Mr. Nobody, what would be a right question to ask out there in the universe?

If I were there I would ask:
How has my soul been created?
Will I remain my independancy in eternity?
What is the origin of evil?
What is the origin of human love?
How do I have to go from here?
Will you kiss me???

Hi Mr. Nobody,

This site includes discussions and experiences from people of different backgrounds.  However, here it is commonly populated by human beings still stuck in ego-based thinking (myself included sometimes). 

When one explores consciousness, one explores with a mind full of expectations and interpretation.  If you are asking why more people on this site don't encounter buddhas, bodhisatvas, etc. when astrally exploring, I would say that it they may, but it really has to do with your education and expectation.  When people describe "incredible beings of light, expressing PUL (pure unconditional love) - they are often describing what may be described as a highly enlightened being.  They may not be aware of the eight-fold path of buddhism or the terms that buddhists know.

I see an inherent unity between spiritaul juadeo-christian thought and buddhism.  All great teachers speak of love, charity, compassion, and the need to follow the golden rule.  It just depends upon your interpretation of what you see when you travel or explore.

The need to erase the "self" in order to be a truly enlightened being is perhaps the single most controversial and difficult area of thought and or discussion.  I have pondered on this long and hard, and I think that it is a misunderstanding of spiritual teaching to think of it as a complete dissolution of a mind into the void. 

My own take on the matter is that as we evolve, if we follow a path of love, we stop acting out of self interest alone (that is a sad lonely path), and start thinking about and acting out of love for others.  This is done by many in the most basic way when they have children or relatives who need help.  The person begins to put their child's needs above their own, and stops pursuing personal pleasure in an ego-based way. 

But if all they do is switch their love to their children, they still haven't quite evolved in their thinking to lose self-centered base perspective.  Instead, they swap their personal ego for that of their children.  It is a step up, but it perpetuates a dualist "us vs. them" attitude.

When Jesus preached to the masses, he told a wealthy man, that in order to follow him, he must be prepared to give up his wealth.  He also told potential followers that they would have to put his path (of love) above all others - even their own family.  They might have to leave their husbands, wives, etc.

I believe what was meant by this was that if you follow the path of love, you give up on ego-based thinking, which includes clinging to people we love.  I don't really think he meant that the person must abandon their loved ones, just evolve in love.

The big misunderstanding (in my opinion) is that the point of learning is to give up on our self so completely that we do not exist and are no longer individual units of perceptive awareness.  I see no reason why we can not act out of love for others, yet maintain our perceptive awareness and interact with others.  I see no reason why a "fully enlightened being" could not continue to exist, and interact with others in a meaningful way.  If I can think, act and create right now, shouldn't I be able to do the same things if I no longer acted out of self interest and ego?

Matthew

I am not Bruce....and yet, I am Bruce...

You were everything and nothing.

There is no such thing as everything and nothing, but only love, the basis of our being, which is all being.

When we are in love, nothing -- else -- matters.

Maybe I have no sense, but there are my two cents...

Mr. Nobody wrote on Jun 30^th, 2012 at 10:27pm: