Jesus and the expansion of consciousness

Lately I've been thinking about the teachings of Jesus and how they relate to the stages of personal development studied by transpersonal psychologists. I think that approaching the subject in this way can yield some worthwhile insights. In what follows, I've drawn exclusively from the Gospel of Matthew in order to explore this interpretation of Jesus' ministry.

Before continuing, it's worth pointing out one troubling fact about Matthew's Gospel: it shows a distinct fascination with hell and damnation. People may legitimately wonder if a person of genuinely elevated consciousness would be so eager to consign his fellow human beings to eternal suffering. Was Jesus really obsessed with hellfire?

Of course there's no way to be sure, but bear in mind that the other gospels have significantly fewer references to perdition. Maybe this particular theme reflects Matthew's mindset more than Jesus'.

Moreover, the term typically used for hell in the gospels is Gehenna, which was an actual location outside Jerusalem -- a refuse pit where trash was set on fire. It is at least possible that Gehenna was intended only as a metaphor. Back when the USSR collapsed, it was not uncommon for people to say that Soviet communism had been "tossed on the ash heap of history." Naturally they did not mean that Soviet communism had literally been thrown onto an ash heap. They meant that Soviet communism had failed the test of history and had been discarded. Arguably, Jesus was saying something similar -- that people who failed to live up to their highest potential would fail the test and be tossed on a (metaphorical) ash heap. The use of colorful metaphor was, after all, a distinctive feature of Hebrew prophets, and sometimes what started out as metaphor would be interpreted all too literally by later generations.

If there's any truth to this suggestion, then Jesus may not have been concerned with damning large portions of humanity to the flames, even if some of his followers (like Matthew) had a less elevated outlook.

In any event, what seems inarguable is that Jesus was deeply concerned with raising the level of consciousness of his closest followers. It may be assumed that, like most people and now, the apostles started off with a fairly conventional mindset, probably corresponding to the stage identified by Jenny Wade (in her book Changes of Mind) as achievement/affiliative consciousness. Achievement consciousness is the outlook of the workaholic who defines himself in terms of his job, his earnings, his accomplishments. Affiliative consciousness is the outlook of the "family man" (or woman) whose life has meaning primarily in terms of relations with other people. Wade sees authentic consciousness as the next step in development, followed by transcendent consciousness, and culminating in unity consciousness -- the realization of mystical oneness.

To simplify things, we might distinguish simply between conventional consciousness, represented by the achievement/affiliative stage, and cosmic consciousness, a term most closely associated with the 19th century theorist Richard Maurice Bucke. Some of what follows is drawn from or inspired by Bucke's treatment of Jesus in his landmark book Cosmic Consciousness.

Basically, much of Jesus' teaching can be seen as an attempt to raise his closest followers at least to the level of authentic consciousness, if not beyond.. To do so it is first necessary for his followers to transcend either achievement consciousness or affiliative consciousness. Some of the more cryptic sayings of Jesus may make sense when interpreted in this light.

To break down the assumptions behind affiliative consciousness Jesus demands that his inner circle reject the obligations of family. He tells a man to leave his father unburied (Matthew 8:22), he says his mission will divide families (10:34ff), he even denies his own mother and brothers (12:48).

To break down the assumptions behind achievement consciousness Jesus advises his followers not to worry about worldly success or even bare physical survival (6:25ff). He tells them to lay up treasure in heaven rather than on earth (6:19), and that spiritual advancement is the pearl of great price for which all material goods may be sacrificed (13:45). He advises a potential follower to sell all he owns (19:21) and says that a rich man cannot enter the kingdom of heaven (19:23, 24) - i.e., cannot achieve a higher level of consciousness. He says that worldly preeminence means nothing, and that the first shall be last and the last first (19:30), and he tells the parable of the vineyard laborers who were rewarded equally for unequal work (20:1ff) - implying that worldly accomplishment is not the standard by which spiritual progress shall be measured.

