Chapter One mentioned
some of the experiences found in 'first love' that serve as an excellent
introduction into what constitutes the characteristics of Heaven on
earth. First love can be described as: 1) finding a state of being highly
animated or quickened in all that you do; 2) being in a state of union
or oneness with the loved one; 3) possessing a 'high' similar to some
drug state as you lose your mental constraints and go crazy with joy;
4) being overpowered by the mere presence of the loved one and the intense
pleasure of contact and touch; and 5) becoming a new person facing a
brand-new future.
Similarly, children
at play can be observed to have the same five characteristics and hence
have become models for religious teachings. Consider for example, how
a child becomes completely lost in a game with others where the animation
and intense joy is quite obvious. A child radiates the role that is
being played to such an extent that the child fully becomes the king,
witch, or other role required in the game. The game may require suffering,
anger, love, solicitude, etc, which children readily find. Many times
children require an outside force such as a parent to return them back
to their normal conditioned role.
It is not just children
and lovers, however, who experience pieces of Heaven. Almost everyone
has had those experiences of 'losing yourself', 'being carried away',
or experiencing extreme joy without the normal judgmental process of
the conditioned brain. Union is many times experienced in conversations
where limitations as to what or how you may speak are lost, and everything
that is said becomes perfect and time ceases to exist. There is the
recognition of how during these times you become animated with an extra
quickening force flowing in your body. Your mental controls likewise
drop away and you can go crazy as you get carried away with some new
feelings or thoughts. In most of these types of intense openings to
others, you draw closer together and touching each other is not uncommon
as you use your hands to further reinforce your feelings. When you leave
each other, it may take hours before you feel that you have gained your
normal composure and self.
Creative individuals
also report similar experiences as they fall into their creative spaces.
An idea, concept, feeling or vision is obtained that immediately becomes
the focal point of the mind. The concept becomes overwhelming in its
clarity, beauty or possibility. The mind and body become animated. Thus
the story of Archimedes seems quite reasonable when he jumped out of
his bath and ran out into the street shouting, 'Eureka!' after he had
discovered why things float. There is an intense joy and attraction
for the new idea or revelation that becomes an epiphany just as can
be found with the view of a glorious sunset that sweeps through the
soul.
There are also experiences
of Heaven on earth that are easily listed as being religious or spiritual,
such as the feelings described in the Twenty-third Psalm of the Bible
or the poem Dark Night of the Soul by Saint John of the Cross. In these
examples the experiencing of Heaven can be related in religious terms
as being: 1) at oneness; 2) quickened or vitalized; 3) ecstatic, radiant
and of another world; 4) soft, sensitive and responsive or voluptuous
; and 5) reborn into being another person.
This book will explain
more about these five characteristics of Heaven on earth, but for the
moment each element will be briefly introduced.
The term quickening
has long been used to describe an inner creational or transformational
energy. Historically, it is related to the first sensation of life from
the fetus which was felt as rapid vibrations and was compared to that
of a fish. The relationship to a fish was further supported by the observations
that the early embryos of mammals look like fish. The symbol of a fish,
therefore, became the symbol of quickening or the energy behind a higher
life form and was incorporated within the Zodiac as well as in early
Christianity. The rising energy found in applying the martial arts or
the ability to do the unexpected or the normally impossible tasks is
called quickening. Quickening is the rising of energy from the inner
power center that makes you more alive.
Oneness is characterized
by the loss of egocentricity and the feeling that you are being controlled
by an outer or higher world rather than by your own immediate efforts.
This state is described as being 'carried away' by the situation or
by 'losing yourself' in the discussions, activities or insights. You
become at oneness or in bondage to the role that you are playing with
others who are also in bondage or at oneness. This oneness is not without
guidance as you find knowledge within yourself that seemingly appears
without effort. 'You know the truth of things deep within yourself.'
Another manner of expressing this is that you step into a world that
is under some higher or Divine control.
Ecstasy is experienced
as pleasure that keeps increasing. For instance, each moment becomes
more and more intense and exciting and your mind becomes filled with
the desire and expectation for even more. It is commonly described as
going crazy with rising pleasure or joy. Ecstasy further feeds the quickening,
and the rising quickening feeds the ecstasy.
The voluptuous nature
has the meaning of wanting to be close to others, desirous of sharing
as well as enjoying touching or being touched. It is not sexual lust
but rather the holistic feeling of the joining and uniting of souls
as well as of bodies and a common presence. It is easily compared to
the couple in love who 'cannot keep their hands off of each other'.
Voluptuous nature also is experienced in 'cuddling' or 'snuggling' with
another person or object such as a teddy bear. It includes the pleasure
of wearing soft clothing or of being enveloped in softness and warmth.
The term 'reborn'
is taken from religious and psychological expressions meaning becoming
a new person in body and mind. It can also be stated as taking on a
new role and personality in life, but unlike the old role, there is
a complete faith in the future. The new life is obtained without limitations
other than those that are self-imposed.
One additional term needs to be clarified and that is the term 'Heaven'
which normally has so many meanings different from that required in
this book. Generally in the original religious usage, the manner in
which the term was applied defined the meaning. For instance, the expressions
such as "birds fly in heaven" and "the sun rises in heaven"
all speak of heaven as the sky above. Similarly, the creator of the
universe lives in the heaven far removed as do the departed souls. This
heaven is not accessible from this earth and is generally considered
to be out in space somewhere. However, the term 'kingdom of Heaven'
(or 'kingdom of God') as used in the New Testament of the Bible as well
as in the earlier Gospel of Thomas points to a self-created Heaven on
earth. Jesus taught that you create this kingdom by using the inner
power and that its entrance is in front of you. He gives many parables
about this kingdom that are very confusing if they are assumed to be
about a heaven above or found only in an after-life. The usage of the
word kingdom is synonymous with the palace or court of a king. This
kingdom is therefore associated with pleasure, grandeur, and satisfaction
of your desires, as well as power. This kingdom is so pleasurable that
the teachings tell how you will give up everything so that you may stay
there. Jesus can be seen as emphasizing the 'oneness' aspect of Heaven
or the inner guiding power beyond the conscious mind that must be trusted.
This kingdom of Heaven is therefore the same as 'Heaven on earth' as
will be used in this book.
Other writings in
the Bible do not describe a separate Heaven, but rather speak of some
of the characteristics of 'Heaven on earth'. The word 'righteous' is
widely used in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible to describe
the state of being in Heaven on earth. A righteous person was successful,
joyful, clean, just, and driven by being fulfilled, balanced or complete.
To these individuals, the Bible promises that they will be given or
have the listed characteristics that are associated with being in Heaven
on earth. It should be noted that the word 'righteous' has the modern
meaning of obeying law, but the original meaning was to 'fully be'.
This term 'righteous' can be seen to correspond to terms used in other
religions such as being enlightened, liberated, freed, or perfected.
The remainder of this
book will delve further into the characteristics or the elements associated
with Heaven on earth and how they can be used to create your own Heaven
on earth.
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