Question for the Cosmic Crew. To share or not?

Question

In the answers to Gnostic's beautiful question from earlier, two types of opinion were expressed.
Some say we should share our insights, at least one says no, sharing can diminish them.

Seem to me that there are (at least) two quite different types of genuine insight. In the first, we are shown some aspect or taste of Truth for OUR benefit, a precious gift to help us on our way or to deepen our understanding. I think this type does lose by being widely shared.
Then there is the insight of Truth for the sake of the Truth itself. Re-discovery or re-cognition. That should be shared and it spreads its light in the sharing.
How do we know the difference? Well, I guess that's why we have teachers.

What'cha think?

Clever Chameleon! Of course that's right. Let me say 'verbalised', then, rather than 'shared'.

Sweet Gnostic.
_()_

Shihan,
You can say that again! (About choosing, I mean).

Lord, Lord! What a wonderful set of answers!
Having been reading and digesting them during the day I have shifted and deepened my own understanding, which now is . . .
Spiritual insight, at the level that I have experienced it, is given to us in order to help us to grow, to become, to understand. I fully appreciate that there may be higher, (deeper?), levels, but I speak only of what I've experienced.

For me, it seems beneficial to digest those 'moments', to allow them to sink in and become part of me before being shared. THEN the sharing is of the essence of the experience.
Otherwise it runs the risk of becoming little more than just words to others and just a memory to others.
I refer only to broadcast sharing, not intimate stuff in safe spaces with individuals and small groups.

That's how it seems to me, anyway.

I have to say how grateful I am for your wisdom and all your answers

How annoying. I got a phone call and didn't proof read that. It should read 'just words to others and just a memory to me.'

Answer 1

For me they tend to be radically different revelations. In one the curtains are drawn for a few seconds and I experience God - beyond that I’m at a loss to tell. In the other I’m inspired to make a statement that provokes a positive reaction from the people around me. The later is rare but more useful. It is the difference between scolding people for being evil to one another and inspiring them to be concerned for each other. I find that to receive this public type of enlightenment I have to concern myself with understanding people more than being understood. I take conflict as failure. God is love and bringing Love out in our species is the highest goal. I’d happily go to fundamentalist hell for all eternity if it brought personal enlightenment to the world, but that is not in the order of things. God bless you all.

♥Blessed Be♥
♥=∞

Answer 2

I think Truth revealed in any fashion, whether for OUR benefit or for SHARED blessings, is a valuable expression. Anytime Truth is revealed it is for OUR benefit -- if it deepens OUR understanding, then why place limits on it and perceive that it loses impact when widely shared? Take a look at the consciousness revealed above in all of these incredible answers -- if a Truth was revealed for ME, a Truth that touched me personally, I cannot imagine that those above would not also be touched by it. So where does it really lose? Just because something might not be widely received, does not invalidate its worth.

As for Truth for the sake of sharing and spreading light, there is no question that that is why we are even communicating here. Take a piece from Gnostic, and then some from Raji, and then some from James, and the Cosmic clan and all of the others -- and know that they are both teachers and students, as are we.

My mind is open to receive Truth from whatever Source is willing to share, at whatever level it is willing to do so. The difference between the two types you discussed is semantics. Bottom line: We learn. We share. We experience. We understand. We are set free.

What an AWESOME question. I would not want to be you when deciding Best Answer.

Answer 3

So many wise and wonderful comments...I'm not certain I have anything original to add. But I'll try.

Yes, some things cannot and should not be shared. That moment when the veil is drawn back, when we most clearly see the divine within ourselves and our connection that without--that is certainly the most private and sacred of experiences. It is meant for each individual alone, and there is no way to fully realize it for another.

But then, there are the smaller truths, the "Aha!" moments that make us want to jump up and shout for the joy of our new understanding, that make us reach for a pen to note it all down before we forget. Those truths--be they religious, scientific, philosophical, whatever--are meant by there very nature to be shown to others. Not everyone will understand them--but out of a hundred people, or a thousand, there might be one who also shouts "Aha! I've got it!"

Answer 4

Beautiful thread. I've benefited from reading these replies.

Some little comments of my own:

I was raised in an evangelical family, growing up with the understanding that if we have something of value and worth we are obligated to share it.