Equally important, he must break down the more basic assumptions underlying conventional consciousness, namely, that one's personal worth is determined by one's social roles and social standing. Famously, Jesus carries out this part of his agenda by openly consorting with "tax collectors and sinners" (9:11), including prostitutes and other social outcasts. In the Beatitudes (5:3ff) he reverses the normal order of things by saying that the humble shall be exalted, the hungry shall be fed, and the poor shall be enriched. He suggests emulating the innocent child (18:4), who has not yet been socialized into viewing people according to their status and rank.

The point in all this, of course, is not merely to undercut the apostles' conventional assumptions, but to uplift them to a new, higher consciousness - cosmic consciousness, the state of mind that Jesus himself knew and embodied. Jesus points the way to this higher consciousness throughout his teachings. He requires his followers to love their enemies as well as their friends, emulating God who sends down sunshine equally on the evil and the good (5:44). His followers must "be perfect" even as God is perfect (5:48), i.e., they must aspire to the transcendent, nonjudgmental consciousness that is the highest stage of personal development. His followers are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (5:13,14), because only the spiritual pioneers -- those who have ascended to the higher reaches of consciousness -- can enhance and illuminate the lives of their fellows. Even the least of his followers will be greater than John the Baptist (11:11), because John, for all his insights, did not attain to cosmic consciousness, as Jesus' apostles are expected to do. Thus his apostles are blessed (13:16ff) above all others, and having attained more, they will be given more (13:12). They are required to make maximum use of the gift of higher consciousness (25:14ff), which can achieve great things from small beginnings (13:31). This cosmic consciousness can be characterized as "the kingdom of heaven" or the Holy Spirit (12:32); it spreads invisibly and inexorably throughout the world (13:33); it may be hidden, but once found, it is worth any sacrifice (12:44); not all will attain it, but those who do will be richly prized (13:47); the wise will earnestly await its coming, while the foolish will dither their lives away (25:1ff).

I'm not saying that this interpretation exhausts the meaning of Jesus' ministry - far from it. But I do think it can be helpful in making sense of moral prescriptions that may otherwise seem incomprehensible or simply unworkable. A key point, often overlooked, is that Jesus made these demands of his chosen disciples, his inner circle, not of everybody who happened to show up for one of his sermons. He didn't expect everybody to abandon their families, their property, etc.; society could hardly function if we all walked away from our social roles. But there was never any danger of that, anyway. Most people have no interest in scaling the peaks of spiritual development. At best, they might have picked up a few helpful ethical precepts from Jesus' teaching. They were never expected to understand fully (13:13).

But for the chosen few, the ones called to ascend to the next stage of personal evolution, the abandonment of their conventional lives was a necessary step - painful, no doubt, and challenging and dangerous, but essential if they were to follow their master where he led.

Comments

[Michael H]

Excellent post, MP. Few consider that Christ's core message may have been to encourage his followers to aspire to the level of Christ consciousness themselves.

Those who find this concept resonating with them may also enjoy Stephen Mitchell's, The Gospel According to Jesus. Mitchell draws compelling parallels with Christ's teachings and many other spiritual lines of thought, especially those of the East.

By the way, those who are interested in Bucke's Cosmic Consciousness can download the full text in PDF at http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/search?author=Bucke%2C+Richard&amode=words>this link.

[Bryan.A]

Im not neccesarily saying that that specific Jesus existed or said those things but if he did that interpretation fits best.

U see that is the hardship for today's "apostles" as well.It takes so much belief that it isn't even funny.Nature in every aspect from fish to flowers,to every sort of creature on land is build to be chaotic,selfish and destructive.Jesus wants us to achieve the opposite of chaos.

Filosophically there will be many questions left to solve in order to understand nature and why it's not chaos but nature wearing a mask and trying to achieve harmony in a way we can't understand.(cause and effect)But literally everything in the world seems like chaos and yet Jesus's teachings want us to see how there is order in that.

I think even the apostles would have problems with that,as for me I certainly have problems with understanding the deeper questions with nature.

