RE: Perceptual Divisions Spiritual Singularity & Journeys Into The Universal Consciousness
Thank you for hopefully having started an enlightented conversation on Steemit. (No puns intended! ;-)
I think you will find that there are many of us that will agree with you that our various institutions/systems lie to us in an attempt to enslave us for a variety of reasons. I use the phrase "The Lie" when referencing them. @wwf uses the term "fictional realm" (although I might be expanding his thought beyond his intention). But I think we all agree that there is little pure Truth to be found in their structure and teachings because they have distorted their sources. So enough about them. Let's talk of "Sources."
Given that we all begin this journey under The Lie which has defined our perception of literally everything, how then do we recognize The Truth, should we chance upon it since we cannot trust our own perceptions? It seem that a source, originating outside of ourselves (but possibly operating from within ourselves) is necessary.
One source that I hear of repeatedly is Nature/Creation. When humans still the "noise" that they create and begin to hear/see Creation our perceptions are altered. Usually we first see our relative smallness , next we often see that we are part of a larger whole, and as you describe we often experience an overwhelming visceral feeling of that connection with it all.
But then we return to our "reality" of daily living, changed but still not enough so we seek more. We look for other Sources that will afford yet another perspective for our tainted perceptions. It is these other Sources that I hope we can explore on Steemit.
The reason for this exploration is that we know from statistics that no inferences can be made based on a single observation where N=1 (i.e. enlightening experience). Each individual observation is just as good as the next. Yet The Truth should (I presume) be universal because that's kinda the definition of Truth. It's that singularity (as in the state of being single) we ALL share and that some are seeking to experience and understand. What other Sources might be valid such that we have a sample of N=(some sufficient number)?
Thank you for lending your support and leaving such thoughtful comment, I really appreciate it. Structure and teachings seem to attract those that seek to obtain power and wealth from such hierarchies. Although many are started with good intentions over time they seem to draw those that hide behind masks and carry out their deeds in that dark. A multitude of perceptions that have both fractured and deviated from the oneness also play to the age old concept of "divide and conquer" although a worldwide unity defined by an an individual or an institution brings with it a dangerous element of control and indeed that is the current conundrum of humanity.
"Given that we all begin this journey under The Lie which has defined our perception of literally everything, how then do we recognize The Truth, should we chance upon it since we cannot trust our own perceptions? It seem that a source, originating outside of ourselves (but possibly operating from within ourselves) is necessary"
Yes I agree entirely for our perceptions have been controlled and manipulated since the day we were able to formulate words and thought, equally our understanding of our surroundings begin to be formulated even before our birth. I believe in both a source operating outside of ourselves and indeed inside of ourselves and at a spiritual or quantum level both are profoundly connected. Perhaps this could be viewed as akin to a higher self. In discussing a higher I use the analogy of a beautiful river, the higher self is the river and the mind represents self-preservation and as such attempt to swim against said river. Indeed i wrote the below words in a previous post.
Our intelligence is a slave to the ego and as such we become an accumulation of external influences. Every question and every answer is a slave to both intellect and a narrow band of perception, reality is not human centric but our interpretation of it is. Human experience is observed from within and if you know this to be true then you know that in this understanding there exists an element of control. The truth of reality will never be fully understood by intellect alone for it’s a slave to perception, the senses and the ego. The truth is found in our ability to let ourselves go and float along the river of life.
I believe there is a oneness and a truth but it displays it's gift in such a way that our life experiences and perceptions may understand. Indeed my truth may not be your truth but that doesn's always mean they're not the same truth, if you see what I mean? Now you've got me thinking so I'd also like to add: Whilst your excellent comments have opened my mind to thought and contemplation I also understand that if I ask you a question your answer should be the first thought that enters your mind, if you give this answer even a seconds consideration then it's a deviation from your truth. Again great comments my friend, thanks for taking the time to read my post and then display such a concise and coherant wealth of knowledge and thought processes @yulem
To continue the dialogue, you state:
Can we look specifically at "... ability to let ourselves go ..."? It seems that this is the crux of our conundrum (sorry, couldn't resist the alliteration) as spiritual beings constrained by a three dimensional "body." I posit that our mind/intellect is a slave (in the sense of dictated to) of the sum total of the limited perceptions stemming from the senses of a three dimensional body. That set of mentally processed experiences results in our internal self perception of who we are, i.e. ego.