I have seen in my own personality, however, that I am not always so skillful in such sharing. And it seems to me that in my own case sometimes what happens is that I'm trying to convince someone else of something that I already know ... but I'm still somehow trying to get reassurance for myself by having someone else know it. Almost as though I myself don't believe what I know. In those instances, I'm better served by staying centered, holding that truth in my heart, and cherishing it there, and not necessarily trying so hard to "convert" someone with what I know.

Lately I'm also working with the lesson that a best way to say a "thank you" for a gift that someone has given you is to enjoy that gift. In the current context, I'm thinking that can mean allowing a realization to enjoyably soak into all that I am, so I become an expression of that, with or without words.

And finally, an additional thought I have is how often as a therapist and teacher, I "share" my gifts with others not so much by verbalizing realizations I've had, as by asking folks questions that invite them to connect with what their hearts already know.
.

Answer 5

Where would I be if people hadn't shared? If we weren't sharing now?

Sometimes the seeds fall on fertile ground. And if the ground is rocky, does it matter? After all, they are only 'words' *chuckle* Sure, actions might be better but this is the internet and there's no choice.

For me, at this early stage, it's about 'flavour'. Trying to get a 'specific' description is like pinning down quicksilver! Sometimes I just feel inspired or even compelled to chuck in my ha'porth of 'wisdom'. Usually a bit of poetry or a few words. For the most part it's probably rubbish. But if one person gains somehow by it, who am I to deny them the opportunity?

Of course, usually it's me that gains! For my feeble attempts and stars draw my wiser brothers and sisters in and then all I can do is stand back and wonder.

So I'd say to you all, follow your hearts. If it feels right to share it will be. And if not, that's fine too. The terms 'esoteric' and 'arcane' didn't just pop into being for nothing. Those old blokes often knew what they were talking about when they said it can't be talked about! IMO

Namaste/Masters.
.

Answer 6

If it is in my awareness, I share it. More often than not, it is the general awareness of others as well. Each having a little piece of it begins to form a picture. We've been doing that for quite some time now. Offering up bits that left to your wonder alone, stay stationary. This is the medium of 'leveling the ground'. That no one owns their own in-sight.

The collective puzzle being pieced together. Opening up to this possibility just makes us massive and evolving. What you can't verbalize is suddenly recognized in someone who can. Back and forth it goes. Literally leapfrogging off of every new idea brought to the collective table...Movement at it's best.

That's what I think....

TAGGED by the Cosmic task force for spreading
((((Re-discovery and Re-cognition)))))))))

We KNOW what we're doing.

Edit: We should never underestimate the power of verbal recognition. Of the ability to articulate it. We hear those words as truth and we use this medium to add to ourselves. The proof of course is in the 'pudding' of our gathering mass.

Answer 7

I haven't read any of the answers, but I'll jump in with my 'two cents'.

I think it is important to be as clear as possible when "sharing" what we have learned. There is far too much 'flowery/poetic/mystical' talk around a very simple truth.

As my teacher says, "You are here, are you not (?)...you haven't changed a bit since you were five years old!" He adds that, there is no place you can go or be that "you are not". This simple awareness, uncluttered by the past or futuristic thinking, is who/what you are...simple awareness. And that is "it". It is what will be with "you"...always!

We have had far too much vagueness around the "mustard seed" of truth. There is so much confusion and fantasizing.

As long as we continue to go off into 'far-out' mysticism, etc. we will be wandering like tired children...looking for answers.

Answer 8

We share in every moment, whether we real-eyes it or not. *wink*

Then again, some of us like to play hide and seek....
But, even that is a game to be shared amongst many! =D

<<<<<<<<<<< Sharing Love >>>>>>>>>>>


EDIT:: Verbalized....Hmmmm...
There are some things that can be said, and other things that can only be felt. The truth dwells somewhere in between those two things. So, speak the truth, feel the truth, and share what you discover... you will then BE the truth.

Then again, what's a chameleon to know... We just go around camouflaging ourselves as anything and everything. *wink*

Answer 9

Insights are always for your own benefit. The sharing of them is part of the exploration of Truth for yourself as you play the role of your own teacher in the mode of student. It's never your task to teach others, only to learn from the teacher within, which is often reflected in otherness.

Answer 10

I think that regardless of whatever 'type' of insight one has gained, one has a responsibility to support others in their practice (or even in their non-practice). The key, of course, is to do it in a 'right' way.

Anything we might do to deepen others understanding, also deepens our own.

After all, are we not all the children of the same mother?

EDIT: Another thought - It seems to me that acting as a teacher, one becomes a much better student. By sharing our experiences, we can learn even more from them.