Are God And The Universe The Same Thing?

When you hear the term "universe" what do you immediately visualize? Most people think of the cosmos or the material universe---the void of space, galaxies, constellations, etc. In reality, the universe is various frequencies of energy that manifest both the material and the non-material. Also included are the quantitative realities that subdivide our universe. In general, it consists of distinct and organized patterns or expressions evolving from one source~the Flower of Life. 

As New Age spirituality evolves, the viewpoint of traditional religion on the nature of God is being challenged. It is interesting that what is labeled New Age is actually a very ancient school of thought. Most every New Age guru or occultist utilizes ancient teachings that predate the sacred books of the major religions, such as the Christian Bible.

There are 2 general perspectives on the topic of this discussion that umbrella almost every religious/spiritual belief system:

1. Panentheism-God is a separate entity from the universe. The universe is a creation or an expression of the Creator, but not the divine being. Therefore, the universe is not eternal and can come to an end. The universe operates under the direction of its Creator who can alter or change the rules at will. The parting of the Red Sea in the Book of Exodus represents such a God.

2. Pantheism-God is the universe itself and all its many manifestations. God, aka the Creator, is not distinct from the creation, but operates as the creation, including you and me. The pantheist views God as an organic machine that must follow the laws of nature. Everybody and everything is God which are infinitely guided by the universal laws.

"We know from science that nothing in the universe exists as an isolated or independent entity."

Margaret J. Wheatley

"Not only are we in the universe, the universe is in us..."  Neil deGrasse Tyson

"I Am that I Am." Exodus 3:14 Old Testament, The Holy Bible

The major viewpoints on the nature of God have been presented. In the face of objectivity, quantum mechanical findings provide more support for the Pantheistic theory. At the same time, one could assume that the energy that designed the Flower of Life geometry is a distinct conscious entity. At the end of the day, living a life that radiates positive energy is the key that opens the door to anything we will ever need to know. A quote from Buddha eloquently sums it up:

"I do not care to know your various theories about God. What is the use of discussing all the subtle doctrines of the soul? Do good and be good. And this will take you to freedom and to whatever truth there is..."

Peace

Getting It Right At Home

Lately, there has been a lot chatter about the possibility of extraterrestrial life and the likelihood of actual contact. Yikes!!! Sightings of UFOs and other celestial anomalies are becoming commonplace reported from around the world. The topic of otherworldly life has been placed on the round tables during publicly reported conferences of government and elite organizations...one can only imagine the private meetings that are occurring. NASA discovers new planetary systems and related astronomical information on a daily basis. Landmark findings of the Mars Exploration Rover, such as the presence of water, fascinate us with the possibility of life on alien soil. The quest for finding earth-like and/or human friendly planets appears on the forefront of scientific headlines. Conspiracy theorists, media analysts, and self-appointed experts are advising citizens to be prepared for official announcements of otherworldly encounters. 

There has been all types of speculations on the nature and purpose of beings from another world. Most relevantly, how their interaction with our planet would play out in reference to safety and global agendas.

At the end of the day, it makes no sense to obsess and worry about over-inflated concerns on extraterrestrial topics. The overall scenario of any extraterrestrial life is out of our physical control. 

The most precious wisdom that can be bestowed is the achievement of humanitarian unity with each other. 

I am not referring to unity based on fear of something alien. In contrast, unity based on human beings recognizing and embracing their oneness. Unity and oneness manifested through the power of agape love is the best course of action. Agape love generates beautiful karma universally. By nature, agape love only recognizes the common denominator (the Creator) of everything; it is not concerned with physical or mental attributes. It is not concerned with man-made institutions of religion. Connection with our common denominator unites us with love and each other. 

Humanitarian love, peace, and unity may sound cliche, but it lays the foundation for true solidarity.

We will never be able to execute an effective strategy in dealing with alien differences if we do not embrace the human sameness of one another.

We are all manifestations of the same thing. Division among us humans occurs when the focus is on what makes us different. If anything alien invades our world, those differences will become gigantically menial and insignificant! It is highly unlikely one would stress over the variations among humans as an alien species presents. There has never been a better time to fall in love with the human race, flaws and all.

Human relations and how we treat our planet far outweigh the relevance of what is out there.

The planet earth is our home. Let's get it right here. Let's get it right with each other.

The Spiritual Side of Romance

Romantic love or the Greek delineation eros, for most individuals is the most exciting and intense form of human affection. It can move like a roller coaster ride with extreme highs that dip down to extreme lows. The sensuality of the romantic experience releases feel good chemicals in our brains, offering a slice of paradise on earth. It causes the beneficial merging of lives, creation of more humans, and ultimately, survival of the human race. The very thrill of eros at its best is worth the agony of the down-side as expressed in the popular quote by poet Alfred Lord Tennyson: 

"Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."

Many of us probably agree with that testament in spite of enduring the pain of a broken heart. 

Romance as an Holistic Experience

The blissful unification of body and heart reverberates to the spirit. As a result, the spirit soars vibrating at higher frequencies. The heart is a manifestation of the mind where our emotions originate. The mind/heart is how the soul energy expresses itself in the physical world. The brain is simply the physical receiver or translator of that energy. Therefore, what we perceive as falling in love is the merging or the attempt to merge with the energy of another. It is fundamentally a supernatural experience of higher consciousness, no matter how short-lived it might be.

Let It Go

Just as every experience we have impacts our holistic being, so does our love relationships. Every romance leaves its own unique signature on our souls and spirits. When that spiritual imprint impacts our perceptions and behaviors, we call it baggage. Once you release the emotions of former relationships (disconnect with that energy), the imprints will fade and so will your baggage.

Spirit Guide

In the ultimate quest for true love, communicating with spirit just makes sense. We become one with the Creator and the creation. The answers to all questions and the solutions to all problems dwell on the spirit realm. Self-exploration leads to spiritual connection which leads to self-improvement; a prerequisite to harmoniously joining forces with another. Practicing rituals that promote inner-connections will inevitably improve the decisions we make in our romantic interludes. Remember, anything we seek in the external world is created and regulated by the internal world. Love follows the same pattern of the supernatural over the natural.

In what specific ways do you feel good spiritual health can alleviate relationship problems, such as infidelity, domestic violence, or soaring divorce rates?