Reuniting Reality
Once given a proper look, ignorance can be percieved as the barrier which breaks down unification. This is not saying ignorance is stupidity, but rather a lack of knowing.
Once this is realized, the rest of the pieces fall like dominos. From ignorance is born separation, a feeling of one's self apart from the rest of the whole. Whether you can think it, know it, or feel it, all of humanity and nature is one. To view it scientifically, we are all gaseous molecules and atoms floating around in space, constantly colliding with one another and continually spawning new molecules and new forms. Take a few lenses off the microscope and yet still more mystery is unveiled. What we once thought of as "our body" is swarming with life forms, both parasitic and benign.
The point here is that reality is not so separate. What we view as "you" and "me" is in effect "us." The separateness that is felt between the two is simply an unconcious level of not being able to feel that atomic connection between each other.
Gnosis is, in some ways, a regaining of that feeling. To be able to feel your connection to the wholeness of nature is startling. It is a jolt of feeling that actually provides a sense of clarity. Enlightenment. Beginning as a realization of the self, i.e. the self beyond the physical, the clarity of the relation to the world is unveiled.
You find yourself being able to feel that you are not looking through your eyes, feeling with your hands, or breathing with your lungs. You find that "you" just "are." All other sensations are just the material way of intaking information. Each physical sensation is just another electrical impulse to the brain. You are almost able to shed the body, and consciously "float."
Beyond these experiences, the next goal is to be able to return to this state of mind. The more one can realize their gnosis, the easier it is to realize on a day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute, second to second basis.
posted by Joe Daher @ Sunday, July 02, 2006
12 comments
12 Comments:
Great post. I like reading each persons personal expression of what Gnosis is.
I haven't experienced anything like that but I can feel that awareness building within.
Peace
Shawn
Very nicely said. You articulate well a universal feeling of isolation that CAN be overcome.
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If we are all "one", why blog? Why communicate at all? Only things which are separate need to reach out to communicate. If we are one, my knowledge is your knowledge. My food nourishes you and your food nourishes me. There is no need for communication. I don't have to communicate with myself. I already know my knowledge.
The truth is, we appear to be separate -- because we are.
If you look at a rope full of knots, you might say "there's a lot of knots on that rope". However, the knots are just an illusion - it's all one rope, whether it is tied into a knot or not (play on words is intended). The knots are also not separate from either the rope or each of the other knots.
The truth is, on an atomic level, the universe IS all one giant mess of gaseous "stuff." The illusion is that we're all separate from that mess. Don't trick yourself into believing otherwise.
Your metaphor of a rope doesn't help me. A rope tied in knots is clearly connected and is one object.
As far as the universe being a gaseous mess, I can see that being somewhat true but still, each molecule in a gas is separate from the rest. There is no connection. Just because you and I may share an oxygen molecule some day doesn't mean we are one being does it?
What are you claiming is a link between molecules-- what is the "atomic connection?" And, what evidence do you have of it, or what has convinced you that this link exists?
Thanks,
jp
As far as the universe being a gaseous mess, I can see that being somewhat true but still, each molecule in a gas is separate from the rest.
You're not trying to see the connection. If you look at the ocean, you can most certainly separate it into individual drops. But if you stop trying to see it as drops, it's one giant body of water.
What are you claiming is a link between molecules?
See it for what it is...the spirit is not a bunch of individual souls, but one mesh of consciousnous - the greater consciousnous, if you will - and we spend our lives without ever stepping back to see that connection. Our lives are the spirit's intent of gradually "waking" itself up.
And, what evidence do you have of it, or what has convinced you that this link exists?
And that's the meat of it, now isn't it? What evidence does any of us have? What evidence do you have that you love your mother? What evidence do you have that you miss those friends and family that might have passed?
There is no solid proof, and there's no one thing I can point to that got me to thinking "aha! I have the answers!". Be serious, my friend. The answers come from study, prayer, reflection, and most of all...a strong belief that we already know these answers - we just have to feel what's right. The Divine won't lead you astray!
Ok. So, there is no proof for what you believe. You just Feel it's right after much study, prayer and reflection, right?
I have studied, prayed and reflected on my beliefs for almost 30 years.
I "feel" that your beliefs are incorrect.
Oh dear! Now what?
Surely the divine hasn't led ME astray because, according to you, the divine won't do that. But then it couldn't possibly have led you astray either. But we can't both be right because my belief is that you are wrong.
