Merkabah

[Tin Man]

[MENTION=5045]Skarekrow[/MENTION] Thought you might find this link interesting. It's related to our discussion on a non materialist interpretation of reality.

The case against reality

 

[Kgal]

Like a DMT vaporizer....wow...just hit a few random people with that shit....fun times at Walmart!!!

Bahahahaha.... I could have some fun with one of those!!!!!! Better yet...how about at church?

 

[Skarekrow]

Couldn't you argue that pretty much everything (self, free will, ego, time, space, cosmos, Earth, people, you, me) is an illusion at some level? I can relate to Neo. It feels like there is a splinter in my brain. Like my soul itches and I can't scratch it. Like I can sense something is not quite right, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

You eventually have to reduce it to consciousness as something that is a fundamental force in the universe, is the universe.
All those things can be argued that they are illusory and you would be quite right because either we blink out into the nothingness from whence our consciousness came or perhaps it dissipates somehow back into the pool to be recycled and reincarnated, or perhaps we more onto a new form of consciousness. A caterpillar has no idea that it will emerge as a butterfly until that moment it spreads it’s wings and says “Oh, yeah...this!"

I don't think attaining enlightenment answers the fundamental questions. I just think when you become enlightened you accept your situation and make peace with reality. Like a content castaway, a happy prisoner, a joyful slave. So in some sense you are liberated. But in another sense you are still grappling with the same issues we all are. Are you really free? Do you really understand who you are, why you are here, what is the true nature of our reality? Being enlightened or ego loss does not solve all of one's problems if you are a genuine seeker in my opinion. I don't think you can really be free until you understand everything and are able to do as you please. Choose your own reality. Whether we choose to be here, are forced to be here, or a combination of both, how can we ever really be free on our own terms? I watched some of a video with Neil Degrasse Tyson and five intellectuals discussing whether we could be living in a simulated universe. It is very difficult to disprove the notion. We actually could be characters in a video game created by advanced super computers like the matrix.

We wouldn’t and don’t IMHO understand the fundamental questions that we are seeking enlightenment for or from.
Materialism would tell you that you are a slave, that the choices you make are not chosen by some free-will but merely by the predetermined set of code for that person, the programing, and then the brain gives the ego the impression of choice when it doesn’t exist...this is what they are assuming.
I think that’s perverted, and wholly ugly.

Which would explain your statement that magic is like a cheat code for reality. When you explore the full range of reality you find that there are experiences that seem to fit the idea that this reality is radically different from what most people believe. Metaphysically our reality more closely resembles a video game or sci-fi movie than a materialist point of view. I know I don't need to convince you of this. But back to my earlier question. What isn't an illusion? Is anything actually real? And how do things seem so real if they are not so?

Well...there is strong evidence that it’s all an illusion...certainly color, sound, an orgasm are all just a creation of the mind, that it actually doesn’t exist unless you have some grand consciousness such as a source consciousness or God, etc.

Based on the simulation hypothesis, could we learn to fly? Wouldn't that just be another cheat code for this game? I saw the movie Chronicle which depicts telekinesis. Why couldn't we learn to move objects with our minds? The possibilities are endless. Either we are crazy to even entertain these fanciful notions, or we are truly open to the infinite possibilities which exist for us in this reality. Is anything truly possible? Are miracles possible? Are we only limited by our own minds? Perhaps. I assume there are some limitations considering we have bodies. But I would think if we were non physical entities we would be unlimited. I want the truth. I think you do as well. And I think most people in this world don't. It is an alienating experience to wake up and realize that the world consists primarily of people who feel like zombies. I don't want to go through the motions. I want to be free and wise and happy. How about you?

I really honestly personally believe that we can just about manipulate this reality is any way we wish to but that we withhold this (as the mind acts again, like a reducing valve), subconsciously as this interferes in some way with free-will (best guess, though there are ways around it IMO).

 

[Skarekrow]

@Skarekrow Thought you might find this link interesting. It's related to our discussion on a non materialist interpretation of reality.

The case against reality

A perfect example for you [MENTION=14664]dang[/MENTION]

 

[Skarekrow]

Bahahahaha.... I could have some fun with one of those!!!!!! Better yet...how about at church?

That could end badly....you know, with all those gun carrying God-fearing folk.

[video=youtube;NXB6slJSbL4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXB6slJSbL4[/video]​

 

[Skarekrow]

How I Stopped Being Agnostic…
and Became a Gnostic

In a world that presents religion and atheism as the only possible outlooks on life–and pits them against each other–I rebelled by becoming a Gnostic… a very different option indeed.
​

I used to refer to myself as an agnostic–someone who neither believes nor disbelieves in the existence of God.
I used this as a safe haven to avoid the ridiculous debates between modern militant atheists and the radical religious right, both blindly believing in their own paradigms.

