Most
people would readily identify the term Enlightenment 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.”.
No comments:
Post a Comment