Thursday, August 18, 2011

Deus factus sum – I have become God

I first read the words “Deus factus sum” in Grace and Grit, a wonderful book by acclaimed philosopher Ken Wilber, and was fascinated by the concept that in three words summarized my entire take on existence. Now, before anything else, I must say that this realization has been more than anything a humbling one.

When I think of the words I have become God (something that can seem arbitrary and for many nothing short of obscene), I do so accompanied by an overwhelming feeling of joy, hope and above all: wholeness.

In many religions god, goddesses, divine spirits or beings are perceived as something external. They are seen as heavenly deities that are looking down on us, judging, testing and punishing for wrongdoings. In some traditions it is convolutedly stipulated that we have to live by certain standards and complete a series of requisites in order to be accepted into their heavenly “afterlife.” Many individuals live under the delusion that their god(s) is/are the one and only supreme, omnipotent, ever-present, creator of all things, and live in constant fear of his/her final judgment.

I don’t want to sound preachy, I really don’t. I want to stay away from climbing on a pedestal of dogmatic claims that leave no room for contemplation because it is precisely our ability to question, meditate and scrutinize about our origins and purpose that will eventually lead to a better understanding about our true nature.

My reflection

It doesn't matter what we believe in, where we are from, or who we pray to because in the end we all are an eclectic combination of energy and matter having an individual human experience amid the vastness of the universe. And the universe is pretty big. Neither energy nor matter can be created or destroyed ever; it is only changing all the time, evolving perpetually carrying on throughout the cosmos forever… like god.

God is in everything we are told sometimes. He is the alpha and the omega. If this is so, we are part of it and we have god within. Although I have to say that I don't feel comfortable calling it god, at least not in the same sense that a lot of people do because I think it's presumptuous. Almost any definition or explanation that we are told about “god” or a divinity is falling significantly short of real understanding of the notion.

Yes, to a certain extent we have limited perception, but this goes back to our individual capacity for reflection and meditation because divinity is an individual experience. It is a mistake to let somebody tell us who god “is” or what god “wants.” That is such a limiting proposition. True divinity can only be experienced by the self and it will be different for everybody.

If we accept what somebody says god is (e.g. religion), then this becomes a cognitive process and we are losing the most important element of the divine which is experiencing it. Have you heard of enlightenment?

What if…

I can only imagine what the world would be like if from the beginning we had been taught to look for god within. I can only imagine what a different reality we would have if we hadn’t been taught to seek the “approval” of external deities that are judging our every action. There is no judgment and there is no hell. There is an "origin" of life and energy, there is a point in time when everything started and it is because of this that we are all connected. There is no division. There is no separation between what is sacred or divine and us. We are sacred and divine ourselves. Everything is sacred and divine.

I know I don't have all the answers. I know I am limited to my experiences in this human condition, but I also know that whether we want to or not, we will all transcend this form at some point in time and our bodily limitations will end as we fuse with infinity. And this is ok.

God, or the divine, or the all-powerful creators of everything that exists in the universe are/is everywhere and in everything ALL the time, including us. So by definition, you have become god as well. You became god even before you were born, and will still be god well after you die. You just have to realize it, and experience it.

Love to all.



10 comments:

  1. What a beautiful post. In many ways, I seek God within as well. Thank you so much!

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  2. I read every word... and I can say that i mostly agree with you. A Fact indeed. I'm a seeker of deeper truth too... of mysteries that can never be solved. But i know that, there's really something that can never be explained nor discovered... that how much you think & think, you will never get the right answer.

    However here's all i can say... (my opinion):
    Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. yeah... i believe that God is everywhere and carefully watching us. I believe that 'coz i have true faith... and eventhough sometimes i make mistakes, that sometimes i know its not the right thing to do but still i did it... im not afraid of whether going to hell or something like that... because i repent & swear to myself that i will never do the same mistake again... i learn... from my own experience... i enlighten myself. Your actions will follow for what you believe in & it isnt about dedication or loyalty, its about belief in what we do... to do what is good. & Faith... is not having the right answers, faith is a feeling, a hunch that there is something bigger connecting us all.

