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"Wahy"
Strictly within the realm of human experience, based on the two-dimensional
Freudian model, "Wahy" could be understood as messages from the subconscious
mind about which the conscious "waking" mind is not aware. We all know that the
subconscious mind is a vast reservoir of forgotten experiences and memories,
which can from time to time surface in the form of inspiration or "revelation".
Perhaps Mirza Ghulam Ahmed, whose example you gave the other day, had
experiences in his childhood which exposed him to several languages
and these messages "cropped up" in his mind as an adult. Certain individuals may
be more receptive to such inspiration or revelation. They are able to get in
touch with their subconscious mind with greater ease than others. I have myself
attempted to do so through the Ouija board and the pendulum.
Therefore , although "Wahy" can be explained in strictly empirical terms, these
scientific explanations do not necessarily explain the very real phenomenon
associated with prophecy. clairvoyance, etc. Prophecy and clairvoyance belong in
the sphere of collective, rather than individual experience. You can say that
these prophetic and clairvoyant individuals are
able to tap that somewhat nebulous and as yet not clearly understood resource,
but all this is very speculative. There is no way of verifying this, any more
that there is a way of verifying religious or spiritual experience.
Messages from the subconscious also do not explain, instinctive or intuitive
behavior or knowledge. How does the ant know how to make an anthill or the bee a
beehive? How does
a baby know instinctively that it must turn its mouth towards the mother's
breast? How do migrating birds find their way South in the winter? The list goes
on and on. Such instinctive knowledge and behavior cannot possibly be embedded
in the subconscious, or can it? You are a psychiatrist and maybe you can help
solve this mystery.
The other day you asked how genuine revelation can be separated from quackery
and falsehood. If you don't believe in genuine religious experience , your
question would carry no significance. "Authenticity" of revelation becomes a
redundant idea. If I am to do justice to such a question, then we would have to
abandon Freud and embrace Frankl. The Homo Sapien is also Homo Religious.
However, strictly according to the above limited definition
of Wahy based on scientific methods, all human experience is authentic.
I hope I have been of some help. This is a very interesting discussion and I
would love feedback on it.
Regards to all
Farzana.
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