Is enlightenment the end of individuality?

Question

*** Or just the end of our 'exclusive identification' with individuality?***

***Is 'exclusive identification' with Oneness also dangerous?***

*** There are 3 questions.***

Phil, as a therapist, I have met people who 'identified with oneness'. How objectively aware they were of one-ness is difficult to say and fluctuates. But, I've met some people with some pretty grandiose ideas of themselves, and sometimes there can be a lot of spirirual content in their experiences.
They could not be described as enlightened though. They may have been having amazing 'experiences' but their way of treating others was atrocious.

Personally, I get the sense that there is Objective oneness and Objective individuality, and these are not seperate. We are the ocean AND the wave.
Then we have ego floating around trying to to take the raw data of our awareness and trying to make some sort of concept out of it.
I would say the ego is a useful tool, but it is important that we don't mistake it for who we objectively are.
For me, i would say it is important to intergrate our Limitlessness with our human, individuality, grounding our divine nature.

Answer 1

it's the beginning of you!

Answer 2

No it isn't the end of individuality, it is the unfolding of being until you reach your source. It is the movement of being born into the realities that each of the emanations before you that constitutes you on many levels draw from and are sustained by. Enlightenment is knowing thy self and when you come to know thy self, you will know the One. Not sure what is dangerous, your individual uniqueness nourishes the WHOLE and the whole would suffer loss without such nourishment/individuality. The objective is to become one with the Whole yet not the whole. We are parcels within the WHOLE, and we make up the whole.

Within the body is millions upon millions of cells that make up the wholeness of a organism (many parts as well), if we go back to the stage of an amoeba then we are an a product that was without experiential knowledge, and the amoeba is the example of pure ignorance. The pattern of the body is holographic, the microcosm that is the macrocosm - the other objective is to gain that degree of inner harmony and oneness, to move into the greater depths of being your individual emanation of being, until you reach the source. A kingdom divided can not stand, we are all divided within ourselves.

I wonder why do people believe they are on the earth, for what purpose do they have experiences and expression, to all lose it and evaporate into oneness? I suppose its what one feels the objectives of life are, if you ask me it is self discovery on many levels, the whole is knowing thy self through us. Many don't understand that oneness is harmony, and it is experienced through the oneness that the individual has rectified out of the divisions of their own being. It takes oneness to know oneness, it takes divinity to know divinity.

This paradox, which isn't really a paradox but is harmonious seems to be a big thing of discussion on R&S recently. Negation is not the way, harmony and transformation is.

Answer 3

The individual mind/body obviously continues to function, but it functions as a part of the Totality of Consciousness, not through individual volition. This is the case for everyone right now, whether or not the mind/body is identified with as the self.

So, yes, enlightenment is the end of the identification with the individual as the Essence of the Self. All 'individuals' arise within what You are.

One does not identify WITH Oneness, one comes to realize one IS Oneness, and so the idea of danger in any form does not arise.

Answer 4

Hi R W,

I'd say it's the end of 'i--y' as we know it.

The raindrop becomes the ocean.

I wouldn't have thought exclusive identification would be as important as earlier.

One would see the 'reality' beneath the labels & language we construct great beautiful-looking towers & architecture out of, but which may be in some cases, pie in the sky.

I've heard it's like drawing a picture of a ghost, and then getting scared by it. :-)

The Buddha seems to hint that Nirvaana is the next step beyond Oneness, but to get there, we have to get there. :-)

A learner's response. :-)

Answer 5

When you reach enlightenment and gain a oneness with God, it is only the beginning.
You cannot learn or gain knowledge of something unless you are willing to become completely open minded, tearing down all fences and barriers and openly seek that something.
Once I became enlightened to God and his will for my life, I gained a oneness with God, but became a separate individual from the masses, because I came to know the truth and no longer search for answers, only direction.......What will you have me do, Oh Mighty God, that I may help enlighten my fellow traveler on the road to true happiness and meaning in this world and the next.

Answer 6

I doubt if many would recognise your psychological analysis of the situation. It is of course intellectual nonsense and you would be hard put to explain, in nice simple terms, what you are talking about. There is no such thing as exclusive identification with oneness. It is impossible to identify yourself or your individuality. That's up to others.

Answer 7

Interesting question... I think the end of our 'exclusive identification' with individuality is a good answer.

Identification with Oneness, isnt dangerous, when one is ready they will receive.

Peace!

Answer 8

If you could see that "enlightenment" is not some distant thing or state, but already is ours, in fact, is everything that we are, then you will begin to see that what we call "individuality" does not mean isolation, or exclusion. It is the freedom of mind, the elasticity of our perfect reality with whatever "God" turns out to be.

Explore your mind, and you will see.

Answer 9

No. Enlightenment is being able to hold both sides of the paradox as truth. Pass the Peace

Answer 10

Eternal perspective is the BEGINING
of true individuality and life.
Attempting individuality without an
eternal perspective is unwise, leads
to certain death - the ultimate
zero/negative - like being free from
EVERYTHING including freedom!

Answer 11

extremely the different. God's regulation of affection encourages appropriate self-love or self-well worth. @asker: God does love you yet He on no account created you to be transsexual. it extremely is your selection. no longer all alternatives are conscious, reasoned ones. the reality is that He created us as heterosexual and perspectives the different sexual selection or habit as sin. He can coach you a thank you to alter and return to being heterosexual in case you extremely desire to.