“Perhaps” was the answer. “Robotics will control operations and communications between the space vehicles and earth. Space exploration will be far too monotonous for humans. Robotics will be so electronically advanced and sophisticated that anyone on earth will be able to tune into the space robots for a virtual reality experience. If the robotics space ship were to discover an interesting society, people could then choose to make direct contact with a personal encounter.”
Now Bill’s curiosity was supercharged. “Would it be wise,” he asked, “for a personal contact to take place?”
The friendly smile accompanied the direct answer. “No! The society from another planet will be either less or more developed than the earth society. If they are more developed then your dependence upon them would deteriorate the human incentive for further invention. New information and help from them would be in the form of charity. Charity destroys not only people but also nations. Your North American natives and certain Middle Eastern societies (with charity income from oil sales) have paralyzed their incentive for constructive development. Their energies become directed toward demands for more charity. Hostility, tension and wars follow when further charity is not forthcoming.”
“Earth people may unobtrusively study a society with the simple purpose of a possible contact, if and only if, it is observed that the society is on the brink of self destruction. When the probability curve of evolution has reached a point on the curve that a slight push may influence a direction away from extinction or toward progress, then it becomes a human categorical imperative that you may be an influence for a recovery.”
Bill felt a crushing sensation. He felt what best could be described as an electrical intellectual connection. This was more than just a “mind to mind” conversation with this strange encounter. He felt more totally involved and affected than he could ever have imagined. This teacher commanded more from him than he thought possible. He realized the seriousness of the situation. The future was now crystal clear! This encounter had suddenly become too personal. Was he, Bill McLean, the one person on planet Earth been chosen as the subject for this discourse?
The Visitor read Bill’s thoughts and just as quickly answered. “Of course not, I am only here to answer your questions. Do you wish to continue?”
Bill dismissed his emotional reaction and decided to continue. “It is obvious that scientific progress is the main indication of the health of a society; therefore, since our industrial countries are progressing rapidly toward energy societies, I will assume that all is well with us.” Bill’s next question concerned our non-industrialized countries, the second and third world nations. “What is their future?”
The Visitor smiled, then answered. “Education, which can be the universal transfer of information, will elevate them up to your level. Money will be replaced with debit energy cards as soon as the electronics is in place. Their standard of living will correspond with their standard of education and rate of industrial progress. They will no longer be held back by a lack of economic stimulation from the primitive money system.”
Bill’s next question was about the drug wars. “Drug addiction! How can people be educated to resist and overcome an addiction which provides escape from problems?”
“Not only are drugs a problem, they also are a crime. The drug trade is a business. All crime that is profit motivated will instantly come to an end in the energy society. No individual or group of individuals can give away or trade energy units. Your debit energy card is so personal, that it can not be lost, stolen, or given away. Drugs will not be manufactured and therefore will not exist”.
Bill’s last question was about pure science. “In the study of physics, we are taught that time is an illusion. If time is an illusion, then is mathematics and science also an illusion?”
The Visitor looked surprised at the depth of the question, then answered, “Mathematics is an invention used to measure change. Since change is evolution and evolution is nature, you can say that science is the study of nature. From this description you see that nature is an illusion, an illusion which you will continue to live with until you are in harmony with the spiritual mind.” He then explained, “The “cosmic” spiritual mind creates all life and knowledge, but you know nothing of the five minds. You do know that all emotions are illusion. Good and bad will interchange with circumstances, as can beauty and ugliness. Music to one ear is noise to another, and so on, for all perceptions. Your institutions determine your illusions. If your institutions change in a negative direction, then illusions change in a negative direction as well.”
Bill pursued the reality question. “Could we not compare the minds with a computer and say that nature is hard wired and institutions are soft wired and are programs that change with time?”
“ Excellent comparison!” the Visitor concluded, “so you see, there will always be philosophy to contemplate reality.”
Chapter 7 THE FIVE MINDS