(Thoughts sparked by reports of some who seem to lose a sense of self when experiencing deep meditation.)
◊ if undifferentiated oneness is the original state of all things, living and non-living;
◊ if life is a three-act developmental opportunity with pre-mortal, mortal, and post-mortal stages;[1]
◊ if greater degrees of differentiation and wholeness come by progressively abiding the law (greater light) of higher states and stages;
◊ if the light of lower states and stages is included in higher ones (transcend & include);[2]
◊ if a higher state/stage is obtained only after sustained inner and outer submission to its revealed laws (greater light);
THEN
—◊ maybe those meditative practices that "offline" the frontal cortex[3] are really regressions into pre-mortal oneness and not practices of transcendence;
—◊ maybe the sustained practice of emptying oneself into pre-mortal oneness is so stressful on the mortal state that it can lead to mental and physical disintegration;
—◊ maybe the light of higher stages (realms or dimensions) comes only as a gift from that higher place, revealing itself in its own time and way to those who seek, ask, and demonstrate a capacity to receive—and is generally unresponsive to demand, insincerity, misdirected practice, or chemical experimentation;
—◊ maybe transcendence is best served by pondering specific questions and by seeking to abide, through transrational submission, the light and differentiated oneness[4] (unity) that seem descriptive of advancement and enlightenment.
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[1] Does this three-act progression require an "invitation" (intercession) from more advanced beings: e.g., parents to birth one from pre-mortal to mortal; and a resurrected Christ to raise one from death to immortality?
[2] Could sleep be the "included" pre-mortal dimension which is mostly veiled to mortals in order, perhaps, to dispense equitable justice following a probationary mortal experience to ascertain the degree of light each will choose to abide?
[3] See Time magazine (Cdn edition) August 4, 2003, p. 43: "Inside the Meditating Brain: Frontal Lobe: This is the most highly evolved part of the brain, responsible for reasoning, planning, emotions, and self-conscious awareness. During meditation, the frontal cortex tends to go offline."
[4] New Testament, KJV: John 10:16, 30; 17:11, 21-23; Acts 4:32; Romans 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 10:17; 12:11-27; 2 Cor. 13:11; Eph. 2:14-22; 1 John 5:7-8; Matthew 19:5 (a transcendence of opposites?). And does Christ's atonement / at-one-ment—an utterly transrational submission (KJV, Matt. 26:39, 42, 44; Mark 14:36, 39; Luke 12:42, 44, John 4:34)—open the way for those who seek greater post-mortal advancement by their willingness to abide the greater light?
(First written in January 2007 and posted to another forum on January 7, 2007)
