Xenosaga Notes - The Truth of Xenosaga
1. The Composition of the Universe (Domain of Real and Imaginary Numbers)
The dimensional universe that has become the stage of Xenosaga is composed of two overlapping domains: the real-number domain-- the real-number universe that can be perceived (to know via a sense organ)--, and the imaginary-number domain-- the imaginary-number universe that cannot be perceived. Every single thing that's in the universe is something that exists, extending into these two domains. For example, in the case of humans, the "substance and flesh" that can be seen and touched are in the real-number domain, and the "consciousness and heart" that cannot be sensed are existing in the imaginary number domain. (refer to image #1)
All consciousness exist in the imaginary number domain, and there is no separation between consciousness. In other words, the consciousness of others are completely and directly sensed. The Swiss psychiatrist Jung called this co-ownership of consciousness the "Unus Mundus". The "UMN" in the story is something that uses the imaginary number domain -- the collective unconscious where no restrictions exist -- as a wide-area information network for performing space jumps and ultra-high-speed communication.
Also, according to Jung, there is a hierarchy in human consciousness, and the lowest depths of it is being connected to the consciousness of the entire universe. When it becomes this level, it is no longer necessary to explain to each other with words, but at the same time, it also has the side where emotions, such as malice, that are not wanted to be communicated to another, are easily communicated.
The consciousness that held fear towards the special characteristic that the collective unconscious is endowed with, in time would choose to "escape from the collective unconscious". And, following the increase of the rejecting, evasive consciousnesses, the entirety of the collective unconscious becomes exposed to the crisis of scattering and dispersal. To use an example: if "9 people" withdraw from a "group of 10 people", they can no longer be called a "group". That is to say, when the collective unconscious-- the imaginary number domain-- scatters, then the universe that is made from the 2 domains of the imaginary and real-numbers, also has no choice but to scatter.
>Image 1 - The Composition of the Universe Diagram
Dimensional universe:
A world where the Imaginary and Real-number domains overlap.
1. Real-number domain - the domain of substance & flesh
2. Imaginary-number domain - the domain of consciousness & heart
(#2 <--> Mankind is using the Collective Unconscious (Unus Mundus) as the UMN)
2. Observer from the Upper Domain (U-Do's Purpose)
U-Do. It is an existence that observes the collective unconscious-- an existence that humans recognize as "an energy existence that human intellect cannot grasp". U-Do does not exist in the dimensional universe. If the dimensional universe where humans live is regarded as one domain, U-Do exists in a "higher domain" that transcends that domain. (see image 2)
When U-Do's act of observation is seen from the side of the lower domain, it is recognized as "Abel", which had the appearance like that of a young boy in the real-number domain (substance), and as "Abel's Ark", a phenomenon where the existence of the imaginary-number domain (consciousness) is perceived in the real-number domain.
U-Do was showing interest in the consciousness of humans. Why do they wish for their own isolation? Why do they wish even up to the dispersement of the universe? And so, U-Do observes. ...observes the rejecting consiousnesses that lurk in the collective unconscious-- the negative information.
And, U-Do harbors strong interest in the motivation that the change in human consciousness brings about. When Albedo wished to link with U-Do, and when the violent wave of emotion arose in Shion's heart in the past of her subconscious, Abel's Ark manifested; this is because U-Do responded to their consciousnesses.
>Image 2 - Diagram of U-Do's Act of Observation, as well as the Upper and Lower Domains
*Upper Domain (U-Do) => (observation) => {see lower domain}
*Lower Domain (dimensional universe)
1. Abel <- recognized as a substance (real-number domain)
2. Abel's Ark <- recognized only when manifested in the real-number domain (imaginary-number domain)
10. The Ones Under Contract (The Role of Testament)
The ones that become the Cloaked Men (Testament), who secretly maneuver as Wilhelm's subordinates, are humans who had died at one time, like Kevin and Virgil. But that doesn't mean that they reincarnated. They are existences who were freed, by means of dying, from their bodies, from the shackles of the real-number domain-- in other words, they are existences of the imaginary-number domain. Although they are devoid of substance, because they access the real-number domain from the imaginary-number domain and can manipulate events of the real-number domain at will, they avoid physical attacks.
Testament is not an existence that just anyone can become. Ones who are endowed with the factor that can actively access the power of Anima, like "those who responded purely to Anima" who, long ago, became the cause that predetermined the universe's collapse-- only those humans are made into Testament by means of Wilhelm's power. There are two reasons that Wilhelm made the humans who possessed that factor into Testament.
