Posts by Lisa Morales4

Sean Watson11 said:Questions for the group:
Is it even possible for someone who doesn't have the slightest clue about Zen to reach that state... purely in theory? Can a person stumble into fullness without ever having heard of the debates or discussions surrounding it? I'm talking about avoiding all that messy eclecticism where people just try to cherry-pick bits of Eastern and Western philosophies to feed their egos.
What kind of mental state does a person need to actually encounter Zen—not just the concept of it, but the actual essence?
I could be wrong a thousand times over... would Zen correct my path, or is it possible to find Zen within my own mistakes without needing some teacher to walk me through it?
I am seeking your guidance... 👍

It’s possible...

Like an athlete who intuitively knows how to achieve victory.

Regarding the topic What is power? post 86 and post 89

Or perhaps through reconciling the past and the future in the present moment—by being free from all striving, which means letting go of moral burdens or being held back by intense desire.

From the topic God, the cosmos, and Jesuspost 41

🙂

dustyskipper3 said:God is absolutely good, I believe, but we humans aren't absolutely good—because if we were, I guess we would be gods, and we certainly aren't. We can only ever be relatively good, participating in absolute goodness through our connection with God. I've wondered before, why couldn't an absolutely good God simply create an absolutely good creation or world? I touched on this briefly when discussing God and Hitler—if something is considered absolutely good by comparison, then there must be something else that is slightly less good, or perhaps even evil, to provide that scale. People choose to distance themselves from God, and in doing so, they lean toward more evil. Yet, God is merciful, and I don't think He allows those who truly want to be close to Him to suffer just because they have to function within human society. Humans are social creatures, whether we like it or not, and if the majority chooses to walk away from God, individuals might have to go along with the crowd just to survive. We saw something similar back during the era of communist rule in the US, perhaps in certain radical movements. So, I suppose God sends His Son so that those chosen individuals—those He 'sets apart from the world'—can stay closer to Him through His Son, allowing them to participate more fully in absolute goodness than the rest of the world. That's how I make sense of it, anyway. The sacrifice is necessary so those specific individuals can be redeemed from a society that doesn't care about absolute good, but only seeks relative, material gain. Otherwise, the rest of humanity might rightly ask, "Why are these people better than us just because they pursue absolute good? They did the same things we did; they just felt bad about it afterward, while we didn't."

And what happens to those who valued relative goods over absolute ones? Well, nothing, I suppose. They will simply vanish along with the goods they desired, much like any other temporary thing. I don't think they will be punished, nor will they 'suffer eternally in hell,' because there wouldn't be any real purpose in such torment or punishment. They will just cease to exist, as if they were never here, fading into nothingness, and I doubt those who were saved will feel any sorrow for them. It's often described vividly as a 'lake of fire where teeth gnash,' but really, no one will feel sorry for those gnashing their teeth, any more than one would feel sorry for firewood being burned. They essentially chose to lower themselves below the level of human dignity, and in doing so, they lost their life.

That is roughly how I understand these biblical messages.

It is a bit peculiar that Indian philosophy offers such an elegant explanation for the function of atonement, which is what Christ accomplished through His suffering on the cross. In India, they have the concept of karma to explain why someone must suffer for their sins. It's a law of action and reaction... In this view, a person won't have to answer for their sins because they repented. Therefore, they won't face the consequences of karma, because their teacher—in this case, Christ—suffered in their stead.

I suppose I don't think the law of karma really has anything to do with Christian redemption. It seems to me that no one is going to be punished with actual torment, unless maybe you look at it as a way to truly cleanse oneself so one can participate in God's glory and goodness. Those who aren't in the 'Book of Life'... well, they might just evaporate, or perhaps they'll be catapulted into some kind of black hole where they can just exist however they see fit, without anyone specifically choosing to 'torture' them. If they get bored with it, I guess they could just pass judgment on themselves and fade away, so the suffering stops.

