The conflict of what the Absolute really is occurs in several forms in Glorantha, just as it does here. But the earliest, core deifiniton of the Absolute stands:
Mysticism recognizes three states of being. All the religions and
philosophies recognize the first two. Only mysticism recognizes the third.
The physical state
is Glorantha. It is the place we all know. It is the objective world and
includes everything that can be discerned with the senses. Its
characteristic is to be objectivly measurable. It changes within the
context of time. That is, the table will be a table tomorrow, with the same
measurements and characteristics, except for what happens with age.
The nonphysical state
is everything else. It includes everything that does not have a physical
form. Its characteristic is malleability, so that nothing is ever
guaranteed to be the same. It can discern patterns, interpret information,
have ideas, express truths, prove opposites to be true, create complete
fabrications, dream, haunt and receive us after death. These are the
Otherworlds.
The mystical state
is everything that is neither physical nor nonphysical. No one can
understand this, because it is beyond understanding, which is of the
nonphysical realm. No one can experience this, because it is beyond
experience, which is of the material realm. It's called the Absolute.
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