A friend of mine was excited to share Lynne McTaggart’s book with me yesterday, The Field, The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe, and since I started reading it I found it an absolutely provocative page-turner. In closing the chapter titled Resonating with the Field, McTaggart writes;
‘If living things boil down to charged particles interacting with a field and sending out and receiving quantum information, where did we end and the rest of the world begin? Where was consciousness—encased inside our bodies or out there in The Field? Indeed, there was no more ‘out there’ if we and the rest of the world were so intrinsically interconnected.
The implications of this were too huge to ignore. The idea of a system of exchanged and patterned energy and its memory and recall in the Zero Point Field hinted at all manner of possibility for human beings and their relationship to their world. Modern physicists had set mankind back for many decades. In ignoring the effect of the Zero Point Field, they’d eliminated the possibility of interconnectedness and obscured a scientific explanation for many kinds of miracles.’ (like why F=ma)…’ What they’d being doing, in renormalizing (emphasis mine) their equations, was a little like subtracting out God.’
(It is worthy of mention that McTaggart draws a similitude here between God and the Zero Point Field)
It would seem Lynne McTaggert, my friend, and I are on the same page when it comes to thinking
normal overrated. This information jibes readily with the topics on
apageinthelife and why the
Maxie Time protagonist may not be so crazy after all. The not yet widely accepted effects of the Zero Point Field make the border between the physical and the metaphysical turn fuzzy. In a database
records of data, comprised of
fields, are stored in
tables. In computer applications records are written to disk for permanent storage. In physics, the Zero Point Field serves as a permanent residence (database) for all the information of the world, continually encoded with every
atom (minute measure of information or data) of the Universe—every sight, sound, and smell (McTaggert, The Field). And what have all the Great Books been telling us about this careful
record keeping?
With the relationship between tables, records and fields in mind let's first look at the word
table in these tomes.
Sometimes it appears as it is meant to be, simply table; often times it is disguised as:
tablet,
tablets, chari
table, sui
table, equi
table, accoun
table, accep
table, inevi
table, trac
table, or table with the secondary meaning ‘
repast.’ Jesus said he spoke to us in parables because in those days
fields of grains, or seeds were more accessible to the listeners than say
fields of atoms, or
zero point fields; and to
record something meant any method of recording including numbering, inscribing, books and even memorization. For the deligent student the picture should come into sharp focus.
With the cautionary caveat from Matthew; 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
(This of course not only applies to physical actions but intentions as well).
Tables are mentioned in several instances in both the Old and New Testament and the Quran, and I would be remiss not to remind the reader the topic under discussion has nothing to do with furniture.
The Old Testament (The New International Version) Genesis 43:33 The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment.
43:34 When portions were served to them from Joseph's table, Benjamin's portion was five times as much as anyone else's. So they feasted and drank freely with him.
(I doubt that these men were 'astonished' over a portion of 'food' from Joseph’s 'table').
Exodus 24:12 The Lord said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have written for their instruction."
The Table
25: 23 Make a table of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high. 25:24 Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it.
25:25 Also make around it a rim a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim.
25:26 Make four gold rings for the table and fasten them to the four corners, where the four legs are.
25:27 The rings are to be close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table.
25:28 Make the poles of acacia wood, overlay them with gold and carry the table with them.
25:29 And make its plates and dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings.
25:30 Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before Me at all times.
(On a superficial level this reads like a lesson from woodshop class, but God doesn't need to eat in order to thrive, so with all this instruction for making and setting up a tablescape one can’t help but seek a deeper meaning).
26: 34 Put the atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place.
26:35 Place the table outside the curtain on the north side of the tabernacle and put the lamp stand opposite it on the south side.
(The 'table' here is obscured from the other side by a curtain, and in counterpoint to the table a light source is placed).
31:18 When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.
40:22 Moses placed the table in the Tent of Meeting on the north side of the tabernacle outside the curtain . Hebrews
A Visible Parable
9:1 That first plan contained directions for worship, and a specially designed place of worship.
9:2 A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lamp stand, the table, and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 9:3 Then a curtain was stretched, and behind it a smaller, inside tent set up. This was called "the Holy of Holies."
9:4 In it were placed the gold incense altar and the gold-covered ark of the covenant containing the gold urn of manna, Aaron's rod that budded, the covenant tablets, and the angel-wing-shadowed mercy seat. 9:5 But we don't have time to comment on these now.