Under the law of karma, if a person realizes the illusion of this world—if they achieve enlightenment, that is—they automatically clear their negative karma; it just sort of 'unwinds,' and they are free. There isn't a need for someone else to die for them to make that happen. On the other hand, if someone believed in the possibility of the 'heavenly kingdom' but wasn't quite capable of imagining it themselves, it would be enough for them to simply believe in Christ, who did realize it, and then He could set them free after death. The law of karma feels much more rigid in one sense, because every bit of pain inflicted must be repaid, unless the person reaches enlightenment. But in Christianity, there is 'God's grace,' so not everything has to be paid back; a person doesn't even necessarily have to reach enlightenment, it's enough just to believe that it is possible.

I honestly feel like Christ's path and His ultimate sacrifice serve a much deeper purpose than just being a historical event; they act as a roadmap for how we navigate this entire illusion we call reality. It’s really about learning how to reach true purification and eventually finding a way to break free from it all. 🙂

On the other hand, if someone believes in the possibility of a heavenly kingdom but can’t quite wrap their head around what that actually looks like, it would be enough for them to simply have faith in Christ. Since He is the one who truly understands it, He could then step in and set them free after they pass away.

That’s exactly right: Christ is the channel—a bridge, a way through, and ultimately, a helping hand.
After all, God the Father saw that most people would struggle to reach that level entirely on their own strength. He wants to lift every single person up to that height—to bring them into eternal life and stand them before Him—so that no one gets lost along the way.
That’s exactly why He sent Christ. I'm just keeping things personal today. savior
Every single person has the potential to achieve divine growth through Christ—by Him and within Him—to eventually find their own path to the vertex.
Christ offers His guiding hand through His own law of attraction.

Following Christ isn't about just drifting aimlessly with the current.
His journey follows that narrow, difficult path—the one that's hard-won, but ultimately leads straight to triumph.

The law of karma feels much more rigid in one sense, because every ounce of pain you inflict has to be paid back in full—unless you manage to reach enlightenment. In Christianity, there’s this concept of "God's grace," which changes the math entirely. You don't necessarily have to settle every single debt or undergo an intense spiritual awakening; sometimes, simply having faith that redemption is possible is enough.

I’m guessing you personally prefer to actively carve out your own path toward enlightenment—to be an active participant in your own ascension, taking full responsibility for your own purification and liberation, rather than just sitting back and waiting to be passively spoon-fed everything. What's up? It’s served healthy and ready to go.

What else would you call it? Recognizing these crises and moving through them is really just about smoothing out the wrinkles—it’s that process of ironing out every single uneven edge and crease in our heavenly garments. 🙂

In Christianity, there’s this concept of "God's grace," and honestly, I don't think it means anything other than finding a sense of joy in carrying your own crosses—exactly the way the Son of God showed us it could be done.

It’s funny how people always bring up that old argument—you know, the one where critics claim Christians are just losing their minds because we find purpose or even a sense of peace in suffering.
No, clinging to your own crises isn't really anything more than working on your own purification, salvation, and eventual ascension.
That’s exactly why we say Christ died for us—so that we wouldn't have to. If we truly believe...
It’s pretty clear what that all entails: living your life by following the example of Christ—essentially becoming a walking reflection of God on this earth, living as a true child of God, and having Him as a brother to walk beside you every single day.

What could possibly be easier than following the North Star through the vast, endless reaches of the cosmos? 🙂

Benjamin Taylor6, did you also give an answer to the question about what the sacrifice is actually for?
I mean, it's so that the one who truly "realizes" or "understands" their own sin—basically the one who repents—can be saved. 👍

Christ sacrificed Himself for everyone, but since not everyone accepts Him, they end up rejecting grace 😢 simply because they don't want to lift a finger toward their own salvation.

And as for the physics side of things—who needs the sacrifice and why?
It’s all about maintaining balance within the universe. 🙂

The universe at large (macro) operates on the exact same principles as our own consciousness (micro)—or perhaps more accurately, our souls, if we consider them part of a single reality, a unified Whole that actually constructs that macro world in the first place.

Matter finds its destination within a magnetic field through vibrational frequency emitted by a transmitter, regardless of where that field is located in the cosmos.

Connection and communication are established because there is a receiver on the other end.
The quality of how that initial message (a thought) is converted and materialized depends entirely on how "tuned in" the other party is through their own perception.

In this way, an initial thought can be physically transmitted anywhere under the heavens (and beyond).