For this reason I won't even come close to achieving "perfection" in this life.

[dmduncan]

I don't know about the eternal suffering, but there are a good number of NDEs that are not sweet cherries and happy blue skies. Some people experience horrifying spiritual torture. So what consigns people to perdition? Christ? Or do people reap in death what they have sown in life?

Seems to me that if you do not believe in an afterlife, then nothing you do here has consequences later that mean anything special to you after you are dead, so if you can profit from doing evil in life and not get caught, then why not? So if that is false, and if there are consequences, we ought to be hearing more, not less, of what those consequences might be.

If "Phantoms fill the sky," I would prefer not to join them if there's anything I can do now to prevent that fate later.

[Alley Eden]

Very good post Michael,You have studied the scriptures for other than their writings meant for learned men of their day to be passed down as a spiritual guide. My guess would be a few highly educated in such matters concerning of moral fiber was left to each his own to ascend to inner prompting by the area of the mind/brain designed for our species of a specialized intellectual endowement for that cause and effect. As the evolution process unfolded, man,s quest for the hidden mystery of what lives in the bible also concieved his beginnings and took into context the books from the author passed as it were through his chosen ones, the prophets to the time of Christ and his apostles. I had not come around to the notion that ordinary persons at that time were excluded from the sacrifices that the apostles were expected to rise to,or it would of been much easier to revere them as models for coming generations to exemplify as you point out. But it seems to me that Jesus does want each of us to embrace suffering of some sort,as the apostle Matt. lays out so plainly which of course does strike me as particularily hardship. But if I take (All) of the scriptures Matt,Mark Luke and John the resounding message is indeed true, that we are to follow Him along the path of the cross in what life deals us, and if we lose ourselves to worldly comforts and the lure of riches, than we are not fit to be called his 'chosen'ones. However if we [Trust] in his providence -for us, we will learn to lean on Him when the going gets rough, and He will be there for us,hence proving we Beleive in His Higher Power and existence..but their will be trials and errors along the way and a reward awaits us at the end of eternal happiness in that transcendent [Love] we feel for having endured and followed.

Do you want to be spiritual, or do you want to be a spiritual rat racer?

Forget about grand plans, saving the world, becoming fameous, leaving your mark on society.

Live a simple life to maintain a childlike, innocent, and holy state of mind.

Then you will develop spiritually and maintain a connection with higher guidance.

That guidence will tell you how to do what you are supposed to do.

Don't try to figure it out with logic or achieve it through ambition.

Let it come through intution, from higher guidance, that comes to you naturally when you live simply.

This is the object of meditation.

Not to achieve that state, but to understand the truth of those words from direct experience.

Once you understand the truth of those words, you will depend less on meditation.

Living simply achieves this state effortlessly, by avoiding striving, chasing, greed, ambition.

It leaves you open to higher guidence that will tell you what to do.

This is zen, right action comes from right state of mind.

[Teri]

Nice thoughts, Michael P, but it all seems kind of theoretical. Do we actually know anyone with "Unity" Consciousness? I don't. And I can't think of a public figure who has it either. They must all be hiding their light under a bushel. We need a few round our way to brighten up the neighbourhood.

[floridasuzie]

My 2 cents worth as a Christian - I believe that it's a moot point whether Hell is a physical place, spiritual place, metaphorical, etc. the point is it's a permanent separation from God and nothing could be worse than that. MP, I've described this to you before - the worst grieving episodes I have for my son. I weep red hot tears and feel like I'm bleeding on the inside. It's black and red and searing. I'm totally unaware of my physical surroundings. The pain is intense and overwhelming. And that's just because of my separation from my youngest son. I would describe it as a type of hell, but I can't even imagine how much worse it would be to have a separation from God, whether Heaven be a physical or deeper spiritual presense with God, I don't care I just want to be there.
I'm not sure I understand this point:
>Most people have no interest in scaling the peaks of spiritual development. At best, they might have picked up a few helpful ethical precepts from Jesus' teaching. They were never expected to understand fully<
I think the reasons the apostles were expected to follow Jesus (physically as well as spiritually) is because they were what we would now refer to as missionaries-in-training and in those days it would have even virtually impossible to have their families travel with them in any comfort. It's difficult enough in these days and times. Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but I disagree that most people have no interest in attaining full spiritual growth, that has always been and will always be the ultimate goal of every follower of Christ. The apostles certainly sacrificed the most but everyday followers also sacrificed some of their conventional lives to follow Christ, but even in this, spiritual sacrifice is the ultimate goal. Physical sacrifice is no more important than a physical Hell.

