non-duality & individuality
I have studied non-duality or Advaita for a long time and can see and even occasionally experience Oneness or Unity in which there is a 'me' but no separate individual. Then, again, I have experienced the continuing existence of several members of my family including my late wife so my issue is how to reconcile the Oneness, where there is NO individual at all and the presence of apparent individuals in both the physical world and the afterlife. I'd think that, once I "die", there would no longer be a separate, individual 'me' but a universal Me or simply consciousness - absent a form. I can visualize or conceive of formless life or Absolute Unity plus separate individuals but when, where and how does the separate person melt into or become One Being or Self? What is your own experience of this? Have you, as some sages seem to be, had the experience of being just one life/being/consciousness/self - without a body or form? If so, what about all those individuals that I have seen/felt/heard, etc. from the afterlife? I didn't imagine them. They are as real as anyone or thing over here. It's so weird trying to experience Oneness when individuality seems so permanent or ever lasting. The "oneness" folks claim that everything, including the afterlife, is temporary whereas Oneness is eternal and permanent. What's your take on these two apparently opposing points or states? Thanks
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Maybe we are all helplessly a part of something always greater than one individual but we don't always 'feel' it? I was going to start a new thread because even though it's been six and a half years since my only son passed away, I think about him often and last night, I wondered why is it that I can go to a cemetery and look over the endless people who have come and gone, and yet my son is far more important than ANYbody else in the whole wide world? This morning at the restaurant, I watched as a family ordered their food and couldn't help but wonder about all these individuals and yet we maintain this separate idea of 'us' in the universe.
It's just those niggling existential questions that pop up in our heads that keeps us from 'feeling' that unity that really is undeniable - yet we cling to our individuality...maybe. |
There is no such thing as a "separate individual" but there is indeed such a thing as an "individual".
I think you are perhaps confusing Oneness with 'Sameness'. Everything is unique but within a singular whole. Think of it like your body. It is not just one singular body but also a collective of unique cells all united and formed into your body. It isn't just 'you'. You are also a collective of unique living organisms. And not only that, but those cells all have their own unique organs. And each piece is made up of atoms. And those atoms are made up of particles. And those particles are made of sub particles. And those sub particles are all vibrating waves. And that's as far as we've gotten so far. So let's go the other way! You are also part of a community. That community is part of a society. All societies are part of humanity. All species of animal are part of life. All life on Earth is but a small part of the whole Earth. Earth is among many planets in the solar system. There are many solar systems in our galaxy. Many galaxies in our universe. And again that's as far as we've gotten on that! In any case, these things are all unique, are they not? All part of a whole, yes? Therefore Oneness is not without individuality or uniqueness. It is the collective of these unique and individual things. But what of when one dies? That uniqueness and individuality is no more, it has changed. But that's okay, right? Because all things are One. The past is never forgotten. The individuality still exists, just in a different form. It exists in the past, which is still part of the whole. It exists in memory of those left behind, which is still part of the whole. It exists in all the things effected by that entity. The entire universe is still imprinted with their existence as all things are connected and influenced by each other as part of one singular whole. So, you do not see these 'ghosts' as they are now. You see them as they once were. You see but your own memories of them. But do not be dismayed by this! Because the truth is that those memories are what keep them alive. What you experienced was your imagination, but what created that part of your imagination was the entities whom you once knew. And in this you'll find that your experiences with them are perhaps more "real" than most other things in life, because they exist within you now. Just as they have always been a part of you. Perhaps it isn't easy to say they were a part of your 'imagination', because this makes no distinction from them and the things which you imagine and are not real to you, and that is fine to use some other word for it. They are, after all, a different kind of experience. Such things are just words. What matters is the fact that they were real to you and they were created by those whom were once real to you, and in doing so they reached through time itself to be there, just as all things do. Imagination is merely the medium for the perception of that reality, where they can be manifested. Does this satisfy your questions? |
Who feels it?
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My direct experience
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LOL, you really don't know what you are writing about here! They do exist within me and everything there is but are not "more real" - they are just as real because they are just as alive as me and everything there is - not simply a "part" of anything - that is an illusion! Quote:
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No afterlife
this video has provided me with some great answers so I offer it for the benefit of anyone who is struggling with similar issues........https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KICwgM7Bvyo
there is no "afterlife" because there simply is no separate you/I/me/us/them/we/those/they, etc. There is only Energy or whatever it's called. :hug3: |
Wow... Talk about disrespectful.
You obviously didn't make this topic to get answers. You made it in order for you to gloat of your own 'answers'. But the fact is you have no true understanding of Oneness, no understanding of Advaita. You see what you want to see and nothing more. The most ironic part of this all is that you accuse me of merely arguing semantics but that is exactly what you did. In fact, how could I even be simply arguing semantics when I was simply trying to express and explain something? You contradict yourself in oh so many ways. And I have a feeling you don't even realize it at all. Have a good day. Good luck trying to get anyone to reply to you now after having shown your true self. |
If it's imaginable, it's possible. If it's possible, it's imaginable. Pure Creation (aka 'God,' Pure Consciousness,' 'The Mind,' etc.) has infinite potentiality at it's disposal.
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Will this last?
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The sages say it's "maya" and that we are living in a deluded dream of separation. I don't know how to explain my reality other than to say, my wife and many others in the Afterlife, seem both real to me and still alive so, if it's all a dream - so what? I'm going to enjoy it as much as I can until I discover something different - like Enlightenment. Quote:
Glad you wrote of you experiences here. :smile: |
I've had a fair amount of experience in the “afterlife”. I remember several “deaths” and in my past life and earlier in this one practiced what I called “Yoga of the Death State”..which was going through the process but not to the point of cutting the cord. I have studied Nothing on the subject so only speak from experience, and because of this have had to make up words to describe certain things which might be called something else.
In the “afterlife” which I call the In-between time we can encounter two types of ….. apparent entities of humans that have “passed”. Generally speaking, most of the time (prior to leaving the tunnel and entering what I call the “White Hall”.)..these apparent spirits, even of our own dearly departed....are more like what one person said above..Memories..but more than that. I call these entities CONSTRUCTS. We all have a Construct, it is an energetic expression, made of primarily astral material but rarely some etheric.... Consider this...first the Law of Creation, where thought and emotion are maintained....something will manifest.... Now consider the human, this clump of thought and emotion with all kinds of energy going towards defining it...not just who we define ourselves as, but all those around us. This energy of thought and emotion created an astral energetic Image...a mirror like reflection of who we are. But it has no Real life, it is maintained by the ideas and feelings about it....but it is very real. As far as I can tell it travels behind us to the right, but that's just me..... These constructs are what most folks see when the have a NDE or die. This occurs at the beginning of the “death” process. Later, once we've made it through the gauntlet of Heavens and Hells and Constructs that entice (they are astral in nature)....then we tend to go ...or I do, into the Oneness.....the Blissful Light of ALL..... This lasts for a time until this ….pull, inherent in our souls..... separates us off and we, or I , find myself in “the White Hall”, where actual souls of those in our Group (closest in proximity to us in the Web)... can be encountered and aid us in choosing our Path in the next life. And to take this even deeper, there are Two kinds of Oneness. The first and really only one available to us at this time is the oneness of souls that have merged into becoming what is sometimes called, The Spiritual Sun ..and is often mistaken for “God”.... But the thing is, God is the Merged and all those yet to Merge as well. Anyway, Oneness in the Spiritual Sun is Pure Bliss...beyond description....too freakin Much....... But eventually, when God's turn on the wheel is up, this time around..... there is for a brief Eternity....another Oneness. There can be no words for this. |
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