🙂🙂

Since distance doesn't play a role, neither does time.
An initial thought could be released in the distant past, only to find its destination light-years away much later.
It drifts through space, vibrating, waiting until it is needed and seeking its connection. It might be picked up by a single receiver, or perhaps hundreds all at once.

The same applies to things coming from the future; it’s the exact same mechanism.

It all comes down to the tuning and the perception of the receiver.

Everything is already here, everything is already given, everything is part of reality: always, now, forever! There, here! We are all connected through that very vibrational frequency.

You just need to tune your antenna.

.. without any effort at all.

_________
Note:

The Whole - God
The One - Jesus
The heavens (and beyond) - the universe
Tune - ? (sharpen? adjust?)
etc.

🙂

wearyowl29 said:Miracles don't just happen because you keep repeating the same prayer over and over. Give me some room to breathe, let things unfold, and then the miracle happens. Sure, you asked and your wish was granted, but that isn't really a miracle—that’s just you begging, pleading, and trying to force the universe's hand.
When you aren't even asking for anything and then a miracle happens out of nowhere... what are you supposed to do with that?

Since we aren't over on the Religion board, I’m not quite sure how to explain it to you—I don't know how else to put it, but prayer isn't exactly XXX. It’s all just lip service.It’s really just a matter of the heart.
And if you ever find yourself unable to pray, just let the Spirit take over for you.

Miracles happen to those who stay persistent.😂

I’d rather say—with all my heart.

It’s truly incredible that he made it through that... and just as much of a miracle that he ended up struggling with addiction. There are so many miracles surrounding us every day.

It’s no surprise he made it out alive; he knew exactly when to cut his losses.
No, unfortunately, it’s hardly surprising that he ended up becoming an addict...

It’s honestly surprising how much easier it was to clear this up than it would be for some guy just trying to kick a Marlboro habit.

It’s honestly remarkable how everything turned out this way—he emerged stronger and more determined than before, fully committed to keeping his life on a path defined by dignity and purpose.

It’s wild when you think about it—just a year or so ago, he actually took home first prize for an amateur short film in Phoenix. But back when he first arrived here in the US as a teenager, coming straight from a refugee camp in Kenya, he didn't have a clue what a movie even was. He couldn't wrap his head around the concept of film, let alone understand why those moving figures on the screen were there, or if the people getting shot on screen were actually dying in real life.

wearyowl29 said:We can't survive without water, food, or sleep, but we also can't thrive without a little magic. We crave miracles just as much as a thirsty plant craves a drink.
Sure, we could technically stumble through life without ever knowing love or being loved. We could manage to navigate an alienated, lonely world... but the moment we reach out for something miraculous, everything changes. We need them. But why?

Whether it’s overnight healings, sudden spiritual awakenings, undeniable physical signs, saints with a heavenly scent, weeping statues, the sun itself defying physics, the Shroud of Turin, or even a freshly unearthed relic from Noah's Ark—it doesn't really matter what the specific event is. What matters is that they carry that essence of wonder meant specifically for us.
That sense of wonder is pure soul food!

Miracles actually happen—they really do—but they aren't for everyone. One psychologist I know says you have to be truly open to them by maintaining a positive mindset. Honestly, in this day and age, staying positive is a miracle in itself! Looking at life through a hopeful lens and seeking out the good... maybe it sounds a bit naive, but hey, it might just work. Action creates reaction.

Positive thinking plus a belief in miracles equals... well, miracles. Miracles don't have hands, so they can't exactly walk up and turn our doorknobs for us. We have to leave our doors wide open. 😲
I just hope we don't accidentally let something else slip in instead...☕
I mean, how can someone who refuses to believe even expect a miracle to show up?

Miracles have used their own kind of alchemy to turn skeptics into believers; they take root
whenever faith starts to flicker and fade, recruiting a whole new following. You could say miracles are a heavenly flick of a magic wand that transforms our lives—if we let them... 🤷 or perhaps miracles are just the ultimate expression of our longing for proof, a desperate search for meaning... or who knows, maybe it's something else entirely...

What are miracles to us, if not the very thing we thirst for most?

It really depends on what you're praying for...

We all define what counts as a miracle differently...
Our own little miracles, or just miracles to be, actually say more about who we are than anything else.

Miracles tend to find the people who actually believe in them.

