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User:Nobody60/Nils/Discussion about God

<God An atheist discussion took place in June 2009 in Germany with the thesis, “there is with certainty no God”.

The Crazy Yogi
„“Dear friends, here is Yogi Nils. I am known as the crazy Yogi. I have a middle standing between atheists and Christians. I see myself as a friend of both. There is God and God can be scientifically proven to exist. The big discussion regarding the scientific proof of God has taking place already in the ecological forum Utopia. There isn’t an atheist on earth who can win the argument against the existence of God.

From my point of view, Christians and atheists both are correct, and incorrect, in part. God is a term of speech from the world of experience of the enlightened (holy beings, developed philosophers), which an unenlightened individual cannot really conceive of. It can be compared to the situation where someone talks about love who has never really been in love or loved.

So don’t fight too much. To talk about God a bit, can be helpful in finding oneself. But to really know and understand God, can only be achieved after years of spiritual practice. The enlightened generally have a good sense of humor, it is good to be able to laugh at oneself. I love it when people laugh about how crazy I am. I work in a world of egoism and self-addiction toward the goal of a harmonious life on earth for all beings. I wish love, peace, and wisdom where war, hate, and senselessness reign. I am totally crazy.”

Sven and Nils
Quote from Sven: Hello Nils, I am a neurobiologist and I work as a brain researcher in Bonn.

Nils: Hello, Sven, I am the little, unimportant Yogi Nils.

Sven: As no one in this forum can prove my point incorrect, I see that as indication for the instability of the argument in favor of the ability to prove the existence of God in a scientific manner.

Nils: I propose renaming God Sven. Sven is so clever, that he already knows that no one can prove him wrong. The proof is so strong that Sven is God. Sven is all-knowing and all-powerful.

Sven: The harrowing topic is at hand, that the point of life is not very deep or complex. Why do we exist? Because our cells have formed themselves into a functioning system which can reproduce. What do we learn from this? Live your life, have children, plant a tree, and dream with the media about forming settlements on other planets.

Nils: Dear Sven, dream on. When you are shallow, you don’t need to worry about other humans. I don’t dream of settling outer space, rather of a world full of happiness. I dream of a world of fairness, where resources are divided fairly so that people have enough to eat, can live happily together and live in a healthy environment.

Sven: I assume love is a relatively primitive emotion which earlier forms of life have developed. There is no reason to believe that love is anything but a bodily phenomenon. We are driven by this strong physical reaction to be unable to form objective opinions on the topic.

Nils: Dear Sven, it is a shame if love is merely a physical experience for you. When your judgement is clouded by physical occurrences, that is a shame for you, but it is not the case for all beings. Love is not just sex! Humans who are more developed, and not stuck in an earlier way of living, can feel love as coming from the heart. Love is spiritual. Sven: It is clear that religion is important for the structuring of social situations among humans.

Nils: Religion can be misused through the malevolent goal to gain control over other people. Real religion leads to enlightenment. This is the center of spirituality. The abuse of religion and the manipulation of others through religion is NOT the center of spirituality. We should all consciously avoid the abuse of religion. This is where I find connections with atheists, humanistically engaged scientists, and spiritual individuals very important for this reason.

Sven: It is often stated that God gives emotions to people, which manifest themselves in the brains of the believers. To the contrary, emotions come from the neurons in the brains of humans.

Nils: Dear Sven, I am an undogmatic Yogi and not a fundamentalist. I can prove your irrefutable statements wrong. Humans consist of material brain and soul (or consciousness energy). Material can influence emotions through nerve cells, but the soul can also influence thoughts and feelings. In the astral word, it is possible to think and feel without a material body.

Spiritual experiences can be summoned with the use of drugs. This is often practiced in Indian Yoga. I don’t use drugs because a considerable negative impact on health is also associated with drugs, and it is impossible to reach lasting enlightenment this way.

Enlightenment experiences such as inner bliss, ecstasy, trance techniques can also be found using such methods as drumming, music, mantras, through sex (Tantric Yoga), dancing, and so on. In Yoga, the body is used as an instrument to reach higher planes of consciousness. Enlightenment can also be found using material processes on the brain. The way to enlightenment using meditation and thought work is the best in the long run.

Sven: „Spirituality“ and „closeness to God“ occur as a result of excessive emotional processes in the brain. This can be connected with trance states that occur when large groups of people gather (such as a group prayer at the Vatican), or visits to night clubs (dancing) or when experiencing an orgasm.

Nils: It’s not as simple as you think. Humans are not machines. People consist of material bodies and souls. Brain research has not taken into consideration the findings of quantum physics, near death research, parapsychology, or the experiences of the enlightened themselves. Brain research has not solved the riddle of consciousness.

The reality of a material brain does not address the existence of further dimensions. This does not take into consideration whether a higher consciousness (a soul or quantum field) exists. The findings of near death research, parapsychology, quantum physics and reincarnation research come closer to solving this puzzle, not to mention the statements made by the enlightened themselves.

