[Infinite Consciousness]

[quote=N0B0DY;29904]If IT is the one which measures and differentiates, then IT is forced to partake in the never-ending process of measuring and differentiating. Resulting in IT's incapacity for realizing absolute oneness and unity, and resulting in somewhat of an absolute snare.

Though I would say that we are all partially correct in our assessment of measurements. Only that we can realize that "one" without measure is synonymous to no measurement at all.

It is difficult not to see that religious contexts come into play, based on bathing in bliss for all eternity unified with the eternal one. That the "I" refuses to die and egoistic tendencies prevent self-sacrifice and the realization that the reality of the "I" is a mighty persistent illusion. QUOTE]

Nobody, If the "ONE" is absolute i.e Pure Existence - Pure Awareness - Pure Bliss - and they are the underlying base of all life everywhere - the absolute is complete within Itself. Then measuring - differentiating - and thought - is an illusion because we are using them to define an illusion.

"IT" does not measure or differentiate "IT" is what exists beyond all measure and all differentiating. "We" measure and differentiate in a quest to realize and understand what lies beyond all measure - all differentiation - and in fact all thought - as "IT" the Absolute lies beyond all measure - all differentiation - and all thought - how on earth or any other planet can we reach or even approach "IT" by those methods when "IT" is the Truth complete within "ITSELF" that lies beyond them ? ? ?

In Vedanta, illusion is described as being that which is not there, and yet which seems to be there. The Spiritual Masters agree with this, but qualify the statement by explaining that the Attributable and the Attribute are not different things, but are the Expresser and that which He Expresses.

At the higher stage there is pradhan or principle, prakriti or nature, and maya or illusion. Pradhan is that which connects the material with the spiritual and is the highest aspect. The aspect of illusion of maya is the means of balancing everything - that is our intellect.

Illusion is not separate from God and is sustained by Him, but of itself has no existence; it is "nothing" and yet it is there. If you can fully understand this, then creation (matter) becomes very simple: for the whole of creation (matter) is under the influence of illusion, which can also be called forgetfulness.

When we forget ourselves and we forget that which lies behind "everything" (and which in fact is the Theory and Truth of Everything), the Creator, then we are lost in illusion. Illusion is like a huge serpent embracing the world -- it eats those who serve it.

In all three planes - the physical, astral, and causal - illision is holding everyone in its clutches. Its aspects are not separate - they come from the same source - (the mind and its - thinking, measuring, and differentiating) but there is a difference.

If a certain mango turns red in color when it is ripe, one cannot say that the color is not part of the fruit, and yet it has no identity, being but the mango's expression. Creation is a manifestation of the absolute, yet it has no identity, being but the expression of the Creator as the Expresser.

Tulsidas is explaining a very deep subject, which is hard for anything but the advanced intellect to understand. So how does one gain the understanding ? This world you see is the form of God; His form is apparent. The Lord and sustainer becomes apparent when one's Spiritual Eye is opened - one sees that He is the very foundation of all illusion and that all expressions of it are His Form.

Paradoxically, it is the Lord's Form and it is not His Form. His Form is not apparent to one who is deep in forgetfulness and involved in illusion's enjoyments wbhich are a grand play or trap set to ensnare our wandering attention.

When the inner eye opens, then we see everything as it truly is, and the illusion fades away, and this is how the illusion exists but does not exist.

The advice of the Spiritual Teachers is to gain salvation while living in the world, by developing that latent or inner eye with which one can see the Truth - the Truth which unfolds itself automatically when our angle of vision changes and we see everything in a truer light.

The problem here in our quest for the T.O.E. is similar to the picture of the pretty young lady who will change right before your eyes into an ugly old hag when you change your angle of vision as Robert so aptly points out in Re: Who will create the TOE ? Page # 9 - Post # 83.

If we cannot - or refuse to - chance our angle of vision - we will never see the other side - we will remain ignorant of the Truth which lies beyond all illusion !