A miracle is when a heroin addict—a guy in his twenties who lost his entire family in some brutal tribal conflicts overseas and only survived because he was tucked against his mother's back as she fell, shielding him in her final moment—finally gets released from his second rehab center, walks straight from the hospital to your workplace, and asks for a hug and some "guidance."

A miracle is when someone reaches out day after day to tell you that instead of chasing highs, they chose an apple today...
Or when they look at you and ask, "Ms, keep praying for me!"

A miracle is watching someone count down the days until graduation, finally clean and standing his ground 🙂

There are so many miracles in this world, yet everyone only ever sings about romantic ones. 😕
I went looking for i believe in Miracles by the Bee Gees, but I ended up finding good old Hot Chocolate instead, You Sexy Thing 🙏
... which basically mimics our dear striped fashion icon LOL
And he mentions praying for his miracle; if I recall, Errol Brown says it in his song.

Then there's also this track WE need a Miracle (a tribute to TYPT) — the animation is great.

👍

Susan Price30 said:Yesterday afternoon.🍿 👍

In just one single moment—through both words and actions that were completely unexpected and unforeseen... Just some random thoughts. All those dilemmas, questions, and months of anxiety just vanished instantly—everything finally clicked into place.

Nothing beautiful or wonderful just falls from the sky, nor does anything of that nature occur spontaneously without cause. 🤷

Some people just seem to attract that kind of energy, while others couldn't attract it if they tried. If you find yourself rarely or never experiencing those moments, don't go blaming the world or the people around you. Instead, why not take a look inward? What exactly are you attracting, and what is the reason behind it?

And that part highlighted in bold? Absolutely nothing. Culture. It simply wasn't abolished, nor can it be. 🤣 It is yours to revoke. Innocence. Maybe (i... Is there anything more profound than a genuine sense of wonder? Which one comes in the same package, if it's the same...

Hey there.

I'm with you on that.
You have to stay vigilant... be prepared and actually live with intention (without all the constant complaining).

wearyowl29 said:It’s moving in the right direction, but it just isn't quite there yet.

Well, I guess there’s really no way around it—we're going to need a miracle.

What good is having a talent for dancing anyway?🤷

Talent alone isn't enough to make a miracle happen.

There’s just something about that rhythmic drumming by an open fire that hits different... it completely takes over. When that happens, I find myself dancing like a woodland sprite—just pure, fluid motion. Honestly, forget the pirouettes; at that point, I *am* the pirouette.

Well, I guess there's no miracle coming.

Is the dance class over?

Well, that's just it... you said it yourself, dance isn't exactly some kind of miracle on its own.

Do whatever you want; it’s clearly good for your soul anyway. But just a heads-up—if my craving for whiskey starts kicking in, I’m expecting three cases delivered straight to my door... You never truly know what kind of magic you're working when you pray.😉

You don't even have to pray for whiskey; it just finds its way to you.
Once you sober up, all the magic fades away... and if that's the case, then it wasn't really a miracle to begin with.
Miracles grow on a very specific kind of tree; you can't exactly go out and hunt them down. All you can really do is sit back and hope that one eventually falls right into your hands.

wearyowl29 said:I have to admit something... I’ve got a real eye for art. I can sing a little, play some instruments, write, and I even do garden installations—plus I have a good sense for painting. But dance? Not a chance. I am zero percent talented when it comes to moving on a dance floor. Maybe that's just what happens after spending all those years playing sports.🤷

Pretty much where I am at, too. I've always felt there was something special about that classic Midwestern charm—that specific kind of relaxed, down-to-earth style you just can't replicate anywhere else. It’s got this effortless vibe that feels both timeless and incredibly comfortable. I could never quite wrap my head around it—it just wasn't working out, so why bother crowning yourself?
Have you ever tried ballroom dancing? I mean, being led by someone else in a partner dance. 🙄
While it might seem like nothing out of the ordinary for most of the world, I’d bet we’re exactly the same when it comes to this—it feels like we need a literal miracle just to make something so basic happen. 😍
Shady would probably just say we’d need a literal miracle to find someone "real."

Quincy:

I tried wearing ballet slippers once, but honestly, it just wasn't happening. You’re better off watching kangaroos dance.😲

Same old story.
I have to say, when I tried going barefoot—without all that extra gear—it was such a strange sensation. It’s like the ground just seems to slip away from under your feet. Even today, I was testing it out, and it felt just as surreal, especially while attempting those 360-degree pirouettes.