Given that context I agree that we are seeking to "let ourself go" and all it implies. But based on personal experience "letting myself go" simply ushers me into another layer of my "ego" (to use the word as just defined). In other words ALL my experiences of which I have any awareness are still within that created realm dictated by my mind's processing of my sensory inputs (or lack thereof).
We can have experiences that afford us an alternate perspective. We can employ psychedelics, sensory deprivation, mediation (especially on Creation), etc. and they ALL do strip away that very myopic state where we all start.
But I believe the rabbit hole is deeper than that! And I'm not sure that in the absence of something TOTALLY outside of ourselves we have the ability to let go of ourselves. It seems we are no better off than the two dimensional creatures of Flatland by Edwin Abbott. It wasn't until the three dimensional creature came along that the flatlander experienced ANYTHING outside his sensory/mental prison.
(I'm not sure I've met the "first thought" criterion you suggest. But I can share that in my thoughts and writings there is a linear flow from the initial "trigger" to wherever it is that I land. I agree that if we begin with a preconceived goal and write to that effect it's bogus. I suppose I could try a Ulysses' style stream of consciousness next time ;-)
Thank you for getting back to me. I suppose the concept of letting ourselves go has (for me) a dual meaning. Firstly I tend to feel that if we remain true to ourselves and allow it, life wants to carry us in a certain direction i.e the river of life. Our minds often overanalyse and in turn complicate this process and as such we often find ourselves swimming against our river and our path. From this persepctive flowing with the river of life comes from understanding ourselves and feeling/knowing the direction life (or indeed the great spirit) wants to take you in. This can only really be achieved once you've managed to strip away the societal and perceptual control mechanisms that have been built around us. Indeed from a societal perspective to follow ones heart as opposed to ones head would suggest a division, but do the two really need to offer alternative choices?
I believe a balanced mind, body and soul also unlocks higher levels of instinct and intuition and as such it's this balance that enables us to navigate said river. Indeed heart and head (or mind, body, soul) held in perfect unison often seek the same goal and as such are a powerful force. This is a potential unity that exists within all of us, but alas many remain divided from themselves and each other. I suppose in some ways the fracturing and division we see in society is a physical manifestation of this internal process.
And secondly, when I think of a human brain I actually perceive it as three brains
1)Firstly we have the physical mass of the brain.
2)If our minds were placed under the microscope we could zoom in closer and begin to see a second brain of atoms.
3)If were able to journey into the brain at a sub atomic level we would see it’s third manifestation, the quantum brain.
It's my belief that consciousness is held within the quantum/divine field and as such we could be viewed as droplets in an infinite sea, although "we are not a drop in the ocean, we are the mighty ocean in a drop". Our physicality anchors us in one place and holds us within a bubble, it's not until the bubble bursts that we once again become at one with the ocean. Equally I believe that within each of us there exists the ability to enter (at least to a degree) these higher levels of consciouness. In fact it's my understanding that through writing and artstic endeavours many people (mostly without their knowledge) are already accessing this energetic field. Indeed even from a scientific perspective many of humanities greatest leaps forward have not occured through repetition but have been gifted by a series of eureka moments, entire ideas and concepts seemingly plucked from the air.
I suppose letting yourself go in the moment is a predetermined desire to bypass and rise above the constraints of mind and perception in order to reach this state of higher awareness and intuition. Accessing these higher states of consciouness comes from understanding the difference between ego and self and indeed the level of ego dissolution required to hear self and thus become one with consciousness. Sadly these moments are indeed transient and so I agree entirely that there is a far bigger rabbit hole. To varying degrees we are and will remain to be prisoners of perception.
In a multitude of ways an increasing problem is that many of us are also becoming prisoners of other peoples perception. Handing away our intuition and instinct and thus allowing society (and a neverending stream of "experts") to define both our sense of the possible and the boundaries of the impossible. Yes to a degree this has occured since the dawn of humanity but the evolution of our connectivity now appears to be ushering us into some form of hiearchical hive mind.
In many ways the "first thought" criterion works to a much greater degree in the context of conversation, the moment. Writing will always require contemplation and thought, although (as you display) you can still remain true to the initial thought process/spark that started said work.
As a connected aside to what I've already written, I believe that in many ways we (as a species) are both feeding from and feeding the universal mind. Our thoughts and actions have the potential and power to affect and perhaps infect the collective psyche of humanity.
Thank you,
I think I should write a post so we can continue a bit there.