What I have become after 10 years of being a Christian Mystic....

reply to post by dominicus

Originally posted by dominicus
3. 3 weeks after Baptism, the Holy Spirit descended on me and slayed my ego, added the gifts of the spirit, love for all, transcendence, timelessness, 3rd eye openetc etc.

This is what I was really curious about…How did you receive the Holy Spirit?

The Buddhists, go through these experiences through practicing forms of meditation and seeking within themselves etc, and IMO they do have divine connections and experiences with the Spirit/awareness of God. Most Christians of course will argue that you have to go through the name of Jesus to reach God, but my own view is that you have to go through the character and likeness of Jesus i.e. what Jesus stands for and represents. In order to reach God…

Christians come to believe in Jesus, from reading the Bible and then at some point, they receive the Holy Spirit. My current view is that the receiving of the Holy Spirit is actually one of the seven chakras being activated, through a spiritual meeting between your own spirit and Gods Spirit. Which IMO means that it’s essentially a 2 way process, between yourself and God.

The big question here is, how can the belief in one man activate, one of your spiritual energies? My own personal answer to that question, which is one I have held since the beginning of my faith/search, is that the “Spirit of the living God”, or “Cosmic consciousness”, lived and spoke through Jesus. This is why I believe Jesus is so important, although this is not a view, that is commonly held by most Buddhists.

So while I can see much truth in Buddhism, I still see Jesus as important and the only other people, who hold both these aspects to be true, are the Christian Gnostics and a few Christian mystic sects…

- JC

reply to post by Deetermined

continued:

My conclusion to you:

You've been fed a relative perspective of Christianity that is based on where you grew up. If you lack a well rounded education about the various perspectives and denominations in Christianity then your whole view is very one sided and lacks any sort of respectable depth.

Had you been born in Russia or Greece you'd be E.O. and would be agreeing with me.

As far as not being the mind and body, it's true. When you are thinking, are you aware that thoughts are taking place? If you are aware that the mind is thinking, then that part of you that is aware of thinking, is not itself the thinker or the mind. Just like anything that an eye see's, is not the eye itself (not even in a mirror because that is just a reflection).

On top of this, your trying to use apologetics based on your relative perspective of Christianity to try and discredit everything I have said, however did not realize that a CHristian Mystic also has his set of apologetics to defend the mystical experiences that all CHristians should be privy to you, using various Scriptures to support my case as well.

So we both have apologetics, we can both use scripture in our defense, yet the difference between us is that you haven't experienced the things that I have and think they are false. While you you remain in a non-experiential version of Christianity that is relative & biased, and many even say is a Bastardized version of Christianity which keeps it's followers blind and out of the direct experiences which are responsible for overcoming and personal transformation.

On top of that, just like your church will proabably try and support your stance w/ various arguments, I too have various Eastern Christian denominations (which have claims as the purest form of Christianity) which have justified and acknowledged that my mystical experiences are in fact of the Holy Spirit and that they are legitimate.

And one last difference, is that I'm sure your version of Christianity lacks Monasteries. This means that your personal denomination is entirely focused on reading and hearing scripture and lacks; going within, the heart, intuition, the mystical experiences, contemplation, philosophical studies and thought, etc.

WHile the denominations that have monasteries, have 1000-2000 year long traditions of super deep focused monks who are all undergoing constant mystical transformations through Jesus, Holy Spirit, and eventual Union w. God.

Now we can't both be right.

reply to post by Joecroft

This is what I was really curious about…How did you receive the Holy Spirit?

after 14 mnths of genuine Bible study, water baptism in Lake michigan, then 3 weeks after that. I was in my house, w/ many roommates, just relaxing, getting ready to go to sleep. Just kind of laying there, still fully awake, and this Presence like a heavy wind, came near my head and kind of hovered there.

