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..:: DNA ::..
By
Alan Schneider
Much discussion is currently
circulating in the alternative spiritual community, and in the general
world community as well, regarding DNA – deoxyribonucleic acid –
the chemical architect of all life as we know it on the Physical Plane
of Expression. This essay considers this subject from
the perspective of its spiritual implications.
DNA itself is affiliated with
another complex genetic chemical known as RNA – ribonucleic acid
– arguably one of the first organic acids to appear in creation, and a
primary component of living and borderline living structures, including,
for example, almost all viruses – the primary borderline entities on
Earth. At the chemical direction of DNA, RNA carries out most
subsequent cellular work by activating cellular metabolic and
maintenance processes. In the case of the virus, a simple structure of
a protein case (holding a sample of the viral RNA), protein shaft (that
attaches to target cell walls by target protein recognition), and
penetrator (which descends down the shaft following attachment), enables
the virus to inject its RNA directly into the target cell, bypassing the
native cellular RNA, and native nuclear DNA, entirely, and subsequently
manufacturing only viral RNA in the process, until the target cell fills
up with viral “packages” and ruptures, releasing the new viruses into
the ambient biological environment. Under certain circumstances,
viruses can literally crystallize into solid, inert chemical lattices –
no longer demonstrating any of the features of a living system – until a
suitable biochemical environment is restored, at which point they again
become viable, mobile protein life forms in solution.
The virus is an exception to
the rule of life – almost all life is cellular in basis – with a
central nucleus containing DNA (and RNA), having a nuclear wall, and
this centrally suspended within the cell, itself containing many complex
chemical elements, and the whole being surrounded by a protein cell
wall. The DNA manufactures the RNA through a chemical process called
transcription, releasing it through the nuclear wall into the
cell to carry on the processes of cellular metabolism. When the cell
has generated the required amount of metabolic products, the nuclear DNA
replicates into another set of identical DNA, resulting in another
nucleus and cell eventually, in the process of mitosis. All of
this is carried out by the original DNA organic molecule, which is
theoretically capable of replicating in this manner indefinitely,
favorable environmental conditions permitting.
The universe as an
environment does not, of course, remain static – it exists in a
condition of endless flux and transition, right down to the
molecular, atomic, and subatomic levels. Thus, no DNA molecule can
replicate in the indefinite mode noted above – if such was the case, and
DNA demonstrated no mechanism of change – life on Earth would have
ground to a halt very soon after its inception. But DNA is highly
mutagenic – its composition is affected by many environmental factors,
such as solar radiation, chemical infusion, and physical impact – and
this very adaptable chemical generates many design iterations,
or expressions, in the course of its existence. As the environment
changes, some of these iterations will demonstrate compatible structures
to the new conditions, and life will evolve in consequence, eventually
assuming more and more complex forms across time. From the current
observational perspective, we are the sentient pinnacle of this
process, at least on land, and in the air.
DNA appears to have become
manifest on the Physical Plane in response to the balance of factors
present in the solar biosphere – the region around the Sun that
sustains life as we know it. It is quite probable that some form of
DNA/RNA based life would have inevitably become manifest on Earth, given
its central location in the biosphere, this resulting from the
concentration of complex organic molecules generated in the warm tidal
pools of distant geological antiquity. Thus, at least locally in our
solar system, the evolution of complex life, culminating in sentient
life, was functionally certain, with the only qualifier being that a
planet of sufficient size to gravitationally retain an atmosphere may
not necessarily have manifested within the solar biosphere – this much
may have been a stroke of “fate”, or the “Karma” of this solar system,
perhaps.
In the metaphysical sense,
DNA can be regarded as the “Hand of God” acting in the biological
continuum to determine the course of evolution on Earth, and, for that
matter, the occurrence of Earth itself within the biosphere could also
be regarded as Divinely determined, although much more subject to chance
than the manifestation of DNA, which was more or less guaranteed once
planetary manifestation had taken place. And to the extent that our
sentient human consciousness is genetically determined – and I suspect
that this to be highly probable – the resultant structures of
that consciousness must also be genetically determined, specifically the
Sphere of the Psyche referred to so often in these essays. The
critical causative structure within that Sphere is, of course, the Self
at its center, generating all subsequent consciousness, including
the archetypes, the id, and the ego, these latter two existing on the
surface of the Sphere, far from the Self at its core. It can be said
that human consciousness mirrors the physical form of the solar system –
a central structure generating all else in evidence – we are all models
of the first Creation under this analogy. In ancient terms “As Above,
So Below”.
The Psyche is subject to
variable levels of activity – at one extreme (in deep sleep) there is no
discernable activity – even dreaming is absent – at the other, under
conditions of physical or mental emergency, an extremely heightened
state of organismic arousal is noted as an external reflection
of internal states of heightened emotional and psychic agitation
and arousal. Within these extreme levels, the overall state of psychic
activity fluctuates much like the flux and transition observed in the
physical universe – in constant movement, constant shifting of
attention, and with constant variable evaluation (both consciously and
unconsciously) of experienced events.
