinions without scientific or reasonable proof will serve only to corroborate the validity of my ideas.

Albert Amao, Ph.D.

New Jersey, USA.

FOREWORD

I am not a metaphysician. In fact, I am not much of an -ist of any kind. So when Dr. Amao originally asked me to read his manuscript, I was not sure what I would find or how I would react. I have always been a skeptic about things metaphysical or mystical. The Tarot, Qabalah, and various forms of spiritism and divination have seemed suspicious to me. Yet I find Dr. Amao’s book both fascinating and, oddly enough, heartening on these matters.

Since the Enlightenment began in the eighteenth century, it has swept the Western world with the power of two great ideas. One is that the world is solely a material thing–composed of matter and energy, and two that a valid understanding of that world depends wholly on the evidence of the senses. Enhanced by technology we see ever more deeply into our world and far away into the universe beyond us. The second great idea is that all things supernatural or spiritual–the once mighty province of the religions of mankind—are mere baseless superstitions of our ignorant past. However, with the twentieth century, our confidence in the evidence of our senses and the rational integrity of our world has been shaken.

Quantum mechanics has introduced the concept of uncertainty into scientific thinking. For example, scientists have not only found but proved, many times, that a single photon of light fired from an emitter-device toward a barrier with two narrow slits cut into it goes through both openings at once . . . unless we set up an observation device at the slits. When we observe the photon traveling its course, it goes through only one slit. Take the device away and the single proton once again goes through both slits simultaneously.

This newly enlightened understanding of the natural world given to us by the discoveries of quantum mechanics is overthrowing tyrannical forms of rationalism which insist that there is one and only one truth dependent on one and only one method of observation of one and only one material reality. The new understanding of our world is certainly more congenial to Dr. Amao’s ideas of truth and reality than the black and white of mere reflexive rationalism. Dr. Amao’s ideas, however, are not a reactionary resurrection of age-old superstitions. Rather, they are meant to unlock the fetters of ancient superstitions, the fetters of fortune-telling and secret knowledge known but to a few by which many esotericisms sought to bind the uninitiated into psychological and financial dependence on their privileged ministrations.

Dr. Amao does not wish to invoke this ancient darkness once again nor to deny the truths of modern science, but rather to help his readers to a new and more open enlightenment in which all may find their place. He does not arrogate to himself the role of magus throwing scraps of enlightenment to poor lost sheep, but seeks to be a nourisher and strengthener of independent self-exploration.

The Tarot, for instance, which Dr. Amao treats in some depth, is presented not as a fortune-teller’s tool paralyzing believers with an unwholesome dependence upon or terror of some future event fated to befall them. Rather, he presents the complex and colorful Tarot images as a system of symbols, which can open to us the nature of our inner selves–our fears and strengths, our talents and desires. Dr. Amao shows us that the Tarot and also the Qabalah can help us see what cannot be readily apprehended and understood in ourselves, but what may be prompted in us indirectly. This can lead us to a kind of satori, a sudden, surprising insight that reveals ourselves to ourselves. His purpose is to show us that we can use this knowledge to realize our full humanity and develop rich, humane, and nourishing relationships with all other beings in the world.

Dr. Amao acts as a kind of ecologist of the human spirit. Studying its nature, the structure and meaning of its elements, and its relationship to the spirit of the world, he seeks to cleanse, as it were, the spiritual air we breathe and the water we thirst for, to enrich the soil of our inner selves allowing in the sunlight and nutrients necessary for the growth of our hearts and souls. He takes well-known stories like The Wizard of Oz, the Prodigal Son, and story of Adam and Eve and shows us the powerful and suggestive insights we can take from them. In each story, whether through pain, loss, facing uncomfortable truths or willingly taking risks, a character achieves a self-realization, which offers a freedom and joy through which he or she may flourish as a person. He shows us that mythic figures like the Wicked Witch of the West and the serpent in the Garden or foolish temptations like hedonism and addiction, despite their fearsome darkness, can in fact illuminate our paths to personal fulfillment.

I am not a metaphysician–but a skeptic, not a mystic–but an empiricist, and yet I have found much worth learning in Dr. Amao’s book. I find it especially important that I can appropriate such truths as I see in his stories and comments to the benefit of my character and my freedom of self. Such is the open-handed gift of this book, the fruits of Dr. Amao’s intellectual labors and insights.

