Posted by Diana on September 27, 19100 at 17:10:53:
In Reply to: True Self, False Self, Christianity, etc. posted by Philip St. Romain on September 27, 19100 at 17:06:41:
(Diana had quoted an article from a book in which Bernadette Roberts was cited. Phil had replied to this, saying that he had problems with some of B.R.'s writings.)
Are you saying that Bernadette has re-interpreted
Christian mystical tradition to suit her own needs? And, in an inaccurate fashion? Am I also to believe that you are saying her work is not credible? Fun, but not credible?
..... How can we 'miss the mark' if we are, in fact, on the mark? Now, that doesn't mean that moral and ethical codes cease to exist. Of course, they exist and we can still choose to violate them. But that is not sin. Sin or the illusion of separateness from God ceases and therefore, we can't sin?! How could we?
: We could because such perfect realization is not necessarily a constant,
is not necessarily....how would you know? Is this speculation or is this based on your experience?
... because perfect psychological integration is hardly ever found,
would realizing our Christ self involve having perfect psychological integration? There have been some pretty sick saints!
... and because old conditioning can flare up in certain circumstances.
even in these very unique, special circumstances?
Remember, now, we are transformed. We are no longer the same type of person we had previously been. A butterfly doesn't act like a caterpiller.
John of the Cross writes:
The soul thereby becomes divine, God through participation, insofar as is possible in this life. And thus I think that this state never occurs without the soul's being confirmed in grace, for the faith of both is confirmed when God's faith in the soul is here confirmed."
(The Spritual Canticle)
If the soul is confirmed in grace, then it follows.....
Also, Gal.2:20
"I live, now not I, but the Christ lives in and through me,"
One must take responsibility for these things when they happen. To say there is no personal self so no one to take responsibility is nonsense.
This isn't the thrust of what I am saying.
You don't understand.
The reason I am belaboring this point is because I have also had intutions similar to this during
periods of meditation. I think there is much to this idea that you are simply misinterpreting and
dismissing. I also think a lot of it has to do with how one defines sin.
The human soul continues to exist and its perfection will not be completed until it is fully established in heaven.
Isn't heaven is a state of consciousness that exists here and now?
Good try Phil.
You and jb are superfriends!
Thank you both for trying to help me.
Jb, I need to read your posts several times in order to digest them. I will get back to you later. Thanks for writing them in a fashion more congruent with my vocabulary.
I love you both but I have to respect my own
intuitions, too.
With appreciation,
Diana