In recent experiments with
the little “Kundalini detector” at my friend Jenna’s home, we both
noticed another fascinating effect – the more we talked about God and
spirituality, the more active the detector became, presumably indicating
an increasing level of organismic arousal in parallel to increased
psychic arousal. Inasmuch as “God” is spiritually analogous to “the
Logos” and “the Self” (essentially existing as a cultural “trigger” word
in English usage) apparently an environment of sustained dialog
regarding this high level of manifestation becomes very stimulating for
the participants – something that the proponents of revival meetings
have known for a long time without the advantage of measurement
techniques, however. Even if all the detector is indicating is
heightened glandular physiological activity, this is still very
meaningful when the additional presence of internal observation and
subsequent discourse is taken into account.
The Self is a very
esoteric structure. Freudian theory does not accept its existence at
all, although competing Jungian theory hinges on this phenomenon, and
the testimony of those who have successfully contacted this fundamental
level of conscious experience in deep meditation supports this claim.
In the light of this deep source connection, a fundamental question has
arisen in the New Age community at this time: “Can the Self, as the
spiritual source of all manifestation, either directly or indirectly
affect the physical structure of the DNA molecule on the Physical
Plane, and, if so, how?” Moreover, is the personal contact in
meditation with the Self referred to here necessary to expedite this
molecular modification, or can it be performed externally by a
sufficiently powerful human or other spiritual source?
A more pertinent question may
be “If DNA is the Hand of God manifest on the Physical Plane, and the
agency of Karma (the Will of God) for that reason, should we
attempt to adjust this process at all?” What this all comes down to is
the purpose and meaning of existence. If, as the Buddha maintained, all
of life amounts to suffering caused by the illusion of desire action,
and this suffering is resolved by enlightenment, what is the implication
of the desire to alter ones DNA? If God does not play dice with
the universe, should we attempt to?
The presumed mechanism of
external DNA modification by spiritual practitioners, with or without
higher spiritual support, seems to involve the proposed manipulation of
Astral and Mental Plane archetypal symbols of the DNA
structure manifest in both the perception of the adjustor and the
subject. We are left to suppose that the adjusted Astral DNA then
manifests at some point in a similar or identical adjustment of the
physical DNA of the subject. While it may well be true that the
observable structures and forms of the Physical Plane are the result of
pre-existing Astral archetypal symbolic interaction, the Physical Plane
itself is a Karmic mirror of consciousness, and what one intends
to perceive there heavily influences what one does perceive
there. The question is “Does what I perceive originate from the Self,
or as the result of unconscious ego-driven wish fulfillment?” How deep
are my practice, commitment, and dedication to Self exploration and Self
Realization? What only originates on the Astral or Mental Planes is far
from resolute. Does the world we experience in the physical senses
ultimately result from the influence of the Self? The answer to this
question is “Yes”, but the information passes through many
subsequent levels of expression before becoming physical, and each one
results in another sheath of interpretation. This is why the Physical
Plane appears to be such a turbulent place – it reflects the disturbance
of all that has metaphysically produced it. Superficial practices
result in superficial change on the Physical Plane, change that is
easily eroded by the turbulence there. And very few things are more
superficial than the presumed manipulations of DNA practitioners, who
will offer an easy way out of the lifetime of commitment represented by
serious spiritual practices like Yoga and meditation.
As the reader has probably
noticed by this point, I am quite skeptical of the veracity of
all claims to non-environmental DNA modification, particularly those of
human agent manipulators. Beyond the questionable nature of their
machinations, another, perhaps more pertinent, question arises – once
the presumed adjustment has been completed (frequently after a notably
expensive series of episodes), what is the supposed benefit to the
subject? I have heard of all manner of dubious things mentioned in this
context, including spontaneous abundance manifestation, dramatically
heightened psychic abilities, and large increases in the subject’s
coefficient of Astral Light and Presence linked to personal Ascension.
And all for a few hundred dollars (and some very handy hypnosis by the
practitioner)! If these claims were indeed valid, I am sure that we
would find ourselves waiting in line for years to access the procedure
in very short order. Perhaps the technique merely needs more intense
promotion on the part of its advocates – perhaps televised
efforts might be useful...
The condition which we find
ourselves dealing with on the Physical Plane is most difficult – even
the apparently pleasant lives of the very affluent are often not as they
appear to be, concealing untold torment and imperfection behind a
glittering facade of opulence. In the tiny minority of cases in
which we do attain material satisfaction without evident
personal and spiritual penalties, we must then confront the dark specter
of old age and infirmity eventually. There is no escape – the
only way out of any confinement is to break through it – and in
the case of Karma, this is impossible without living a life of deep
personal introspection and self sacrifice. Only in this way can the
enlightenment and compassion be attained that opens the gates of
consciousness and eventual liberation. Only in this way can the Self
be Realized in personal life, as a living phenomenon within our
awareness. There are no shortcuts, and no easy way to be free –
of this the reader can be assured – only dedicated hard work along the
lines just mentioned will produce lasting results.
- With Love, Alan -
(Copyright 2009, by Alan Schneider)
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