Higher Power

[Sriram]

Hi everyone,

In spirituality, are we really looking for a Higher Power (God)?

Actually, the search for a higher power is the initial motivation, because the human mind is outward looking. Subsequently we end up searching for our own Inner Self.  The God within.

Spirituality is really about the search for our own True Self. That which we really are.

Once we find and nurture the Higher Self, it grows and stabilizes. We thereby shed the lower nature that we have inherited from our animal links of the past. This Higher Self is the 'kingdom of heaven'  that people have talked about in ancient days.  We then finally cease being animals and become something higher. We can call that the divine or human or anything we want.

Just some thoughts.

Cheers.

Sriram

[Brownie]

Hi everyone,

In spirituality, are we really looking for a Higher Power (God)?

Actually, the search for a higher power is the initial motivation, because the human mind is outward looking. Subsequently we end up searching for our own Inner Self.  The God within.

Spirituality is really about the search for our own True Self. That which we really are.

Morning Sririam,

I have a Quaker-ish attitude to God being within everyone and being able to find him/her/it in our unconscious.

[\quote]Once we find and nurture the Higher Self, it grows and stabilizes. We thereby shed the lower nature that we have inherited from our animal links of the past. This Higher Self is the 'kingdom of heaven'  that people have talked about in ancient days.  We then finally cease being animals and become something higher. We can call that the divine or human or anything we want. [/quote]

Interesting.  I can foresee you getting some sticks about the part I have emboldened  ..  We are animals after all, with different abilities and higher intelligence.

My ideas of seeking and communicating with God in me are more humble I think, and have a different purpose.

Good post, thought provoking, thanks.

[Sriram]

Morning Sririam,

I have a Quaker-ish attitude to God being within everyone and being able to find him/her/it in our unconscious.

[\quote]Once we find and nurture the Higher Self, it grows and stabilizes. We thereby shed the lower nature that we have inherited from our animal links of the past. This Higher Self is the 'kingdom of heaven'  that people have talked about in ancient days.  We then finally cease being animals and become something higher. We can call that the divine or human or anything we want.

Interesting.  I can foresee you getting some sticks about the part I have emboldened  ..  We are animals after all, with different abilities and higher intelligence.

My ideas of seeking and communicating with God in me are more humble I think, and have a different purpose.

Good post, thought provoking, thanks.

We are animals only as a scientific classification. We do share many traits in our bodies but not in our minds and intellect.

We have evolved and have developed many traits that are different from animals and we are increasingly becoming so.  In a million years I doubt if we would be recognizable as animals.

According to the Hindu Samkhya philosophy (the oldest Indian philosophy) we are beings of  Higher consciousness (Purusha) that are trapped in Nature (Prakriti). We evolve and develop by obeying the laws of nature but are always moving towards freeing ourselves from this trap. Once we reach a certain degree of alienation from our animal nature, we become free.

The more we think of ourselves as animals the more trapped we are.

It is the ultimate recognition of ourselves as free souls and not as this body (that we have inherited from animals), ....that is an important feature of spiritual growth.  God, temples, rituals and other such things are only means and paths towards this development.

[Brownie]

I accept that we are higher than most animals in many respects, if only by virtue of our ability to reason, and certainly don't think of myself as being in the same category as my pets.

The Hindu ethos which, from the little I know I like, is very interesting indeed and I sort of understand what you are talking about. 

For me, connecting with the Divine within me would not involve me attempting to rise above anyone or any other creature, it would simply be to know God better, gain insights, strengthen myself and maybe find out what God wants me to do.  I may indeed 'rise above' and become a higher being, who knows, but that wouldn't be the principal purpose and I wouldn't think of it.

It's good to learn.

[Sriram]

I accept that we are higher than most animals in many respects, if only by virtue of our ability to reason, and certainly don't think of myself as being in the same category as my pets.

The Hindu ethos which, from the little I know I like, is very interesting indeed and I sort of understand what you are talking about. 

For me, connecting with the Divine within me would not involve me attempting to rise above anyone or any other creature, it would simply be to know God better, gain insights, strengthen myself and maybe find out what God wants me to do.  I may indeed 'rise above' and become a higher being, who knows, but that wouldn't be the principal purpose and I wouldn't think of it.

It's good to learn.

Realizing the Higher Self does not involve feeling superior or considering oneself as higher or anything of that sort. That would be ego driven.

It in fact involves feeling greater love, oneness, joy, forgiveness and a sense of unity.