I began to see in the inner minds eye that this is death, it's time to die. So then my ego/mind got super freaked out about, like basically, "Oh man, I'm early 20's and i'm dying, there goes all the things I was still going to do." However in this instant, logic came over me and said, if this is "physical death" then there is no fighting the inevitable and at least I'll meet God in the after Life" ....so Logic tempered fear and I completely let go and allowed.

With that letting go and allowing, this presence entered into my head all the way to my feet and it was like 1,000,000 volts running through my body, however it was also the ultimate ecstatic Love. I've been in Love with the girl of dreams once, and had also tried euphoric based substances, but this trumped all. I literally Loved all beings without any kind of judgement.

At the same time, 'I' was in a sense now destroyed and was merely aware....like a newborn baby I had to now relearn how to function in life all over again. Empathy was like a thousand fold, I literally couldn't be around certain people because their ego's and negativity would effect me.

Also my third eye became filled with light & Love and I can literally see aura's, the energy around tree's, nature, I knew when someone would come over or call before hand etc. Longing for meditation and love for God and all began to throb in my heart which was pouring out Love for all.

I had to literally quite my job and take a year off because I became extremely sensitive to the Spiritual realities, letting go, Love, being reborn (this was the whole meaning of born again Christian which was to get ego death and the experiences of the Holy Spirit). The Next 3 years would be deepening of these experiences and seeing the NT as basically a Mystical text that non-experiencers see as literal.

The Buddhists, go through these experiences through practicing forms of meditation and seeking within themselves etc, and IMO they do have divine connections and experiences with the Spirit/awareness of God. Most Christians of course will argue that you have to go through the name of Jesus to reach God, but my own view is that you have to go through the character and likeness of Jesus i.e. what Jesus stands for and represents. In order to reach God…

Yeah I wonder about that too. I know the buddhists also have a baptismal ceremony and go through ego deaths and what not. Check this out:
Lathian. Baptism of the Holy Spirit
The link talks about people having the Holy Spirit experience in other paths. Very interesting.

Christians come to believe in Jesus, from reading the Bible and then at some point, they receive the Holy Spirit. My current view is that the receiving of the Holy Spirit is actually one of the seven chakras being activated, through a spiritual meeting between your own spirit and Gods Spirit. Which IMO means that it’s essentially a 2 way process, between yourself and God.

I agree with most of this, except that the Holy SPirit was actually a Spiritual presence, because over the next year of so, it would come and go as it pleased, constantly entering into my head and adding gifts of the spirit, higher transcendent faculties of timelessness, the Now, Love, and my roommates can feel that this presence was in our place and ended up asking me about it. Some of them were atheists and they felt this presence as well (you can imagine what it did to their skepticism).

Still My third Eye opened and my heart opened like a flower bud ripening and poured out vast ecstacy, which various paths refer to as chakras. Jesus said, "If thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light," and I directly experienced this as being so.

is that the “Spirit of the living God”, or “Cosmic consciousness”, lived and spoke through Jesus. This is why I believe Jesus is so important, although this is not a view, that is commonly held by most Buddhists.

Jesus simplifies Enlightenment, whereas Buddhism can be very difficult and take decades to reach an enlightenment. The Spirit is basically grace that comes down and quickens transformation. However all the things I experienced from the Spirit is also stuff Buddhists have been talking about. I don't see them as a religion, but as methodologies of going within. I think Jesus & Buddha are hanging out in the Infinite realms.

OP, just call yourself a mystic. No need to use the term 'Christian' because clearly, by lining up your words to the God's Word, you are in no way a Christian... unless you truly believe in Christ as saviour.

'The One' you worship is not the God of Abraham, but a devil. God is He or Him, not 'the One'. Satan prefers that term.

And no where did you mention our Lord Jesus Christ who is God revealing Himself in finite form.

reply to post by netgamer7k

OP, just call yourself a mystic. No need to use the term 'Christian' because clearly you are in no way a christian.

