Posted by Todd on February 20, 2003, at 23:08:25
In reply to Re: We Are All Jesus » rayww, posted by Lou Pilder on February 20, 2003, at 15:07:28
Well, I really don't see a reason to distinguish between Jesus and Jesus Christ. I think it is just a matter of semantics. I do, however, see what you mean in your distinction, so let's go with Jesus Christ.
Theosis is a new word for me, and I do find it intriguing. In the same breath, though, it just seems like a semantics thing for me. I was raised in the good ole fashioned Catholic tradition and rejected it in my early twenties. As I began to explore other religious and spiritual traditions, I realized that most of them, although using different words and symbolism, were basically describing the same experiences. I am now in my late 30's and firmly believe in the unity and interconnectedness of all of our life experiences. I do believe that on higher levels or dimensions, we all indeed are One.
I have been diagnosed bipolar, and have been living with this "condition" for the past 14 years. During my initial manic episode, for which I was hospitalized, I had some very profound spiritual experiences. Like you, much was revealed to me. At the time, I wrote most of my experiences and insights off as madness because everyone else did. Over the last decade or so, though, I have come to realize that I was indeed in on something that most people lack the perception to understand.
Among other things, the most powerful vision I had was being united with God. I saw the glory of God, yet I was simultaneously one with him. It was pure, absolutely timeless BEING. It was a state of unspeakable beauty, peacefulness, and bliss. I felt, tasted, saw, heard, smelled, and WAS God. It was as if I was a drop of water in a sea of infinite beauty - I was a drop, yet at the same time I was the sea. There was almost no distinction between the two except for the fact that I was a witness, a point of consciousness if you will. It was the most mind-blowing experience of my life, and I hold it dear to my heart.
When I came back to physical reality, I felt completely cleansed and purified. I felt like Jesus Christ - completely human, yet completely God. I knew that it sounded absolutely crazy, and thought of others like Manson and Koresh who thought they were the second coming of Jesus. Yet I KNEW I wasn't crazy, since I had just experienced it and considered myself to be quite a sane guy. I realized that we are all Christ at our core - we are all of God. There was a part of me that told myself to keep it under my hat, but there was a part of me that was bursting to tell everyone about it. The latter part of me won out, and I landed myself in the hospital.
In hindsight and with a bit of study in the metaphysical, I realized that in whichever way that I had managed to connect to God, I had stayed there too long. I had touched ENORMOUS energy, and my physical body could not contain it. I think it was way too much insight way too quickly, and the energy in my body was literally burning me up. That's why I believe the mania manifested itself because of a lack of understanding and an overload of energy in my system. No physical body can hold that much energy, and on some level, I believe I was trying to. I also was desperate to validate all of my experiences because I didn't trust them myself.
In any case, although the red flags have gone up a few times since then, I have never again experienced a full-blown mania. And since that mania, I have come to fully embrace the insights I was given and try to work them into my daily life, enriching my own life as well as the lives of others. There is no need to blurt anything out anymore because I don't need to validate anything. I know what I know, and I realize that that is a very miniscule amount indeed. I just keep following my path, and rejoice when I cross paths with others with similar experiences. I love to share!
poster:Todd
thread:202027
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20021227/msgs/202328.html