ASR: B12: Chapter 2: If God Is Alive And One Of Us
“God” is an entity that we have all met, but not all remember. “Heaven” is where we were created and is home to our eternal soul.
In this material world, it makes sense for those who are insecure and unsure of our connection to source. Would want to hang on tightly to the illusion that they were taught to see. Because beyond this border the path taken to that world of majestic beauty is another hideous realm that is hard to accept and comprehend. The road to get there is even rougher than the one we are taking here in this realm. Those who have crossed the border, but do not have the discipline and strength to go through all the way — will return with terrifying tales and created stories of fears to scare others away because they, themselves, do not know any better.
Those who have made it to the edges, but not yet all the way. They do come back, they come back with amazing tales. Of course, like all things — power in numbers. The number of those who made it successfully across are insignificant compared to those who cannot make it. Because it is not an easy road to cross. If it is — would we have monks, and other spiritual and religious figures training day and night. Even lifetimes after lifetimes, to be able to get to that place they have only saw briefly from afar distance. If just the briefest of glances can inspire such motivation, dedications, and devotion — it shows how sacred it is.
Personally? I do not believe in Heaven, nor do I care about its existence. In my opinion, if it exists, it is not a place just anyone can enter just because they have a key. Keys can be bought and forged, locks can be picked, and doors can be broken down. I doubt a place that sacred is that easy to get to: So, having a key and getting into the room, does not mean you will be able to see what you are seeking unless you are meant to be there.
To those who have not earned the right to be there; Heaven is just an empty space in a room they have seek curiously or desperately to open the door to. “God” is just a lonely beggar on the street that they ignorantly walk pass to those who do not know “him”. To those who wants to know “him”. “He” or “She”, is a “recognizable” face in a spiritual paradise that they have imagined up and depicted on the walls of the elaborate palaces they build to show their respect.
To those who have met “God”, they realize that “God” does not need a face nor dependent upon an identity to be recognized and associated with. All the superficial and flares are unnecessary extras that we choose to add, not what is needed.
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Many of us at this boarding school call “life” has forgotten what our creator and “home” looks like because we have been here too long trying to learn our lessons. Those who are impatient and attempt to take shortcuts to go home before they graduate, attempted to swim back on their own. Because they have not earned the roadmap back; they got lost enroute in the ocean and met up with terrifying obstacles and roadblocks. Thus, they are forced to turn back. They turn back with tales they twisted and used to brainwash themselves and others to be able to justify and excuses their own failing — to hide their wounded ego. Thus, probably born the concept of Heaven and Hell.
Those who fails try to hide behind illusion of realities that are easier for their ego to accept, manage, and maintain. In this false reality, they are allowed to keep their fear and failure hidden within the illusion of their own making. The passing down of those illusion through the generations, lead them and all those they have taught — To forget the real reasons why they create these false concepts in the first place. The fake realities we created, whether to inspire us to greatness, or to shelter us from our fear of the unknown that lies before all of us — become our new reality. The fake has become real, and the real has become fake. We have lost ourselves to the illusion we have created.
No matter how much we want to hide behind our illusion, truth will always have a way of coming out. Because illusion can take up a lot of energy and effort to maintain. Tire of the constant effort it takes to upkeep this “reality”, some of us will start to get over the novelty of “life” and want to be set free to accept and return to the simplicity of our true existence. That is when actions are taken for changes to begin to take place. This is when “new” options and concepts will resonate better with people who have been mindful and paying attention to their lessons. Thus, allows them to see paths opening up that were once “blocked” by old-templates. To get around the roadblocks, to get back on track.
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For a long time, my biggest conflict between being “like everyone else” and being “spiritual” — Is the “Gods” I know and the one I am taught to know by those in this world. The higher power I know do not identify itself by any names, titles, or physical features. It need not flaunt itself; by parading around in pride and entitlements, like a peacock to show off its mightiness. Nor will it demand people to fear it to give it what it want. What can it possibly want from us that it cannot create itself?
We are taught the “Gods” are our creator and has the power to create us and our world. So, why would they need or demand anything from us — even our fear? So, why are we taught fear of them? Doing so is a contradiction, is it not? Pride and ego are basic human nature, what does entities as refined as our “Gods” would need with it?
From my experience, the “Gods” that I know, is powerful beyond our imagination. It is power personification — yet, humble. Cruel, yet kind. Brutal, yet gentle. Rigid but fair. Ruthless yet merciful. Have no faces. Is faceless and every face I see. This higher power I know can wear the faces of anyone I have the great blessing to encounter throughout my journey.
It taught me that it is not black or white. Not Asian or Caucasian. Not European or American. Our creator is every ethnicity — and none. Not female nor male. Not old or young. Why must we define our creator? Define ourselves? Why do we need to put a consistent face upon this entity? We know this higher power exist, we know for a fact that it does not need a face, and the face we worship is not the only, nor the true face of this creator — then why?
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Why does this higher power need something as specific as a name or a face to identify it by? Why does “God” need a profile? Is it because it would be easier to fool “God” if we can recognize “God” in the crowd? Is it easier to lie, cater, and manipulate “God” if we know what “God” identify with, and know what to expect and not to expect? So that we can predict and project our thoughts, actions, and choices to crater and sell ourselves to “Him” — So that we can win “His” favor? Is it because it is easier to put on a performance, if we know who the show is for?
