Hey Now,
If God created the universe in all of it's diversity out of Godself or the mysterious Void, by a simple process of logical deduction... what then is not God? Some folks believe that the universe simply exists, period. Nor do they see any Omniself, hidden within each individual part of the totality. Each vision of existence is equally viable, so don't get me wrong. We all have some idea of what we believe is the "ultimate reality" or perhaps a supreme, eternal field of conscious awareness (or possibly, the lack therein). We may have different reference points, preferences or psychological frameworks by which we view this underlying spiritual essence but we each have a unique voice and a right to share our truths. I would love to have a chance to have a taste of your wine, figuratively speaking.
Ironically, even amongst "religious" human beings, we find philosophical differences and set up diverse camps which compete and debate their perspective and beliefs, the entire time, seeking to negate the soul inspirations of their fellow sentient beings. Even when similar regional areas share social and historical/cultural backgrounds, we find hair-splitting and endless rounds of debate. The Sufis, for example, feel that Allah (God) is present, immanent and literally alive within every fiber of existence. So do the Hindu yogis, regardless of the polytheistic panorama of their overall faith. While orthodox Muslim theology is far more extreme in emphasizing polarities, as it makes a clear demarcation between the physical universe and the spiritual universe. In a nutshell, the two are at war and certainly not one totality. This is a common thread throughout the Judeo-Christian-Islamic doctrine. As it is with the Parsi religion (Zoroastrianism). The Baha'i faith, as well, sees the world as entirely illusory and therefore, definitely not the incarnation and living embodiment of the Divine Light. The "world" is conceived of as quite evil and a barrier to realizing a conscious union with Allah. Meaning the physical universe and the organic activities which occupy it's ebb and flow.
This sentiment seems to be echoed in the many orthodox Christian theologies as well. So why is it that Sufism and Baha'i clash about semantics and conceptualizations, both being born in the same flame? Such a paradoxical comparison can be made about this philosophical wrinkle. Now, both religious sects are predominantly practiced in Iran (Persia), although Sufism has roots which reach back thousands of years, they are adamant about how different their faiths are. I read a book by Abdullah Baha (the eldest son of Baha'ullah, the founder of the Baha'i' movement) about 28 years ago and I was shocked how he spent so much time and effort in delineating the differences between Sufism and the Baha'i faith. Isn't that something else?
Why must there be such segregation amongst "spiritual" peoples? By in large, most humanoids share fundamentally similar religious values, regardless of denomination. Considering the vast ideological variegation between fundamental Islam, Hinduism or Buddhism... must there be such separation between those who either choose to faith or have had experiences which support a certainty of God's existence? Even beyond that, how is it that many of us arrive at a point where we awaken to find ourselves so in tune with this unified presence, that we realize that we ourselves, are God. It can appear that everything is Divine and therefore, nothing is not Divine. So there is no God that is divided from the creation of this universe. Why would religions place the Deity so far away and damn the world as disconnected from spirit? Hmmm... IMO, that's totally whack! 8)
There is a point, and I speak from my own small experiences, that individuated self consciousness can be interphased with the Spirit. In so doing, the loss of an isolated self is supplanted by the indivisible Omniself. And then? Well, if a person is on a psychedelic voyage, the oneness naturally dissipates. As if the One Being awakens to see through the eyes of the many, only to be lost when the chemical wears off and the ego returns to seize the reigns. Certainly, there is a period of integration and I do believe we are able to carry much of the experience with us, on this side of the looking glass. Hey, practice makes perfect? A work in progress? Oh yeah...
Obviously, we are a community of psychonauts. We each respect the power of Sacred plants and their extractions. While we don't all have the same experiences or interpret them in the same way, we are all essentially in the same boat, which I feel is headed for unknown territory. Some would even say, towards unknowable territory. So, in conjunction with the imbibing of psychedelic substances or through many years of internal spiritual practice (or both), an attunement to subtler levels of awareness is born. Against the onslaught of self obliteration, somehow a central core of being survives the loss of subjectivity. Awareness being aware of itself? When all else is stripped away and thought is neutralized, we have an opening to unite with this pure awareness of being. We fall into rapturous union with such a frequency of transcendent consciousness, the same universal being residing within every iota of existence. The interrelationship within all of life.
My point? Well, if two such regional faiths have such ideological conflicts and obvious separation, how about the rest of the planets organized religions? Isn't it blatantly obvious that there is only One unified field of all-knowing consciousness? Apparently not... still, I am all ears to hear what other Nexians believe, in regards to our interconnectedness and our vision of the Divine. Even atheistic humanoids accept that everything in the universe is created out of the same cosmic stuff (waves & particles) and is connected to every other thing, as in String Theory quantum physics. Whether they have the experience of seeing the whole/oneness, seeing the Light of infinity or hearing the Word of God (Aum the primordial spiritual vibration which is believed to have initiated the Big Bang and the unfoldment of the physical universe).
I would like to emphatically stress just one request within this little thread, please do not approach the table with a counterpoint to someone else's belief system. There is enough room in this universe for all of our convictions. I respect each of you and wish to hear any and all vantage points expressed but I fear that for some unsettling reason or another, we might have a resurfacing of the same one upmanship game that often arises, when these ideas are brought into open discussion. Please, for the sake of unity and mutual respect, let us pull out all the stops and freely share our own unique perspectives. I ask this in advance, as I would like to draw many of the gentle folk out to play. Frankly, many of the kindest souls are afraid to speak their minds for fear that they will be assaulted intellectually. This is not good. In other words, let us dance without reservation, delight in the free exchange of heartfelt communication. Shall we? Lend me your voices, my friends.