Hmmm. What a conundrum we've gotten ourselves into. How do we get out of this one Joe?
jp
Here's the truth. The divine won't lead you astray -- true. But not all that is spirit is divine.
There are entities in the supernatural world who's goal it is to lead you astray from the truth. There is a war being waged for your spirit. Without some kind of "spiritual compass" we wade into the unknown of the spiritual world and cannot discern truth because we lack the ability to see for ourselves. Like a man groping his way along a pitch dark path with The Adversary sweetly calling him in one direction with false promises of bliss, knowledge and power while God is calling him in the other direction with true bliss, knowlege and power.
I think you are an intelligent guy. I believe you are sincerely seeking to find the truth and God promises that you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart. But right now, I see you crawling toward the wrong voice. You've said yourself that you have no evidence that what you belief is true so how can you say that I am wrong?
The Divine has given us a lamp to light the way. And has given us proof that it is relialble. The Bible accurately predicted Jesus' birth, where he would be born, that His birth would be miraculous, that he would be called "God with us" (Emmanuel), that he would die on a cross, He would be desended from David and many many many other predictions which have accurately come to pass. Only God can know the future with 100% accuracy. It's not just accurate predictions of the future either. There's lots of archeological evidence to coroborate the historical accuracy. Not to mention the fact that Jesus' teachings have changed the world.
Christianity is unique among all other religions. It's the only religion in which God has done all the work of salvation. Every other religion on Earth is about man climbing a ladder of works or knowledge to achieve the ultimate spiritual goal. In Christianity, It's God's Grace and Mercy which has done all the work. We only have to accept it by faith. That's all. All of mankind can be saved. It's also the most inclusive religion in the world. You don't have to be strong, you don't have to be rich, you don't have to be holy, you don't have to be awakened, enlightened, be . You only have to believe.
I've read several of your posts under the heading "Quick Overview" and I've found several inconsistancies. To me, your believes are riddled with impossibilities even at it's very core that all is one. If all is one, there is no evil, there is no good, there is no right, there is no wrong, there is only existence and the realization of it. For If I do harm to myself, how can that be wrong, considering that I am devine? There is no reason to persuade me of anything because if "The Spirit" wants to awaken, it's going to awaken whether I want it to or not since my thoughts while in sleep mode cannot affect reality of the spirit awakening. I'm simply dreaming. If your spirit is so great, why in the world does it take millions of years to wake up? It takes me about 10 minutes (ok maybe 30 on the weekends). And are we really more "awake" now than we were 2,000 years ago? No, in fact, the population of the Earth is growing! That would be more knots on the rope, right? Seems like your spirit is falling deeper asleep to me.
Your beliefs seem to go against all logic and observation
jp.
JP:
I appreciate the sincerety with which you write. I honestly believe that you are following the path that you think is right. And, I honestly appreciate your efforts to lead me to what you consider the proper way. I really do.
But on the same token, there are many inconsistancies with the Christian faith as well. I don't say this to knock your beliefs, but to make you understand this point: while they may seem like inconsistencies to me, and mine to you, I'm absolutely sure that you have an idea on how to tie all your beliefs together under your religious ideals - as do I.
If all is one, there is no evil, there is no good, there is no right, there is no wrong, there is only existence and the realization of it.
That's pretty much it. Right and wrong are two sides of the same coin. Now, I'm not saying that moral crimes aren't wrong, or that those crimes shouldn't be punished, but let's take this example: if a man kills another man, does he kill his spirit as well? If a man is so deluded (or, in this case, so far asleep) that he would intentionally harm himself, why is it any different than when he tries to harm another sentient being? We percieve things to be worse because he has harmed another being outside of his physical existence. But once the two spirits have shaken the bonds of human flesh, emotion, and desires, what's left? Two spirits - acting as spirits.
I don't believe in evil - I don't believe there's such a thing as pure evil. Insanity? Yes. Evil? Just a word used to describe the real problem - insanity, ignorance, and the complete lack of the sense of divine touch.
There is no reason to persuade me of anything because if "The Spirit" wants to awaken, it's going to awaken whether I want it to or not since my thoughts while in sleep mode cannot affect reality of the spirit awakening.
Yes, and you aren't the first to raise this point. In Hinduism, there is a similar belief in reincarnation. One of the problems that the founders of the Christian religion had with the eastern belief in reincarnation is that they saw it as a way of keeping their followers from actually trying to attain grace (or gnosis, or enlightenment, or whatever). They though that those who would believe in the gradual salvation of every soul over the course of many lifetimes would create a complacent feeling within their believers. So they taught that grace was to be important in this life, the only life you have.