(This Parable is meant to be obvious to the reader, so no one took the time to explain it, perhaps thinking future generations would be brighter than their forebears, and no further explanation was necessary). The New Testament
1 Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons.
Matthew 13:31 He presented another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard
seed, which a man took and sowed in his
field;
(Here the word 'seed' would be analogous to 'atom', and the 'field' could be the actual field being planted or The Field that exists outside our conscious realm of perception, constantly recording everything).
Luke 17:6 And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a mustard
seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea'; and it would obey you.
(This is open to interpretation but in one way importunes that a common mustard seed is more aware
than most of us). Quran
Al-Ma'idah (The Table)
5:112 Behold! the disciples, said: "O Jesus the son of Mary! can thy Lord send down to us a table from heaven?"
Said Jesus: "Fear Allah, if ye have faith." إِذْ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ هَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ رَبُّكَ أَن يُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْنَا مَآئِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاء قَالَ اتَّقُواْ اللّهَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ <5:113 br="br">
They said: "We only wish to partake thereof and satisfy our hearts, and to know that thou hast indeed told us the truth; and that we ourselves may be witnesses to the miracle." – قَالُواْ نُرِيدُ أَن نَّأْكُلَ مِنْهَا وَتَطْمَئِنَّ قُلُوبُنَا وَنَعْلَمَ أَن قَدْ صَدَقْتَنَا وَنَكُونَ عَلَيْهَا مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ 5:114
Said Jesus the son of Mary: "O Allah our Lord! Send us from heaven a table from heaven, that there may be for us - for the first and the last of us - a celebration and a sign from thee; and provide for our sustenance, for thou art the best Sustainer.” قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا أَنزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَآئِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاء تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيداً لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَآخِرِنَا وَآيَةً مِّنكَ وَارْزُقْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ
(I somehow sincerely doubt the disciples were asking for a dinner from heaven that would serve as a sign for the first and last of us.
The table the disciples requested also prompted Jesus to castigate them for their lack of faith so the question remains: What exactly did Jesus call for when he asked God for a 'table from heaven'?).
Al-An'am (The Cattle)
6:59 For with Him are the keys to the things that are beyond the reach of a created being's perception: none knows them but He. And He knows all that is on land and in the sea; and not a leaf falls but He knows it; and neither is there a grain in the earth's deep darkness, nor anything: living or dead, but is recorded in a clear decree (open record). وَعِندَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لاَ يَعْلَمُهَا إِلاَّ هُوَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلاَّ يَعْلَمُهَا وَلاَ حَبَّةٍ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الأَرْضِ وَلاَ رَطْبٍ وَلاَ يَابِسٍ إِلاَّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ
Yunus (Jonah)
10:21 And whenever We let people taste grace after hardship has visited them-lo! they forthwith turn to devising against Our messages. Say: "God is swifter in His subtle plan!" Behold, Our messengers are recording all that you may devise! وَإِذَا أَذَقْنَا النَّاسَ رَحْمَةً مِّن بَعْدِ ضَرَّاء مَسَّتْهُمْ إِذَا لَهُم مَّكْرٌ فِي آيَاتِنَا قُلِ اللّهُ أَسْرَعُ مَكْرًا إِنَّ رُسُلَنَا يَكْتُبُونَ مَا تَمْكُرُونَ
10:61 AND IN whatever condition thou may find yourself, and whatever discourse of this you may be reciting, and whatever work you may do --We are your witness when you enter upon it: for, not even an atom's weight on earth or in heaven escapes your Sustainer's knowledge; and neither is there anything smaller than that, or larger, but is recorded in a clear decree (open record).
وَمَا تَكُونُ فِي شَأْنٍ وَمَا تَتْلُو مِنْهُ مِن قُرْآنٍ وَلاَ تَعْمَلُونَ مِنْ عَمَلٍ إِلاَّ كُنَّا عَلَيْكُمْ شُهُودًا إِذْ تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِ وَمَا يَعْزُبُ عَن رَّبِّكَ مِن مِّثْقَالِ ذَرَّةٍ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ فِي السَّمَاء وَلاَ أَصْغَرَ مِن ذَلِكَ وَلا أَكْبَرَ إِلاَّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ
Al-Isra (The Journey by Night)
17:13 And every human being's time (destiny) have We tied (fastened or hastened) to his neck; and on the Day of Resurrection We shall bring forth for him a record (book) which he will find wide open (published);
وَكُلَّ إِنسَانٍ أَلْزَمْنَاهُ طَآئِرَهُ فِي عُنُقِهِ وَنُخْرِجُ لَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ كِتَابًا يَلْقَاهُ مَنشُورًا 17:14 [and will be told:]
"Read your record (book) Sufficient is your own self today to hold you accountable!"
