Vivid dream last night. Strong memory of it throughout the day. My family and I in church: a large, old but homey feeling church with lots of twists and turns in it, very warm with natural woods and lamp light. Great sense of comfort. My wife and two kids and I were in a large crowd, standing in the church, and the feelings was just really good. I saw lots of friends that I did not know were "members" of the church, which I clearly saw to be an Episcopalian church (I even saw the Episcopalian symbol on  a sign in the church). I remember a strong feeling of belonging, and fellowship, with my wife and all of the people there. We saw the minister, who moved through the church and up some stairs, I guess into the vestry.  He was in "civilian" clothes but we knew him (I think he is someone I know in "real" life). A very strong sense that this was a holy man, very high holy man. Strongly drawn to him. He disappeared up the stairs, and we were all looking up at something, and then I got the sense of a golden light shining as if under a rising garage door. The deepest most golden light imaginable, and an intensely deep sense of love and joy. I remember thinking to myself, "this is it, I am going to finally give in and give myself totally..." I remember seeing that my wife felt the same way.  Deeply moving, the closest to what you describe as PUL that I have ever experienced.
Analysis: None, except to say that I have done the church thing and rejected it. I knew immediately upon waking that the real church, no matter how good, could never live up to the feelings I had in the dream, which transcended Jesus. Overwhelmingly good feeling, but I don't understand its guidance. Have not really tried.

Sounds like a nice dream, but, transcended Jesus? I guess that's a matter of what you believe Jesus means?

Despite what some people say about Jesus, perhaps he was/is a holy man that some people are very justifiably drawn to.  Some of the sources of information that seem genuine to me don't feel the need to kick Jesus to the curb simply because some people have misrepresented him.

I once had a dream where there was a room filled with people, Jesus was there, and people felt really good about him because a very positive feeling radiated from him.

I figure Jesus is one with the Gold light you saw.

Albert,
Yes, I did not mean to imply any disrespect for Jesus.  Only to state that I felt the sense I got was inclusive of the entire light of love that we associate with God. I am coming to a renewed appreciation for Jesus, outside of the context of organized religion. Thanks for pointing that out.

Okay Bardo.

I had an experience that was sort of similar to your dream.

One day I was meditating and suddenly I found myself at the back of a church (this was a non-physical experience). A young lady was trying to determine if she should get married.

Next I was at the front of the church near the front entranceway. The church seemed like a large Catholic church you might see in a place like New York city or Europe.

There were these big wooden doors by the entrance that were partly open. I could see white light on the other side of them.

I heard a voice ask, "Do you want to make the change?"

I answered, "Yes."

The voice asked in a firm way, "Are you certain?"

I answered, "Yes."

The meaning of the symbology came to me right away. The young lady who was deciding whether she should get married was a symbol for whether or not I wanted to try to obtain union with God, the Light, the Oneness, however you say it.

The church was a symbol for a spiritual path.

The white light on the other side of the doors was a way of symbolizing, well, the light.

I was asked in a firm way if I am certain about wanting to make the change because it was no idol matter. It isn't like a kid saying he wants to play guitar and then a month later he doesn't. It was a matter of making a commitment. Once you get the ball rolling it might not be easy to stop the process. You might open doors that you should not had opened if you weren't serious. Plus, why waste the time of the light being who helps you, if you don't plan to stay the course?

When I say "you" I mean in a 3rd person sense, not you directly.

Hello,

That 'dream' must have been a wonderful experience!
The feelings it gave sound like they will be with you for a very long time or even a lifetime. I don't mean feelings in a transitory sense, but deeper, more like attitudes of well-being, reverence, holiness.  It sounds beautiful.

The idea of family and other worshippers being together in this experience, and of the minister 'rising,' and the wonderful light, etc -- all these were chosen for you and may have extra meaning personally to you than they can to others. It all seems very reassuring.

Betson

  Quite the dream there Bardo!   So, about to get pretty serious about your spiritual growth there eh?  Like Albert hinted at, it ain't easy being cheesy, but it's o' so tasty in the end and thus worth it. ;)   Sticking around for the "changes" perchaps?

  Gotta love those dreams where the overwhelming feelings of the dream almost wash out the specific symbolism, and yet the specific symbolism is also there for a reason.

  This "minister"/really intune dude that you think you know in in-physical life in some way--sounds like you got a brief glimpse into some of his path too--perhaps he is going to "ascend" and become unto like the big J man (or Y if you're Hebraic). 

    Curious to know if you've ever gotten similar perceptions of this fellow in-physical, as you have during this dream message, and if you have thought about telling him about the dream?

Justin,
I think I know him, but I can't put a name to him. Maybe the younger seeming version of one man that I know. I remember that I felt that I did know him. I am pondering that aspect of the experience (I no longer want to refer to it as a dream). Having my family and friends with me is very significant, as I am not communicative about my spiritual path at all. In particular, my wife is a very direct, action oriented person. I love her dearly, and she is my soul-mate without ever discussing our souls. Her world revolves around this life and the things that she does, and needs to do here and now. I do not think she thinks about the afterlife, although I have told her about some of my experiences with my family after they passed, and she did not disagree with me. You put a very different slant on the vision than I did, Justin. But one that makes perfect sense. The fact is that I have not been able to articulate a meaning to the whole thing yet. Thank you for your clarity.

Another point I was just pondering: While I noted the Episcopal church symbol, there was no christian symbology or reference at all. No crosses or liturgical trappings, so althought it was a "church" in my mind, I'm not at all certain that it symbolized any Christian connection.

The light existed long before any religion.


Bardo wrote on Jan 20^th, 2012 at 11:47am:

Another point I was just pondering: While I noted the Episcopal church symbol, there was no christian symbology or reference at all. No crosses or liturgical trappings, so althought it was a "church" in my mind, I'm not at all certain that it symbolized any Christian connection.