[Ulysses]

Excellent port, Michael. Your interpretation of Jesus’ teachings is very much in line with the Kardecian Spiritit interpretation (i.e. The Gospel According to Spiritism by Allan Kardec). One other thing that perhaps you may be interested in discussing in another post is how Jesus’ teachings include the Law of Cause and Effect (or Law of Karma if you prefer the eastern interpretation). I am referring to the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12), the teaching of “we reap what we sow” in the parable of the sower (13:1) and so on.

[Bill I.]

I would rip the Christian myth to shreds before endeavoring to probe this area.

One way to start might be to watch the entire _From Jesus to Christ_ PBS Frontline documentary, available for viewing on the PBS website. (Alternatively, you might read dozens and dozens of scholarly works, including those pertaining to the latest archeological discoveries.)

Our common understanding of the time, place, and situation is grossly distorted owing to the enormous influence of Christianity over the centuries, while many tend to ignore the fact that the gospels were written long after the events they allegedly describe, each written to serve particular communities, and each different in details.

There were a number of other gospels, as well, and these periodically come to light -- the "official" gospels are just that; four tales of many chosen by a gradually hardening church organization concerned with perpetuating itself (before long the information in these official gospels would become "true or else," all other versions stamped "heretical").

This is aside from the fact that all gospels are primarily symbolic in nature, and clearly borrow from other traditions, including earlier Jewish myth (the killing of infants was borrowed from the tale of Pharoah and Moses, parts of that tale itself a modified Mesopotamian myth created for the political purposes of Sargon of Akkad, while other elements in the Gospels were borrowed from Egyptian myth and even the symbolic tales of Mithras).

Comparing members of apocalyptic Jewish sects alive in a time of great political and religious tension living in a particular and unique situation to "ordinary" modern people is a great mistake. How many of us are thoroughly convinced the world is about to end? None of us are currently 1st Century Jews, practicing some variation of Judaism (it was not a uniform religion at that time) in a land in which animal sacrifice was a primary element of worship at a central temple, a land occupied by Rome in what was still, after all, the ancient world.

This is the external view, always subject to change in the light of continuing discoveries, analysis, and so on, this analysis reflecting the times and beliefs of those doing the analyzing.

Before leaving this outer view completely, I might add that in that time and place any number of wandering healers existed, while Judea was also part of the larger Hellenic world with all of its traditions, religions, mystery schools, and what not. Again, elements from those traditions were borrowed and grafted onto the newly emerging Jewish sect.

The inner view is much more difficult to even discuss, owing to the charged nature of the myth, our modern minds thoroughly infused with its elements.

My approach has been to attune directly to the larger entity or soul of the man upon whose shoulders the myth has been largely draped. Such beings are time transcendent.

This is much more difficult than most might think, owing to the above infusion -- how can one even imagine doing this without invoking ideas of the Christ; i.e., elements of a huge and preposterous myth? ("Christ" is a title applied after the fact, part of the myth and not a name.)

This entity or soul is that of a man, a very Jewish man. How many of the words attributed to him in the gospels are likely to have ever issued from his mouth? (It's true that there are quite a few sayings that are found in many gospels, not just the official gospels; it is likely that someone uttered these -- within a context we find difficult to imagine, today -- and that someone may indeed have been the brother of James. Of course these weren't actually written down until decades after someone -- or several people -- said them)

Restating: Attuning directly to this particular entity is made difficult owing to our present mental associations with the massive myth that has greatly influenced our civilization and has for centuries -- these greatly distort whatever genuine inner perceptions may arise.

