I AM concentrates on the SELF

[Honza]

Which is fair enough. But I keep getting a block with it. I wonder why and then I remember that Christ said that we ought to Love our neighbour as much as our SELF, and that we ought to Love God too.

So Christ's I AM is threefold. He Loves Himself, but He Loves His neighbour too and God above all. Whereas, Hindu and Buddhist I AM tends to concentrate exclusively on their own self.

If Hinduism and Buddhism said, as Christ did, that I AM is a matter of Loving others and God as well as your own self then I would be much happier with it. Which they do to a certain extent; but not enough in my opinion.

It is just that some people, but not all, say that I AM is a matter of SELF Love - and they forget Loving others and they forget Loving God.

[LadyMay]

Originally Posted by Honza

Which is fair enough. But I keep getting a block with it. I wonder why and then I remember that Christ said that we ought to Love our neighbour as much as our SELF, and that we ought to Love God too.

So Christ's I AM is threefold. He Loves Himself, but He Loves His neighbour too and God above all. Whereas, Hindu and Buddhist I AM tends to concentrate exclusively on their own self.

If Hinduism and Buddhism said, as Christ did, that I AM is a matter of Loving others and God as well as your own self then I would be much happier with it. Which they do to a certain extent; but not enough in my opinion.

It is just that some people, but not all, say that I AM is a matter of SELF Love - and they forget Loving others and they forget Loving God.

You've split the 'I AM' up into its own trinity. You're getting closer.

But there is no distinction between them. God, Self, and Neighbours are all the same.

Jesus puts it in a more understandable form. The Hindus and the Buddhists put it the way it is.

[Morpheus]

Are you wanting to say that "Selfishness" is good?

[LadyMay]

There are two self's Morpheus.

[Honza]

Originally Posted by ScarlettHayden

There are two self's Morpheus.

I'm really not sure about that. The general theme that runs through reality is oneness or unity. The small self is connected to the big self. They interact. They have consequences upon each other.

We are the big self living our life as the small self. The 'world' of the small self is real in my opinion. It is just that it is not as real as the world of the big self.

The argument as to which definition of I AM is the best depends upon whether one is a Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Jew, Pagan, Christian or whatever.

Each will have their own preferences. I prefer the Christian definition. Others will prefer otherwise.

[LadyMay]

Originally Posted by Honza

I'm really not sure about that. The general theme that runs through reality is oneness or unity. The small self is connected to the big self. They interact. They have consequences upon each other.

We are the big self living our life as the small self. The 'world' of the small self is real in my opinion. It is just that it is not as real as the world of the big self.

The argument as to which definition of I AM is the best depends upon whether one is a Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Jew, Pagan, Christian or whatever.

Each will have their own preferences. I prefer the Christian definition. Others will prefer otherwise.

I meant there are two perceptions of self. Selfishness is a trait of ego self.

Let's say the process is to figure things out. How does the system work, how does the individual fit in, how does God fit in.

Any search in that direction is going to involve present reality but must accept other realities if it is going to succeed. If the train is going to Pittsburgh and you won't get on it, then you don't get to go to Pittsburgh.

If one is going to look over viewpoints recognize they fit together in some fashion and there is a reason for them to do so, and that reason can be understood by you.

A way to look at your posit of two opposing viewpoints is to say that the Eastern philosophies discovered that there is one and One. You need only know your relationship to solve this place and your place within it.

However a path to this understanding, acceptance of other realities, can be furthered along through conscious acceptance of others, and realizing their viewpoints matter as much as yours in understanding. So the message of Christ is intended to operate in that manner.

We are all twins here, paired up with God and the universe, and the only difference is where we choose to see from. My opinion.

[Morpheus]

The original statement of "I Am" is found in Exodus in the Bible. When God sent Moses to the Pharoah, to release His people.
"Tell him "I Am" hath sent you."

In the New Testament, Jesus stated that, " Before Abraham was, ' I Am'. "

This is supportive of course of the greater reality of the timeless; Eternity, over this illusory world of time and space.

In the greater aspect of things then, who are you?
Merely this organic aspect, evolved, in (illusory) time and space?
Or..?

[django]

[quote=Honza]I'm really not sure about that. The general theme that runs through reality is oneness or unity. The small self is connected to the big self. They interact. They have consequences upon each other.

We are the big self living our life as the small self. The 'world' of the small self is real in my opinion. It is just that it is not as real as the world of the big self.

QUOTE]

Master Choa Kok Sui wrote that only a small part of the soul incarnates into the body, the greater part of the soul remains outside of the body, and remains attached to 'God'. The small part mistakenly identifies with the body and matter, the emotions, mind etc. It is our job to 'remember' to identify with our greater soul.
I like this because the small self is just as precious as the greater self, it's made of the same stuff, it's just forgotten its true nature.

As far as oneness goes, I've been thinking lately of the analogy between the old Newtonian physics and quantum physics, where things have gone from being understood grossly and mechanically, to concepts of everything being energy, and in this new framework everything is one, and we would know this first hand if we could only see in pure energy terms. I wonder if the quantum physicists are ahead of us, at least on paper.

And to tie it all together, I wonder if our perception might expand in the near future to actually see this intricate web of energy. I hope so, it would be an amazing sight.

[RabbiO]

Originally Posted by Honza

The argument as to which definition of I AM is the best depends upon whether one is a Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Jew, Pagan, Christian or whatever.

Each will have their own preferences. I prefer the Christian definition. Others will prefer otherwise.

I think we've danced this dance before, but there really is no I AM in Judaism.

L'shalom,

Peter