In a manner of speaking, we are each the sovereign of our own world -- a god, if you will. We see life through our own eyes and experience life through our own unique consciousness. No one else genuinely can see what we see, hear what we hear, feel what we feel, think what we think and know what we know. Others can try to walk a mile in our shoes, but they can't BE us.
From the standpoint of each individual, we are the center of our own universe. We create the world we live in. We create the rules of engagement. We create the logic that makes life fall into place. And we create the myths and fables that quell the fears of that which we cannot know.
As to the issue of time, it begins when we are born and it ends when we die. As far as this thing "the self" is concerned, we are the Alpha and the Omega.
The body that houses our self is ephemeral, but the self is eternal. The body -- that sinful, earthly vessel -- may be subject to forces outside our purview, but nothing has power over our consciousness. While the surface of our consciousness may be buffeted about by the winds of outside actions and thought, our subconscious reigns supreme. No other force or entity can touch or control it.
Our consciousness is like subterranean cave with my pathways and chambers. During our life, we rarely explore more than a few branches and only those nearest the surface. We may catch glimpses and even investigate deeper branches, but it can get real scary down there and most of us tend to scurry back to the surface where the air is more abundant.
But that part of consciousness in the deepest bowels of the cave is where the true self resides -- the god that directs us up above.
In terms of what we think, feel and know, the innermost level of consciousness is all-knowing and all-powerful. Nothing that we do or dream is beyond its grip. When we commit actions or thought that goes against the creed of our own internal nature, we suffer consequences in the forms of disease, tension, suffering and/or stress.
It is in this way that I state that I am god...and you are too.
This represents the second of two posts on the same theme. If you missed the first one, go here.
From the standpoint of each individual, we are the center of our own universe. We create the world we live in. We create the rules of engagement. We create the logic that makes life fall into place. And we create the myths and fables that quell the fears of that which we cannot know.
As to the issue of time, it begins when we are born and it ends when we die. As far as this thing "the self" is concerned, we are the Alpha and the Omega.
The body that houses our self is ephemeral, but the self is eternal. The body -- that sinful, earthly vessel -- may be subject to forces outside our purview, but nothing has power over our consciousness. While the surface of our consciousness may be buffeted about by the winds of outside actions and thought, our subconscious reigns supreme. No other force or entity can touch or control it.
Our consciousness is like subterranean cave with my pathways and chambers. During our life, we rarely explore more than a few branches and only those nearest the surface. We may catch glimpses and even investigate deeper branches, but it can get real scary down there and most of us tend to scurry back to the surface where the air is more abundant.
But that part of consciousness in the deepest bowels of the cave is where the true self resides -- the god that directs us up above.
In terms of what we think, feel and know, the innermost level of consciousness is all-knowing and all-powerful. Nothing that we do or dream is beyond its grip. When we commit actions or thought that goes against the creed of our own internal nature, we suffer consequences in the forms of disease, tension, suffering and/or stress.
It is in this way that I state that I am god...and you are too.
This represents the second of two posts on the same theme. If you missed the first one, go here.
"but the self is eternal."
ReplyDeleteI'm a little surprised to hear you say this.
Can you elaborate?
What is self?
What is eternal?
Is your therapist a Jungian?
Did you just birth your "immortal fetus?"
Did you just read "What's it like to be a bat?"
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Nagel
Is the self eternal? No one knows, but during the time the self is aware, it certainly thinks it is. It thinks it has always been intact and will never go away. Of course, this thinking may be completely bogus.
ReplyDeleteMy therapist is just Bill. He is rather eclectic, in approach.
I've never heard of Nagel.
I like this post.
ReplyDeleteAnd I feel I must share today's xkcd comic, as it relates somewhat:
http://xkcd.com/876/