I think god appreciates it that I ALWAYS lift the toilet seat.
Therein lies the temptation.It's interesting that some find this topic disturbing...
I found it pretty uplifting, and I'm agnostic..
I thought of it as: Take yourself-judgment out of the equation, and imagine there is a power or being that loves you so much it dreamed you into existence, and what inherent blessings do you possess as a result of being this creation?
As in a cosmic-all-things-in-the-universe-are related-and-interconnected-and-every-being-is-valuable sort of way..
(Kind of new-agey and not usually my style, but I went there...)
I don't think answering the question makes one narcissistic or delusional, but challenges you to imagine seeing yourself from a loving perspective.
(If you are the sort of person that believes god is loving, that is..)
There is nothing wrong with you or your opinion on what the personification of God likes about you. A good answer would be everything, because the part of you that is perfect is more than the sum of all your imperfections. "What, ulimately, did we choose to look at ourselves? Our totality and destiny? Our entire being?" Hope? Strength? Love? It's an imagination exercise and you essentially tell your morals, but in a different way. Wouldnt God love love, and hope, and faith, and trust, and respect, etc; the usual. Since we're all so unique this makes for a very interesting discussion like you said.Some will answer with complete honesty; others will tell bullshits.
Only the object is you yourself.
Hence, disturbing.
But are we asking God, or are we asking ourselves?
Therein lies the temptation.
It uses the implicit rule/assumption/imagination that the Being that Creates deems that part as good.
Rambling here; caveat emptor.
I get unconditional love, but who can tell the difference inbetween complete acceptance, narcissistic gloating, inability to see flaws, and unwillingness to confront ugliness, when the original shape of the question ultimately forces us to see ourselves in a complete, extraordinarily powerful (GOD!) perspective? (not to say anything about @knight in battle for making this thread / asking these questions, for I think he did a good thing)
It's like asking to look below from the top of a mountain, with the question shaped as 'what GREAT OBJECTS AND BEINGS did you see down there?" Some will answer with complete honesty; others will tell bullshits.
Only the object is you yourself.
Hence, disturbing. This sort of works as a mirror; What, ultimately, did we chose to look at ourselves? Our totality and destiny? Our entire being?
But are we asking God, or are we asking ourselves?
And what is our perception or imagination of God, but formed of the higher aspects of ourselves?
(Personal God, that is.)
Well, that wasn't really what I was hitting on. I don't imagine the point of this question is to stagnate...In regards of all our answers here, how many of them are things we like / are proud of in ourselves?
I mean, if God comes to me, and say "I surely LOVE you for being very craven and unwilling to go forward in your life and staying in the same place", I'd freak out.
In instances where people are bigots and attribute their prejudice to God--I think it is self-jerking their own egos. But that is not the higher self...But as per god;
I have no idea, and perhaps this is true...and also disturbing.
So that means our religious practice is essentially self-jerking our own ego / superego?
.......
Trifoilum said:And another thought arises; this has a similar vein with limerence / crushing / unrequited love fantasies. Illusions of something. Perfect acceptance, self perfection, flaw brushing. At this point, the thought becomes; Wouldn't that crossed past self-acceptance and went straight through self-gratification/justification?
So that means our religious practice is essentially self-jerking our own ego / superego?
Not calling you wrong / mistaken, and I do see your point.Well, that wasn't really what I was hitting on. I don't imagine the point of this question is to stagnate...
I see self-acceptance as a path to overcoming short comings and challenges. It's a dynamic, positive process... not something that is static and stagnating.
In instances where people are bigots and attribute their prejudice to God--I think it is self-jerking their own egos. But that is not the higher self...
But in instances where people are open to loving and accepting themselves and others, I suppose it is a way to celebrate those things and aspire towards them.
In short, I just saw it as an exercise in accessing your higher self.
You've acknowledged a higher self, but wont call it perfect? What is perfect? Completeness? Wholeness? At the moment we are all imperfect, but the view is we get and give good things because of mercy, not because we're perfect and do perfect all the time thus deserving it.
See above.Also, what is wrong with love fantasies? Or perfect acceptance? Flaw brushing?
I agreed with you; and I would say this is the OP's intention.Do you have a better way of becoming whole? Is religious practice nothing more than embarking on a journey to become whole? Complete? Satisfied?
One can acknowledge their flaws and accept them. Is that flaw brushing? I agree with the point straying, but is something wrong with it? What should someone do if they react to an idea in fear?Trifoilum said:My point is just there's this vibe/paranoia/doomsaying of seeing this question being diverted away from the point of @knight in battle.
I'm not talking about fear, unfortunately.One can acknowledge their flaws and accept them. Is that flaw brushing? I agree with the point straying, but is something wrong with it? What should someone do if they react to an idea in fear?
I agreed with you; and I would say this is the OP's intention.
My point is just there's this vibe/paranoia/doomsaying of seeing this question being diverted away from the point of @knight in battle.
@Trifoilum Paranoid and doomsaying isnt fear?
Yes....?One of the major reasons people seek the higher self is to combat that fear. Insecurity, weakness, helplessness are all motivating factors to pursue wholeness.
Yes...I agreed with this, and...?The process isnt pretty, going from what some would call scum to something called lovable. If you werent given love by other humans, youd be fucked. Some humans feel they get love from an outside source (which paradoxically is within you, but not from you). The higher self, God, quantum consciousness, the spirit, the within are all 'names' for it. Your imperfect self cannot do anything right, it is always messing up, there is always something missing, blah blah blah; but
yes...I agreed with this, and...?the perfect part of you has accepted the flaws and fear and is willing to let them go. When your flaws and fears have been let go, you can devote more energy to loving people and your self and helping others accept their flaws and fears so they too can focus more energy on love and respect and improving everyone's quality of life.
Branches, mirrors, facets, parallels...lol. I'm thinking the question bring up things for people that may seem to diverge. I wonder if they are related parallels to the question.
The difference is the higher self is only a part of you, it is not what you identify with, less you get power drunk. The power and love and acceptance are gifts, they are not your creation. What letting go of flaws means is like you are holding on to a physical flaw, like insecurity in my case, and you're holding on to it and it is heavy- when you let it go, it is no longer a burden. You're now looking at it on the ground, it is still there, but it isnt so heavy on your shoulders anymore.no wait let me ask you this-- what is the difference between a narcissist perspective of self with the higher self?
I'd say, there's a difference between acceptance and ignorance; letting go and brushing away; not letting them control you and suppressing them. Do you agree?