Spiritual encounters of all kind - war for souls

[truthseekerdan]

Hi Chris, great to have 'your wisdom sharing' here as well. Thank you for contributing.

The following excerpt that I want to share with you all, is from The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.

Christ: The Reality Of Your Divine Presence

Don't get attached to any one word. You can substitute "Christ" for presence, if that is
more meaningful to you. Christ is your God essence or the Self, as it is sometimes
called in the East. The only difference between Christ and presence is that Christ
refers to your indwelling divinity regardless of whether you are conscious of it or not,
whereas presence means your awakened divinity or God-essence.
Many misunderstandings and false beliefs about Christ will clear if you realize that
there is no past or future in Christ. To say that Christ was or will be is a contradiction
in terms. Jesus was. He was a man who lived two thousand years ago and realized
divine presence, his true nature. And so he said: "Before Abraham was, I am." He did
not say: "I already existed before Abraham was born." That would have meant that he
was still within. the dimension of time and form identity. The words Iam used in a
sentence that starts in the past tense indicate a radical shift, a discontinuity in the
temporal dimension. It is a Zen-like statement of great profundity. Jesus attempted to
convey directly, not through discursive thought, the meaning of presence, of self
realization. He had gone beyond the consciousness dimension governed by time, into
the realm of the timeless. The dimension of eternity had come into this world.
Eternity, of course, does not mean endless time, but no time. Thus, the man Jesus
became Christ, a vehicle for pure consciousness. And what is God's self-definition in
the Bible? Did God say "I have always been, and I always will be?" Of course not.

That would have given reality to past and future. God said: "I AM THAT I AM." No
time here, just presence.
The "second coming" of Christ is a transformation of human consciousness, a shift
from time to presence, from thinking to pure consciousness, not the arrival of some
man or woman. If "Christ" were to return tomorrow in some externalized form, what
could he or she possibly say to you other than this: "I am the Truth. I am divine
presence. I am eternal life. I am within you. I am here. I am Now."
Never personalize Christ. Don't make Christ into a form identity. Avatars, divine
mothers, enlightened masters, the very few that are real, are not special as persons.
Without a false self to uphold, defend, and feed, they are more simple, more ordinary
than the ordinary man or woman. Anyone with a strong ego would regard them as
insignificant or, more likely, not see them at all.

[Fredkc]

Beren;
There are people who can spew whole chapters from the bible, as fast as a car salesman, without understanding a word they've said. Then there are people who assume every word contained must be the word of some Satan, or another. I can never decide whether to laugh at, or weep for them all.

I do know it took me nearly 40 years to separate the churchianity from the book. I don't claim to have finished the job, and I couldn't begin to tell someone else where to start.

What amazes me though is that, nowadays when I hear most speak of the book, I struck with the notion we must be reading a different book. What I see in it now, bears little resemblance to what I hear, or even what I once thought myself. And yes, I think I got the better of it. Can't sell it, wouldn't trade it for gold.

"I don't have that kind of time."
I'm sorry, was there something else more important you were doing? Proceed then.

"How do I know what part of the bible is true?"
Um... discernment ?
All of this, no matter where you take your source from is a process of maybe 5% study, the rest is thought, meditation and yes, discernment, be it through insight, or trial and error.

No one is going to come along and 'install' enlightenment in you like a new car stereo; just like spending your days running from one stereo shop to another, having the latest model installed, is not going to make you happy, or leave much time to just hear the music.

"Take the long road" with something. It will either lead you to something else, or prove faithful. The true creation of god is truly perfection. Stop and turn around. You're there.

A "war for our souls"?
How can there be one? Many things can clamor for your attention, and emotion, therefore your spirit, but your soul?
Nah!
It is a perfect creation of God that never faltered.

