Are we not confusing the path with the goal here? There are a gazillion paths. Not all lead somewhere we'd want to go--all true enough. But "One Reality" refers to the transcendent, does it not? If there is some content in the transcendent that would serve to distinguish it from some other transcendent, then it ain't the transcendent by virtue of having that content.
--- TurquoiseB <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > On Mar 30, 2008, at 4:15 PM, > endlessrainintoapapercup wrote: > > > > > > > > > > And what difference is there between > > > > > paths to enlightenment? There is > > > > > One Reality which is known or not > > > > > known. This Reality is all that is. > > > > > > > > Well I know some would agree with such an > absolute statement. > > > > But no, don't believe that there is One > reality that is all > > > > there is. But absolutists do believe that. > > > > > > I don't know what "absolutists" > > > say and believe, but I question > > > what is absolute about the statement > > > that there is one reality. > > The very language implies that there is ONLY one > reality. This is patently obvious, because, as > Maharishi said so often, "Knowledge is structured > in consciousness." Same object of perception, dif- > ferent realities. > > If a person in waking looks at an object, he sees > one reality. Same person in dreaming or deep sleep, > another. And then you move on to the more interest- > ing views. From the POV of CC, yet another reality, > one structured in duality. From GC, yet another, > also dual but with one aspect of the duality more > lively. From UC, still another. > > I've always had little patience for those who claim > that there is "one reality," or worse, a "highest > reality." They all coexist at all moments; they all > have the same source and the same Being as their > essence. > > Plus, as Vaj says below, if there were only "one > reality," then the moment anyone realized UC, that > should be the ONLY reality operating in the > universe. > Right? > > > > It is a very > > > large and all-inclusive statement. > > > It acknowledges everything that > > > appears to exist and everything that > > > doesn't. > > > > It's commonly addressed as a false view in > Buddhist debate and it's > > common to hear such statements with the spread of > Neovedism, > > Neoadvaita and other New Age doctrines. > > > > If everything were one or 'all is one' than when > Buddha Shakyamuni > > was enlightened, everyone would have become > enlightened. I don't > > know about where you live, but where I live, that > ain't happened > > yet (relatively speaking). :-) > > The Newagers in my 'hood say it will happen > Any Day Now. :-) > > > > > > We live in the illusion of many > > > > > teachings and many paths, but > > > > > when the One Reality is known, > > > > > it is found to be everywhere > > > > > equally, in all teachings and > > > > > paths. > > But ONLY by the individual who perceives at that > level. > > > > > I never was a fan of perennialism, the > so-called philosophia > > > > perennis. > > > > Just more philosophical BS to me (sorry)... > > > > > > Again, I'm not familiar with perennialism > > > and the "so-called philosophia perennis" > > > which you object to. I'm only speaking from > > > my own experience and reflections on > > > reality. > > Oh? Did you find that when you popped into Unity > and perceived everything as One that everyone > around you did, too? :-) > > > > Ideas are abstract, but there is > > > something Real to be known, and it > > > is not limited or obstructed by any of > > > our beliefs about it. It expresses through > > > all that is. All of this is an expression > > > of it. When we try to describe and > > > define it, we are the metaphorical > > > blind who describe the different parts > > > of the elephant. > > > > All paths are relative. Since all paths are > relative, there are > > relative difference between them. > > And, more important, there are important > distinctions > between them if one is ever to transcend them. > > > Not all paths lead to Enlightenment / Buddhahood. > Not all paths > > lead to the same state of consciousness. > > > > As John Lennon said: Nothing is real. :-) > > Or as Unc says, Everything is real. Perceiving > that the universe is illusory from one state of > consciousness doesn't make it illusory. It's just > perception. And I'd be willing to bet that if you > walked up to a gang of rogue grannies and tried > to tell them they don't exist, they'd whup yer ass. > :-) > > > > Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