    Science and Religion can't be combined... because they have so many reasons and explanations about everything... in science... that we came from apes... in religion that we came from adam & eve... we dont really have the exact proof... & so many questions that confuses our minds. its one of the hundreds of mysteries of the human & of the world, how we exist, where do we really came from, why did we exist, whats the purpose of life. We will know the answer to all of that... soon enough. When everything is placed in wherever they should be.

    though... i somewhat believe that there is hell.
    it is written, that He will return and judge
    each and everyone of us. Many people have their own opinions about everything... about their religion, about their gods... worships... about what their mom told to them... as you said, there is god within ourselves... we have that spirituality... and that spirituality is not a religion. Religion divides people, belief in something unites them. Whatever it is, we all want the same... to connect with people and with God. A Binding... with our faith and beliefs, doing what is good and being true to ourselves... being a god of our own.

    But no matter what happens in the world and its people... just go with it and live to the fullest. Be good and do good 'coz one of the deepest secrets of life is that all that its really worth the doing is what we do for others. 'Coz i believe that
    Life is not short, it's the longest thing that ever exists, that you'll ever do and will ever experience.
    So do whatever you can to make every minute worthwhile.


    thanks for your time reading it :) xx

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  3. Such a seeker you are, Edgar. Always interesting my friend.

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  4. I commend your interest in spiritual things and you are nearing some truth concerning "God within"; however, you will never truly experience God until you make a pact with Jesus the Son of God who was actually God in the flesh when He came here 2K years ago. God has set Jesus as the main figurehead for all credit and worship. The bible says that Jesus is the manifestation of God that we humans must deal with to please God. The secret of live is the Holy Spirit of Jesus living within us when we invite Him in and commit our lives to Jesus.

    We DO NOT automatically have God within us. That is a fantasy of wayward souls seeking self-justification. Read the Gospel of John in the bible and take ahold of life in Jesus.

    Sincerely,
    Jerry Clifford, the Word Guru
    Email: wordguru.jc@gmail.com
    More on my blog site: http://bit.ly/mUQaty

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  5. I agree with Mr. Clifford. I am a believer and follower of Jesus Christ & I, too, feel as if elements of truth are making their way to you as you ponder your spirituality. Yes, we are God's creation and have His "dna" to a certain extent. However, it is the SPIRIT of God that one should seek to possess for this is the key to unlocking and understanding Truth. The way to truth, as Mr. Clifford said, is through the Son of God - Jesus.

    I have always believed, and still contend, that man's need to identify himself as the source of all things is simply egoism & classic narcissism. It is only when you have a TRUTH encounter with the Spirit of God that you realize that you are indeed finite and do not have the capacity or constitution to hold the title of "god". I respect your beliefs, though, and appreciate the invitation to share in your blog post. Best wishes!

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  6. Loved this article! Thank you so much! We are all 'learning' to become God, and when I use the word 'learning' is because we are finally letting our hearts be leaders of our minds. Amazing times of self-discovery and remembrance we are living.
    This God without religion that lives within is changing our reality as I write these words! :)

    All my love,

    Roxana

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  7. “They have not known, and they do not understand; In darkness they keep walking about; All the foundations of the earth are made to totter. I myself have said, 'You are gods, And all of you are sons of the Most High.” -- Psalms 82:5

    “Every church is a stone on the grave of a god-man: it does not want him to rise up again under any circumstances.” - Friedrich Nietzsche

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  8. "Once more the Jews lifted up stones to stone him. Jesus replied to them: "I displayed to you many fine works from the Father. For which of those works are you stoning me?" The Jews answered him: "We are stoning you, not for a fine work, but for blasphemy, even because you, although being a man, make yourself a god."

    Jesus answered them : "Is it not written in your Law, `I said: "You are gods"'? If he called `gods' those against whom the word of God came, and yet the Scripture cannot be nullified, do you say to me whom the Father sanctified and despatched into the world, `You blaspheme,' because I said, I am God's Son?"

    IJohn 10:31

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