Anyway, some late night thoughts,
Fred

[greybeard]

Just a few thoughts before I dissapear again for a while.
Every age and culture has Mystics --- those who are One with God Enlightened beings, thats another name for Christ consciousness.
The beauty of the ones present with us now is that they wrote their own books, no translation by others, no dilution, nothing changed or altered, just pure subjective Truth.
"The Power of Now" understandable by all.
"Discovery of the Presence of God/ Devotional Nonduality" by Dr David Hawkins for more advanced seekers is more complex but says it all.
After many years of reading that is for me the ulitmate in presenting the Truth as experience by a Mystic.
Most of what I conveyed in the ego thread comes from reading Tolle and Dr Hawkins and personal experience.
I rarely read now that stage, of my apprentiship is complete.
I now have a lot to unlearn, let go of, of worldly concepts, belief systems, techniques etc. all helpful then but time to move on.
All part of the process of discovering Truth, the Presence within.
Chris
Namaste

[Beren]

Posted by greybeard (here)
Just a few thoughts before I dissapear again for a while.
Every age and culture has Mystics --- those who are One with God Enlightened beings, thats another name for Christ consciousness.
The beauty of the ones present with us now is that they wrote their own books, no translation by others, no dilution, nothing changed or altered, just pure subjective Truth.
"The Power of Now" understandable by all.
"Discovery of the Presence of God/ Devotional Nonduality" by Dr David Hawkins for more advanced seekers is more complex but says it all.
After many years of reading that is for me the ulitmate in presenting the Truth as experience by a Mystic.
Most of what I conveyed in the ego thread comes from reading Tolle and Dr Hawkins and personal experience.
I rarely read now that stage, of my apprentiship is complete.
I now have a lot to unlearn, let go of, of worldly concepts, belief systems, techniques etc. all helpful then but time to move on.
All part of the process of discovering Truth, the Presence within.
Chris
Namaste

Very true Chris, very true!
Christ when talking with people wanted them to grow to the full. To be sons and daughters of God, not followers of doctrine or religion. Often would he when people would follow him because of food or miracles,cast them out with harsher words... like you follow me because I feed you and your hearts still are silent and you are not changing...


That is the treasure of Kingdom of Heaven. To be close friend with God and Christ and all.
To have full awareness all the time.

[wynderer]

Posted by truthseekerdan (here)
I don't have a lot of answers, but a lot of questions. It's all about who to ask, and where to look.
My friend you'll find a little more about my spiritual background at this link.

The bible is a very good reading for those who actually understand it. (2 Corinthians 3:5-6; Mark 8:18)

Love to you and to your enlightenment,

Dan

Hi Dan --i did not say that i think the Bible is '100% accurate' -- an assumption on your part , it would seem

in fact, having read the entire Bible thru [which i capitalize, as i do the Koran, the Vedas, the Sutras, etc] & many parts of it over & over, including a fairly recent college course on 'The Bible As Literature', i've come to the conclusion, unpopular w/most Christians, that the Old Testament is one record of the true God/Creator/Great Mystery/the Love Who Is Light, interspersed w/subversions by an imposter 'god' -- probably a reptilian, because he is into control, inducing guilt & fear, & -- the biggie -- blood sacrifices -- non-human animal ones, true, but still the blood flows & the animals die in pain & fear

i am a Christian because of a few very personal & powerful meetings i have been most privileged to be granted w/Jesus the Living Christ -- these i do not talk or write about unless i know & trust the person -- i generally read only the Gospels [sometimes the Psalms] , & in the Gospels i find enough of the great Power, Love, & Peace i encountered in the Person of Christ Jesus to trust that a good bit of truth managed to survive in those written & printed accounts of His brief time in a human body on Earth

re being human -- long story there -- not knowing you, i don't know the extent of your interest in/knowledge of ETs, or whether or not you follow the various threads re ETs here on PA -- however, i have on some of these threads given detailed [possibly boring] accounts of many indications that i am not human, but very foolishly volunteered to come to this planet from elsewhere in order to try to help the Earth humans wake up to the very real physical & spiritual threats to your continued existence-- so, no problem here w/knowing the limitations of the extremely dumbed-down Earth human brain/mind

re your reference to the verses from the Gospel of John [edit to note that these verses, chap 10: 34-35, did not carry over into quote]-- i personally get very annoyed at Christians who hurl Bible verses at me to prove things they believe, & am not a verse-hurler myself -- i figured that the one you quoted was going to be the newage favorite of 'You are gods,' which proved to be so -- i do not like debating fine points of any kind of scripture [tho this does seem to give the mind good exercise, & Jesus Himself, according to the Gospels, did a very good job at this, always besting the Sadducees & Pharisees at their own game]

but [sigh] i will point out some things i see re your quoted verse -- i'm using the New English version --