[ekim]

I accept that we are higher than most animals in many respects, if only by virtue of our ability to reason, and certainly don't think of myself as being in the same category as my pets.

The Hindu ethos which, from the little I know I like, is very interesting indeed and I sort of understand what you are talking about. 

For me, connecting with the Divine within me would not involve me attempting to rise above anyone or any other creature, it would simply be to know God better, gain insights, strengthen myself and maybe find out what God wants me to do.  I may indeed 'rise above' and become a higher being, who knows, but that wouldn't be the principal purpose and I wouldn't think of it.

It's good to learn.

Brownie
'Higher Self' has frequently become a contentious expression as it can imply superiority, which I doubt was the intention.  The process is more about dis-identifying with and being consciously free from the constraints of what goes to make up our ego states.  Perhaps from a Christian perspective the word 'purity' would apply before you can 'ascend' into Heaven.

[Brownie]

Lovely, thank you ekim.

[Sriram]

Lovely, thank you ekim.

Gordon or NS, if you are watching, I think maybe Faith Sharing might be a better place for this thread;  all is harmonious atm but I can foresee difficulties in the future.

This is not about Hindu faith. It is about a secular philosophy of self development. Merely because I mention Samkhya philosophy does not make it about 'faith'.

I think it is fine here.

[Walter]

It all sounds a load of bollox to me mate , any who!

[Brownie]

This is not about Hindu faith. It is about a secular philosophy of self development. Merely because I mention Samkhya philosophy does not make it about 'faith'.

I think it is fine here.

That's fair enough Sririam, you started the thread after all.  Sorry if I overstepped the mark  .

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Walter, it is written (somewhere), "What is bollox to one is Rambutan to another".

[Sriram]

That's fair enough Sririam, you started the thread after all.  Sorry if I overstepped the mark  .

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Thats ok Brownie.. Just clarifying! 

[Walter]

Thanks Brownie , I had to look that up .

[Brownie]

Good to have something you can get your teeth into.

[ippy]

We are animals only as a scientific classification. We do share many traits in our bodies but not in our minds and intellect.

We have evolved and have developed many traits that are different from animals and we are increasingly becoming so.  In a million years I doubt if we would be recognizable as animals.

According to the Hindu Samkhya philosophy (the oldest Indian philosophy) we are beings of  Higher consciousness (Purusha) that are trapped in Nature (Prakriti). We evolve and develop by obeying the laws of nature but are always moving towards freeing ourselves from this trap. Once we reach a certain degree of alienation from our animal nature, we become free.

The more we think of ourselves as animals the more trapped we are.

It is the ultimate recognition of ourselves as free souls and not as this body (that we have inherited from animals), ....that is an important feature of spiritual growth.  God, temples, rituals and other such things are only means and paths towards this development.

Sriram, Have a read, if you haven't done so already, of Arthur C Clark's book 'Childhoods End', he's been there before you have.

ippy   

[SweetPea]

Sriram, yes, the 'Higher Power' and 'the Kingdom of Heaven' is found within. You only have to let go and be still.... and it is right there:

"Be still and know that I am God.."

..... and is such a comfort and strength..

[Sriram]

Sriram, yes, the 'Higher Power' and 'the Kingdom of Heaven' is found within. You only have to let go and be still.... and it is right there:

"Be still and know that I am God.."

..... and is such a comfort and strength..

Hi SweetPea......

Yes, finding that God or Self within is the answer to everything.  It  actually provides a solution to life and not just a solace.

[Brownie]

The importance of solace must not be underestimated though, Sririam, especially for those who find themselves in a particularly bad place.  It will do 'for now' and when situations ease, move on to solutions to life.

I would like to know what you mean by "solutions to life" though, Sririam.  I have an inkling but don't put great store into my vague personal interpretations.

Good stuff!

[Bubbles]

I don't think we are more trapped if we think of ourselves as animals. In fact I think in some ways it sets us free from being the centre of the universe.

You see, I think it is possible other animals do reason, but differently to us ( not less than, just different)

A pack of wolves probably does have an idea of what it means to be a good wolf or a bad wolf. I wouldn't even write off ideas of spirituality within that.

I do know my life and senses are different to a wolf and we don't share the same species so don't see the world in the same way. We ( human race) have a bad habit of looking down on successful species that have different values to us.

Maybe if we ever meet an intelligent alien species this idea that we are much more than "just another animal, striving for its best", is going to look ridiculous.