Because society is created as a market with the intention to prompt social transaction between people to maximize assets. Or to trade for things, we lack and want. Thus, we are taught to successfully sell — we need to recognize our target-market so we can manipulate them. Is that not why we judge, we categorize, and we profile everyone we encounter in our lives? Not why all those big tech companies are making big dollars, and trying to make more big dollars, by madly trying to collect our private data any way they can? So, they can manipulate us.
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If “God” is alive and one of us. How do you justify yourself on “Judgment Day” when you found out he was the peers you backstabbed to get to the top on your journey to “success”? Or the homeless on the street you walk pass with your nose turned up in disgust? The child you neglected; the innocent attendant you just yelled at on a bad day just because you are in a bad mood? The person whom you swore at on the road for cutting you off. How do you justify yourself standing before “God” and “God” turn into the woman you beat? The woman you made to bow at your feet. Because of some taught misguided concepts of cultural or religious idealism — you choose to believe in?
Concepts that “God” did not tell you directly that “God” is involved with? Concepts you choose to blindly believe in without direct confirmations! Yet, proudly embrace and indulged in because it benefits you! What would you say to God, when God tells you that God created you with brain to think for yourself — and yet, YOU choose not to use it? You choose to allow others to think for you because you want the easier path. That just because you believe you do not need or want to exert yourself the effort necessary to do what you are here to do — You can cheat and justify it anyway you like. You also, choose to not listen to God when God speak directly to you.
Because at the time, you are arrogant and did not know it is “God” you are facing. Thus, think God is someone you perceive as lesser than you, and can easily be bullied and force to submit? Now, before you stood the same woman you beat and forced to submit at your feet. But she is no longer a lesser being you believe her to be. She is your “God”, your “Allah” and will decide your eternal sentences from her encounter with you. Catch red-handed, how do you pledge?
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How do you tell God, that you had to scam and cheat a good man out of his hard honest earning: causing him and his family great hardships — All, so you can buy yourself another big house? A house you will leave empty on your quest to cheat another fellow peer for yet, another house; that you will also leave empty too? While leaving God on the street homeless? How much suffering have you, alone, is responsible for God’s other subjects?
How do you justify such greed looking into the eye of that man that you now know — is the God you seek to impress? Seek to know — only on Sundays? Or at temples, churches, and mosques. When, God is someone you have mistreated and tortured to satisfy a sadistic curiosity? How do you look God in the eyes and tell God you have entitlement to someone else’s pain and suffering?
What would you say when you come face to face with the people whom you have killed in the name of “God”, to realize they are Gods? What do you say to God: When you realized you killed God because “He/She” does not believe in the same thing you do? Then you justified your actions with the illusions of “righteousness” — You think, you have the “rights” to decide you are doing God a favor? How do you justify your ignorant and stupidity?
If the “Devil” that enticed, you to indulge in the pain and suffering of others; stood before you as God. Who do you blame for the choices you choose to make — when tested? Do you put the blame on God for testing you? What do you think God will say to you if you do?
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“God” is not responsible for our actions! WE are responsible for our action! “God” is not responsible for the choices WE choose to make. “God” should not take the blame for our lack of self-awareness, bad choices, or ignorant. I am taught that the higher power does not want us to think that the fear of God or their judgment — is the ultimate reason we are who we are. Come “Judgment Day” I think this higher power would definitely be able to see through the illusion we portray if we are not sincere.
Thus, if you have done something you deem you need to confess and ask God for forgiveness; then maybe you should not have done it. Having the ability to ask for forgiveness does not mean it is an automatic consent that allows us to stop thinking before we act. Having the privilege and ability to ask for forgiveness does not mean our actions are automatically pardoned. It is also not an excuse to not put any effort in resisting the temptation of making bad choices we are faced with each day.
The choices we make each day are the surprise quizzes we fail to realize; make up a large chunk of our final marks. Knowingly wrong someone and knowingly act upon it; without making any effort to overcome and discipline against our enticing dark natures — Is not a good enough excuse to justify ourselves with. Our belief in a “religion/spiritual” practice is not a passport or a license to allow us to knowingly do wrong and twist truth to suits us!
Being human is to make mistake and learn from that mistake. Because if we are not meant to make mistakes; than we would all be created prefect! Thus, what would our purpose for being here be? Mistakes are not always condemning because it is designed to be made, the question is: What have we done to try to prevent it? What have we learned from making that mistake and how can we improve ourselves?
There is no redemption for lack of effort, but there is redemption for honest mistakes and remorse. The lessons we have learned and the actions we will take the next time faced with similar problems or situation — will decide our forgiveness. However, ignorant is no longer a good enough excuse!
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Let me be blunt: anyone who teaches that “God” can forgive us the crime we have committed against someone else is — delusional! Or mistaught. Think about it! If someone committed a crime against you, would it make sense for them to ask your friend to forgive them, instead of you? So, why are we asking God to forgive us what God cannot do? Is it because “God” cannot say otherwise? Thus, with the invention of the “Gods” and our belief and faith in them; we have invented a “perfect excuse” to continue indulging in excessive ignorant and extreme mindless actions. Is this not a perfect excuse so that we can continue to mindlessly indulge in our “entitlements” to different state of “rights”, “perspectives”, “believes” and form of suffering?
The “God” I know will not pity, empathize, or sympathize with us for choosing to be ignorant. For choosing to not to put in the effort in trying to learn the lessons we are here to learn. Especially, when resources are available — NOW. But we choose to ignore it. Then, do not expect to manipulate “Him/Her” to forgive us — So that we can forgive ourselves, the things we should not be doing.
So, remember, if I and a few other mere insignificant peers can see clearly through all the false excuses and justifications we have been using to get away with our crime — what makes you think “God” have not?