'Is it not written in your own Law, "I said: You are gods"? Those are called gods to whom the word of God was delivered-- and Scripture cannot be set aside. Then why do you charge me with blasphemy because I, consecrated and sent into the world by the Father, said, "I am God's son"?'

i just think it's interesting that Jesus called it 'your own Law' & not 'our Law' -- & the end of the beloved-by-newagers quote , taken in context, is Jesus directing attention to God/the Creator, & finishing by saying that He was God's son, not God

i've said all i want to re this subject -- i still maintain that you humans have your 'within' thing confused w/natural perceptions of what is actually all around you --

thank you for calling me 'friend' a number of times, tho i have not received a Friend Request from you ---??? -- also, thanks for your wishes for my 'enlightenment', tho this is not a term/concept i use or relate to

[quick P.S. to Chris -- some interpretations/translations of the [also beloved-by-newagers] quote, 'The Kingdom of Heaven is within you' , translations which, for me, fit more w/the Christ i met, & his overall message in the Gospels, read 'The Kingdom of Heaven is among you' -- meaning, as i understand this, that humans need to work together to know God/the Creator -- not the proud & lonely path of finding truth 'within' your individual self]

Peace, wynderer

[frank samuel]

Being of a Christian family of many generations of Pastor and preachers, I dedicated part of my life to studying Christian history . Here's the history as I understand it, after the fall of Rome , the Romans united with the Christians by embracing Christianity it was a very astute political move. Anyone who was not a christian became automatically an enemy of Rome, the killing spree continue all throughout Europe, then came the conquering of the new world. That took cruelty, rape, torture, the sheer cold blooded violation of human rights to a whole different level. The missionaries came back up by those who came to conquer, kill and rape without any remorse or pity.

60 millions natives killed in the new world. The stories are very similar, but here's a typical depiction of what went on, the village was forced to accept the religion of the conquerors or suffer the same fate as those that did not. Hey we can take this account further back into the old testament where King David was known as the most ruthless King of its time as he murder entire villages leaving no one alive, all in the name of God

Today many Christians echo the very same words spoken by the conquerors of old. The Bible is the absolute word of God and Jesus is the ultimate representative, you either accepted or suffer the consequences. No different than the words utter to millions slaughter at the hands of these so called Holy man .

I asked you what is wrong with this picture, why do we neglect the true history of Christianity. There's many important lessons to be learn here. My ancestors the Tainos of PR are no longer alive to defend themselves yet I can still hear their cries for justice.
My family carries on with the Christian tradition, I well that's another story. Something in my stomach knobs up every time someone comes knocking at my door talking about the Bible as the only way to salvation, I wonder why ?

Maybe we should ask all the 60 million natives if the Bible is the only way to salvation and lets see and hear what they have to say.
To conclude this I wanted to add a famous quoted from the movie matrix, " ignorance is bliss ". There's the old saying that history repeats itself, the irony of this is that maybe in the future we will be conquer by aliens who will imposed their religious believes on a global scale, what will happen. If this scenario becomes true then we will be acclaiming the religious book of the conquering aliens as the only way to salvation and rightly so.

Each living thing on this Earth has a spark of divinity. Today we are beginning to lift the veil and the illusion of the past is no more.
The Journey has become the calling to embrace the future, not forgetting the lessons of the past. It suffice to say that the past, present and future are one, all roll up into what we call the NOW.

May your journey bring you closer to the spark of the divinity that is lit within the hearts of each and every living creation.

Many many blessings to all.

[kriya]

"Why do ye call me Lord, Lord, and not do the things that I say".

Love,

Kriya

PS This is in reply to Beren. I am having a v computer illiterate day today!!

