On Divinity
I premise that every true occurrence — past and present — contains a magical essence. Let’s call science¹ the magic we can confidently understand with well-reasoned and justified explanations. Let’s call divine the magic we cannot yet explain with good explanations. Therefore, divine occurrences are those we know to be true but don’t know (yet) how they came to be.
While many instances of divinity come to mind, I believe the facts that I am and that I feel I am distinguish themselves significantly. As far as I know, humans have the special designation that allows us to be alive and be aware of our aliveness. Our nature endows us with such self-awareness. I suppose the highest good you can achieve encompasses acting from your well of decentralized aliveness because it’s in accordance with your nature. Totally experiencing qualia exercises your divine privilege fully.
Practically speaking, realizing such a truth introduces an important lesson that must be remembered in everyday relations. Interacting with someone else means interacting with the divine. Additionally, in conjunction with the lack of evidence for the existence of the self, I find it difficult to believe that interpersonal relations involve meeting another divine entity. Instead, you’re meeting another piece of one Divine entity: all that has been, is and will be aware.
Consider a well-folded, fine sheet. One would never say that a sheet edge and a sheet corner are separate — materially or formally. The distinction exists only semantically. Likewise, identifying with the illusion that there’s a centralized experiencer at one point behind your eyes justifies our belief that we’re separate from others. It supports the view that successful people reach incredible heights with their wings alone. It explains the learned idea that unsuccessful people fail due to their lack of initiative. Both deeply ingrained beliefs begin from a false (or untrue) premise.
When you see a person with a life situation that’s roughly equal to that of yours, you see another piece of the Divine. The same holds when you see a wealthier, stronger, faster or happier person. I think the same level of connectedness extends to all other objects of our consciousness — living and non-living. Like pieces of a large and complex puzzle, we’re made of the same matter as every person and everything. If there’s no evidence for a separate you, then where are your boundaries? The distinction, the feeling of separateness, exists only in our minds.
To perceive the Divine, you must first recognize the Divine nature within you and then witness It in the hearts of others. Now is always the perfect time to notice how the magical awareness permeating the cosmos connects us. Start treating people like gods and see how your world changes.
- An important aside: I view science as an iterative pursuit that continually seeks better explanations. A so-called best explanation can be replaced with better explanations at any time.
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Originally published at https://mirror.xyz.
