A 144 element structure, related to a four by four matrix, is not only profoundly simple and orderly - and order is an aspect of Principle - it is also a very unique structure.  With 144 elements available for the total structure, each of the sixteen main elements of the structure that represents the City Foursquare, contains a substructure that is made up of nine sub-element.  If four of these sub-elements are seen to represent the function of the four rows of the matrix, and four more are seen to represent the four columns, the basic design of the matrix is being reflected within each element.  This leaves one sub-element remaining to take on the role of a central identifier or theme.

All this put together adds up to 144.  With the dual definitions perceived as stated above, the Glossary of Science and Health wit Key to the Scriptures contains no only 144 definitions, but it contains also the exact mix of the various types that is required to completely fulfill the requirements of the matrix.

The end result is a structure that reflects the qualities of principle, such as order, beauty, functionality, simplicity, and power.  Nothing more needs to be added.  It only needs to be understood.  One aid for understanding is found in metaphoric form in Mary Baker Eddy's book, Christ and Christmas.   But even here, the 144 dimension is further indicated (in metaphor) as a symbol of completeness, in the last illustration in this book.  It is found incorporated into the design of a crown that displays nine jewels in the frontal view, but when seen in total, contains sixteen jewels overall.  It is hard to regard this specific metaphor as irrelevant.

Another principle that has been focused on at the fundamental level of working with Mary Baker Eddy's outline for the structure is fidelity.  There was a time when the sequential ordering of the columns of the matrix seemed illogical as defined by Mary Baker Eddy.  So, the ordering was changed for the sake of exploration, with what seemed to be a better design.  But, soon, it became apparent that the sequence presented by Mary Baker Eddy in her description of the city foursquare, would have to be used without alterations for the total design to be logical.  The determination to be totally faithful to Mary Baker Eddy's design to the minutest detail totally changed the functional characteristic of the matrix into something complete and orderly that no other design can accomplish.

It is plainly evident that Mary Baker Eddy was a scientist and not a philosopher.  When science guides human activities the created aspects lock together into something complete, seamless, and whole, but open to infinity. The author's work has been at times be referred to as a philosophy.  But this hardly describes this work.  What has been presented in this series has none of the features of a philosophy.  In fact, in the "fourth dimension, of Spirit," were Principle and its infinite unfolding becomes a prime focal point, the very idea of a philosophy is out of place.  What sets works of philosophy apart from scientific works is the factor of openness to the infinite range of thought and its expression that is inherent in infinite Mind.  This is the frontier that divine Science explores.  Philosophies, on the other hand, tend to be dogmatic.  They describe a fixed view of reality that is paraded as rigidly final and finite.  Thus, by their very design, they present themselves as a closed door to further progress.  Works of this type match closely works of religious dogmatism, all of which (in their diversity) pretend to offer the final solution or absolute truth.  They tell the reader that it is not possible go further than what they present, to discover more, to gain a clearer view of humanity.  In the shadow of such dogmatism, and there is a lot of this around, progress does literally end.  Indeed, why should anyone bother to search deeper when the absolute is deemed to have been attained and is offered for sale or for free?

Next Page

|| - page index - || - chapter index - || - Exit - ||

Stories about  Healing from novels by Rolf A. F. Witzsche