[Fredkc]

What amazes me though is that, nowadays when I hear most speak of the book, I struck with the notion we must be reading a different book.

Kinda like now.
Fred

[wynderer]

Posted by Fredkc (here)
Kinda like now.
Fred

seems to me most everyone here on this thread is saying pretty much the same thing in his/her own way

[Beren]

Frank,

I feel for you friend and this is the EXACT thing what I am talking about for whole year,since AV1 ...And please pardon for long answer,I was inspired to write this.

Religion named Christianity usurped the Bible and used it as a mask of divinity . With it they conquered and gained and slaughtered ... But it does not change a fact that Bible has nothing to do with it. Clever manipulators were shouting that BIBLE ASK YOU THIS and God ask you that when in fact it was a lie!

That`s what I am trying to talk about all this time! To talk against a lie imposed on us. To talk about hidden truth in Bible and how to reach it leaving all behind ,all mess that Churchianity left.

If you`re still angry about happenings in old testament ,you have to be honest and research better and see that many things Jews did without God consent. Instead of following God ,they decided to make whole bunch of rules and regulations( one of the reasons for that is primitive folk in abundance with only handful of literate people )...

That`s why God sent them his son to explain them the truth and to show them love.
God did this for all humanity . But we still are blind to see that.
We always look for excuses and avoid the truth.

You can always explain all but you will always reach to the same point and that is before Creator.
How would you feel then when you heard that all that you diminished was actually true?
Would you feel ashamed that you knowingly decided that Jesus was not who he was and then to meet him and he spoke to you and said like he said to Thomas : " Do you believe now? "

I am not playing smart here or advocating a religion since being a Christian is not religious thing.
I am talking about being a man. Being a woman.
Being united with God ,with Christ with all in universe!

Being Christian is being holy .

That`s why all religion failed. That`s why almost all people failed and are doomed to re learn everything until they come to realization the very first thing they were told- truth about God and Christ.

I am beginning to ask myself and many here what do we really want?

We talk about ascension and unity with Creator and when Creator reaches his hand we refuse it!
Are we nuts or something?

Is that a sign of a sane person or...?

OK God is everywhere and is limitless, then why do many of you here blind fold yourself?
Blindfold in a way that you can and do accept various ethereal representations of Creator but can not accept this open one from Christ?
God couldn`t be more direct than this to come with his son and say to yo "hello" ! Or to talk with you or to heal you...

God is everything and many are right that he is ethereal and that his essence is in us and that we are creators and gods.
I say here before the world - I am GOD. So are you , so are all because we are of God. we are his children ,same lineage if you will.
God is everywhere from beautiful scent in flowers to high mountains and human souls and beautiful planets and universes ...
God is love and God is limitless,
now WHY DO YOU LIMIT GOD, with your non accepting this manifestation of God in a physical form of Jesus Christ?

How can all here starting from me claim that we know anything and that we know God when we try to limit him?
That`s a silly idea but still held religiously tough!

Just because someone misused Bible or did evils in Jesus`s name you turn your face from God!!!

So hence I say cast out all religions, all BULLS*** aside and turn to God directly now.
Stop all this quarreling about what God is and what is not and realize that you just talked with God when your neighbor said hello, when you said -I love you- to your sweet heart, when you patted the flowers and admired their beauty...
God is all, then accept that HE IS ALL.

That is the love and truth Jesus Christ taught us.
That is the veil that he lifted from us-veil of lies -our lies that we like so much to live in.

[shiva777]

again...going beyond the simplistically misleading and deceiving religions/philosophies to the roots of what's up...book of revelations and J seals

http://wemustknow.net/2010/04/meanin...-in-the-bible/

http://wemustknow.net/2010/04/j-seals-ancient-curse/

[truthseekerdan]

Unfortunately, some souls are slow to learn...

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=f7KSXx7nSWI

[frank samuel]

Beren the Bible was canonized by the Roman clergy many books that did not agree with their theology where burned or hidden. Those true Christians of that time ran with their Holy books, Jesus mother account was not even accepted, due to the fact that she was a woman.

If we're talking about the Bible please know that the theology in my opinion and as a historical fact has been compromised by the Roman Clergy of that time.

