A spiritual Perspective Christ consciousness

The universe is the body of Christ: everywhere present within it, without limitation, is the Christ Consciousness. When we can close your eyes and by meditation expand our awareness until we feel the whole universe as our own body, Christ will have been born within us. We will know that our mind is a little wave of that ocean of Cosmic Consciousness in which Christ dwells.

Be One with Christ Consciousness

When we open our inner eyes of soul wisdom, we behold the omnipresent Light of God. Within this Light is the consciousness of Christ, the "Son" or pure reflection of God present everywhere in the universe. This Christ Consciousness, the Infinite Christ, is God's intelligence and love knocking at our souls, urging us that all we have to do is look to this Light within and we shall see all ignorance and diversities vanish. To him who has opened his inner eye, everything is one.

To find the real Christ we must expand our consciousness as Jesus did. The physical way of practicing what Christ taught is to behave toward all as the children of our one Father, and the spiritual way is to meditate until we feel the vast joy of God through the Christ Consciousness.

The way to Soul consciousness

Soul or Self Realization means that our true Self is not the ego, but a part of God, a part of the vast ocean of spirit which manifests for a time as the little wave of awareness that we now see as ourselves.

“Soul or Self Realization is the knowing in all parts body, mind and soul that we are now in possession of the kingdom of God; that we do not have to pray that it comes to us; that God’s omnipresence is our omnipresence; and that all we need to do is to improve our knowing”.

                                                           Paramahansa Yogananda

Constantly cultivate the soul's immortal power, by meditation and God contact. Use that power in all difficulties. You are a child of God. You have no cause to be afraid. Identify with your soul each day in meditation, and you will know: "You come from God, you are Life Eternal. You live and move and have your being in that Power evermore."

Paramahansa Yogananda and the Creative Process

These Biblical words refer to the threefold nature of God as Father, Son, Holy Ghost (Sat, Tat, Aum in Yoga).

God the Father is the Absolute, Unmanifested, existing beyond vibratory creation.

God the Son is the Christ Consciousness (Brahma or Kutastha Chaitanya) existing within vibratory creation; this Christ Consciousness is the "only begotten" or sole reflection of the Uncreated Infinite.

Its outward manifestation or "witness" is Aum or Holy Ghost, the divine, creative, invisible power which structures all creation through vibration. Aum the blissful Comforter is heard in meditation and reveals to the devotee the ultimate Truth.

The threefold nature of God in Hindu scripture is: "Brahma," the creator, "Vishnu," the preserver, and "Shiva," the destroyer-renovator.

The Trinity in Yoga is called: Sat, Tat, Aum or Father, Son, Holy Ghost. It is also known as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The Christ Consciousness (imminent in vibratory creation. The "Shakti:" Energies or "consorts" of the Trinity, are symbols of "Aum" (Om, Amen) or the Holy Ghost, the sole causative force that upholds the cosmos through vibration (the word).

Answers to questions often asked about religious or spiritual matters:

The Supreme Being or God prior to nature is often referred to as Pure Consciousness or Spirit.

The Holy Trinity of God is:

God, Prior (outside) of creation or God the Father

God, as creation or first manifestation is God the Son

God, in creation is the Holy Spirit

Sometimes creation or son of God is called the Mother of God or Mother-Nature because all things are born from it.

God, or universal consciousness, has no human attributes. It is pure consciousness in the eternal state of SELF-AWARENESS, (not Self Consciousness).

For the Father (Consciousness, Spirit) judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the "Son" (Son of God or Christ Consciousness).

                                                              Jesus, John 5:22

God did not make the world; God became the world (creation).

The many meanings of God:

 The Great One, Divinity or Father

 The Great One Diversity or Creation (Son)

 The Great One Destiny of the Holy Spirit as Mankind

God does not abandon people. It is people who abandon God.

What is Heaven?

Heaven is one of the many synonyms for God, or Self Realization, i.e., spiritual enlightenment, also called Samadhi, Tao Satori, Nirvana, the Kingdom of God, etc. etc.

Heaven is not a place; it is a condition and state of Existence and Being.

The astral plane or astral world is not Heaven. Early Christian mystics refereed to the astral plane as purgatory, the astral plane is a place where the soul understands the lessons it needs to experience and then reincarnates back into the earth plane to experience life, work out Karma, and try again to attain until spiritual enlightenment is attained

“Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you”.