You can speculate on the nature of reality based on largely imaginary teachings containing elements borrowed from various sources -- you might gain something from doing this; some of these teachings might actually convey gems of wisdom, after all, but why do this when much more direct methods are available?

An aside: I'm reasonably convinced that Jehoshua, brother of James, existed, and that he was a wandering healer with a following, underwent an experience of transcendence, and that some of the sayings found in multiple gospels may be attributed to him, no matter how distorted and out of context those sayings are in our minds.

An experience of transcendence is notoriously difficult to transmit or convey, however, while under certain circumstances a huge unwieldy religion may result, gathering endless encrustation with the passage of time.

We can attempt to create our own experience of transcendence, as free as possible from such encrustation.

As part of such an endeavor, we might attempt to attune to the particular entity, larger self, or soul in question.

I would say no more, not wishing to color anyone's unique experience.

Regards

Bill I.

[Michael H]

Do we actually know anyone with "Unity" Consciousness? I don't. And I can't think of a public figure who has it either.

I've known just one, Teri, and have briefly experienced the state myself. It's a rare state of mind to even experience once, let alone maintain. Yet, it is entirely possible to do so, and it can happen spontaneously.

I think that there are two reasons that these people remain exceptionally rare. First is that there is very little understanding of the concept of levels of consciousness overall, especially in the dominant schools of psychology. Even those who are intrigued by this tend to interpret the various levels as static states that certain people may somehow arrive at, but only through a long and difficult process. The second reason has to do with the domination of these ideas by the esoteric religious traditions, whether that be contemplative Christianity, or approaches such as Sufism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism and Zen. The common denominator of these approaches has to do with their message of renunciation of the world. The followers are told that the realization of higher states is only available to those who commit their lives to such aspirations.

I see all of these ideas as errors. What would be genuinely helpful is if more people would begin to recognize that, no matter where they currently are, they are not in a static state, and that whatever level they happen to be viewing the world from is simply the result of the various ideas they've accepted as absolute over the years. I think the difficulty is in the simplicity. Unity consciousness is what remains if we can see beyond all of our ideas. It's not something that we have to acquire - it already exists within us - but is buried beneath everything we've carefully constructed over time. I can certainly attest that even if someone experiences that state, the tendency is to get busy constructing again. If there's any advantage, it's that you sort of know what you're up to.

What I would love to see is more people realizing that they can discover and exist at ever higher levels at any time, and that it does not require any sort of renunciation of the world to do so. What the world desperately needs is more people at higher and higher levels that are involved and engaged in life. I hate to say this, but those who lock themselves away in isolation to arrive at enlightenment aren't helping. We need them involved, whether that's delivering mail, running a business, or working on a factory floor. Further, these ideas absolutely must be removed from the domain of the religions.

I think that humanity as a whole will eventually get there, but as I've written before, the only choice any of us have at this moment is to try and see where we are ourselves. I don't think we can try and find a higher level, and I even think it's counterproductive to do so, but I do think that if we recognize that we're at a given level, we'll tend to shift higher. That's been my experience, anyway.

[Michael Prescott]

Do we actually know anyone with "Unity" Consciousness? I don't. And I can't think of a public figure who has it either.

I suspect Eckhart Tolle may have it (though I disagree with some of his interpretations, and I am not saying he should be anyone's guru). The book Cosmic Consciousness by Bucke gives many historical examples with extensive quotations from their teachings.

One way to start might be to watch the entire _From Jesus to Christ_ PBS Frontline documentary, available for viewing on the PBS website. (Alternatively, you might read dozens and dozens of scholarly works ...)

Believe it or not, I have read "dozens and dozens of scholarly works" in this area, so I don't need to get my info from PBS. I would be skeptical of the currently fashionable theories. If you look at the history of New Testament scholarship, you'll see that fads tend to come and go.

