Nondualism and non-existence of "time" (of changes, motions, opposites, movements, experiences) sounds like "non-existence of life", thus "death". Reality and illusion are somehow the same. Reality is what makes the illusion and its riches possible. I don't know but want to know whether illusion, in turn, makes reality possible.I'll go with "infinitely more complex".
The Endless Mystery of Existence Itself
- Thread starter axj
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As to the purpose of creation, you know, it's said "God wants to be known" or, as stated in a certain Sufi Islamic narrative, "I was a hidden treasure, I wanted to be known and thus created the creation". A less dualistic expression of this can be "God wanted/wants to know itself". From this point of view, the entire creation/illusion serves as a "mirror for self-awareness". This might also be a mechanism of self-expression, self-realization, self-verification, etc.
The C's seem to talk about a "need for balance":
In connection with this need for "balance", I remember this:
And the following statement from Maharaj seems to be closely related to this issue:
The C's seem to talk about a "need for balance":
Session 19 December 1998 said:
In connection with this need for "balance", I remember this:
Session 10 December 1994 said:
And the following statement from Maharaj seems to be closely related to this issue:
Maharaj said:
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I have come to understand that all that truly exists is the now, the present. We ( everything that lives, and exists in this world and by extension the universe ) share the same moment of being.
There is no past and no future. For when we were in the past, it was the now; when we get to the future, it will be the now, the present.
It's funny how, in trying to describe this, the words imply time. No wonder it is such a persistent illusion. Our language reinforces it.
Once you see it through this lens it becomes obvious, at least for me that there is no time.
As for the concept of this not allowing for growth and change, I don't see that as being the case. We are always doing and thinking something different within each moment. Therefore growth and change are certainly happening without the need for time.
The present, the moment is immeasurable and cannot be constrained by time.
Perhaps this understanding is part of the key to removing the shackles placed on our minds by the concept of time.
I hope this makes sense. Sometimes trying to think with a hammer feels a lot like being hit in the head with the hammer yet it does make sense to me.
As this is my first post I'll be heading to the newbies section to make a proper introduction.
There is no past and no future. For when we were in the past, it was the now; when we get to the future, it will be the now, the present.
It's funny how, in trying to describe this, the words imply time. No wonder it is such a persistent illusion. Our language reinforces it.
Once you see it through this lens it becomes obvious, at least for me that there is no time.
As for the concept of this not allowing for growth and change, I don't see that as being the case. We are always doing and thinking something different within each moment. Therefore growth and change are certainly happening without the need for time.
The present, the moment is immeasurable and cannot be constrained by time.
Perhaps this understanding is part of the key to removing the shackles placed on our minds by the concept of time.
I hope this makes sense. Sometimes trying to think with a hammer feels a lot like being hit in the head with the hammer yet it does make sense to me.
As this is my first post I'll be heading to the newbies section to make a proper introduction.
It could be that whatever separates a being from another is the amount of knowledge acquired. A gap in knowledge is a form of distance, a distance expressed in "consciousness units." For example, less knowledgeable beings would be "further away" from more knowledgeable beings in the learning cycle. This could be considered as a form of "time" or "progression". However, on some level, everything is connected to everything else, as every "point" in existence is ultimately reachable. This means everything is simultaneously a primitive and an advanced form of existence. Advanced forms give rise to primitive forms, which, in turn, give rise to advanced forms. The seed of existence is contained in every being. "The Creator who is also the Created," as the C's said. Therefore, it is a bit absurd to "hope for an end" as there was no "beginning" either. It just is—a simultaneous/perpetual composition/decomposition of souls. Creation doesn't ask you if you are done with your lessons; Creation asks you: "what will you do next?"
This is where I'm perplexed. I mean, does all growth and change happen in "illusion" only or can it also happen in the "essence"? I currently tend to think that the absolute doesn't change or grow. The C's say "Consciousness is the absolute, the center point." So, I think consciousness in its pure essence doesn't change or grow.
Yeah, "timelessness" sounds like "death" (freezing of life/being) from a certain (and widespread?) point of view. Maybe it's mainly our ego which thinks like that. The concept of "dying before death" can be closely related to this, and seems to be a very central point of "work on self". Apparently, when we overcome it, we'll get rid of "fears and desires", or of their control on us, at least.
Hello Bozadi.
I don't see it as "growth and change happen in illusion" but that the passage of time is the illusion. The growth and change strike me as evidently tangible. After all, as we gain knowledge I think that does indeed change us.
I would tend to lean towards our essence being changed as well. Perhaps the Cs are indicating that the permanence of consciousness is sound, but to grow in knowledge and density is the very nature of the work and the purpose of this "school" or at least that is how I understand it.
As for "timelessness sounds like death" I don't share that particular point of view. The concept of dying before death seems related to the death of the ego, a necessary step in progressing in the work. However, it may be that I have misunderstood this concept.
I don't see it as "growth and change happen in illusion" but that the passage of time is the illusion. The growth and change strike me as evidently tangible. After all, as we gain knowledge I think that does indeed change us.
I would tend to lean towards our essence being changed as well. Perhaps the Cs are indicating that the permanence of consciousness is sound, but to grow in knowledge and density is the very nature of the work and the purpose of this "school" or at least that is how I understand it.
As for "timelessness sounds like death" I don't share that particular point of view. The concept of dying before death seems related to the death of the ego, a necessary step in progressing in the work. However, it may be that I have misunderstood this concept.
Just realized that I need to post as a reply for you to be notified, please see the above message.
Agree.
"Growing in density" is obvious, but there's no "8th density". What is more interesting, I think, is that there're not even "seven densities", there's a single density of reality; as in "one light, seven colors". I think the multiplicity and the cycling of densities is also an illusion, not the absolute reality. Time doesn't exist!
But the cycling, which seems to involve a closed-circuit type of time-flow, is natural and necessary somehow. I'm trying to understand this.Exactly. And, apparently, the "death of ego" and the "death of time" are synonymous.
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This might be the gist of the time issue: It flows in a "closed circuit", it's not an open-ended line. The circuit itself is still illusion, I think. But then there's this:
The C's said:
Maharaj said:
