The Intergalactic Cowboy

One of the subjects that I studied in school was Transpersonal Psychology. Part of this was the study of Peak Experiences, which involve a raising of conciousness into a state where the unity of things becomes apparent, as opposed to the seperateness of things as we usually experience them. J.G.B. explains this in terms of how the Will can take us to this higher state of conciousness.
” The conditioned and unconditioned achieve unity in a higher synthesis of which we have only glimpses. This synthesis is what I call transformation. As a process in time, it is the penetrating, step by step, of the Individual Will into the human selfhood, until a moment comes when the conditioned state gives way and the transfomed human person enters into the beatific vision of the unconditioned Lord. ”
Religion refers to sin as a bad act which is displeasing to God and can prevent one from going to heaven. J.G.B.’s explanation is of a more detailed manner.
” Our model of the world enables us to give an objective account of sin, in terms of transformation. We postulate an aim or purpose that is shared by the conditioned and the unconditioned worlds : to achieve realization by the union of the will and existence. Sin is the refusal to serve this aim when the opportunity to do so arises for us. Sin opts out of the process, because the sinner refuses to pay the price which is the submission of his own will to the divine purpose. The consequences of opting out are deadly serious, for it means that the sinner cuts himself off from the reality toward which all existence is striving. He gets left behind. ”
” It follows that man will see hazard as a misfortune rather than an opportunity and will seek to close the door to freedom rather than keep it open. In its simplest form this leads to an assessment of experience in terms of pleasure and pain, labeled as happiness and suffering. We do not wish to suffer because we cannot see the point of it. In a deeper and even more significant interpretation, we reject the necessity for sacrifice because it appears to be a demand made upon us from without, instead of being a requirement of self - realization.”
Tomorrow, I will run sound at the church unless the p.a. system has completely broken down. The church has not found the money to replace the system, which is fifteen years old and on its last legs.
Perhaps the building and grounds committee of the church are setting up the conditions to facilitate an act of intentional suffering. I don’t know how many church members will be interested in participating in this exercise however…
The congregation awaits,
I.C.
” We may have an inherited tendency to refuse to pay the price for the transformation of selfhood into individuality, which price, in the long run, amounts to the sacrifice of egoism.”