🌹

[Brownie]

I agree with you, Rose, but I don't think Sririam meant it all (op) in quite the way you and I initially took it.
Ekim gave an insight.

Whatever, it's all quite fascinating.

[Walter]

just what, exactly , are you all smoking?

[Sriram]

The importance of solace must not be underestimated though, Sririam, especially for those who find themselves in a particularly bad place.  It will do 'for now' and when situations ease, move on to solutions to life.

I would like to know what you mean by "solutions to life" though, Sririam.  I have an inkling but don't put great store into my vague personal interpretations.

Good stuff!

Hi Brownie,

Solace is what we get every day through our prayers and rituals and faith. It is very important and without this most people will not be able to go through life at all.  I agree. 

However, as we advance spiritually we realize that the real truth exists within.  Once we realize this and actually stabilize with this knowledge,  most of our needs and wants disappear automatically. We start becoming free of animal needs and go with the flow. We will begin to see a force and a pattern in our lives that lies under the surface.

Once we recognize this pattern, we don't need any solace any more. The need for consolation disappears. Synchronicity will become common.  We will know the way life is going and will just flow along.

This is what I mean by a 'solution to life'.

[Sriram]

I don't think we are more trapped if we think of ourselves as animals. In fact I think in some ways it sets us free from being the centre of the universe.

You see, I think it is possible other animals do reason, but differently to us ( not less than, just different)

A pack of wolves probably does have an idea of what it means to be a good wolf or a bad wolf. I wouldn't even write off ideas of spirituality within that.

I do know my life and senses are different to a wolf and we don't share the same species so don't see the world in the same way. We ( human race) have a bad habit of looking down on successful species that have different values to us.

Maybe if we ever meet an intelligent alien species this idea that we are much more than "just another animal, striving for its best", is going to look ridiculous.

🌹

I agree that animals probably share some of our mental and intellectual capabilities. We Hindus  believe that humans are only a part of the huge spectrum that includes animals.  We believe that we all have been animals in some earlier birth. So...human birth is different only in degree and not in kind. We have known this for millennia.

But that degree does make the difference. Like a high school student is different from a primary school student only in degree. But that is enough to enable a high school student to pass out of school while a primary school student cannot. 

It is about gradual development and growing up. If a high school student identifies himself with primary school and thinks ..'I was once in primary school so I am not different from these students'...he will never be able to pass out of school. He has to recognize the differences and abandon many of the childhood traits, to go forward. Otherwise he will be stunted.

Its the same in spiritual growth.

[Brownie]

just what, exactly , are you all smoking?

As I said at 08:36:55 today, "Good Stuff!"   

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Sririam:  It is about gradual development and growing up. If a high school student identifies himself with primary school and thinks ..'I was once in primary school so I am not different from these students'...he will never be able to pass out of school. He has to recognize the differences and abandon many of the childhood traits, to go forward. Otherwise he will be stunted.

Its the same in spiritual growth.

Just as, 1 Corinthians 13:11:  When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. (NLT)

Siriam:  However, as we advance spiritually we realize that the real truth exists within.  Once we realize this and actually stabilize with this knowledge,  most of our needs and wants disappear automatically.

Must take time, Sririam.

[Nearly Sane]

As I said at 08:36:55 today, "Good Stuff!"   

------------

Sririam:  It is about gradual development and growing up. If a high school student identifies himself with primary school and thinks ..'I was once in primary school so I am not different from these students'...he will never be able to pass out of school. He has to recognize the differences and abandon many of the childhood traits, to go forward. Otherwise he will be stunted.

Its the same in spiritual growth.

Just as, 1 Corinthians 13:11:  When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. (NLT)

Just as not Matthew 18:3

[Sriram]

As I said at 08:36:55 today, "Good Stuff!"   

------------

Sririam:  It is about gradual development and growing up. If a high school student identifies himself with primary school and thinks ..'I was once in primary school so I am not different from these students'...he will never be able to pass out of school. He has to recognize the differences and abandon many of the childhood traits, to go forward. Otherwise he will be stunted.

Its the same in spiritual growth.

Just as, 1 Corinthians 13:11:  When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. (NLT)

Siriam:  However, as we advance spiritually we realize that the real truth exists within.  Once we realize this and actually stabilize with this knowledge,  most of our needs and wants disappear automatically.

Must take time, Sririam.

Yes...all religions have the same spiritual philosophy at their base. That is quite clear to me.

What do you mean ...'must take time'...?  Do you mean that the development will take time or understanding all this will take time?!.