My mystical experiences were born of submitting to Christ, accepting Christ, God, the Holy Spirit, going to church, studying the Bible 3-5 times a week for hours on end with a pastor personally, and eventually getting baptized.

To this day, I consider Jesus a Master of masters, a best friend, teacher, brother, slayer of sin, light bearer, way shower, and someone I have come to embrace with my mind, heart, and soul.

'The One' you worship is not the God of Abraham, but a devil. And no where did you mention our savior Jesus Christ who is God in flesh.

I'll tell you what. Since I know it is not up to man to judge who walks with God and who is a Christian, I'll let go of your reply and say that I genuinely Love you. I know the real you and Love the real you, but feel sorry for the ego in you. Truly I hope you can also go through your own personal Spiritual experiential transformation in Christ, the way I have, so that you too can see the Light and now you are going back to God when the physical vessel passes away and along the way detach from the programming and brainwashing of the World

Sounds like somebody's saving all of their dead skin cells and smoking them!



It's better than trying to sniff one's own brown eye.

Originally posted by chasingbrahman
Sounds like somebody's saving all of their dead skin cells and smoking them!

It's better than trying to sniff one's own brown eye.

sounds like someone with no clue of what is going on here. It's ok though. I still Love you and wish for you to spiritually awaken one day also

reply to post by Deetermined

Forgive me for saying this, but I think it's a mix match religion.

Honestly, I would be surprised if they spent much time studying the Bible at all and spent more time practicing their own form of mysticism.

The Eastern Orthodox Church is exactly that, another hodge podge mix of surrounding pagan religions masquerading as christianity. The E.O.C. was originally part of the Holy Roman Empire, it was the eastern half of the Holy Roman Empire before Constantinople was conquered by Islam and renamed Istanbul. The E.O.C. is just another flavor of catholicism, the only thing that really sets them apart is they refuse to follow the Pope, but do still have Bishops over their church.

reply to post by dominicus


Sadly, the joke is on you. Here you are, born a physical human being into the NOW, and you have totally shut yourself off from it - that 'it' being the reality of flesh and emotions and of earthly struggles and pleasures.

Tell me, when you evolve into a state of pure energy will you also waste that existence on what comes after that?

reply to post by lonewolf19792000

The Eastern Orthodox Church is exactly that, another hodge podge mix of surrounding pagan religions masquerading as christianity. The E.O.C. was originally part of the Holy Roman Empire, it was the eastern half of the Holy Roman Empire before Constantinople was conquered by Islam and renamed Istanbul. The E.O.C. is just another flavor of catholicism, the only thing that really sets them apart is they refuse to follow the Pope, but do still have Bishops over their church.

While some of that may be true, what matters most is who is producing the most amount of Saints, Enlightened persons, Union w/ God, following in the footsteps Christ (getting the Holy Spirit, ego death, etc), Going in the desert for 40 days, long retreats, etc....

E.O. is pretty much the only branch that maintains these sorts of things to a high degree. They too are not immune to internal corruption, power trips, struggles, watering down, etc, ...but there is still sections of them, that produce very high caliber fruits and have left us with various blueprints on Union w/ God, Enlightenment, Completion of the human character as applies to God.



reply to post by jiggerj

Sadly, the joke is on you. Here you are, born a physical human being into the NOW, and you have totally shut yourself off from it

The joke used to be on me, when I believe int he status quo. now, I remembering pre-existing prior to a human body and know/experience directly that inherently I am not the human body (which allows me to embrace death with no fear and see the bigger picture)

....and as far as the Now, I was thrust into the Now about 8-9 years ago. My whole existence is completely enveloped by it.

that 'it' being the reality of flesh and emotions and of earthly struggles and pleasures.

yea those may continue on this end, albeit there is less and less of me grasping and attaching to any of that. Be my guest if that's your sort of thing. I'd rather rest in the Now & observe ...or observe the observer.

Tell me, when you evolve into a state of pure energy will you also waste that existence on what comes after that?