(
اقْرَأْ كَتَابَكَ كَفَى بِنَفْسِكَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكَ حَسِيبًا
(17:14
Al-Kahf (The Cave)
18:49 And the record will be laid open; and you will see the guilty filled with dread at what [they see] therein; and they will exclaim: "Oh, woe unto us! What a record is this! It leaves out nothing, be it small or great, but takes everything into account!"
For they will find all that they ever wrought facing them, and your Sustainer does not wrong anyone.
وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ فَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَا وَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّا أَحْصَاهَا وَوَجَدُوا مَا عَمِلُوا حَاضِرًا وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا
Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage)
22:70 Are you aware that God knows all that is in heaven and earth? All this is in a record: verily, all this is easy for God. أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَاء وَالْأَرْضِ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ فِي كِتَابٍ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ
Al-Mu'minun (The Believers)
23:62 And We do not burden any soul beyond its scope: and with Us is a record that speaks the truth; and none shall be wronged. وَلَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا وَلَدَيْنَا كِتَابٌ يَنطِقُ بِالْحَقِّ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
An-Naml (The Ants, or the Naml Tribe)
27:75 And there is nothing hidden in the heaven or the earth but it is in a clear record (open book).
وَمَا مِنْ غَائِبَةٍ فِي السَّمَاء وَالْأَرْضِ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ Ya-Siin
يس
36:12 Verily We give life to the dead, and
We record what they send ahead and the traces they leave behind, and everything do We take account of in a clear record.
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْيِي الْمَوْتَى وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا وَآثَارَهُمْ وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ أحْصَيْنَاهُ فِي إِمَامٍ مُبِينٍ Az-Zumar (The Groups) 39:35
And to this end, God will efface from their record the worst that they ever did, and give them their reward in accordance with the best that they were doing.
لِيُكَفِّرَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ أَسْوَأَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا وَيَجْزِيَهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ الَّذِي كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
Az-Zukhruf (The Gold Adornments)
43:80 Or do they, perchance, think that We do not hear their hidden thoughts and their secret confabulations? Indeed We do, and Our messengers are with them, recording.
أَمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّا لَا نَسْمَعُ سِرَّهُمْ وَنَجْوَاهُم بَلَى وَرُسُلُنَا لَدَيْهِمْ يَكْتُبُونَ
Al-Jathiya (The Kneeling)
45:29 This, Our record speaks of you in all truth: for, verily, We have caused to be recorded all that you ever did!”
هَذَا كِتَابُنَا يَنطِقُ عَلَيْكُم بِالْحَقِّ إِنَّا كُنَّا نَسْتَنسِخُ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
Qaf 50:4
Well do We know how the earth consumes their bodies, for with Us is a record unfailing (secure).
قَدْ عَلِمْنَا مَا تَنقُصُ الْأَرْضُ مِنْهُمْ وَعِندَنَا كِتَابٌ حَفِيظٌ
Al-Qamar (The Moon)
54:53 and everything, small or great, is recorded.
وَكُلُّ صَغِيرٍ وَكَبِيرٍ مُسْتَطَرٌ
Al-Mutaffifin (Those Who Deal in Fraud)
83:7 NAY, VERILY, the record of the wicked is indeed inescapable!
كَلَّا إِنَّ كِتَابَ الفُجَّارِ لَفِي سِجِّينٍ 83:8
And what could make you conceive what is inescapable?
وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا سِجِّينٌ
83:9
A record inscribed (enumerated)!
كِتَابٌ مَّرْقُومٌ 83:18
NAY, VERILY - the record of the truly virtuous is most lofty!
كَلَّا إِنَّ كِتَابَ الْأَبْرَارِ لَفِي عِلِّيِّينَ 83:19
And what could make you conceive what is most lofty?
وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا عِلِّيُّونَ 83:20
A record inscribed (enumerated),
كِتَابٌ مَّرْقُومٌ Az-Zalzalah (The Earthquake)
99:7 And so, whosoever shall have done an atom's weight of good, shall see it;
فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ 99:8
and, whosoever shall have done an atom's weight of evil, shall see it.
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ
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