Ironically, my atheist peers repeatedly criticized my position on the spiritual fence, which I strategically used to avoid confrontation.
I can thank them for forcing me to go well beyond my scientific education and my ambivalent agnosticism.

I’m now pursing a newfound interest in studying the history of ancient religions with an inquisitive yet discerning mind.
I’ve now stopped referring to myself as agnostic after learning about the original meaning of the word.

The word agnostic comes from the ancient Greek “ágnōstos,” which means without knowledge or ignorant.
In contrast, the Greek word “gnosis” means knowledge or understanding.

The more I learn about the roots of cultures and religions, the more I’m becoming “gnostic” in the many senses of the word.

“Ignorance is a slave, knowledge ( gnosis) is freedom. If we know the truth, we shall find the fruits of the truth within us. If we join it, it will fulfill us.” — The Gospel of Philip, Nag Hammadi Codex.


​

The Wisdom of Gnosis

​

​

In Gnosticism and in many other mystical traditions, gnosis generally refers to a spiritual self-knowledge, a type of redeeming, revelatory inner knowledge that extends to the basic nature of man, his origin and destiny.

This concept is also present in Hinduism, where knowing the “Atman” is synonymous with self-realization and God, as well as the secret to attaining the goal of enlightenment.

But who were the Gnostics?
Until recently, only fragmentary information was available, mostly from their opponents the Roman Empire, and later the Orthodox Christians, who considered them heretics.

They used the term “Gnostics” to categorize many different ancient religions, which shared common beliefs.
The Gnostics were heavily persecuted… and their literature, a rich body of work spanning many philosophical and spiritual traditions, was systematically destroyed.

The Gnostic religions flourished between the 1st and 4th century, developing from a relatively independent Hellenistic religion of late antiquity into a Christian heresy.

Gnosticism is thought to have first emerged in the Palestinian-Syrian region and then spread into Asia Minor, Greece and Egypt, Iran and even China.
They were influenced by many pre-Christian religious and spiritual beliefs such as Neo-Platonism, Hermeticism, Buddhism, Hellenistic Judaism, Greco-Roman mystery religions and Zoroastrianism.

​

The independence and fearlessness of the Gnostics was seen as a threat to those in power, yet the Gnostics had no political motivations or aspirations.
The majority were ascetics and vegetarians, and had an attitude of world denial.

This was a form of social protest–the most radical of its kind in antiquity.
Women often held leadership positions within the Gnostic sects as teachers, prophetesses and missionaries, as well as leading rituals, such as baptisms and exorcisms.

These practices were barred to women in the official Christian church, which took offense at the special status of women in Gnostic communities.

“There were three who always walked with the Lord: Mary, his mother, and her sister, and Magdalene, the one who was called his companion. His sister and his mother and his companion were each a Mary.” — Gospel of Philip, Nag Hammadi Codex.


​

An Evil Creator God, and a True Higher Deity

​

The Gnostics believed that the world was created by an evil Demiurge, usually identified with the Old Testament creator God, Jehovah.
The true, Higher God was unknowable, infinite, unchangeable and undefiled, and had a feminine counterpart, the creative force or Holy Spirit, Sophia.

The True God existed before the Demiurge, which was an accidental creation of Sophia, thrown out of heaven but bestowed with the power of creation.
The Demiurge had entrapped the spirit into matter, and man was caught in a battle between good and evil here on earth.

Gnosis, enlightenment or true knowledge could free humanity from the bondage of the physical world and redeem the spirit.
The “Christianized” Gnostics believed that Jesus came from the True God and Holy Spirit rather than the Demiurge, and therefore revealed the Higher God to humanity.

Hidden Manuscripts Rediscovered Against All Odds

​

The Gnostic legacy was mostly eradicated from history, until the groundbreaking Nag Hammadi discovery.
Previous to this, the main sources of information on the Gnostics were from their opponents.

These accounts barely filled 50 printed pages, and contained biased and inaccurate information.
It is increasingly recognized that the Gnostics produced some of the first Christian theological literature, a body of work that was much greater than that of the Catholic Church.

However, we are left with only fragmentary evidence of their history and beliefs, and it is impossible to sketch a complete picture of the history of Gnosis.
In 1947, a large clay jar with ancient manuscripts were discovered in a cave by a local peasant who was digging for fertilizer in the area of Nag Hammadi, on the West Bank of the Dead Sea in Upper Egypt.

These manuscripts were concealed at a time of crisis around the 4th century AD.
Written in Coptic, the Nag Hammadi manuscripts had been translated from original documents dating back to the 2nd-3rd century.

