Guest guest Report post Posted January 19, 1999 This is the first of many installments which compose an outline of The Experience of No-Self, by Bernadette Roberts. Though this first posting is being sent to several mailing lists and newsgroups, as a way of introduction, the remaining submissions will be restricted to the Nonduality Salon, so that all those interested can keep up with discussion. To (with one click you can ) please go to /.cgi/nondualitysalon Thank you, Jerry ______________ The Experience of No-Self INTRODUCTION: This work on nondual realization is a detailed report on growth beyond what may be called the final duality, or what Roberts calls the first of two distinct and separate movements in Christian contemplative tradition. The first contemplative movement is described as union of the self with God, where God is the "still-point and axis" of being. In the first movement, self is not yet lost, but functions as a higher self in its union with God. The sense of personal selfhood remains. Abiding in God remains. Being centered in God remains. The divine life remains. God and self remain. But in the second contemplative movement, self and God fall away, and "that" remains. Union with God gives way to God beyond union. The mind becomes fixed in the permanent now. The self's union with God transcends itself. "Here now," Roberts says, "begins the journey beyond union, beyond self and God, a journey into the silent an still regions of the unknown." So begins the outline of a detailed and revealing journey whose insights are fresh and capable of nudging a person toward a further understanding. It is also without reference to Eastern traditions and vocabulary, which makes it interesting and different. Thank you for your time and attention. ____________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