First, they are pawns in order to simply prepare the Eternal Recurrence. Though they may be called "pawns", they are not forced into service. The ones Wilhelm has made Testament are given the ability to create a world where they can live forever with a particular consciousness. In other words, Kevin and Virgil [etc] sought time eternal to spend with someone important to them, and in order to accomplish that, they followed Wilhelm.
Second, they are to obtain the necessary Anima for Eternal Recurrence. For that reason, Wilhelm gave the ability to control the Anima to Testament. From this, Testament became able to change the Anima from a power for disperal into a power for convergence. This very "Anima for the sake of convergence" is the Anima that is necessary for Eternal Recurrence.
12. U-Do's Search (Confirmation of Lower-Domain Observation)
Humans who make fragmentary contact with U-Do come to see a vision where the world meets its end. That vision is something said to be "one's own consciousness melting into the Collective Unconscious, and before long, it diffuses-- [ie,] the universe diffuses."
For that reason, humans who make contact with U-Do are convinced that U-Do causes the universe to collapse. But the End is something brought about by the consciousness of people who persistently reject the Collective Unconscious. Because U-Do gives despair to people's consciousness by its act of observation, it can be said, in a way, that it is promoting the End of the universe, but it is only that U-Do persistently observes.
In the Miltian space region, when Albedo used the Zohar and linked to U-Do's wave, U-Do held interest in the motivation emitted by Albedo's consciousness. And then, it caused to materialize Abel's Ark in the Miltian space region. Its purpose was for the sake of in-taking the Zohar, which is the door between the upper and lower domains, and more reliably observing the consciousness of people.
Abel's Ark, which took-in the Zohar, next appeared one year later. It was when Shion came to know a certain truth in the past of her subconscious. In other words, it was when she knew that the one who had summoned the Gnosis at the time of the Miltian conflict was herself as a young child, and she had linked with U-Do. Immediately after that, Abel's Ark also appeared in the present world.
And then, having perceived the operation of Zarathustra, which is a Relic of God and also an anti-upper-domain-system, U-Do took-in Planet Michtam where Zarathustra was sleeping into Abel's Ark. That act was also something for the sake of observing the movement of the consciousnesses of the lower domain. It's that U-Do wants to know up to that extent... it wants to know the consciousness of people who wish for a world that disperses.
13. Twelve Counterfeits and One Golden (The Existence Called "Zohar")
The Zohar (the original) is not a substance by nature. It is something like: "although it is possible to both touch and see it as an object, it only exists there because people wish to percieve it as an object."
People recognize the Zohar as "an existence that brings enormous energy" because it is a door connecting the upper and lower domains, and energy of the upper domain begins to flow from it to the lower domain. An existence, like Omega, that treats the Zohar as a power source is something that operates by acquiring energy of the upper domain from the door called the "Zohar".
The 12 Zohar Emulators that Mizrahi constructed were used as supplementals of the Zohar in link experiments and such. However, they were originally used for operating the original. Using the Emulators, Yuriev operated the Original that was sleeping on Abel's Ark, and with that power, he transformed Omega into its ultimate form.
Furthermore, with the local matter shift that the Zohar's running-out-of-control caused, the area between the upper and lower domains became blurred, and there was a change in the structure of space. Due to this, existences of the real number domain began to be unable to be percieved (disappearance phenomenon), and a phenomenon occurred where existences of the imaginary number domain could be perceived in the real number domain (Gnosisification).
16. The Man who Spits at Heaven (Dimitri's Purpose)
Yuriev, who was a test subject of the UMN living organism transference experiments, came into contact with U-Do during one of the transference experiments and was contaminated. His own consciousness melted into the Collective Unconscious, and he saw a vision where the universe would breakdown before long. That vision was an unbearable fear for him. But, due to that, he also came to understand: This very fear is the shackles that bind humans to the human domain, and by conquering fear, he should become a super-human existence.
In order for that to be fulfilled, Yuriev sought the Relics of God. By collecting the Relics of God, he would ascend to the upper domain--- he tried to challenge what once the extremely ancient civilization could not accomplish.
Yuriev built the URTVs, who were anti-U-Do living weapons, not for the sake of annihilating U-Do; He wanted to evolve himself into an existence equivalent to U-Do. In order to do that, he judged it necessary to gain information on U-Do, and he created the URTVs. But, among the URTVs, there was also an existence that was made for a purpose other than that. It was variant #669, Nigredo (Gaignun).