Waste? Is that a relative opinion I hear? Waste is a concept, an idea, what reality is there to that word when one man's waste is another man's ideal? Where is the philosophical guide book that explains what is and isn't considered a wasted life. Please do share the link, as I'm interested in that as well.

reply to post by dominicus

While some of that may be true, what matters most is who is producing the most amount of Saints, Enlightened persons, Union w/ God, following in the footsteps Christ (getting the Holy Spirit, ego death, etc), Going in the desert for 40 days, long retreats, etc....

E.O. is pretty much the only branch that maintains these sorts of things to a high degree. They too are not immune to internal corruption, power trips, struggles, watering down, etc, ...but there is still sections of them, that produce very high caliber fruits and have left us with various blueprints on Union w/ God, Enlightenment, Completion of the human character as applies to God.

A church riddled with pagan ways, the same things Rome is produces little "saints" if any at all, not to say there aren't some real christians hiding in there still. The Bride does not have the right to declare who is saint and who is not, that will be determined at Resurrection Day by who is raised from the dead and who is not. Going into the desert for 40 days and long retreats does not make you one of us, but adhering to Christ's teachings and commandments and believing that he died for our sins and rose from the dead on the 3rd day and ascended to he right hand of Father does and his Holy Spirit filled Apostles also left us some further instruction at his behest such as the Council of Jerusalem.

reply to post by lonewolf19792000

A church riddled with pagan ways, the same things Rome is produces little "saints" if any at all, not to say there aren't some real christians hiding in there still.

"pagan ways" have infiltrated everywhere ...the west included. I'm not trying to attack or defend any of the denominations other than to say the key being a Christian is Mystical transformation. Without it, your basically in the same boat as every one else in the world who struggles w/ all the same stuff.

I particularly however, do have tons to say about Western Christianity, because the Ultimate schism between West & East is Ego/Mind vs. Heart. The west has basically become going to church on sunday's, prayer, bible ...that's it. No room for personal revelation, ego death, mystical transformation, etc. It's like a tree that lacks water and has died.

At least in E.O. they maintain Monasteries, 14 - 40 day retreats, rich in contemplation/meditation, rich in the mystical things that happen when one seeks Christ/God that are in no way considered pagan, cause some of these things never happened to pagans..

The Bride does not have the right to declare who is saint and who is not

Perhaps, but the Bride has the right to declare that Union/Theosis/Deification has happened and then to explain all the traps and ways there to our brother's and sisters. Such a person would never call themselves a saint because the Ego has been slayed to such a degree, it becomes impossible to say, and saying so is a known trap anyway.

that will be determined at Resurrection Day by who is raised from the dead and who is not.

Why wait? God determines that now, as there are saints among us even today.

Going into the desert for 40 days and long retreats does not make you one of us

and that's fine, because someone operating without Love who remains in separatist thinking & judgmental values based on relative knowledge is no different than the saducees & pharisees of antiquity, condemning anything that's not like them (so much so, they failed to recognize Christ was legit)

but adhering to Christ's teachings and commandments and believing that he died for our sins and rose from the dead on the 3rd day and ascended to he right hand of Father does and his Holy Spirit filled Apostles also left us some further instruction at his behest such as the Council of Jerusalem.

Cool!!! I believe all of that. But I also understand through the study of general philosophy that belief of something is not the same as the actual something. All those things have already happened in the past and we use it for study, but it is the present moment that we prepare and ask for the renewing of our mind's through Christ.

However throughout Christian history we have mention of the same Mystical transformations I went through, most or many, of which are entirely supported by various denominations, and we have further instruction by those same individuals who were also Spirit filled.

I would rather take my instruction on Christian life from a Christian monk, hermit, desert father who underwent decades of psychological, spiritual, physical, mystical transformations, and ego deaths, then I would a Western pastor who went to theology school and never spent serious amounts of time within.(knowledge vs experience)

It these very Christians who gave a complete understanding about philosophy, the ego/mind, the body, all the signals of both, grace, and all the various aspects of a complete and thorough Spiritual life in Christ.

