Early Heaven

Let me preface these comments by saying I agree with the statement made in the courses that the West is too focused on pure intellectual pursuits. And this to the detriment of the practical.

On the other hand, I think we need to understand things too. And that goes back to teh basic tenent of taoist rules- balance.

I have been studying esoteric ideas for only about a decade, but I noticed one thing was lacking in the entire Western(including Hindu) descrpitions of the micro/macro cosmos. This is what the Taoists call Early Heaven. I find different levels discussed(i.e. my sister loves sylvia brown- who only seems aware of the astral level) and a differing awareness, but the highest I’ve ever seen the Western esoterics go is what is called the Higher Self. That’s what I understand to correspond to Stars (as in star alchemy).

I have experience and learning that prove to myself that there is a level or state of existance that the taoists call Early Heaven.

What I say next might sound unusual, but please realize our background prior to encountering alchemy gives us a different persepective and perhaps some different insights.

Here I’m only commenting on the theory. The practice is impeccable(and after thousands of years of refining, as it should be).

THe level of early heaven in the taoists tradition I think corresponds to heaven in teh Christian tradition. (I’m not referring to ordinary Christians, i.e. Catholics or Protestants, which I think have been in a near completely corrupted state for hundreds of years. I refer to teh concepts from the Swedenborgian tradition- and not what an official organization says, but directly from the theological writings).
There has been a lot of debate even on that side about certain things, but from my personal experience so far I’ve come to the conclusion that our shen or spirit in this level is either male or female. And our spirit is in the human form.

I’ve discovered that this spirit in early heaven can be developed. In a sense it’s developed by technology, but more by a spiritual process.

And while I don’t have much knowledge of the internal alchemy process, I think these ideas don’t negate it’s effectiveness. Because as carl jung said we have a minor feminine within the masculine and a minor male within the feminine.

I just thought I’d share a few of my current thoughts and invite some constructive commnents. I hope I didn’t offend anyone by my comments. One thing I love about taoism is it’s breadth and openness, integrating whatever works.

B