By coming into contact with U-Do, Yuriev had acquired a special ability--- the ability of possession of consciousness. In other words, by being able to move his own consciousness into another person's flesh, he could plan for longevity. The one that was made to be the vessel to carry his consciousness was Nigredo.
Having taken over Nigredo, Yuriev captured in his hands Abel and the Relic of God, Omega, and he went to board Abel's Ark in order to awaken Omega with the power of the Original Zohar. His ultimate objective was to gain Zarathustra, which, as written in the Y-data, was the key to ascending to the upper domain.
17. Destructive Red, False Black, Lonely White (The Bonds of URTV)
The variant URTVs Rubedo, Albedo, and Nigredo. The bonds between the three of them were deep, and at first, they acted like brothers with a good rapport. However, everything completely changed after the confrontation with U-Do at the Miltian Conflict 15 years ago. Albedo's whereabouts became unknown after going berserk from being contaminated by U-Do, and the bonds of the three was completely severed.
15 years later, the three came together once again at Abel's Ark: Gaignun whose consciousness had been overtaken by Yuriev; Jr, who proceeded into the Ark in order to stop Yuriev; and Albedo, who appeared as a Testament to recover Abel and the Zohar. After Albedo had finished his mission as Testament, he ordered Jr to initiate the spiritual link. By forming the link, Gaignun's consciousness would be housed within Jr, and Albedo alone would try to co-annihilate with Yuriev, who had been contaminated by U-Do.
However, Gaignun rejected Albedo's decision, and he himself wished for annihilation together with Yuriev. Gaignun saw right through him. Albedo was frightened of loneliness as a result of his immortality, and Albedo's true objective was to unify his heart with Jr.
Moreover, he spoke openly that he himself was the stopping power to the URTVs that had gone berserk, and that he was the existence that was created to spy on Jr. Now he wanted this mission to be over, that was his wish. "Let's play again, the three of us". Just before he was annihilated, Gaignun's spirit-body, which had returned to the form from 15 years ago, smiled. And then, leaving his comrades who had achieved unification, he disappeared within light together with Yuriev. The bonds of the three had foiled the ambition of the man who tried to become God.
The dimensional universe that has become the stage of Xenosaga is composed of two overlapping domains: the real-number domain-- the real-number universe that can be perceived (to know via a sense organ)--, and the imaginary-number domain-- the imaginary-number universe that cannot be perceived. Every single thing that's in the universe is something that exists, extending into these two domains. For example, in the case of humans, the "substance and flesh" that can be seen and touched are in the real-number domain, and the "consciousness and heart" that cannot be sensed are existing in the imaginary number domain. (refer to image #1)
All consciousness exist in the imaginary number domain, and there is no separation between consciousness. In other words, the consciousness of others are completely and directly sensed. The Swiss psychiatrist Jung called this co-ownership of consciousness the "Unus Mundus". The "UMN" in the story is something that uses the imaginary number domain -- the collective unconscious where no restrictions exist -- as a wide-area information network for performing space jumps and ultra-high-speed communication.
Also, according to Jung, there is a hierarchy in human consciousness, and the lowest depths of it is being connected to the consciousness of the entire universe. When it becomes this level, it is no longer necessary to explain to each other with words, but at the same time, it also has the side where emotions, such as malice, that are not wanted to be communicated to another, are easily communicated.
The consciousness that held fear towards the special characteristic that the collective unconscious is endowed with, in time would choose to "escape from the collective unconscious". And, following the increase of the rejecting, evasive consciousnesses, the entirety of the collective unconscious becomes exposed to the crisis of scattering and dispersal. To use an example: if "9 people" withdraw from a "group of 10 people", they can no longer be called a "group". That is to say, when the collective unconscious-- the imaginary number domain-- scatters, then the universe that is made from the 2 domains of the imaginary and real-numbers, also has no choice but to scatter.
>Image 1 - The Composition of the Universe Diagram
Dimensional universe:
A world where the Imaginary and Real-number domains overlap.