All I ever got from the Western Church was "just keep praying til it goes away, " or "keep asking God."

The answers I was looking for on conquering sins, lusts, ego, and animalistic desires of the adamic body/mind came from understanding, intelligence, and wisdom of the hard core Christians who went toe to toe with themselves and with finding God.

Unfortunately after studying the majority of denominations (and directly experiencing quite a few as well), I've come to realize that the West is watered down, lacking understanding via philosophy, psychology, and the inner experience, and it is exactly these things that are necessary.

Also please do understand, that Christian Mysticism has a rich history of it's own apologetics which also consists of using scripture and the direct revelations/experiences that we go through. There are plenty of historical mystics in the church, who were condemned, or called non-Christian (like you do here), in which they successfully defended their positions w/ apologetics, logic, reason, and philosophy

reply to post by dominicus


Firstly, thanks for sharing more of your spiritual experience, it was awesome. I’ve only had a few experiences myself so far, but nothing as intense, as you described in your last post.

Originally posted by dominicus
Yeah I wonder about that too. I know the buddhists also have a baptismal ceremony and go through ego deaths and what not. Check this out:
Lathian. Baptism of the Holy Spirit
The link talks about people having the Holy Spirit experience in other paths. Very interesting.

Yeah, this is just it!!!

People are experiencing the Holy Spirit through a few other paths, but IMO they are all going through the one God, even if they don’t know Jesus by name. Because they are simply going through his Spirit… the Spirit of God.

Originally posted by Joecroft
Christians come to believe in Jesus, from reading the Bible and then at some point, they receive the Holy Spirit. My current view is that the receiving of the Holy Spirit is actually one of the seven chakras being activated, through a spiritual meeting between your own spirit and Gods Spirit. Which IMO means that it’s essentially a 2 way process, between yourself and God.

Originally posted by dominicus
I agree with most of this, except that the Holy SPirit was actually a Spiritual presence, because over the next year of so, it would come and go as it pleased, constantly entering into my head and adding gifts of the spirit, higher transcendent faculties of timelessness, the Now, Love, and my roommates can feel that this presence was in our place and ended up asking me about it. Some of them were atheists and they felt this presence as well (you can imagine what it did to their skepticism).

Yes that’s right… it’s a Spiritual presence. The Spirit of God, or Holy Spirit comes and goes. This is kind of what I meant in my last reply, “by a 2 way process”, whereby your own Spirit calls out to God, through seeking the truth, or by going through the heart etc and then God comes in, and connects, with your own Spirit. And IMO because God is one with everything, we then experience this divine connection, of love and oneness.

Like Jesus said, “flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit!”

Originally posted by dominicus
Jesus simplifies Enlightenment, whereas Buddhism can be very difficult and take decades to reach an enlightenment. The Spirit is basically grace that comes down and quickens transformation. However all the things I experienced from the Spirit is also stuff Buddhists have been talking about. I don't see them as a religion, but as methodologies of going within. I think Jesus & Buddha are hanging out in the Infinite realms.

Well, if one is to believe that Jesus words are written in other Gospels, like the “Gospel of Thomas” for example, which I personally believe they are, then yes, Jesus did also teach enlightenment, to some extent.

But what you have to bear in mind is that modern Christians have only had access to the New Testament, where they have come to know God through Jesus words/message, without any specific form of intellectual enlightenment taking place. Although it could be argued that Jesus does give some form of enlightenment, in just the 4 canonical Gospels alone.

But my point is, that Christians are IMO encountering the Spirit of God, through the Character of Jesus, without going through any form of standard enlightenment. So the question which naturally arises, is how can that happen without any form of enlightenment taking place? Which in essence, is how most other paths lead there…

This is the reason why in my last post, I said that, “I believe Jesus is so important.” Because I believe it is God that spoke through Jesus and IMO it is God who has authority over all the spiritual Chakra points.

