In many ways PsychoNoetics fits squarely within the Buddhist tradition and can be seen as Buddhist healing. First of all it, like the whole of Buddhism, is a program for escaping suffering. What’s more, the conception of suffering is the same in PsychoNoetics and Buddhism, namely it is the suffering we create for ourselves. Furthermore the origination and continuation of suffering are seen in the same way in PsychoNoetics and Buddhism. Some of these similarities are:
The laws of cause and effect (karma), as they are held and work in the consciousness of the individual. (On the level of the physical body as well as the enoeic {karmic or soul} and egoic levels)
The ways in which karmic cause-and-effect work through perception, both sensory and cognitive.
The way sensory and cognitive perception is formed through prior learning and the way prior learning is formed through perception creating an unconscious feedback loop.
The way this feedback loop needs to be brought to consciousness before it can be revised.
The need to gradually revise this feedback loop by letting go of the beliefs, emotions and intentions, (BEI’s) that underlie these perceptions.
Some Differences
PsychoNoetics of course differs from Buddhism in the means or technology to revise these beliefs. The principal technologies of Buddhism are meditation, education, insight and affirmation. To these, PsychoNoetics adds autokinesiological testing and intentional clearing.
In PsychoNoetics, the first and by far the most significant clearing is Karmic clearing or memory clearing. In this, consciousness itself is cleared of a stream of memories, whether they originated in a past lifetime or the present one. This washes clean the window of perception.
Although autokinesiological testing and intentional clearing are an addition to Buddhist techniques they are an addition that creates further differences. One of these is that, as the clearing proceeds, the mind holds fewer obstacles to stillness so there is less need for meditation.
The other big difference is that, while the pointing, inquiry and understanding aspects of Buddhist education are not only retained but emphasized, PsychoNoetics eschews all beliefs and affirmations for the path of letting go, of neti neti, not this not that. While this is not in accord with all Buddhist teaching, it does agree with the highest Buddhist teaching.
Nonattachment
Even beyond beliefs, Buddhism teaches that attachment is the root of all suffering and that letting go of attachments is one of the gateways to enlightenment. Not only is PsychoNoetics in agreement with this, it extends the principal from the psychospiritual level to the physical level. One of its discoveries is that all sorts of dis-eases, from allergies and autoimmune disorders to toxic reactions, diseases and even injuries can be “energy blocks and imbalances”, and are the physical analogs to psychospiritual beliefs and attachments. Following this insight, the diagnosis and treatment of physical dis-ease converges with the diagnosis and treatment of psychospiritual dis-ease.
Presence or Nirvana
Finally PsychoNoetics, like Buddhism, points to an unknowable place, a place beyond words, beyond any designation, a place of no-thingness in which some no-thing arises. That which arises when the causes of dis-ease are cleared is absolute ease, ultimate well-being. It is calm, clarity and compassion. It is inner freedom. It is presence, the presence of that state Buddhism calls Nirvana. And it heals the body as well as the mind and spirit.
I’m really a novice when it comes to Noetics. However, as a Buddhist with a rich practice and a practitioner of mind-body healing on several levels, I must say I find your article compelling. This is the 4th or 5th time Noetics has popped up in the last few days in passing, leading me to the belief that synchronicity is giving me a good, healthy nudge to check things out a little more. I know the last bit isn’t so material to what you wrote, however, it did delight me all the more when I found your article and I just wanted to thank you for stimulating thought with your article. Namaste!