                                                                                Luke 17:21(KJV)

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

                                                                                John 3:3 (KJV)

We need to become re-established to our true and natural state of being as a new person as a spiritual being.

Our first birth is to be born into the world.

Our second birth is to be born again, when we returns to our original spirit Self.

To get to heaven is the goal of life. There are many heavens or centers of spiritual consciousness.

The 7 chakra's are called spiritual centres.

The highest centre or the attainment of Self-Realization is "above" the lower centers. Self Realization is also called Satori, Nirvana, Tao, Paradise, Eden, Christhood etc.

Spirit being the only substance that there was when He wanted to

Create, since there was no other substance but Itself, Spirit created all things out of Itself.

Thoughts matters, energy, all things, are nothing but the different vibrations of Spirit.

As soon as the Spirit produced out of itself Cosmic Vibrations, (Holy Ghost, Aum, Cosmic Energy), the material cosmos with solid, liquid, and gaseous substances began to form.

After creating the Causal, Astral and Physical vibration, or Holy Ghost, the uncreated, unmanifested Spirit became God the Father. God the father is called the “Sat” in Yoga and is the Transcendental Intelligence, The Holy Ghost, became the consort of God the Father; that is, God the Father existed transcendentally, or outside the vibratory creation as a conscious, separate cosmic consciousness.

The Spirit, as God the Father, divides itself, as God the Father, the Holy Ghost Vibration and the Only Begotten Son, or Christ.

Spirit found that It could not sustain itself just by its inactive omnipresence, so it made itself manifest as the active Christ Intelligence in all vibratory creation, to create, recreate, preserve, and mould according to its divine purpose. The Holy Spirit, Om, is called the only Begotten (Christ) Son. It must be remembered that Christ consciousness in all specks of creation is the only existing reflection of God the Father. Father; hence, Christ intelligence is spoken of as the only begotten Son.

The Christian church has failed to differentiate between Jesus the body and Jesus the vehicle in which the only begotten Son, or Christ Consciousness, was manifested. Jesus Himself said that He was not speaking of His body as the only begotten Son, but of His soul which was not circumscribed by the body, but was one with the only begotten Son, Christ consciousness in all specks of vibration.

“God so loved the world (or matter); that He gave His only begotten Son” to redeem it; that is, God the Father remained hidden as Christ Intelligence in all matter and in all living beings in order to bring all things, by beautiful evolutional coaxing back to His home of All-Blessedness, when they should over-come all mortal tests, and should reincarnate in matter no more; i.e., “go no more out”.

Jesus said, “to all those that received Him, to them He gave the power to become the Sons of God.” The plural number in “Sons of God” shows distinctly from His own lips that not His body but His spirit was the only begotten Son. All those could become sons of God who would clarify their consciousness by meditation, and receive or in an unobstructed way reflect the power of God. In other words they could be one with the only begotten reflection in all matter and become Sons of God like Jesus.

Enlightenment, a Christian Perspective

Most people would readily identify the term with eastern religion, for Enlightenment is not a word in the Christian language, even though it ought to be. However, many people of all ages have been blessed with enlightenment experiences.

Let’s take a look at the definition of Mysticism.

Mysticism is the belief that union with or absorption into the Deity or the Absolute, or the spiritual apprehension of knowledge is inaccessible to the intellect, but it may be attained through contemplation and self-surrender. In Christian terms, it would translate to be a living experientially based on Oneness or union with God.

What are mystical experiences?

Mystical experiences are states of knowledge, insight, awareness, revelation, and illumination beyond the grasp of the intellect. One experiences awareness of unity with the Absolute or God, of immortality of the soul and of great truths. Time and space are transcended.

Mystical experiences of Eastern adepts

Some Eastern adepts are able to sustain prolonged periods of samadhi (enlightenment), a mystical state of one-pointed concentration. Some reportedly are able to sustain the highest states of nirvana (satori in Zen) and even the rarely attained nirodha ("cessation" or "removal”.) in yoga.

Patanjali used this term in his legendary definition of yoga in the second sutra of the Yoga Sutras: “yoga-citta-vritti-nirodha,” which can be translated as “yoga is the removal of the fluctuations of the mind.”

Orthodox Mysticism:

The mystics of the Eastern Church included the Church Fathers, for in those days the theologians were among the most spiritual of Christians, and the phenomena of mysticism were evident in all levels of clergy, monks, and laity.