So I believe Jesus words, when he said, “The words you hear are not my own, but the Fathers who sent me”

So for me, it’s not that Buddhism is wrong or evil etc, because it does help bring people into a spiritual connection with God. And that, in my mind, at least, is what finding God is really all about. The unique thing about Jesus though, is that he does the same thing, except the key difference being, is that IMO He is, who He said He was, and had God living and speaking through him.

Having said that though, I’m not talking here about believing in a Religion or Christianity, with all it’s various denominations etc, which I believe for most part, were created by men, through error.

Anyway, I hope all this hasn’t been too heavy, to take onboard, and that it has helped to clarify some of my previous reply…

- JC

reply to post by Joecroft

Firstly, thanks for sharing more of your spiritual experience, it was awesome. I’ve only had a few experiences myself so far, but nothing as intense, as you described in your last post.

No prob ...this is what it's all about sharing out of Love ....nothing to hide or nefarious motivations.

It’s a Spiritual presence. The Spirit of God, or Holy Spirit comes and goes. This is kind of what I meant in my last reply, “by a 2 way process”, whereby your own Spirit calls out to God, through seeking the truth, or by going through the heart etc and then God comes in, and connects, with your own Spirit.

Definitely 2 way and very personal. No preachers, popes, priests, necessary. On my end, I was genuine from all my strength wondering, seeking, asking, studying whether or not the NT is legit and if following Jesus is fruitful in anyway ...boy was I in for a surprise!!!! lol

Like Jesus said, “flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit!”

Yeah, what sucks is all those who are not yet born of the Spirit, many are condemning as non-christians and heretics, those who do have the Spirit. It's the ultimate catch 22.

I'll tell you another interesting fact. I have met and known a handful of people, over whom the Holy Spirit hovered and was ready to transform them, but they pushed it away and did not agree through their ego/mind to undergo the transformation. Some eventually got it years later, but the majority are still stuck in their old ways struggling with the ego, animalism, etc. It's rather sad.

Well, if one is to believe that Jesus words are written in other Gospels, like the “Gospel of Thomas” for example, which I personally believe they are, then yes, Jesus did also teach enlightenment, to some extent.

Thomas never made sense to me until I experienced the Oneness and began to understand Nondual philosophy and how the ego/mind superimposes over reality. Then I realized Thomas is legit. One of things mentioned there is, "When two things become One, then you will know God." In my experience of Oneness, there are no 2 things anywhere, as everything is One.

But what you have to bear in mind is that modern Christians have only had access to the New Testament, where they have come to know God through Jesus words/message, without any specific form of intellectual enlightenment taking place. Although it could be argued that Jesus does give some form of enlightenment, in just the 4 canonical Gospels alone.

It may be enough for some, but you have to be super sharp if you want to reach a certain level of spiritual completion and Union just from those 4.

That's one of the problems is that in the West, they don;t necessarily study the lives of Saints, Mystics, Hermits, and Monks and lack a deep inner life.

But my point is, that Christians are IMO encountering the Spirit of God, through the Character of Jesus, without going through any form of standard enlightenment. So the question which naturally arises, is how can that happen without any form of enlightenment taking place? Which in essence, is how most other paths lead there…

Hands down over everything I've read, experiencing the Holy Spirit means experiencing a mystical spiritual transformation and a mini ego-death of the old self (the culturally structured mind programming).

If you experience that, the next few decades of your life will follow in various stages of experience and inner life, which naturally should culminate in Union. There are various biographies of mystics and saints in the church which discusses all the various stages.

I was just an average joe studying w/ an evangelical pastor, going to evangelical churches. No other studies. But when the Spirit descended and introduced all the mystical elements, I had to go to monasteries and E.O. to find out what's going on cause the Evangelicals had no clue what so ever.

