In the heart of Catholic mystical theology lies the concept of the Visio Beatifica: the “Beatific Vision.” It is described as the ultimate direct perception of God, a state of supreme happiness where the soul sees the Divine Essence face-to-face. Traditionally, this transition is made possible by Grace, a supernatural gift that elevates human nature beyond its natural limits.
But what if “Grace” and the “Beatific Vision” can be mapped through the lens of modern neuroscience?
From Fragmentation to Maximum Coherence
In our ordinary state of consciousness, the nervous system is often fragmented. Our “Default Mode Network”, the neurological seat of the continous ego-construction work, is hyperactive, creating a constant filter of noise, judgment, and separation.
When we apply the framework of Neurophenomenology to the accounts of the great mystics, we see a pattern that transcends dogma. We can define the transition to the Beatific Vision as a physiological shift from a fragmented state to a state of Maximum Coherence.
The Lumen Gloriae as Inner Light
Theologians argue that to endure the brilliance of God, the human intellect must be strengthened by the Lumen Gloriae (the Light of Glory). In our reserach on phosphenes and inner-light meditation, we see a striking parallel.
As the meditator moves through the stages of inner illumination, the visual system ceases to process external “noise” and begins to resonate in a highly ordered, stable field of light. This is what I call “Phase 6”: a state where the brain reaches a peak of global integration.
The Lumen Gloriae is not just a poetic metaphor; it is the subjective experience of a nervous system functioning at its highest level of internal harmony.
Grace as a Biological “Phase Transition”
Theology teaches that Grace cannot be forced; it is received. This aligns perfectly with the “quantum leap” seen in complex systems. We can prepare the body through prayer, yoga, or meditation, but the final shift into a state of non-conceptual unity, the “God-experience”, is a spontaneous Phase Transition of the brain.
By defining God as the phenomenal event of maximal coherence and non-conceptual unity, we do not diminish the Divine. Instead, we honor the magnificent architecture of the human body as the very temple where Grace becomes a lived, biological reality.
breath4balance 