In the Eastern Church, contemplation consisted not merely in negation and renunciation, but in a union with God's Spirit, in an experience of spiritual illumination after all intellectual activity had ceased.

A word on prayer of the heart as a union with God

"Prayer of the Heart" must be understood as a prayer of the total person. In using the term "heart" in the Hebraic sense, the earliest Christian mystics meant that prayer was not merely a mental activity, nor merely a physical one, but rather it was a prayer on all levels of one’s being. It was the total response of man to God, and one did not pray merely with the intellect, or merely with the lips. Through discipline, prayer became a spontaneous offering of the whole being of man.

In current Western practice humanity is primarily locked into an intellectual and or emotional, dualistic mind set, which has also crept into the Christian thought. The issue with this is that one focuses on the differences, which often leads to non productive disagreements. To demonstrate this, the dualistic mind separates spirit from matter, man from God, people from one another and from all of creation.

Yet when realized, that matter is an outflow of the manifesting Spirit, one can see, that everything in creation proceeds from the one Spirit.

In our relationship with one another if we see ourselves as being connected by Spirit we are no longer separate, but in union with one another.  Then nondual or Spirit guided consciousness transports us into a state of holistic knowing, where mind, heart, soul, and senses are open and receptive and non judgmental to one another at every moment. Or to what is, and not to what should be which allows one to love things as an expression of Spirit.

Jesus always talked of mercy, not judging, forgiveness, and grace, because these are the things that, if experienced, break down the idea of separation or dualism.

The voice of the Spirit can best be understood as

a subtle inner intuitive voice. It is a felt sense to which, if people pay attention, will come into communion with the Spirit of God.

In the bible we read John 14:26 (KJV)

“26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your

remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” Experiencing of the Holy Spirit is a feeling of inner peace and joy in all circumstances.

We need to listen to one’s inner voice, trust and act upon it. Luke 17:21 “The kingdom of God is within you”.

John 3:5-8

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.

5 “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

The experience of the Holy Spirits in one’s life is the humming sound that one hears in the inner ear in deep meditation, the Om, Amen, Revelation 3:14 (KJV) “These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.

Within this sound one is aware of the Christ intelligence present in all creation.

John 14:17-19 (KJV)

Jesus –“17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you”.

The Holy Spirit can be received only by those who have the spiritual discernment. The unbelieving world, caring only for things of the senses, has lost its spiritual perception. It has no eye to see and no heart to know spiritual things, for they are spiritually discerned.

The spirit of truth is experienced in the heart, one’s inner essence, which needs to be awakened.

What does the bible say about light ?

Let’s take a look at John (KGV)

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world”.

Here we have God as the light that transforms itself into love and comes to all people who are open to receive it.

Does God love everyone or only Christians, the following passages speak for themselves.

1 John 2:2

2 He is the propitiation (conciliation) for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Romans 5:8

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 4:8

8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Romans 3:23

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

John 8:12 (KJV)

Teachings of Jesus

“12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life”.

All who live a Christ like life (follow me as He has taught) shall have the light of life. These words are a great comfort

Matthew 5:14-16 (KJV)

“14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid”.

We are the light which shines in the heart.

“15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house”.

“16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”.

 On the sermon of the mount, Jesus makes it clear, how we should participate in the world. “You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before others.”

1 John 1:5(KJV)

“5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all”.

Light in this instant is the true light by which we see clearly, because God is light.

Jesus also uses the term enlightenment in a very similar way as in Eastern religion; He used it as a shift in one’s seeing. It is not so much what we see, but how we see.

This is why meditation and or contemplation are important in one’s spiritual life. It teaches one to develop a different way of seeing, as it evolves into intuition. The cultivation of intuitive calmness requires unfoldment of the inner life. When developed sufficiently, intuition brings immediate comprehension of truth. Meditation and contemplation has nothing to do with being pious; it leads to a different kind of consciousness, or a different way of seeing in a more holistic way. It brings us into the moment, the eternal now.

Matthew 6:22-23 (KJV)

“22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light”.

This points one to the need of concentration in the higher brain centre, leading to one-pointedness, and wisdom.

“23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness”!

Being intentional and being aware to what we pay attention.

We have to get our seeing right, or we distort the best teachings, even our love for God. In darkness we use our vision for ego satisfaction, with a sense of superiority, separateness or whatever it is.