Edwin J. Heck, Ph.D.

I. THE PARADOX OF LIFE

1. IS LIFE A DREAM OR A THEATRE?

Don Pedro Calderon de la Barca¹, a seventeenth century Spanish playwright, has expressed the paradox of life in the following terms:

What is life? A tale that is told;

What is life? A frenzy extreme,

A shadow of things that seem;

And the greatest good is but small,

That all life is a dream to all,

And that dreams themselves are a dream.²

Calderon de la Barca wrote the above verse in Spanish, which reads: Toda la vida es un sueño y los sueños, sueños son; the literal translation of this is, All Life is a dream and dreams are dreams themselves. In this verse is enclosed some transcendental truth that we will try to elucidate. The concept that life is a dream has been taught in the Eastern and Western mystery schools long before Calderon de la Barca. It is said that life is an illusion, and man lives in an illusory world. The Indian philosophy calls it Maya. We dream when we are in a state of sleep, and the act of sleeping is similar to a temporary death in the sense that it is suspension of consciousness. According to the esoteric teaching, during the sleep period, we leave the physical world to go to another dimension. Therefore, dreams take us beyond the tri-dimensional to a more complex reality. Similarly, when man dies, his soul goes to another realm beyond the physical world.

On the other hand, Mr. William Shakespeare, a sixteenth century English playwright, has defined the world as a great theatre upon which people perform, and their different ages represent different acts and scenes in this tragic-comedy.

All the world is a stage,

And all the men and women merely players.

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts,

His acts being seven ages.

³

This description suggests that man’s role in the world is beyond his control and that the script for the play has already been written before he was born. The idea of life being a dream or a big theatre where men and women are merely players of role already designed implies the philosophical problem of free will and fate. As Shakespeare himself put it in Hamlet’s mouth: to be or not to be, that is the question.

It appears that there is something inexplicable, some force beyond man’s comprehension that impels him in the direction of new unknowable horizons. Nobody can stop this impulse toward evolution and the advancement of humankind and nature. What is this Inner Force that induces man to seek something better every time, to never be content with what he already has? Modern science has reached the conclusion that the universe is all energy; Ancient Wisdom has asserted that this Invisible energy is conscious and intelligent; therefore, the corollary is that there is an invisible Universal Creative Force directing this universe toward a continuous evolution.

Contrary to the Darwinian’s theory of evolution which postulated that the development of the species took place by random mutations and a struggle for survival, we believe that evolution of the species to the present stage of human development was intended by a Higher intelligence acting behind the scenes. The same Invisible intelligence, known by mystical schools as Conscious Energy, is leading the evolution of humankind to levels of super-human being. These are the ones that will populate the earth during the Aquarian Dispensation.

Hindu philosophy describes the presence of an Invisible power that maintains the physical manifestation in the composite word, Sat-chit-Ananda. The complete analysis of this sacred expression goes beyond the scope of this essay; suffice to say that Sat means One-energy, omniscient, omnipresent, whence everything is made; Chit denotes that this One-energy is aware of Itself, that It is conscious; finally, Ananda means blissful and peaceful. Thus, the mystical explanation of this compound word is that this One-energy is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, and invisible -- being the source for everything known in the universe; It has perfect awareness of Itself and dwells in a blissful and peaceful state.

The Bhagavad-Gita, one of the most important spiritual works of the Hindu philosophy, teaches that we cannot refrain from acting in life; we have to execute the role that we have been given in the cosmic play, whether it is the role of villain or hero. The beauty of this message is to know that in this cosmic drama, God lives in and through all the actors. That is why the Western esoteric tradition teaches that man is not the actor or the doer, that the Absolute or the Universal Creative Energy is the only doer and actor. He is the only One acting in this cosmic drama-comedy of the world through all human beings.

However, man’s unconscious desire is to seek immortality in the world, or his instinctive yearning is to be remembered and appreciated by future generations; he tries to keep his name and deeds alive forever because of his fear of mortality. This yearning impels man to do grandiose things whether positive or negative. Wise men understand that this is a futile task like chasing the wind. The book of Ecclesiastes describes precisely this disappointment. Solomon, the Preacher, said, "Vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?"⁴ In a later verse, he also indicates his dissatisfaction in the following words, "I