The modern translation and publication of the scrolls were only brought to completion around 1977.
The Nag Hammadi discovery was one of the most important and extensive finds of recent times, and they are the best source of information that we currently possess about the Gnostics.

The contents of the library include many Hermetic texts, including parts of the Corpus Hermeticum, as well as early Christian apocryphal gospels, such as the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Truth, the Secret Book of John and the Gospel of Philip.

They describe sayings and stories about the life of Jesus and of the apostles.
Other writings deal with divine feminine spiritual principles, mythological texts about creation and salvation and commentaries on Gnostic themes.

“Jesus saw infants being suckled. He said to his disciples, “These infants being suckled are like those who enter the kingdom.” — Gospel of Thomas, Nag Hammadi Codex

​

Ancient Wisdom in Modern Times

​

We currently live in a time of spiritual malaise, especially in the west. Excessive materialism and consumerism, rising rates of mental illness and a loss of the sense of community are just some of the symptoms.

Rekindling a spiritual inner life and a Gnostic “heart knowledge” may be part of the cure to our modern unease and anxiety.
The modern “new atheists” believe that “religion should not simply be tolerated but should be countered, criticized, and exposed by rational argument wherever its influence arises.” (Simon Hooper).

However, I believe that this is extremely discriminatory towards the religious and cultural heritage of many peoples throughout history.
Persecution and eradication of the rich literature of the Gnostics is just one example the catastrophic losses of knowledge and suppression of cultures by those in power.

Furthermore, the modern scientist often forgets that religion and spirituality has been irrevocably indispensable to the development of modern chemistry, medicine, philosophy and psychology.

My previous articles are filled with examples of this relationship (here, here, here).

Learning about the Gnostics has been a reaction to the modern atheist perspective, and is just one small chapter in my study of ancient spiritual traditions. Gnostic literature demonstrates both the diversity of the spiritual experience, and the close relationships with other spiritual and mystical traditions.

Thanks to my atheist peers, I have left behind my ambivalent agnosticism and come out of the spiritual closet with an integrative and tolerant perspective on science, religion and spirituality.

I would say I’m now an “alltheist”–someone who believes in everything.

“In this world you see everything but yourself, but there [in he spirit], you look at yourself and are what you see.”
— The Gospel of Philip, Nag Hammadi Codex

​

 

[Kgal]

How I Stopped Being Agnostic…
and Became a Gnostic
....​

We currently live in a time of spiritual malaise, especially in the west. Excessive materialism and consumerism, rising rates of mental illness and a loss of the sense of community are just some of the symptoms.

Rekindling a spiritual inner life and a Gnostic “heart knowledge” may be part of the cure to our modern unease and anxiety.
The modern “new atheists” believe that “religion should not simply be tolerated but should be countered, criticized, and exposed by rational argument wherever its influence arises.” (Simon Hooper).

However, I believe that this is extremely discriminatory towards the religious and cultural heritage of many peoples throughout history.
Persecution and eradication of the rich literature of the Gnostics is just one example the catastrophic losses of knowledge and suppression of cultures by those in power.

Furthermore, the modern scientist often forgets that religion and spirituality has been irrevocably indispensable to the development of modern chemistry, medicine, philosophy and psychology.

My previous articles are filled with examples of this relationship (here, here, here).

Learning about the Gnostics has been a reaction to the modern atheist perspective, and is just one small chapter in my study of ancient spiritual traditions. Gnostic literature demonstrates both the diversity of the spiritual experience, and the close relationships with other spiritual and mystical traditions.

Thanks to my atheist peers, I have left behind my ambivalent agnosticism and come out of the spiritual closet with an integrative and tolerant perspective on science, religion and spirituality.

I would say I’m now an “alltheist”—someone who believes in everything.

“In this world you see everything but yourself, but there [in the spirit], you look at yourself and are what you see.”
– The Gospel of Philip, Nag Hammadi Codex

​

Great way to describe my current state of Being: "....Alltheist - someone who believes in everything." Yep...that pretty much sums me up all right.

Rekindling the spiritual life would make life better for all people as it would encourage one's Intuition to grow and work in tandem with the mind. This is where discernment is developed and honed. Can you imagine what the world would be like if people could trust their own gut feelings and know....actually know...when they're being lied to? All the liars would disappear. Acts of Betrayal would plummet. People could stop being afraid of everyone else because they'd know who to trust and who not.

 

[Tin Man]

How I Stopped Being Agnostic…
and Became a Gnostic

​

Interesting stuff. I see myself as more of an apatheist when it comes to deities. Whether there is one or not, I don't care. I have no desire to worship a god, real or fake. Just as I don't need one to give my life meaning or comfort me when life gets hard. It was one of the biggest problems I had with Christianity.