We have an illustration of this in John 9: 3-5 (KJV)

A Man Born Blind Receives Sight

9 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

The Pharisees Excommunicate the Healed Man

“13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”

“16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.”

Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.

“17 They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?”

He said, “He is a prophet.”

“18 But the Jews did not believe him that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”

John 9:39 (KJV)

“39 And Jesus said, for judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind”.

We need to discriminate between what is right and that which is wrong and do what is right and not what is expedient. In our spiritual journey, we need to embrace a sense of awe, of faith and wonder, and seeing ourselves as co-creators with God’s plan. We ought to be as Jesus exclaimed: “I have come to do the work of Him that sent me”. We all are a part of creation and have a responsibility to the whole. In this process we have to be watchful as children of light.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 (KJV)

“5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness”.

We must be watchful. We can only get away with evil, if we explain it to ourselves as virtue. Anyone who does wrong thinks of himself with some distorted perception, like using violence in, let’s make the world safe for democracy or helping others, we always have a rationale to justify our violent nature. That is the self serving ego speaking. It does not want to admit the truth of its false perceptions. It is never wrong.

“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”

A look at Salvation

Another word for enlightenment in Christianity is salvation. It is the act of being saved or protected from harm, risk, loss, destruction, or an act of healing that Jesus performed on many occasions according to the bible. 

The Hebrew words used to signify salvation, yasa (to save, help in distress, rescue, deliver, set free) it is most frequently used in the Old Testament.

In contrast, the employment of salvation in the New Testament usually signifies deliverance with special spiritual significance. In addition to the notion of deliverance the Bible also uses salvation to denote health, well-being, and healing.

The most common meaning of salvation is God's sovereign and gracious choice to be "God with us" in the person of Jesus Christ, who is described as both author and finisher of salvation ( Heb 2:10 ; 7:25 ). But the movement of Jesus' life goes through the cross and resurrection. It is therefore "Christ crucified" that is of central importance for salvation (1 Cor1:23), for "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor 15:3) and was handed to death for our trespasses (Rom 4:25).

Matthew 20:28 (KJV)

“28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many”.

In practical terms salvation became the overall word for the final healing that is experienced in life and after death that makes us right with God. Jesus healed, he mingled with all people. He did not ask what their religion was. He transformed many that were within his reach. He had no pre-requisites, but he told people to change their life style or repent.

In the New Testament there are three different passages. Some which point out, that salvation has already happened, some point out that salvation is in the process of happening, and there is a finality and future tense.

Example:

God has been pleased to reconcile all things to Himself.

Colossians 1:19-20 (KJV)

“19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell”;

“20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven”.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)

“8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast”.

Romans 5:5 (KJV)

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

We need to recognize that well spring of the Holy Spirit.

Genesis 2 (KJV)

“2 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them”.

Unfortunately in some of the Christian teachings, salvation or enlightenment is largely taught as an evacuation plan for the next world.

Instead religion needs to be taught in a manner that transforms people now so that they can experience God’s presence through the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their daily lives.

We need to look at the deep present tense passages like

John 1:9 (KJV)

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

Philippians 2:12 (KJV)

“12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”.

This is what keeps one on the journey.

Then there are future passages.

1 Corinthians 15:22 King James Version (KJV)

“22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive”.

On incarnation,

The incarnation did not begin with Jesus’ birth. The incarnation of Christ started the moment God decided to materialize; where we have the eternal Christ, the combination of matter and spirit.

An enlightenment experience must be observable. The people project a glow, they change in personality, and they also change others just by being who they are.

Unfortunately many Christians limit the Christ mission to their own vision. Few realize that Jesus’ mission continued beyond his incarnation. He showed that he is able to materialize his body at will in the world or on any other level of existence at any time. This is why He could say to his disciples;”Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world”. He immortalized His body as well as His spirit. Any true devotee can see him as Jesus Christ or know Him as one with the Infinite Christ. Saint Francis, born centuries after Jesus, used to see him every night. St. Teresa of Avila knew him as one with the Infinite Christ.

Some people are blessed with ultimate visions, where they can touch the body of Jesus and talk with him, just as truly as when he walked on earth. The intimately real sensation of touching the materialized form is not the same as contact with the gross matter of the incarnate form, but the realization of the true essence of the body as a combination of spiritual vibrations of Bliss impart a wondrous elevating sense of joy and blessings. Any sincere devotee can and should have an intimate relationship with the living Christ. Christ is now and forever, He is eternal. One can have a daily experience of His presence.

