Traditionally, the word "Metaphysics" comes to us
from Ancient Greece, where it was a combination of two words-Meta, meaning over
and beyond and physics. 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. It is
taught as a branch of Philosophy in most academic universities today under the
label of "Speculative Philosophy."
In today’s world, however, the word "Metaphysics"
has become a description of many fields of interest. When one expresses an
interest in Metaphysics, that interest may be in any one or a combination of the
following subjects:
Philosophy, Religion, Parapsychology, Mysticism, Yoga, ESP,
Dreams, Jungian Psychology, Astrology, Meditation, Self-Help Studies, Positive
Thinking, Life After Death, Reincarnation, etc.
The common denominator of these and all similar subjects, of
course, deals with an exploration of Reality, and in the idealistic sense, how
such knowledge may benefit human life on this earth, both individually and
collectively. If, then, this is the aim of such interests, it is why most
professional Metaphysical Practitioners regard Metaphysics as a Spiritual
Philosophy of life. All but a very few practitioners in Metaphysics today have a
pivotal point of some sort of Spiritual Philosophy in whatever system or
teaching of Metaphysics they are engaged. It is important to understand this,
especially when reviewing the legal technicalities of being a professional
Metaphysician.
If we were to travel from one metaphysical teacher or
organization to another, we would find people engaging in different things, all
under the label of Metaphysics. This could be a wide range, such as yogis,
mystics astrologers, positive thinking teachers, meditation teachers, 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 by the University Of Metaphysics and the University of Sedona, in regard to its Doctoral Degree and to its other
programs and affiliations with its students and graduates.
It is not the position of the university or its parent body,
the International Metaphysical Ministry, to take one phase of study over
another, as it is the belief of the universities that there are many paths
humans may travel on the way to finding Truth. There is an old proverb which
states "No matter what path a human may travel, it is My Path; no matter
where he walks, it leads to Me"
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?"