Unless by god, you're using an atypical definition. Such as seeing god as an alternative meaning for interconnecting consciousness or as the spark that begun the creation of the universe. That, I don't have such huge problems with.​

 

[Skarekrow]

Interesting stuff. I see myself as more of an apatheist when it comes to deities. Whether there is one or not, I don't care. I have no desire to worship a god, real or fake. Just as I don't need one to give my life meaning or comfort me when life gets hard. It was one of the biggest problems I had with Christianity.

Unless by god, you're using an atypical definition. Such as seeing god as an alternative meaning for interconnecting consciousness or as the spark that begun the creation of the universe. That, I don't have such huge problems with.

You got my sentiments with the last part.

 

[Skarekrow]

“when you meet that person.
a person.
one of your soulmates.
let the connection.
relationship be what it is.
it may be five mins.
five hours.
five days.
five months.
five years.
a lifetime.
let it manifest itself, the way it is meant to.
it has an organic destiny.
this way if it stays or if it leaves, you will be softer from having been loved this authentically.
souls come into, return, open, and sweep through your life for a myriad of reasons, let them be who and what they are meant.”

― Nayyirah Waheed​

 

[PintoBean]

We currently live in a time of spiritual malaise, especially in the west. Excessive materialism and consumerism, rising rates of mental illness and a loss of the sense of community are just some of the symptoms.

I didn't want to quote your entire "How I stopped being Agnostic" post there, but this part especially spoke to me. I would like to say more, but I'm not feeling too articulate right now.

 

[Skarekrow]

We currently live in a time of spiritual malaise, especially in the west. Excessive materialism and consumerism, rising rates of mental illness and a loss of the sense of community are just some of the symptoms.

I didn't want to quote your entire "How I stopped being Agnostic" post there, but this part especially spoke to me. I would like to say more, but I'm not feeling too articulate right now.

I don’t think more needs to be said.
It’s a sad state of affairs.

 

[Skarekrow]

The spark of life exists within all things.
We only differ in awareness of the brightness of this eternal sun.​

 

[Skarekrow]

I know, I know...it’s not true in all cases...but just a lot of them.

 

[Tin Man]

I know, I know...it’s not true in all cases...but just a lot of them.

Well the only reason I didn't leave Christianity sooner was due to fear of reprisal from an angry god. So I'd say it's not too far off.

 

[Sinny]

Secrets in Plain Sight

[video=youtube;JTA_EkGwUE0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTA_EkGwUE0&index=1&list=PL5680DDCC23C0216A[/video]​

 

[dang]

The spark of life exists within all things.
We only differ in awareness of the brightness of this eternal sun.​

Check out my paranormal activity thread. You can contribute if you want. Curious about your explanation for my past experience. Perhaps you can relate. Life can be really strange sometimes.

 

[dang]

Secrets in Plain Sight

[video=youtube;JTA_EkGwUE0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTA_EkGwUE0&index=1&list=PL5680DDCC23C0216A[/video]​

This reminds me of visiting the Great Pyramid of Giza. Walking up to it and being exposed to it's size and scope blew my mind. It is massive and perfect and really old. Unbelievable experience. I started climbing up it and was determined to reach the top. Then some angry Egyptian guy yelled at me and I reluctantly climbed down so as to avoid being arrested. That pyramid is like a mind fuck. There is nothing but sand and desert all around and then suddenly this massive structure springs out of the ground. When you see it you can just feel that there is more than meets the eye. It would be cool to climb to the top. It would be a little scary though. Sacred geometry is pretty cool.

 

[Sinny]

This reminds me of visiting the Great Pyramid of Giza. Walking up to it and being exposed to it's size and scope blew my mind. It is massive and perfect and really old. Unbelievable experience. I started climbing up it and was determined to reach the top. Then some angry Egyptian guy yelled at me and I reluctantly climbed down so as to avoid being arrested. That pyramid is like a mind fuck. There is nothing but sand and desert all around and then suddenly this massive structure springs out of the ground. When you see it you can just feel that there is more than meets the eye. It would be cool to climb to the top. It would be a little scary though. Sacred geometry is pretty cool.

A guy climbed to the top over a century ago.. He was holding a glass bottle which exploded, apparently.. Something to do with an energy vortex. The video I posted is part of a bloomin brilliant series, I recommend the the whole show

 

[Skarekrow]

Well the only reason I didn't leave Christianity sooner was due to fear of reprisal from an angry god. So I'd say it's not too far off.

Yeah, being raised Mormon until my parents chose my older brother who came out to them as gay over the religion...I was about 16...then being told, nope, we don’t believe this thing I was raised to think was the truth, made me question it all at the worst age to be doing so.
Anyhow....