So for me, it’s not that Buddhism is wrong or evil etc, because it does help bring people into a spiritual connection with God. And that, in my mind, at least, is what finding God is really all about. The unique thing about Jesus though, is that he does the same thing, except the key difference being, is that IMO He is, who He said He was, and had God living and speaking through him.

The way Buddhism & philosophy helped me, was in understanding and seeing directly, that the ego and the animalism of the body, are the 2 enemies of the soul. There is war going on within each person over dominance of these 3 factors.

The Bible calls it Adamic mind vs. Spiritual mind and ego death as dying of self. (To live you must die)

Buddhism has such detailed descriptions of how the ego & body operate that they give you swords for combat, however grace also has it's place as well, quieting the body & mind

.

reply to post by dominicus

Originally posted by dominicus
Definitely 2 way and very personal. No preachers, popes, priests, necessary. On my end, I was genuine from all my strength wondering, seeking, asking, studying whether or not the NT is legit and if following Jesus is fruitful in anyway ...boy was I in for a surprise!!!! lol

Same here, I asked my Christians friends many questions, then I started looking at debates online, between different denominations, in regard to different doctrinal points. Then I would cross reference Jesus words, to try and discover which version of the truth, was the truth lol It was a crazy time, that I will never forget.

I think that those that start out as atheists, and then start looking into Jesus, generally have no baggage, to get in the way, of them seeking the truth. Kind of reminds of that old zen proverb, about first emptying ones cup…

And of course Jesus says we should “seek the truth”…”knock and the door will be opened” etc…I believe the “knocking” is a metaphor, for asking the right questions, in order for those doors/truths to be opened up. In my own experience, this is exactly what I did, and I know that anyone else can do the same thing.

Originally posted by Joecroft
Like Jesus said, “flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit!”

Originally posted by dominicus
Yeah, what sucks is all those who are not yet born of the Spirit, many are condemning as non-christians and heretics, those who do have the Spirit. It's the ultimate catch 22.

Yes, I agree, its pretty bad. Although I think there has always been this divide, even among Christians, between those who just believe by faith, and those who have become “born again.”

Although having said that, Christians who have become “born again”, are also sometimes just as condemning, to other groups like the Buddhist etc The biggest problem of all, is that the “born again” experience, only helps to compound an individuals, specific denominational belief, in Christianity.

Although on a personal level, I still believe that they (born again Christians) are still very much blessed by God.

Originally posted by dominicus
I'll tell you another interesting fact. I have met and known a handful of people, over whom the Holy Spirit hovered and was ready to transform them, but they pushed it away and did not agree through their ego/mind to undergo the transformation. Some eventually got it years later, but the majority are still stuck in their old ways struggling with the ego, animalism, etc. It's rather sad.

To be honest, I still have times where I am hot and then cold. But during the times when I’m cold, I still have the knowledge that I know my experiences were real, and I know what I am spiritually etc…

So although I’m not perfect, that knowledge and the spiritual experiences I have had, helps me, even when I am not undergoing any deep or profound spiritual experiences, at that point in my life. Hope that make sense…

When you say Holy Spirit hovered, do you mean literally or metaphorically speaking?

It’s just that when I first received the Holy Spirit, which was 2 n half years ago now, I literally saw what appeared to be a ball of flame, hovering in my room next to my light. Although I only saw it for a split second, just roughly five mins prior, to receiving the Holy Spirit.

Continued….

reply to post by dominicus


Continued….

Originally posted by Joecroft
Well, if one is to believe that Jesus words are written in other Gospels, like the “Gospel of Thomas” for example, which I personally believe they are, then yes, Jesus did also teach enlightenment, to some extent.

Originally posted by dominicus
Thomas never made sense to me until I experienced the Oneness and began to understand Nondual philosophy and how the ego/mind superimposes over reality. Then I realized Thomas is legit. One of things mentioned there is, "When two things become One, then you will know God." In my experience of Oneness, there are no 2 things anywhere, as everything is One.