I disagree that most people have no interest in attaining full spiritual growth

Maybe I'm too cynical, but I see little evidence that the average person cares about such things, especially in this materialistic era. And even in less materialistic times, like the Middle Ages, religious belief was usually a matter of social conformity, with genuine mystical seekers being treated as outcasts and heretics.

An interesting film in this regard is the 1944 religious biography The Song of Bernadette, which contrasts the simple, mystical awareness of Bernadette with the legalistic machinations of both the municipal and ecclesiastical authorities.

[Michael H]

I suspect Eckhart Tolle may have it (though I disagree with some of his interpretations, and I am not saying he should be anyone's guru).

He certainly experienced it. As to what degree he has remained there, the jury's out. And people should be their own guru.

[Bill I.]

Michael: "Believe it or not, I have read "dozens and dozens of scholarly works" in this area, so I don't need to get my info from PBS. I would be skeptical of the currently fashionable theories. If you look at the history of New Testament scholarship, you'll see that fads tend to come and go."

Dear Michael:

I believe you've read quite a bit in this area. I've read quite a bit, too.

You dismiss the PBS Documentary without actually watching it but it is of high quality, while providing a fair review of scholarship, despite the limitations of the film medium.

Much of the current thought is consistent with earlier work, including that of the German 19th Century scholars who first began to investigate the four official gospels from a reasonably detached perspective. (I don't believe we're dealing with "fads" here.)

Of course some amazing discoveries have been made in the meantime, and not just the Dead Sea scrolls and the Nag Hammadi collection. (I was surprised to discover that general interpretations of the Dead Sea scrolls had changed so much since photostats were finally released from those who had possessed the scrolls -- and controlled not just access to them but interpretation and academic appointments as well) in 1989 or so. Robert Eisenman's _James the Brother of Jesus_ is instructive in this regard.)

It may seem odd that I recommend study of relevant and current material -- including not just scholarly works but also archaeological information -- when I so frequently promote direct, inner explorations.

I believe a two-pronged approach is almost necessary, however, owing to the continuing strength of the myth and its pervasiveness.

Of course anyone who has invested great emotion in the myth will never appreciate my approach, while ardent materialists will tend to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Bill I.

[Art]

An aside: I'm reasonably convinced that Jehoshua, brother of James, existed, and that he was a wandering healer with a following, underwent an experience of transcendence, and that some of the sayings found in multiple gospels may be attributed to him, no matter how distorted and out of context those sayings are in our minds. - Bill I.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think Christianity is basically a near death experience religion and Jesus and Paul were both near death experiencers and Steven's "vision" is a fairly typical death bed vision. When that soldier poked Jesus in the side he must have pierced the pericardium and released fluid that had accumulated around the heart and then when they cut Jesus down off the cross they may have flopped him on the ground and re-started his heart, and those three days in tomb may have been his recuperation period.
John 19:34
But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

There are a bunch of scriptures that have a very similar flavor to the life review, like "you reap what you sow", "do unto others", judge not that ye be not judged for in each measure that you judge you shall be judged in return," etc. The way you treat others is how you are going to be treated. Very similar to what many NDE'ers report they experienced, actually becoming the other people they interacted with during their life review.

[pmprescott]

Jesus, particularly in his sermon on the mount, was about internal direction of belief as opposed to external coercion that the Pharisees were forcing upon the populace. Their unwritten laws at this time were finally codified into the Talmud. Your idea of a universal consciousness come pretty close to this. Luther would later define this as Priesthood of the Believer and Soul Competency.
Read Deitrich Bonhoeffer's No Rusty Swords. A compilations of his sermons that addresses this issue. The French philosopher Paul Riccour touches on these issues as well.

[Kyle]

Ancient cultures have always had traditions of dark room initiations. Stretching for 14-20 days. To bring about a truer understanding of the universe. Egyptians built some pyramids specifically for these initiation rituals. The tibetans used caves, as do the Native americans.

