I do seem to be drawn to this theme of ‘two interpenetrating worlds’; The idea that we inhabit both; That we are dual beings and are tasked with somehow bridging the boundary of perception between them!
I get a sense that the boundary is one of, something akin to ‘speed’; Like the communication between a person and a block of granite.
In this case though, we are the block of granite!
‘Time’ is different for each of these entities. Whole worlds can go by in the spaces between moments.
I like Gurdjieff’s take on this theme. It was his contention that the ‘material’ world; The one we apprehend with our senses, is ruled by 48 orders of laws. These are not the type of laws made by man. These are binding rules that constrain the world and limit freedom; They ensure that effect follows on from cause, that light speed has an upper limit and that space-time can provide the discrete ‘spacing’ of things and events.
He saw this world as a subset of a more encompassing world; World 24. A world with only 24 orders of laws. This ‘mother world’ allows much more freedom. It is less constrained, with the sum of possibilites being greatly increased.
Gurdjieff saw that individuals belong to both of these worlds. He stated that people have both a personality and also what he called an essence.
The personality belongs to world 48; It is bound to the 48 orders of laws. The ‘essence’ however belongs to world 24. It is bound by fewer laws. It is more free and brings with it more possibilites.
Essence in a man is what he is born with; what is his own. Personality is what is acquired; what comes from outside.
Gurdjieff stated that the personality comes under the law of accident, wheras the essence comes under the law of fate.
“Fate exists, but not for everyone. Fate is the result of planetary influences which correspond to, and act on a man’s type. Fate has relation to only one part of man, namely his essence.”
It is therefor more important to develop the essence aspect of ones being, over the personality, in order to make contact with one’s personal fate!
