Oneness (ritual, mysticism, experience, atheist, spiritual)

[doppelgänger]

Originally Posted by YmirGF

Are we closer to understanding each other now Dopp? Or am I still not getting you, lol.

I think we were always on the same page, but having trouble finding the words in this forum that we could both "see" it right away.

[Scarlett Wampus]

Originally Posted by doppelgänger

I completely agree with all of this Scarlet. My post you are referencing toys with the idea of "oneness" thought of as not being a symbol for a momentary experience but a state to which a living person could rise and remain indefinitely while simultaneously telling us about "his" or "her" experiences in that state.

But I agree with your assessment. Oneness is known only upon reflection and then known incompletely, though the experience itself is complete even if the words and thoughts used to try to capture a sense of it are not. And certainly one comes back to "I"-"other" from Samhadi. That's actually sort of my point, though in this exchange, I see how it could be misconstrued.

Wasn't entirely sure what was being construed, so was testing the water (or attempting to). A friend pointed out that the whole thing I said sounded nitpicky. Reading back it sure does. I was actually annoyed with myself while writing because I was finding it very hard to make anything make sense. That's the 'ugh' for instance.

[autonomous1one1]

Greetings. Let me offer a new wrinkle into the discussion. I think we agree that there is a state of being in which one experiences union or identity with the Infinite. (Please don't hang me up on words here, I am using words as pointers for gists of meanings. Substitute your own words for state, being, experiences, union, identity, infinite, etc.) I think we agree also, albeit it with different words, that one has to come out of the state to 'reflect' on 'it,' on what 'it' was or how to explain it in words. Such reflection is based on a memory of conditions as close to the 'state' as we can get.

Now for my wrinkle. (Consider what I write here to be in metaphorical language or whatever; for, as Dopp indicates, and I agree, the language is 'wrong' the minute I write it.) I believe that while in the 'state' one's self-identity is changed; the here-to-fore thought of finite self is really the Self in unity with the Infinite. This 'infinite Self' can be brought back to every day life and exist in direct awareness of who 'we' are. There is the recognition of nonduality of Self and God and this is where we get the words of the mystics and sages throughout the ages.

According to Roger Walsh:
Ramakrishna - "This divinity of all beings, structures and dimensions can be clearly perceived by the organ of supreme vision that develops nauturally as soon as the mind becomes pure enough."

And the Sufi saint Nizami - "You imagine that you see me, But I no longer exist: What remains is the Beloved."

And Chuang Tzu - The ten thousand things and I are one. We are already one-- what else is there to say?

I think that I know the answer each will give from posts; but, a test is to answer for yourself the question 'how do you view your self - as an infinite self or as a finite self confined to the body?'

[YmirGF]

Originally Posted by autonomous1one1

Greetings. Let me offer a new wrinkle into the discussion. I think we agree that there is a state of being in which one experiences union or identity with the Infinite. (Please don't hang me up on words here, I am using words as pointers for gists of meanings. Substitute your own words for state, being, experiences, union, identity, infinite, etc.) I think we agree also, albeit it with different words, that one has to come out of the state to 'reflect' on 'it,' on what 'it' was or how to explain it in words. Such reflection is based on a memory of conditions as close to the 'state' as we can get.

Now for my wrinkle. (Consider what I write here to be in metaphorical language or whatever; for, as Dopp indicates, and I agree, the language is 'wrong' the minute I write it.) I believe that while in the 'state' one's self-identity is changed; the here-to-fore thought of finite self is really the Self in unity with the Infinite. This 'infinite Self' can be brought back to every day life and exist in direct awareness of who 'we' are. There is the recognition of nonduality of Self and God and this is where we get the words of the mystics and sages throughout the ages.

According to Roger Walsh:
Ramakrishna - "This divinity of all beings, structures and dimensions can be clearly perceived by the organ of supreme vision that develops nauturally as soon as the mind becomes pure enough."

And the Sufi saint Nizami - "You imagine that you see me, But I no longer exist: What remains is the Beloved."

And Chuang Tzu - The ten thousand things and I are one. We are already one-- what else is there to say?

I think that I know the answer each will give from posts; but, a test is to answer for yourself the question 'how do you view your self - as an infinite self or as a finite self confined to the body?'

Pity, I did not see this before autonomous1one1. Predictably I would say I am an infinite multidimensional entity and my physical being is the current chosen aspect that is exploring three dimensional reality for its own reasons and purposes. To expand on this I have coined the term the "civilization of the psyche" within which there are literally billions of aspect selves that all compliment the whole self or entity. What must be understood is that ANY aspect can "take the helm" so to speak and at any time when they are ready in their now.

Undoubtedly this might be a bit rich for many of you, but as consciousness expands -- like a proverbial bubble -- the edges between self and god begin to blur to the extent that I have commented of late that god has a name and the name of god is "you". Pretty neat actually, as in this way it applies to every living (or dead) person and being. Just remember that "god" is the aggregate totality of all personalities and all realities etc... the whole enchelada, so to speak. But hey... what would I know?

Call me silly and perhaps think I am writing in metaphoric terms but if people began to focus on the brilliant star directly behind their eyes they might just begin to perceive the nature of the entity and their inherent Oneness with all of reality as well as their eternal connection to the illusive "invisible friend" called "god".

[Rolling_Stone]

I congratulate everyone for their wonderful posts. I would like to add something of my own, describing my own experience and whatnot, but I can’t. I just sit here looking at my monitor as though it isn’t there, trying to find words to describe the naked love that opens the door to the One and what I find beyond the threshold. I come up blank; words simply are not adequate to the task. All I can say is that there is a slender knowledge of, or a light touching upon, something more real than anything in this world; a vague awareness that I am, am not, and yet am that which is in all things.

I have yet to step over the threshold.

[YmirGF]

Originally Posted by Rolling_Stone

I congratulate everyone for their wonderful posts. I would like to add something of my own, describing my own experience and whatnot, but I can’t. I just sit here looking at my monitor as though it isn’t there, trying to find words to describe the naked love that opens the door to the One and what I find beyond the threshold. I come up blank; words simply are not adequate to the task. All I can say is that there is a slender knowledge of, or a light touching upon, something more real than anything in this world; a vague awareness that I am, am not, and yet am that which is in all things.

I have yet to step over the threshold.

Now that my friend is a perfectly charming response. I thank you for your input. As the illustrious Lilithu observed when I actually agreed with her, it takes a certain amount of bravery to express these deeper aspects of how we feel. Bravo and wait till you get a load of the rooms just beyond the threshold.