But why/how does this bring about a truer understanding??

Well....Day 1-3 your eyes/body adjust to the complete darkness, and your pineal gland starts producing melatonin.
Day 4-6
The pineal gland starts to increase the production of 'pinoline', whereby a greater fluidity of thought starts to occur. This period allows for transition, and allows meditative trance to be easily achieved.
Day 6-8
This is when the pineal starts producing the psychoactive tryptamine (hallucinogen) 5-MeO-DMT. Produced right inside your own brain!!
It is extremely phospherescent due to the amount of phosphene that it transmits onto the visual cortex.
And thus in complete darkness, all you can see now is 'light'
But 'spiritual' light.

The 5-MeO-DMT literally lets the nervous system become aware of itself, and a state of extremely lucid awareness results. Actual feeling of all unconscious bodily functions arises, and etreme appreciation for life, is usually the end result. With a deep knowing that consciousness is fundamental to the universe. Meaning IT was the first cause.
Day 9-12
This is when DMT is produced. The strongest hallucinogen known to man.
When DMT levels reach more than 25mg, one's experience can become very visual. DMT is the visual third eye neurotransmitter. It enables subjective awareness of the infinite, and timeless. It is intensely energizing.
When the subject emerges, he is aware of the ultimate level of reality and sees a profound new outlook on the world, and life itself.

This is what 'knowing God' is all about.
This is what is truly meant, when the bible says, fill yourself with the Holy Spirit. The true 'spiritual experience'
The root of every religion, and the source of every conception of 'God' known to man.

something that should be experienced by everyone.

Whether religous or not, atheist, agnostic or believer, it doesnt matter.
We're all human, and we all share the hardware (brain) and software (consciousness) to experience this.
Why not??

[Kyle]

I truly feel sad for religous fundamentalists who will argue that such things (dark room initiation/meditation) are 'of the devil'

Jesus spent many days in dark caves.

And I truly feel sad for atheists who will argue that 'spiritual experiences are just hallucinations, thus arent valid'

Our whole life is a constant hallucination.
Our brains can NEVER perceive objective reality. Its all chemical, and all projection. The spiritual experience is just a truer conscious state, cuz your brain isnt processing data from the senses.
Thus youre at your 'base' consciousness.
The source.

[Alan]

No offense, but this seems like an attempt to make Christianity more recondite than it actually is. The words are so vague that you can read anything into them. Lets be honest, Christianity is simply useless when it comes to understanding the nature of "consciousness."

[Cyrus]

"Forget about grand plans, saving the world, becoming fameous, leaving your mark on society."

Of course if Martin Luther King and Winston Churchill took this advice I think we'd be much worse off.

[Cyrus]

Jesus wasn't infallible.

If Jesus were, he would have predicted his religion becoming hideously huge and ushering the west into the dark age of humanity.

He created his personality cult during a time of political uncertainty. It's no wonder it grew so huge. The result is an example of what happens when vanity mixes with spirituality. The same can be said of his apostles.

But Jesus is human, and humans are prone to error. That's why I prefer the information we get from simple NDEs: unconditional love. Love everybody. And then whether you live your life because you want to gain social status and change the world, or if you want to just be close to your family, you'll be happy either way, you won't spread darkness and those around you will be happy.

And that's all you need to know.

[Michael Prescott]

"Love, and do what you will." - Augustine

[JA]

I haven't visited in while, so I hadn't seen this post. Very interesting, Michael. You might find this interesting--at least more food for thought.

[Brian Joseph]

Great post. I do think that the term Gehenna was metaphorical describing a state of consciousness and a corupted social system - Mammon. I used the term 'garbage world' many years back to mean what I think is the same thing. Earlier this year a friend sent me a link to an article that mentioned Gehenna being an actual place - a garbage dump. I hadn't known that.
You mention Bucke's Cosmic Consciousness. It is an amazing book. Great reading for anyone interested how mystical consciousneess is communicated and the commonalities of experience.