Traditionally, the word
“Metaphysics” was originated from Ancient Greece; it was a combination
of two words – “meta” meaning beyond, over, or after, and “physics”
meaning material or physical. Thus, the combination means over and
beyond physics. In the definition found in most dictionaries,
Metaphysics is referred to as a branch of Philosophy that deals with
First Cause and the Nature of Being. The Webster’s Dictionary defines
metaphysics as a branch of philosophy concerned with the origin and
structure of the universe. By this definition, metaphysics is to
investigate principles of reality transcending those of any particular
science, traditionally including cosmology, ontology, and speculative
philosophy. Ontology is the branch of metaphysics dealing with the
philosophical theory of reality, including consideration of the
universal and necessary characteristics of all existence, also, a
particular theory of reality. Cosmology is the general philosophy of
the universe considered as a totality of parts and phenomena subject to
laws. In most academic universities today, Metaphysics is taught as a
branch of Philosophy under the label of “Speculative Philosophy.”
However, there is a significant difference between the traditional,
classical, academic-oriented Metaphysics and the contemporary
Metaphysics or Metaphysical Science. In modern world, the word
“Metaphysics” covers wider aspects with many fields of interest beyond
academic theories. When one expresses an interest in Metaphysics, that
interest may be in any one or a combination of the following subjects:
- Applied Philosophy
- Spirituality
- Mysticism
- General Psychology, Parapsychology, Jungian Psychology
- Eastern Practices (Yoga, Qigong, etc.)
- Various form of meditation
- Various healing methods
- ESP and Pyschics
- Dreams and Consciousness
- Astrology and Numerology
- Self-Help and Selp-Development
- Positive Thinking and Affirmation
- Life After Death and Reincarnation
- New Religion
A metaphysical school or metaphysical study may emphasize one or some
of these subjects. What is in common is that all of the subjects deal
with an exploration of Reality and aim to discover absolute truth
beyond physical boundary. In a more absolute sense, we like to think
of Metaphysics as dealing with the basic questions of life, i. e. the
relationship of man, mind and the universe, which leads to answers to
the age-old questions of anyone who has truly paused to reflect on life
by asking the most fundamental questions of all—”Who am I; what am I;
where have I been, and where am I going?” Therefore modern Metaphysics
is often regarded as a Spiritual Philosophy of life.
In review of metaphysical schools and teachers, we find people
engaging in quite different things, all under the label of Metaphysics.
This could be a wide range, such as yogis, mystics, astrologers,
positive thinking teachers, meditation teacher, grapho-analysts,
spiritual healers, self-help teachers, etc. The range is wide, but again
the basic denominator is the search for truth, purpose and meaning in
life, which cannot be isolated from basic spiritual questions. All of
these fields, therefore, are regarded as part of Metaphysics, thus their
schools are reviewed and documented in our directory.
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