This is kind of where me and Buddhism, part company lol (if you’ll pardon the crazy pun)

In my signature John 14:20, which incidentally was the exact line I was reading, when I received the “Holy Spirit”…In it, Jesus states that He, like us, will be in the Father, on that day etc…

You see, I’m not entirely sure how the various Buddhist teachings define the oneness. And you might be thinking, well, they don’t need too, oneness is oneness, right? lol

Well, because Jesus said He will be there, I take that to mean his individual Awareness/Soul/Spirit will be one with the Fathers, and so will we be. In other words, we will all exist as our own individual selves, and yet will be one with the Father, spiritually speaking. So in essence what I’m saying, is that there will be multiple, individual, Spirit/Awarenesses, that are all connected together, as one… spiritually speaking.

Originally posted by dominicus
It may be enough for some, but you have to be super sharp if you want to reach a certain level of spiritual completion and Union just from those 4.

That's one of the problems is that in the West, they don;t necessarily study the lives of Saints, Mystics, Hermits, and Monks and lack a deep inner life.

I’ve never studied those things myself. I kind of just started with Jesus and and have discovered most of what I now believe on my own, with Gods help of course. But recently, since discovering Jesus most likely went to India, and finding that the Gnostic and Buddhist teachings touch upon that “What am I” question, (which is cearly connected to my experience which mentioned in my other post) I have become strongly drawn to it.

I know that your path started with Jesus, but I’m curious as to why you still consider, or refer to yourself as a “Christian mystic”, why not just mystic or Buddhist mystic etc?

Which aspects and elements of Christianity, do you still hold onto and why?

Originally posted by dominicus
If you experience that, the next few decades of your life will follow in various stages of experience and inner life, which naturally should culminate in Union. There are various biographies of mystics and saints in the church which discusses all the various stages.

Can you show me where to start, or where you started?

Originally posted by dominicus
I was just an average joe studying w/ an evangelical pastor, going to evangelical churches. No other studies. But when the Spirit descended and introduced all the mystical elements, I had to go to monasteries and E.O. to find out what's going on cause the Evangelicals had no clue what so ever.

The experience I described in my other post regarding my third eye…does that sound anything like what you went through yourself? I know those things aren’t mentioned in the Bible, but at the same time I know that I experienced it, and that it happened only just a few months, before I received the Holy Spirit.


PS - Not sure when I will be able to get back to you, what with the Holidays coming up…but I will be back!


Merry Christmas…


- JC

reply to post by dominicus

To this day, I consider Jesus a Master of masters, a best friend, teacher, brother, slayer of sin, light bearer, way shower, and someone I have come to embrace with my mind, heart, and soul.

When you acknowledge this simple truth (as written below), then you'll know that you've been filled with the Holy Spirit. This is the true definition of faith and what it means. This is what it means to be born again in the Spirit....

Matthew 16:13-18

13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God.

By saying that you think that Jesus and Buddha must live in the same realm, you just lowered the bar and the truth for who Jesus really was.

reply to post by dominicus


God bless you dominicus,

Truth is Truth, no matter where you find Truth!

Muslims have a level of Truth, Buddhists and Hindus have a level of Truth, even many Atheists have some level of Truth....

Truth does NOT ONLY come from Christian Churches and the Holy Bible, although the Bible is a great teacher of Truth

reply to post by Deetermined


Why are you trying to quantify a mystical experience of the Divine from words written on a page?

Direct experience of God is the Holy Spirit,

Not passages from the Bible.

reply to post by godlover25


Godlover25, do you know the Bible?

Not all mystical experiences are from God/Holy Spirit and you should know that. Go back and read about Dominicus' experience.

In fact, if Dominicus really wants to know what it means to be born in the spirit, all he has to do is read what happened at the time of Jesus' own baptism and what the true Holy Spirit had to say and confirm. If the Holy Spirit did not confirm this same message to Dominicus, it was not from the God of the Bible that it came from.