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Post by clouddust on Oct 3, 2015 12:19:32 GMT
Yes, I agree. The subject is well worth pursuing/exploring. Which St. Dionysius are you referring? Regardless which one, I agree with the concept of three and the eye of the spirit capable of seeing beyond. In other words from the Book of Proverbs, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and Lean not on your own Understanding.".. is confirmation that the teaching of this concept has already existed. It's really a simple understanding of acknowledging what we, as limited beings, can and can not understand; accepting it and putting trust in the one beyond our understanding. The One which we are to trust in. (not ourselves) In stillness, yes!
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Post by forum22015 on Mar 16, 2016 0:48:23 GMT
Hi CD. Thanks for your question. When one is the I AM it is a very definite feeling different from the personality which I can find tucked inside. Feelings of definitely I am, without thinking about it, interest in what I am seeing or doing, joy based on nothing. It's been over a year since the last full embodiement of any duration.I had some fleeting experiences of it the other day a few seconds of I am and I caught my mind saying no to it: I AM. I have re-stated that Being is welcome anytime and mind has nothing to say about it. The nerve of it. Really.
I guess this posting is a year late. If anyone feel like it let me know if you saw it or not.
Love always, Arlene PS I'm going to go up and post in my usual place, dropping by thread, and let you know what has been going on.
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tony
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Post by tony on Mar 19, 2016 4:44:58 GMT
Hello Arlene, your posting is late only when compared to another point in time, otherwise it happened precisely when it did. That means the value of what we do is 'absolute' in the very doing of it but relative when placed in time and place. To the extent that I live my life moment to moment, doing just what I do, I am with the Absolute. When I live my life from a point of view, i.e. through the lens of past, present and future, of good and bad, of expectations, of concern for tomorrow, then I am with the relative. Non-duality points to the Absolute and the relative being two sides of the One coin.
As you point out, I AM describes the condition of 'not thinking about it'. Therefore, it's not the mind [which thinks] that stops us from Being, but the phenomenon of Being paying attention to what the mind does and identifying with it. Letting go of the sense that I am the author of what I do is a way of seeing through that illusion.
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Post by clouddust on Mar 24, 2016 21:02:14 GMT
Hi and thanks for the reply, Arlene.. I'd like to add to Tony's response that letting go of the sense that I AM, period, is what's essential.
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tony
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Posts: 172
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Post by tony on Apr 3, 2016 11:05:30 GMT
Clouddust, I AM refers to Being (neither this nor that), whereas 'I am' can be followed by ...name, form, etc. I AM is used in the statement "Before Abraham, I AM" (meaning Timeless, prior to form) and in "I AM That I AM" or even in "Be still and know that I AM God". It's the state prior to personality, individuation, emotions, likes and dislikes (but includes them). The spiritual path common to all major religions is that of letting go, dying to, and transcending the sense of I am separate, that I am the author of my actions, of choices, etc. rather than resting in the state of I AM-ness (Always, Already, Now).
That state is known as the Kingdom of Heaven in Christianity, Nirvana in Buddhism, Moksha (Liberation) in Hinduism.
The great Teachers and sages could say "I AM" from a direct experience of non-separation (Unconditional Love, prior to the Fall). Until that happens, we speak from a sense of separation, I am so-and-so vis-a-vis another. By God's Grace, the impulse to seek our true nature arises and we eventually find (it happens in time and space, as a phenomenon in this world of blood sweat and tears, after the Fall) what we thought we had lost. We then realize that it was never lost, but forgotten (the parable of the prodigal son).
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Post by clouddust on Apr 17, 2016 16:51:08 GMT
Hi Tony,
Thanks for your response. So glad, too, to see Arlene contributing. I've missed communicating with you. I'd like to add to the discussion that the descriptive phrase of identification called, ... "I AM," is just what it says. I AM. We can say and say often: I am weary. I am hungry. I am cold I am excited... etc, etc.
But when no other words are required, "I AM," is the single most powerful term of identification.
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