A topic that is not addressed that often on the forum is that of knowing yourself, your inner self/spirit, and what you do with that knowledge on the path to self-discovery.

Many paths from the great religions teach that the kingdom of heaven/enlightenment is within ourselves, and that it is the illusion of the primacy of the physical body and the physical world that creates much misery.  We attach ourselves to our bodies, and physical things, and don't spend much time in self-discovery of our inner spirit, based in love.  As long as we continue in this attachment to the ego-based outcomes, we are to some extent unhappy.

But what happens when a person gets in touch with his/her soul, and really believes that he/she is primary a spiritual being, wearing a physical shell/clothing?  What then?  If you find your inner self, and really "get it," what would you do with that knowledge? How would it change your future efforts and actions?


M

The thought of an afterlife, of myself as a continuing, growing spirit which lives on after discarding this body, is somewhat comforting. The thought that there are other spirits there whose mission is one of pure kindness is also comforting.

I realize that everyone is seeking happiness in their own ways. I don't think I'd do anything differently now, because my personal growth doesn't depend on an afterlife, as I see it now.

But the thought that personal growth can continue indefinitely is a much more hopeful one than the thought that it can be cut off abruptly, with no choice as to the outcome. Ultimately, it gives me a sense of more control, to think that I and all others live on. 

If what are seen as problems here are not completely solved here, there is always later, and those who care are waiting in the wings.

For instance, to have one's personality and character extinguished at death seems to be a very helpless position in which to live. One could even consider it very unkind, if not indifferent.

But, an afterlife, whatever it is, implies that there is more than this purely physical life. If it is not a worse environment, it must be better, so that is what I choose to believe.

DocM,

What a great question.

Self-discovery brought me full circle, meaning that when all was said and done (I think ), when all the drama and confusion lifted, all that remained was my slightly beat up but astonished reflection in the mirror...which made me burst into laughter. It's liberating and you want to share it. It isn't something you would ever want to hoard--you'd be missing the point entirely.

I don't feel that anyone needs me to assume that they need what I've discovered. Each of us is where we're suppose to be, where we've chosen to be, right here and now. But if someone is curious, if something strikes an inner chord... .

Much love Doc,

Ginny

Hi Justin,  the exploration of our shared afterlife is, for me, "beyond belief".  I don't know if when Bob Monroe talked about "He/She", he was talking about Jesus. He might have been. That's Mr. Monroe's business, not mine.  As such, his way is his own.  I paddle my own canoe.  The water itself doesn't seem to care about religion.  Not starting an arguement here; whatever floats your own boat is your own passion.                                                                                                 My best to you & all of your own, Tim

Matthew's question is a foundational question of Christian spirituality.  In effect, God gives you a taste of grace or healing through mystical experience--but just a taste---and then asks, "What would you be willing to do if I established an even more intimate bond with you?"  If your answer is, "I would serve Jesus with all my heart by becoming His hands and feet reaching out to meet the needs of hurting souls," you will encounter the Spirit of Christ in every person you  strive to help.  If instead you reply, "I would pursue a mystical lifestyle in the hope of attaining greater self-fulfillment,"  then the taste of holiness will slowly erode into a belief system of ever more tiresome cliches and dogmas that inoculate you against life-transforming union with the divine. Lasting satisfaction of the highest type depends on a recgnition of God as PUL, a recognition that leads to a life designed to pursue and embody PUL through service to God through service to others. 

For example, consider a life-changing moment in the life of the spoiled son of a wealthy cloth merchant.  This young man was always repulsed by the very sick and the smelly poor.  Then one day, he heard what seemed like an audible voice, saying, "Prefer bitterness to sweetness if you want to know Me."  Clueless to what this might mean, he was riding his horse, when he encountered a leper with a badly disfigured face that made him want to barf.  As he quickly rode by, the thought struck him that this man might embody the "bitterness" he was supposed to prefer to "sweetness."   So he turned around, got off his horse, and kissed the leper on his pussy cheek, thrusting a few coins in his hand.  As he did so, wave after wave of liquid love surged through his  being.  When he rode off, he felt an impulse to look back.  The leper had dematerialized. It was then that this spoiled rich kid realized that Christ had come to him disguised as a leper.  That experience was the catalyst for the tranformation of a spoiled rich kid into the saint, Francis of Assisi.  From  then on, whenever he encountered the sick and the needy, he experienced such encounters as Christ coming to him in disguise. 

Fon

I wonder why an almighty and omnipotent god would need anyone's servitude. Amongst one's physical friends, does our knowledge about spiritual matters make us their Lords? How often would we then wash our feet to accommodate their obligated kisses? How dare they not leave continuous praise our way, we who want nothing but for them to be happy in their love for us?

A part of the world now in the news, North Korea, have "gotten it" and moves forward in a peculiar way. A group-oriented miniature civilization, in all its simplistic communal fascist glory. Individualism, spirit growth and development are suppressed potentials. The whole 'group' becomes a 'state' in and of itself. Water under the bridge, for me.

Well, "get it" and get that there's still a lot of ground to cover and hopefully new personal and shared discoveries that aren't ground related. Sometimes I carry my own weight, sometimes give and/or receive a helping hand.

"It seems to me the purpose of spiritual knowledge is to release our spirits into loving relationships with all creation from God to dog."

I love how this was said, Bets. My little friend has changed my life and given me a source of pure, unconditional love. She puts any human to shame with her patience, good cheer, devotion and affection.

My 1 month marker for being a vegan has passed, and it isn't hard to do (!), and I will continue on in honor of our amazing companions on this planet.

If eating plant food is somehow cruel and inhumane, that's going to be a tough one....but there is no end to thinking, and to realizing better ways of agriculture, and supporting the people and environment of the planet. We have a long way to go.....or, we don't....if we won't reach across the aisle of our differences and solve our problems.

But, who wants to hear my blather? Probably no one, but thanks for the listen!

That's pretty cool Isee.  Keep up the good work, but also listen to your body via intuition too.  Everything flows in cycles and phases, sometimes we move in and move out, and there may be reasons for same. 

  But if you keep up regular, deep and expansive meditation, it makes it MUCH easier on the body to eat solely vegan. 

  Ultimately, we don't even necessarily require material, earth based food i suspect.