Here's a few questions which some scholars ponder upon and seriously question:

1- Was Jesus God ?

2- Was Jesus born of a virgin birth ?

3- Was Jesus mother a virgin ?

4-Was Zechariah the biological father of Jesus ?

5-Was John the Baptist Jesus brother ?

6-Did Jesus die on the cross ?

7-Did Jesus father his own children ?

8- Did Jesus die of old age in India ?

There are hundreds of questions these are some of the basic ones.
Beren I spend many years pondering and researching , sometimes is better to follow the trail so that we can open our eyes.

My heroes most are Christians so I have nothing against, quite the opposite . Mother Theresa, Francis of Assisi, Martin Luther King Jr., Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela.

Many many blessings to you.

[Beren]

Posted by frank samuel (here)
Beren the Bible was canonized by the Roman clergy many books that did not agree with their theology where burned or hidden. Those true Christians of that time ran with their Holy books, Jesus mother account was not even accepted, due to the fact that she was a woman.

If we're talking about the Bible please know that the theology in my opinion and as a historical fact has been compromised by the Roman Clergy of that time.

Here's a few questions which some scholars ponder upon and seriously question:

1- Was Jesus God ?

2- Was Jesus born of a virgin birth ?

3- Was Jesus mother a virgin ?

4-Was Zechariah the biological father of Jesus ?

5-Was John the Baptist Jesus brother ?

6-Did Jesus die on the cross ?

7-Did Jesus father his own children ?

8- Did Jesus die of old age in India ?

There are hundreds of questions these are some of the basic ones.
Beren I spend many years pondering and researching , sometimes is better to follow the trail so that we can open our eyes.

My heroes most are Christians so I have nothing against, quite the opposite . Mother Theresa, Francis of Assisi, Martin Luther King Jr., Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela.

Many many blessings to you.

Frank , I know all that even before. It does not change the fact who placed the writings together and which ones are left out. Point is that even with ones placed in one book now called Bible ,you can find all that you need. In the modern Bible that many so much dislike and accuse religions and churches of abusing it, you can find at least 80% of things that are written as of what is a real Christian but not done by Churches. See Bible stands for it self. Churches are those who impose rules and regulations and when reading Bible you can see how that happened from ages ago.
But then if you want truth you must be open to it and must ask God for it. And here exactly we see failure of religions- failure to tell people that their prime task is to re connect with God.

All they were saying was that THEY will tell people what GOD wishes... What a stupidity! It`s like God can`t address any particular man or woman and help them, and so we need corporate entity to deal in between people and God... what a lost of time! But God allowed that in order that every person shows its true heart and soul towards God. Whether he or she will trust God or man. Sadly many trusted man rather than God and voila! We have the world we wanted for.

Remember that verse where is stated that God carefully hid all truth in Jesus and will reveal to all who wants it?
It`s a clear sign to all that if you want truth and a relationship with Creator , you got to ask him . He is freely giving all but will not interfere your free will (btw given by him) to choose.
It`s always easy to trash Bible.
After all God chose many more things to speak to the souls. SO if we trash Bible , no worries he will talk with us on a different way and someday he will openly tell us : " why did you refused my word? But God , it was not your word, people wrote it! People wrote it? Who sent those people and inspired them? Ummm I don`t know, I think many wished to gain riches and to rule over others by twisting it ... Now did you ever read it?Did you ever try to read between the lines there, did you ever listened what my son stated there, which was my words and my inspiration to all? You rather believed other people and didn`t believe me even when I said things over my son?
I can speak in everything I choose, from this wind you hear or next person that you see and you are willing to hear that but are not willing to recognize my son ,my self when directly speaking with you?

Frank , I value you comments and find in them a lot of wisdom friend!
Be blessed!

[lightblue]

.
beren:

After all God chose many more things to speak to the souls. SO if we trash Bible , no worries he will talk with us on a different way and someday he will openly tell us :

hi beren, what makes you think god is a HE? if you know it is a HE, could you describe what he looks like? thanks l



.