And what about kangaroos? Honestly, they’re such a strange phenomenon. They seem almost mindless, too—do you even realize how much pride they carry around? 😲

Quincy:

I let go of all my grudges a long time ago... except for when it comes to Poriluk.

It feels like you’re just using that comfort zone as an excuse to stay nestled in that little bubble of yours.

Quincy:

Man, don't even get me started... I’ve already got plenty of my own messes to deal with. Honestly, all I need is one more disaster to go along with the rest if I ever want to dance like Ana Pavlovna.🙏

Look, you don't need to get all worked up or go through the trouble of crunching the numbers; I'll just take care of it and send it your way.
If you ever find yourself hit by a massive craving for clam chowder, just give me a heads-up. I’d like to know so I can start praying you don't overdo it.

👍

wearyowl29, you’re talented, but honestly, you're just tripping over your own feet here.
It feels like you’re taking one step forward and two steps back.
Maybe try putting the left shoe on the left foot and the right one on the right instead?
Don't let that bitterness toward the teams playing it safe hold you back...
If you don't mind me saying, you're on my prayer list to perform at least one little miracle... specifically, please don't let us run dry on you. 🙂

all we need is a miracle

Isn't it a bit of a miracle that NG started a thread like this in the first place? 🙂

That was a smart point; you're right that once those "doors are left open," anything can crawl inside.
Religious teachings often warn us about that—that even dark forces can pull off miracles.
Still, I believe luck follows those who are bold; you aren't going to stay tucked away in your mother's shadow just because there are misfortunes and dark omens out in the world.

Besides, we all know that all those impure intentions eventually get forged through force miracles and tempered until they finally shine wonderfully in a final triumph.

Personally, I'm a believer in miracles.
My entire life has been woven together by one miracle after another.

But I've never just sat around waiting for a miracle to drop into my lap.
I’ve always reached for the "impossible," setting goals far beyond what seemed reasonable, and jumping into action the moment a miracle presented itself as an opportunity.

Edward Flores4 said:Spot on!

Unfortunately, we don't have one perfect American English word that captures that specific type of attentiveness... that state where you're genuinely "present." It’s when your mind isn't cluttered with projections or distractions, but instead, you're pouring all your focus into the current moment—reacting spontaneously to what's happening right now, rather than just reacting based on your own preconceived notions or biases.

It's about being a conscious participant in life, instead of just sitting on the sidelines acting like a detached "observer" of your own existence. It's about being fully integrated with everything around you—staying focused and taking responsibility, but not in some isolated way, like sitting on a mountaintop or hiding in a cave... places where "responsibility" is just an abstract concept and all your attention is sucked inward toward yourself.

Yeah... you hit the nail on the head there. 🙂

That’s it... it's about being truly present, being exactly where you're needed, and being a real participant.

Living in this world, instead of just pretending we aren't part of it.

mistygull16 said:I’m just a "reflection" of God.
On some lower level, I guess I’m like a little gateway to those "higher" dimensions of reality, but honestly, it all boils down to being a mere "image" of God—or just these "independent" little fragments of consciousness that don't even realize where they came from... something like that, anyway...

Amen!

The self is simply a microcosm of the entire grand design.

If you want to truly understand the universe and the cosmos, start by getting to know yourself.

Jerry King11 said:But what does "understanding yourself" actually mean? Maybe it’s just about stripping away all the trivial layers we pile on, until the experience of the "ego" doesn't even matter anymore—leaving nothing but the essence. Some people call that "awakening Christ within." I honestly don't know if truly great figures in history ever wasted their time with "self-help" or deep introspection; they usually had much bigger things to deal with here on Earth, right? Or look at what Zen teaches: lose yourself in your work, become one with the task, until the "self" simply vanishes...

If you want to handle those "more important tasks here on Earth," you first have to understand who you are.

You have to meet yourself.

In order for us to be of any actual use, we need to be charged,>
but how can you ever get charged up if you don't know which batteries you need?
You have to know yourself.
And you are one of a kind.
No one in all of God's creation is quite like you: not with your specific smile, your sense of humor, your unique talents, your reactions to the world, or your particular emotions...