In my belief though, this is equally bad because you have those who don't see anyway out of the route that they've felt was already chosen for them. I always thought reincarnation offered a more hopeful vision for those who have failed to actually FEEL the Divine (or see any hope in their future). Here it is: you messed up; but you get another chance. Sort of like failing a grade in school and making it up the next year. But then again, these are my beliefs and I seem to be going off on a tangent.
Your beliefs seem to go against all logic and observation.
Ahh, but this is true of any religion viewed by an outsider of those beliefs. It is never a good idea to fall back on this train of thought, because if I weren't being careful not to offend, I could deduce your religion to a set of beliefs that sound equally defiant of logic and reason.
In the end, you go forward with faith in God. You are secure in that faith. That's a good place for you to be. I don't knock you, or take that from you.
But I, on the other hand, want more than faith. Faith is no more than faith in another man's faith. There are ways of feeling God's presence, and some of us just choose to look a little closer through the magnifying glass.
Never assume that I mean to say you CAN'T feel the same within your religion and beliefs - nay, Gnosis is a feeling of the Divine that occurs within and around every religion. Gnosticism, however, has been designed to amplify and enhance that experience.
I wish you good fortune and thank you again for your response.
Well, I appreciate your polite responses.
Here's one more question. I'm asking because I'm having a hard time seeing what you see in Gnosticism and I'd like to understand what the appeal is. Once the spirit awakens and all the knots in the rope are undone so to speak, what happens to the excitement of life? What happens to joy, triumph, struggle, competition, friendship, relationships? It will just be "you" alone in an empty universe with no-one else for all eternity.
Every happy moment on earth involves other people. Marriage, birth, reunions, vacations, even solo accomplishments are unsatisfying until you can share the news with someone else.
If a painter squeezed out all the colors from all the tubes of paint and mixed them together he's going to get a depressing grayish muddy color. Now let's paint everything in the universe that color and leave it that way for all eternity.
Gnosticism seems to have as it's ultimate pinnacle experience, the blending of all living things in to one depressing gray blob of loneliness and predictable monotony. Can you explain where I've got it wrong?
Oh and I have to make a comment on one of your points. It's this one...
I always thought reincarnation offered a more hopeful vision for those who have failed to actually FEEL the Divine (or see any hope in their future). Here it is: you messed up; but you get another chance. Sort of like failing a grade in school and making it up the next year
In Christianity the failing grade in school is changed to an A+ by the principal of the school who takes your F and puts it onto his own record and gives you the A+ out of his record. You go straight to graduation based on His grades (which are perfect) not yours. No need to redo the grade. "FOR by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" Ephesians 2:8 What could give you more hope than that? Looping through lifetimes trying to "get it right" when you don't even really know what "right" is or how far from "right" you are? I don't see that as more hopeful. But I'm sure you have your reasons for that belief and you have every right to believe it. Jesus never twisted anyone's arm to follow him and He won't start with you. And neither will I.
Anyway, I would be interested in hearing your point of view on first part. I won't argue with your position. I just want to know what it is if you have the time to respond.
God bless you and your family,
jp
1) We are all Gaseous stuff:
We are all essentially made of energy. Everything in this universe is energy. Does one form of energy within this system of rules have a different point of view dependent on its location? Yes. Is it still made of the same stuff? Yes.
There is a school of thought in psychology called Gestalt. In a nut shell it states that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Through micro, meso, and macro, we are all the same and all different. We and this universe are all greater than the sum of its parts. I am both a drop in the ocean and the ocean itself. If I understand the drop, I in turn understand the ocean.
2) Differing points of view
We all have them. Energy exists within dualality. Often this relationship is articulated in Taoism as ying and yang. In physics it is seen at every level, through polarity in magnetism, to light and dark matter. For there to be one pole there must be another. Now those are just the polar extremes on a spectrum. Humanity, like all forms of energy, exists on this spectrum. Thought, which is also energy, exists on a spectrum also. We are essentially all looking out, but seldom looking in; Gnosis is looking in and discovering the without in the process.
You don't believe. Good for you. You have an opinion. Great! You are me and I am you. We are made of the same stuff. But we are most definitely arranged differently. We are both, thankfully, greater than the sum of our parts.
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