[Beren]

Posted by lightblue (here)
.
beren:


hi beren, what makes you think god is a HE? if you know it is a HE, could you describe what he looks like? thanks l



.

Hi Lightblue,

I speak in terms HE.
God is neither male or female. It`s a spirit. Creator contains and encompasses all. It`s been represented in Bible as Father because people in that time and even today would identify with a male with a creative power ,since women can`t create life...
It`s all a bit confusing to us .Even Jesus stated once when asked about marriage in heaven; that up there there is no marriages and no sexes.

I call it a Father, because I feel that way. God is surely both father and mother. Way much more than we can grasp now...

[lightblue]

shiva 777:

Re: Spiritual encounters of all kind - war for souls

again...going beyond the simplistically misleading and deceiving religions/philosophies to the roots of what's up...book of revelations and J seals

i would like to know if there's anything else you can propose, anything except ashayanna dean's material? l


.

[frank samuel]

Beren the point is that if you have an incomplete picture due to the manipulation of the scriptures, then is fair to say that we cannot claim that the Bible is the only Holy Book that can be reference as the word of God. Ultimately we have to discern what is truth as a personal matter. In theology they have an interesting term when you are directly inspire by the source of all , they term it, the direct dominion of God. Beyond any Holy book is your heart and soul and your will to do what you know to be true to your heart. Native Indians, and tribes where in my opinion closer to God than most people today that cling on to the Bible for dear life.

So the point of the slaughter of the native tribes is that we took a step backwards by destroying the culture and spiritual knowledge that these native tribes had to offer. Today in the field of medicine the herbalist searching for new cures turn to the shamans for help. Just because these holy man do not read the Bible does not mean that they are less connected to the source than the so call preachers in which I include my family .

A connection to the source is simple and can be quite powerful and in my opinion can be achieved without any external source. Holy books and spiritual books of inspiration are guides, ultimately it is we, the person, that has to make the connection. Once the connection is made as many here have already pointed out there's no need for them anymore.

The future is exciting as we are beginning to see beyond the veil of dogmatic believes, religions, politics and even science, embracing the unknown knowing that we are ready for whatever may come our way. Nothing or no one can hold us back .
We have chosen to take the red pill to see how far the rabbit hole goes. That is why an open mind and heart is necessary for we all know many of our preconceived notions, believes, ideas, theories,will be shatter.

In closing I will just like to say that the only thing I know is that the more I learn the less I know, meaning there's so much yet to learn that the knowledge that we have is but a mere grain of sand, in comparison to what we still have to learn.
May all our journeys be fruitful, joyful and Earth shattering.

Many many blessings to all.

[Beren]

Frank ,
I told you before, I know all the thing you wrote since I explored them long time ago. I agree with your whole comment here.
My stand is that I am defending Bible since many are ready to trash it and in the same time to acknowledge other sources.

God uses many sources to tell the truth. But when we are refusing one of the most prominent sources because of humans that abused it in the past or now, we are trying to limit God in his ways of expressing truths.

Ultimately we try to say to God that he doesn`t know what he is doing...

Ultimately we do not need books and Bible and anything else since we have God. And that`s what Jesus was saying all about.
Did he carried Bible with himself, or any other literature?
Nope.

He had and has a normal relationship to God and acts openly with him. That should be our goal, to be one with father always.
To be non dependent from any outside tool. To be directly connected with source of life within and without.
Bible is just a reminder and eye opener and one with immense value.
Many sacred texts are sacred just because they too tell the truth.
Whatever God uses as his ways of communicating is always sacred.
So please understand me when I stand for Bible because I deem it sacred way of God`s speaking to us,and I respect all other writings too if they tell the truth about God.

Be blessed Frank!

[lightblue]

.
hi beren

don't think one is thrashing the bible by exploring other texts/sources..

i think you addressed your own concerns by answering to frank's post....only, i still can't see why do you think the "many" are found on this forum?

beren:

Frank ,
I told you before, I know all the thing you wrote since I explored them long time ago. I agree with your whole comment here.
My stand is that I am defending Bible since many are ready to trash it and in the same time to acknowledge other sources.

best wishes l