How can you love the God of whom you are a part if you don't recognize that tiny piece of God's Body—yourself?🙂

I’ll leave you with a poem of self-worth:

I'M SPECIAL

I'm special.
In all the world, there's nobody like me.
Since the beginning of time, there has never been another person like me.
Nobody has my smile. Nobody has my eyes, my nose, my hair, my hands, or my voice.
I'm special.

No one can be found who has my handwriting.
Nobody anywhere has my tastes in food, music, or art. No one else sees things exactly as I do.
In all of time, there's been no one who laughs like me, no one who cries like me, and what makes me laugh and cry will never provoke identical laughter and tears from anyone else, ever.
No one reacts to any situation quite the way I would.
I'm special.

I'm The only One in All of creation Who Has my set of abilities. Sure, there will always be someone who is better at one of the things I'm good at, but no one in the universe can match the unique combination of my talents, ideas, abilities, and feelings. It's like a room full of musical instruments; some might sound great on their own, but none can match the symphony created when they are all played together. I am a symphony.

Throughout all of eternity, no one will ever look, talk, walk, think, or act like me.
I'm special.

I'm rare.
And in all rarity, there is immense value. Because of that value, I don't need to try to imitate anyone else. I will embrace—yes, celebrate—my differences.
I'm special.

And I'm starting to realize it isn't an accident that I'm special.
I'm beginning to see that my Higher Power made me special for a very special purpose. He must have a job for me that no one else can perform as well as I can. Out of all the billions of applicants, only one is qualified—only one possesses the exact right combination of what it takes.
That one is me.

Because... I'm special!

Jerry King11 said:I actually find your perspective pretty compelling. There’s something to be said for that idea of discovering yourself within the absolute—the notion that you're fundamentally part of the same thing as the "You" standing right next to you. It's that concept of us all being pieces of one massive, universal spirit. 🙂

I honestly don't think we should be inflating our egos or playing judge when it comes to someone else's spiritual journey. To be blunt, I’ve always had an issue with the whole "self-improvement" cliché. It implies that everything is about focusing inward on yourself rather than actually showing up for others. If all we're doing is working on ourselves, then what we're building is ultimately hollow.

I’ve already posted this somewhere else, but I figured it belonged here too:

A student once posed a question to Dai Sui:
What exactly is my "self"?
Dai Sui responded:
That’s just who I am.
How is it even possible that my "I" is actually your "I"?
It’s just like you.

🙂🙂🙂

yeah...

we are Unity

part of one single Body

Unity is paramount!

know God to understand yourself
know yourself to reach God

know yourself to reach the Universal Consciousness*
know the Universal Consciousness to better understand yourself

____________
* Universal Consciousness - the universal spirit

the essence of every being can be described through these synonyms:

the all-encompassing Spirit
the unity of the soul
consciousness
Universal Consciousness
God

understanding how our consciousness interacts with external physical systems is actually understanding how reality operates at a subatomic level, where everything is organized into energy packets or quanta

An individual's realization that we are all integral parts of this Unity/Oneness/one God is directly proportional to how much a person reflects God through their own life

meditation, through communication with God, helps a person find themselves within the natural law of Oneness
all power lies within our own self-reflection

there are no boundaries between a being and Nature, except for those we create ourselves
by reaching for the Truth in which we are self-aware under the guidance of our conscience, we outgrow those artificial social barriers
in our self-realization, we become aware that the suffering and joys of others are truly our own suffering and joys
we experience one another through a unified field, through Unity

humanity is an extension of natural laws, which means we can understand that we serve as mediums for the creator of the universe
we are composed of the same essence known as God
we are cells within the infinite Body of God
we are all made of God
of the Universal Consciousness
of the Universal Consciousness
we are One

to continue growing, we must follow the higher purpose: living for one another
life isn't just a result of random mathematical probabilities; it is the result of an intelligent universe that possesses Intent and is self-aware

just as our consciousness is the subject, the first person
the one that oversees our awareness, our mind, the object, the third person
as the one that sees all and cannot be seen

so too is the Universal Consciousness, God, all of us together—the singular super-consciousness, Jehovah, the Great Spirit, the all-seeing eye, Gaia, Mother Earth, the unified field of dynamics—the invisible, non-material subject
which governs us as objects of the perfect law of nature (the universe)

so, there you have it—what we are
what I am, what YOU are, what WE are

BTW, if I had held the elevator door open for as long as I sat on this page typing this out until I got exhausted and sick, the entire city of Chicago would be standing in line outside the lobby.

