Posted by Alex Caughey on February 14, 2018, 6:31 pm
1 Samuel 16:7 ESV
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
Ancient Greek wisdom invites us not to place too much trust in appearances, there being an understanding that the exterior is nothing more than an attempt to impress those easily impressed by an attractive image.
Our mirror image speaks to our perceived need to view the outer person, the mask that we deliver to the world as if to say...this is who I am.
The wisest of observers of human kind constantly remind us that there is in the human heart another life, filled with all that is our true self waiting to be embraced, that we may come to know our complete self.
Self deception is a daily travelling companion, for each of us understands that our mask is a comfortable display of everything that we wish the world to believe is our true self.
The heart of the matter is inviting us to face the truth alive within our very being, inviting us to follow Him, that He may guide us into realising all that we are, His outreach into the lives of all who through chance encounters, enter our life for us to assist.
“In loving thou dost well, in passion not, Wherein true love consists not: Love refines The thoughts, and heart enlarges; hath his seat In reason, and is judicious”
~John Milton, Paradise Lost
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The "true self"...
Posted by Pete on February 14, 2018, 7:11 pm, in reply to "Self perception"
19 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
Gal 2:19-21
--Previous Message-- : 1 Samuel 16:7 ESV : : But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look : on his appearance or on the height of his : stature, because I have rejected him. For : the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on : the outward appearance, but the Lord looks : on the heart.” : : Ancient Greek wisdom invites us not to place : too much trust in appearances, there being : an understanding that the exterior is : nothing more than an attempt to impress : those easily impressed by an attractive : image. : : Our mirror image speaks to our perceived : need to view the outer person, the mask that : we deliver to the world as if to say...this : is who I am. : : The wisest of observers of human kind : constantly remind us that there is in the : human heart another life, filled with all : that is our true self waiting to be : embraced, that we may come to know our : complete self. : : Self deception is a daily travelling : companion, for each of us understands that : our mask is a comfortable display of : everything that we wish the world to believe : is our true self. : : The heart of the matter is inviting us to : face the truth alive within our very : being, inviting us to follow Him, that He : may guide us into realising all that we are, : His outreach into the lives of all who : through chance encounters, enter our life : for us to assist. : : “In loving thou dost well, in passion not, : Wherein true love consists not: Love refines : The thoughts, and heart enlarges; hath his : seat : In reason, and is judicious” : : ~John Milton, Paradise Lost : : end : : : : : : :
Re: The "true self"...
Posted by Alex Caughey on February 14, 2018, 7:18 pm, in reply to "The "true self"..."
Well, Pete, your Biblical verse confirms my offering, that the true self is alive within our very being... Christ lives in me.
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Self realization
Posted by Pete on February 14, 2018, 7:25 pm, in reply to "Self perception"
: The heart of the matter is inviting us to : face the truth alive within our very : being, inviting us to follow Him, that He : may guide us into realising all that we are, : His outreach into the lives of all who : through chance encounters, enter our life : for us to assist. :
"Self-realization is an expression used in Western psychology, philosophy, and spirituality; and in Indian religions. In the Western, psychological understanding it may be defined as the "fulfillment by oneself of the possibilities of one's character or personality."[1] In the (South) Asian understanding, Self-realization is liberating knowledge of the true Self, either as the permanent undying Atman, or as the absence (sunyata) of such a permanent Self."
"Western esotericism integrates a broad variety of traditions, some of which view self-realization as the ultimate goal of a human being"
"The earliest traditions which later analysis would label as forms of Western esotericism emerged in the Eastern Mediterranean during Late Antiquity, where Hermetism, Gnosticism, and Neoplatonism developed as schools of thought distinct from what became mainstream Christianity. In Renaissance Europe, interest in many of these older ideas increased, with various intellectuals seeking to combine "pagan" philosophies with the Kabbalah and with Christian philosophy, resulting in the emergence of esoteric movements like Christian theosophy. The 17th century saw the development of initiatory societies professing esoteric knowledge such as Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry, while the Age of Enlightenment of the 18th century led to the development of new forms of esoteric thought. The 19th century saw the emergence of new trends of esoteric thought that have come to be known as occultism. Prominent groups in this century included the Theosophical Society and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, which influenced the development of Thelema. Modern Paganism developed within occultism, and includes religious movements such as Wicca. Esoteric ideas permeated the counterculture of the 1960s and later cultural tendencies, from which emerged the New Age movement in the 1970s."
"He" wouldn't be "ascended master Jesus" by any chance??
Pete
Re: Self realization
Posted by Alex Caughey on February 14, 2018, 8:13 pm, in reply to "Self realization"
One of the earliest memories that continues to feature daily in my life, is the icon of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, hanging over the mantel piece in the home of my Welsh great grandfather.
The icon reminds me that love is always seeking its path, into our lives when we freely choose to let Him lead us...kindly light.
The feeling remains that God is on the journey, too. ~Saint Teresa of Avila
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Re: Self realization
Posted by Pete on February 14, 2018, 9:44 pm, in reply to "Re: Self realization"
Sometimes I think we're tempted to construct GOD as we'd like Him to be, rather than as HE IS.
--Previous Message-- : : : One of the earliest memories that continues : to feature daily in my life, is the icon of : the Sacred Heart of Jesus, hanging over the : mantel piece in the home of my Welsh great : grandfather. : : The icon reminds me that love is always : seeking its path, into our lives when we : freely choose to let Him lead us...kindly : light. : : : The feeling remains that God is on the : journey, too. ~Saint Teresa of Avila : : end : : : : : : : : : : :