Peace, love & Light
If God created the universe in all of it's diversity out of Godself or the mysterious Void, by a simple process of logical deduction... what then is not God? Some folks believe that the universe simply exists, period. Nor do they see any Omniself, hidden within each individual part of the totality. Each vision of existence is equally viable, so don't get me wrong. We all have some idea of what we believe is the "ultimate reality" or perhaps a supreme, eternal field of conscious awareness (or possibly, the lack therein). We may have different reference points, preferences or psychological frameworks by which we view this underlying spiritual essence but we each have a unique voice and a right to share our truths. I would love to have a chance to have a taste of your wine, figuratively speaking.
Ironically, even amongst "religious" human beings, we find philosophical differences and set up diverse camps which compete and debate their perspective and beliefs, the entire time, seeking to negate the soul inspirations of their fellow sentient beings. Even when similar regional areas share social and historical/cultural backgrounds, we find hair-splitting and endless rounds of debate. The Sufis, for example, feel that Allah (God) is present, immanent and literally alive within every fiber of existence. So do the Hindu yogis, regardless of the polytheistic panorama of their overall faith. While orthodox Muslim theology is far more extreme in emphasizing polarities, as it makes a clear demarcation between the physical universe and the spiritual universe. In a nutshell, the two are at war and certainly not one totality. This is a common thread throughout the Judeo-Christian-Islamic doctrine. As it is with the Parsi religion (Zoroastrianism). The Baha'i faith, as well, sees the world as entirely illusory and therefore, definitely not the incarnation and living embodiment of the Divine Light. The "world" is conceived of as quite evil and a barrier to realizing a conscious union with Allah. Meaning the physical universe and the organic activities which occupy it's ebb and flow.
This sentiment seems to be echoed in the many orthodox Christian theologies as well. So why is it that Sufism and Baha'i clash about semantics and conceptualizations, both being born in the same flame? Such a paradoxical comparison can be made about this philosophical wrinkle. Now, both religious sects are predominantly practiced in Iran (Persia), although Sufism has roots which reach back thousands of years, they are adamant about how different their faiths are. I read a book by Abdullah Baha (the eldest son of Baha'ullah, the founder of the Baha'i' movement) about 28 years ago and I was shocked how he spent so much time and effort in delineating the differences between Sufism and the Baha'i faith. Isn't that something else?
Why must there be such segregation amongst "spiritual" peoples? By in large, most humanoids share fundamentally similar religious values, regardless of denomination. Considering the vast ideological variegation between fundamental Islam, Hinduism or Buddhism... must there be such separation between those who either choose to faith or have had experiences which support a certainty of God's existence? Even beyond that, how is it that many of us arrive at a point where we awaken to find ourselves so in tune with this unified presence, that we realize that we ourselves, are God. It can appear that everything is Divine and therefore, nothing is not Divine. So there is no God that is divided from the creation of this universe. Why would religions place the Deity so far away and damn the world as disconnected from spirit? Hmmm... IMO, that's totally whack! 8)
There is a point, and I speak from my own small experiences, that individuated self consciousness can be interphased with the Spirit. In so doing, the loss of an isolated self is supplanted by the indivisible Omniself. And then? Well, if a person is on a psychedelic voyage, the oneness naturally dissipates. As if the One Being awakens to see through the eyes of the many, only to be lost when the chemical wears off and the ego returns to seize the reigns. Certainly, there is a period of integration and I do believe we are able to carry much of the experience with us, on this side of the looking glass. Hey, practice makes perfect? A work in progress? Oh yeah...
Obviously, we are a community of psychonauts. We each respect the power of Sacred plants and their extractions. While we don't all have the same experiences or interpret them in the same way, we are all essentially in the same boat, which I feel is headed for unknown territory. Some would even say, towards unknowable territory. So, in conjunction with the imbibing of psychedelic substances or through many years of internal spiritual practice (or both), an attunement to subtler levels of awareness is born. Against the onslaught of self obliteration, somehow a central core of being survives the loss of subjectivity. Awareness being aware of itself? When all else is stripped away and thought is neutralized, we have an opening to unite with this pure awareness of being. We fall into rapturous union with such a frequency of transcendent consciousness, the same universal being residing within every iota of existence. The interrelationship within all of life.
My point? Well, if two such regional faiths have such ideological conflicts and obvious separation, how about the rest of the planets organized religions? Isn't it blatantly obvious that there is only One unified field of all-knowing consciousness? Apparently not... still, I am all ears to hear what other Nexians believe, in regards to our interconnectedness and our vision of the Divine. Even atheistic humanoids accept that everything in the universe is created out of the same cosmic stuff (waves & particles) and is connected to every other thing, as in String Theory quantum physics. Whether they have the experience of seeing the whole/oneness, seeing the Light of infinity or hearing the Word of God (Aum the primordial spiritual vibration which is believed to have initiated the Big Bang and the unfoldment of the physical universe).
I would like to emphatically stress just one request within this little thread, please do not approach the table with a counterpoint to someone else's belief system. There is enough room in this universe for all of our convictions. I respect each of you and wish to hear any and all vantage points expressed but I fear that for some unsettling reason or another, we might have a resurfacing of the same one upmanship game that often arises, when these ideas are brought into open discussion. Please, for the sake of unity and mutual respect, let us pull out all the stops and freely share our own unique perspectives. I ask this in advance, as I would like to draw many of the gentle folk out to play. Frankly, many of the kindest souls are afraid to speak their minds for fear that they will be assaulted intellectually. This is not good. In other words, let us dance without reservation, delight in the free exchange of heartfelt communication. Shall we? Lend me your voices, my friends.
Peace, love & Light
hehe
