Quote:So, I ask again, do we reach a point in our spiritual evolution where we transcend opinion. Where free will and opinion are lost in essence and the simple act of being? If not, if opinions persist indefinitely in our evolution, I would say that duality in some form must persist indefinitely.
First off, duality certainly persists indefinitely, at the manifested planes of existence. There's nothing 'bad' about this. Duality serves an important purpose and is, one could say, 'intended engineering'.
But duality does not exist in the planes of the Buddhic and above. But herein lies the common misconception, watch for it.
We are all multi-dimensional beings, existing on both the (denser) manifested planes as well as the (higher) unmanifested planes for which there is no duality.
This is quite totally separate from the idea of "evolving beyond duality", which you seem to imply. That is to say, a linear evolution reaching a stage of being where there is no duality whatsoever in your being. This would be true, if you chose (and this itself can be a complex matter) to operate in the higher planes of existence only, without directly contacting or interacting with the dense physical planes of manifestation. And not, as some misunderstand, due to one's 'evolutionary status'. In other words, it is an issue of modality, not simply evolution.
Having said that, it is of course, also quite evident to all that, the more evolved you are, the more adept you would be at working productively with Duality, achieving a mastery of balance of duality (eg. a harmonious balance of male and female within the evolved soul), and an inner recognition of the true interconnective relationship of duality and its polar opposites, always with Oneness as its true nature.
Once again, Matthew :
Quote:So, I ask again, do we reach a point in our spiritual evolution where we transcend opinion. Where free will and opinion are lost in essence and the simple act of being? If not, if opinions persist indefinitely in our evolution, I would say that duality in some form must persist indefinitely.
To be precise, there is certainly a point in one's spiritual evolution wherein the being is able to transcend opinion/ideas and experience only the purest act of being. Beings such as the Buddha, Sanada Jesus Christ, Hilarion, and all the Serenissimus are able to do this.
But *simultaneously*, at such levels of mastery, you/they/the being, can *still* operate multidimensionally, including at levels where they can share their opinions or perspectives in meaningful, assistantial, CosmoEthical interaction with others.
That is to say, Matthew, do not limit yourself to a conceptualization entailing a necessary exclusivity between existing at a pure beingness level, and that of having an opinion. Do not limit yourself to thinking that having an opinion is necessarily by definition 'contaminated' by duality, it is actually nicely *supported* by duality. Duality can be a 'good' thing, you know.
Analogously, Karma isn't out to screw you. It's here to serve you, to help you. Yes, this can be tricky to fully understand, especially when a large majority of humanity are trapped in lifetimes of suffering, and each lifetime of suffering perpetuates further lifetimes of suffeirng. But that isn't Karma's fault. It's your own. Karma is here to teach you about Yourself, about Reality, about Love.
Finally, Matthew, in an earlier post you said :
Quote:However, I wonder if any enlightened soul has reached the level of clarity so that their opinions won't spawn duality. Opinion by its very nature does spawn duality very well.
Not quite. Opinion on it's own doesn't spawn duality, nor is it contaminated by duality. Effectively, duality exists in the mind of those who hear that opinion and interpret it a certain way, or relate to it a certain way; rather than in the opinion, or even speaker of that opinion itself.
Yes, there are countless enlightened souls that have mastered duality, and still have opinions! No matter how high a being's evolutionary level is, whatever he/she says, can always be construed into tones of duality in the minds of the listener, regardless of the opinion itself.
Moreover, remember that in the manifested planes of existence, such as the dense physical one, for any being of any evolutionary level to interact on such a level, on the physical plane, entails by its very nature, participating within Duality.
Duality, like Karma, is 'good', wholesome stuff. Just as existing as pure beingness beyond Duality and beyond Karma, is also 'good', wholesome stuff.
Allow yourself to enjoy all of it together!