🙂

Brian Foster3 said:Ugh, please, I'm nowhere near touching that beard yet. 😍

LOL, I actually meant that part as a figure of speech: 'holding onto God by the beard.'

Safe travels 🙂

Brian Foster3
jademarlin26

Once we stop trying to micromanage God and instead start looking deep within our own souls to see the potential of what we can actually become—rather than just staring at who we are right now—that’s when we’ll truly find ourselves soaring.

🙂

jademarlin26, if you aren't working on yourself, you're basically just an amoeba at this point
that’s not really a big deal
even an amoeba can become something more 🙂

Self-work isn't just about your own ego; it's about honoring the Absolute that you're actually a part of 🙂
it's all for the sake of Unity
but look, if someone hasn't reached that realization yet—seeing themselves within the Absolute (within Unity)—then they're just stuck focusing inward on themselves
and that's okay too

I am an integral part, a single fragment, of an eternal force
and that force is no illusion

force is energy
and energy is indestructible
you can store it, accumulate it, or manifest it, or you can transfer it

energy is eternal
I was born from the eternal
It's up to me whether I choose to nurture that spark and grow it into a flame
or if I'll just smother it until it's gone

I am The Flame and the Keeper

I am The Keeper

Brian Foster3 said:Look, here’s the truth: your soul—that "organ" you use to actually perceive spiritual reality—isn't some finished product just sitting there waiting for you. You don't just dig up some buried "Higher Self" and suddenly everything becomes sunshine and rainbows. That's a total illusion. We aren't born with a full-blown soul; we only have this tiny little seed, a mere blueprint that requires massive effort and constant work to grow into a complete being. Basically, you don't *have* a soul yet; you just have the potential for one. You have to build that soul yourself from the ground up.

🤔 how is there no Higher Self? 😕

doesn't the soul consist of three parts:
- the animalistic part tied to instincts and physical desires (presumably the first dimension)
- the middle soul, the "spirit," which holds moral values and the ability to distinguish good from evil
- the higher soul, the "super-spirit," through which a person achieves immortality

That third part is also implanted at birth, enabling us to recognize the existence of God, who, by the way, is neither male nor female. God is infinite, eternal, without end (I’ve always loved those concentric circles used to symbolize infinity)

The soul is intuitive knowing 👍

In the Zohar, a book of Jewish mysticism (which shares a lot of common ground with Gnosticism), there are 52 chapters dedicated to the part of the soul that grants us awareness of the divine force, as well as the higher part where we can achieve deep unity with God.

It's interesting:
Ehyeh means "I am"

Yah represents the masculine: wisdom (active potential)
Yahweh represents the feminine: the passive potential joined with the Crown to create a trinity (the masculine part, the feminine part, and the crown)

Similarly, Kabbalah suggests there is an additional supplemental soul gained during the Sabbath (if one observes it)

If you yawned, close your mouth... I'm familiar with Kabbalah within the context of Renaissance Catholicism and its interpretations of the Book of Daniel.

Kabbalah is a theological philosophy containing elements of Hermetic-Egyptian teachings.
It serves as a supplement to Judaism and Christianity.
It is incredibly intellectually dense because it accumulates the thoughts of so many Platonists, Pythagoreans, and other great minds.

So, I'm curious, what does this "New Age Kabbalah" mean to you?

Are you referring to the New Age disciplineless practiced by Madonna and other Hollywood types who wear those Kabbalistic bracelets, walk around in Ugg boots, and sport T-shirts that say "Addicted to Kabbalah"?🤷

Or do you see it as a traditional discipline within your own faith?😕

Aw,
may God's power be with you.👍

wearyowl29 said:Wait, what even is this???

Man, talk about an enlightened clique!

😂 heh, look who finally decided to show up 🤣

knowing is a first step to understanding 🙂
honestly, I just assumed everyone already knew what it meant to be in the zone