1. Real-number domain - the domain of substance & flesh
2. Imaginary-number domain - the domain of consciousness & heart
(#2 <--> Mankind is using the Collective Unconscious (Unus Mundus) as the UMN)
2. Observer from the Upper Domain (U-Do's Purpose)
U-Do. It is an existence that observes the collective unconscious-- an existence that humans recognize as "an energy existence that human intellect cannot grasp". U-Do does not exist in the dimensional universe. If the dimensional universe where humans live is regarded as one domain, U-Do exists in a "higher domain" that transcends that domain. (see image 2)
When U-Do's act of observation is seen from the side of the lower domain, it is recognized as "Abel", which had the appearance like that of a young boy in the real-number domain (substance), and as "Abel's Ark", a phenomenon where the existence of the imaginary-number domain (consciousness) is perceived in the real-number domain.
U-Do was showing interest in the consciousness of humans. Why do they wish for their own isolation? Why do they wish even up to the dispersement of the universe? And so, U-Do observes. ...observes the rejecting consiousnesses that lurk in the collective unconscious-- the negative information.
And, U-Do harbors strong interest in the motivation that the change in human consciousness brings about. When Albedo wished to link with U-Do, and when the violent wave of emotion arose in Shion's heart in the past of her subconscious, Abel's Ark manifested; this is because U-Do responded to their consciousnesses.
>Image 2 - Diagram of U-Do's Act of Observation, as well as the Upper and Lower Domains
*Upper Domain (U-Do) => (observation) => {see lower domain}
*Lower Domain (dimensional universe)
1. Abel <- recognized as a substance (real-number domain)
2. Abel's Ark <- recognized only when manifested in the real-number domain (imaginary-number domain)
10. The Ones Under Contract (The Role of Testament)
The ones that become the Cloaked Men (Testament), who secretly maneuver as Wilhelm's subordinates, are humans who had died at one time, like Kevin and Virgil. But that doesn't mean that they reincarnated. They are existences who were freed, by means of dying, from their bodies, from the shackles of the real-number domain-- in other words, they are existences of the imaginary-number domain. Although they are devoid of substance, because they access the real-number domain from the imaginary-number domain and can manipulate events of the real-number domain at will, they avoid physical attacks.
Testament is not an existence that just anyone can become. Ones who are endowed with the factor that can actively access the power of Anima, like "those who responded purely to Anima" who, long ago, became the cause that predetermined the universe's collapse-- only those humans are made into Testament by means of Wilhelm's power. There are two reasons that Wilhelm made the humans who possessed that factor into Testament.
First, they are pawns in order to simply prepare the Eternal Recurrence. Though they may be called "pawns", they are not forced into service. The ones Wilhelm has made Testament are given the ability to create a world where they can live forever with a particular consciousness. In other words, Kevin and Virgil [etc] sought time eternal to spend with someone important to them, and in order to accomplish that, they followed Wilhelm.
Second, they are to obtain the necessary Anima for Eternal Recurrence. For that reason, Wilhelm gave the ability to control the Anima to Testament. From this, Testament became able to change the Anima from a power for disperal into a power for convergence. This very "Anima for the sake of convergence" is the Anima that is necessary for Eternal Recurrence.
12. U-Do's Search (Confirmation of Lower-Domain Observation)
Humans who make fragmentary contact with U-Do come to see a vision where the world meets its end. That vision is something said to be "one's own consciousness melting into the Collective Unconscious, and before long, it diffuses-- [ie,] the universe diffuses."
For that reason, humans who make contact with U-Do are convinced that U-Do causes the universe to collapse. But the End is something brought about by the consciousness of people who persistently reject the Collective Unconscious. Because U-Do gives despair to people's consciousness by its act of observation, it can be said, in a way, that it is promoting the End of the universe, but it is only that U-Do persistently observes.
In the Miltian space region, when Albedo used the Zohar and linked to U-Do's wave, U-Do held interest in the motivation emitted by Albedo's consciousness. And then, it caused to materialize Abel's Ark in the Miltian space region. Its purpose was for the sake of in-taking the Zohar, which is the door between the upper and lower domains, and more reliably observing the consciousness of people.
Abel's Ark, which took-in the Zohar, next appeared one year later. It was when Shion came to know a certain truth in the past of her subconscious. In other words, it was when she knew that the one who had summoned the Gnosis at the time of the Miltian conflict was herself as a young child, and she had linked with U-Do. Immediately after that, Abel's Ark also appeared in the present world.
And then, having perceived the operation of Zarathustra, which is a Relic of God and also an anti-upper-domain-system, U-Do took-in Planet Michtam where Zarathustra was sleeping into Abel's Ark. That act was also something for the sake of observing the movement of the consciousnesses of the lower domain. It's that U-Do wants to know up to that extent... it wants to know the consciousness of people who wish for a world that disperses.