Romans 1:20 (KJV)

“20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse”.

Our knowledge of God is certainly partial at best, but we cannot plead complete ignorance. His creation reveals enough of Him to make a major difference in our lives.

For the invisible things of him - The expression “his invisible things” refers to those things which cannot be perceived by the senses. It does not imply that there are any things pertaining to the divine character which may be seen by the eye; but that there are things which may be known of him, though not discoverable by the eye. We judge of the objects around us by the senses, the sight, the touch, and hearing.

We have examined Enlightenment from a Christian Perspective, stated that Mysticism is the belief that union with or absorption into the Deity or the Absolute is possible. We have said, that the

Eastern Church, contemplation consisted not merely in negation and renunciation, but in a union with God's Spirit, in an experience of spiritual illumination

We have touched on, that experiencing the Holy Spirit is a feeling of inner peace and joy. We presented some of the teachings of Jesus and said that God is light, and in Him is no darkness and that we are “Ye are all the children of light”, and that Enlightenment in Christianity is also spoken of as salvation.

Our knowledge of God is certainly partial at best, but we cannot plead complete ignorance.

An elaboration on the Holy Spirit I

I will tell you of that which is to be known, because such knowledge bestows immortality. Hear about the beginning-less Supreme Spirit, He who is spoken of as neither existent nor nonexistent. He dwells in the world, enveloping all, He is present everywhere, shining in all the senses, yet transcending them; unattached to creation, yet the source of all creation.

He is within and without all that exists, the animate and the inanimate; he is the Indivisible One. He appears as countless beings; He maintains and destroys forms, then creates them anew. He is the light of all lights, beyond darkness; he is knowledge itself, that which is to be known, the goal of all learning, He is seated in the hearts of all.

An explanation of the Holy Spirit II

Spirit is motionless, vibration-less, both in thought and energy. It has no dimensions, no relativity; it is like nothing in creation. It knows neither pleasure nor pain. It is beyond the relativity of the four ordinary states of human consciousness, pleasure, pain, indifference, and temporary peace.

It is bliss, which is deeper than peace, and is always new and unceasing. That is the only quality of Spirit. When we feel that and nothing else satisfies; then you have true spiritual consciousness.

Spirit is nameless and formless. If we try to name Spirit, we immediately limit it. Spirit is not knowable by the limitation of understanding, but that does not mean that Spirit is entirely unknowable, because Spirit can be felt.

From the human point of view of time, Spirit is, was, and ever shall be. In Spirit there is no past or future, only the present. Spirit is ever conscious. Spirit's Cosmic Consciousness does not cease to operate actively, as does the consciousness of man in sleep. Spirit has no alternating consciousness of wakefulness or sub-consciousness like that of man, but has perpetual, enjoyable, active and inactive wakefulness combined within Itself.

It is said, that Spirit was Joy, but there was no one else to taste of this Joy, so Spirit divided Itself to become the Enjoyer, the act of enjoying, and the thing enjoyed, the Knower, the process of knowing, and the thing known.

This triune division of Spirit into Knower, Knowing, and Known was accomplished by the law of relativity. Spirit, being one and indivisible, had to imagine and will Itself to be many. Expressed another way: Spirit divided Itself into God as the Father, the Cosmic Consciousness or "Knower" remaining beyond all creation; and into God as the Son, the Christ Consciousness or cosmic intelligent subjective "knowing" power in creation; and into God as the Holy Ghost, the cosmic intelligent objective creation itself, the thing known.

Manifesting in creation, Spirit divided Itself into subject and object, the Knower and the Known.

What is the difference between Spirit as subject and object?

Spirit as God in the aspect of Christ Consciousness manifests subjectively in creation as the power of perception of thoughts and feelings; and Spirit as God the Cosmic Intelligent Vibration manifests objectively to produce the universe. Everything is One, but when that One Infinite Spirit differentiates Itself into many, It has many forms and many names. But Spirit, the great One Reality, cannot be named.

The word "God" means the manifested, transcendental Being beyond creation, but existing in relation to creation. Spirit existed before God. God is the Creator of the universe, but Spirit is the Creator of God. Spirit is not the universe; Spirit is that which was and will be whether the universe does or does not exist. Spirit includes everything.