13. Twelve Counterfeits and One Golden (The Existence Called "Zohar")
The Zohar (the original) is not a substance by nature. It is something like: "although it is possible to both touch and see it as an object, it only exists there because people wish to percieve it as an object."
People recognize the Zohar as "an existence that brings enormous energy" because it is a door connecting the upper and lower domains, and energy of the upper domain begins to flow from it to the lower domain. An existence, like Omega, that treats the Zohar as a power source is something that operates by acquiring energy of the upper domain from the door called the "Zohar".
The 12 Zohar Emulators that Mizrahi constructed were used as supplementals of the Zohar in link experiments and such. However, they were originally used for operating the original. Using the Emulators, Yuriev operated the Original that was sleeping on Abel's Ark, and with that power, he transformed Omega into its ultimate form.
Furthermore, with the local matter shift that the Zohar's running-out-of-control caused, the area between the upper and lower domains became blurred, and there was a change in the structure of space. Due to this, existences of the real number domain began to be unable to be percieved (disappearance phenomenon), and a phenomenon occurred where existences of the imaginary number domain could be perceived in the real number domain (Gnosisification).
16. The Man who Spits at Heaven (Dimitri's Purpose)
Yuriev, who was a test subject of the UMN living organism transference experiments, came into contact with U-Do during one of the transference experiments and was contaminated. His own consciousness melted into the Collective Unconscious, and he saw a vision where the universe would breakdown before long. That vision was an unbearable fear for him. But, due to that, he also came to understand: This very fear is the shackles that bind humans to the human domain, and by conquering fear, he should become a super-human existence.
In order for that to be fulfilled, Yuriev sought the Relics of God. By collecting the Relics of God, he would ascend to the upper domain--- he tried to challenge what once the extremely ancient civilization could not accomplish.
Yuriev built the URTVs, who were anti-U-Do living weapons, not for the sake of annihilating U-Do; He wanted to evolve himself into an existence equivalent to U-Do. In order to do that, he judged it necessary to gain information on U-Do, and he created the URTVs. But, among the URTVs, there was also an existence that was made for a purpose other than that. It was variant #669, Nigredo (Gaignun).
By coming into contact with U-Do, Yuriev had acquired a special ability--- the ability of possession of consciousness. In other words, by being able to move his own consciousness into another person's flesh, he could plan for longevity. The one that was made to be the vessel to carry his consciousness was Nigredo.
Having taken over Nigredo, Yuriev captured in his hands Abel and the Relic of God, Omega, and he went to board Abel's Ark in order to awaken Omega with the power of the Original Zohar. His ultimate objective was to gain Zarathustra, which, as written in the Y-data, was the key to ascending to the upper domain.
17. Destructive Red, False Black, Lonely White (The Bonds of URTV)
The variant URTVs Rubedo, Albedo, and Nigredo. The bonds between the three of them were deep, and at first, they acted like brothers with a good rapport. However, everything completely changed after the confrontation with U-Do at the Miltian Conflict 15 years ago. Albedo's whereabouts became unknown after going berserk from being contaminated by U-Do, and the bonds of the three was completely severed.
15 years later, the three came together once again at Abel's Ark: Gaignun whose consciousness had been overtaken by Yuriev; Jr, who proceeded into the Ark in order to stop Yuriev; and Albedo, who appeared as a Testament to recover Abel and the Zohar. After Albedo had finished his mission as Testament, he ordered Jr to initiate the spiritual link. By forming the link, Gaignun's consciousness would be housed within Jr, and Albedo alone would try to co-annihilate with Yuriev, who had been contaminated by U-Do.
However, Gaignun rejected Albedo's decision, and he himself wished for annihilation together with Yuriev. Gaignun saw right through him. Albedo was frightened of loneliness as a result of his immortality, and Albedo's true objective was to unify his heart with Jr.
Moreover, he spoke openly that he himself was the stopping power to the URTVs that had gone berserk, and that he was the existence that was created to spy on Jr. Now he wanted this mission to be over, that was his wish. "Let's play again, the three of us". Just before he was annihilated, Gaignun's spirit-body, which had returned to the form from 15 years ago, smiled. And then, leaving his comrades who had achieved unification, he disappeared within light together with Yuriev. The bonds of the three had foiled the ambition of the man who tried to become God.