Brain research concerns the material mind. It can therefore only make educated statements on the material brain. Statements about God and enlightenment from a neurobiologist are shaky, especially when said neurobiologist knows little to nothing about enlightenment and higher consciousness.

Sven: Religion and science are definitely not compatible with one another.

Nils: Separating religion and science from one another is a very dangerous road to take. There are plenty of flaws in spirituality which can only be discovered through scientific speculation and study. Furthermore, there are many scientists who are very helpful in enriching our knowledge base concerning spirituality. On this note, I could refer to the research efforts of parapsychologists. With such research we can reveal phony clairvoyants, for example, as the swindlers they are.

Psychology, philosophy, and theology are also schools of science. Would you seek to ban all forms of spiritual science from the universities? For you, only natural science appears to be science. It seems in your world, you are the only scientist who exists.

Sven: I can assure you that in serious brain research “enlightened” individuals with “extraordinary abilities” are not subjects of research.

Nils: And then the serious researchers declare their positions regarding God. They don’t bother to look into the topic of enlightenment, and then persist that there is no such thing as God. That seems to be not all too serious to me. Good that you can assure me you have not the faintest idea about enlightenment.

Sven: Nils, you claim energy is multi-dimensional. Do you have references for that? Do you have direct proof that God exists?

Nils: Sven, as a „serious“ brain researcher, you refuse to bother with enlightenment. The ability to sense energy is an ability of the enlightened. This ability often appears quite early along the spiritual path. Perhaps you’ve heard of the concept of the aura or have seen pictures of the saints in Christianity, or the holy in Buddhism or Hinduism. They are often depicted with an aura above the head and around the body in paintings.

The aura is an energy field around the enlightened. The energy field (or consciousness field) is multi-dimensional. It consists of multiple levels. An enlightened individual can deal and affect change on various levels (thoughts and feelings can be sensed and sent to others).

I stress the point that the concept of God is a term from the world of the enlightened. An enlightened being experiences God as energy, as light and happiness, all around. As long as brain research in Germany excludes enlightenment from their subjects of research, they cannot make serious statements regarding the existence or non-existence of God. It would be necessary for a researcher to come to enlightenment himself if he wishes to understand God.

Klaus the Physicist
Klaus: I consider Yogi Nils to be a nice guy with good intentions.

Nils: Thanks. I believe you are also an honest person.

Klaus: I also believe that it is possible for people to reach a real state of happiness.

Nils: Wonderful. You have a bit of enlightenment already. Now, you only need to confirm that happiness is an important goal in life for most people and that it would be good to work towards a happy world. Then we could really be friends.

Klaus: My argument is that you deliver the classic circular argument: there is enlightenment because enlightened report that it exists. It is only to be experienced by the enlightened.

Nils: Enlightenment was measured and studied by US brain researchers, as I have already written. In addition, there are many witnesses for enlightenment. Witness statements are valid forms of proof for the reality of enlightenment. Therefore, I don’t express myself in the form of circular reasoning, you turn yourself in spiritual circles. To be enlightened is to experience the proof of its existence. It concerns finding out exactly what enlightenment is. This is what science should research in order to clarify remaining questions about the reality of God.

Klaus: Regarding the higher dimensions: in principle, there are four proven dimensions. Three consist of space, one is time. Every postulated dimension correlates to a mathematical construction which gives us known concepts we can work with. There is no possibility to prove the existence of a fifth, sixth, or further dimensions.

Nils: I have already said that. It is a theory. Anyway. It is very nice to see the way modern physics have developed.

Klaus: The only known physicist who conducted a meanignful experiment in the 80s was Alain Aspect. The publication of his results emerged in 1982. He performed an experiment that showed that the Einstein-Podolski-Rosen effect could be real. Einstein had such problems with quantum mechanics and basically reduced it to absurdity. He needed one of his famous thought experiments, in which he had to exchange information between limited quantum objects and theories relating to achieving velocity over the speed of light. This was difficult to achieve. The experiment from Aspect showed that this was however the case. I still must ask, what does Aspect have to do with cosmic consciousness? The experiment of Aspect says nothing about higher dimensions.

Nils: Many physicists see that considerably different. I have already quoted the former head of the Max-Plank-Institute Prof. Dürr. I could also add Walter of Lucadou (ARD), Amit Goswami, Volker Becker and many others. My assumption is that there is a connection between higher fields of information (quantum fields, a higher dimension) and enlightenment consciousness. It should be researched further if we want to answer questions relating to God and consciousness.

Klaus: Your argument is that God can only be discussed by those who have personally experienced him. You can believe and assume, Yogi, but you cannot prove.

Nils: You should first read my text thoroughly. “God is a concept of experience of the enlightened.” That can be proven with the holy books of the major religions and the statements of the enlightened.

Klaus: I can also make the claim that experiences of God are hallucinations that come as a result of our own complex bodily chemistry, such as from drugs, sex, or trance. What is your response to that?

Nils: We’ve already discussed that. Enlightenment can be created through drugs, sex, or trance techniques. It is also practiced quite often in Indian yoga.

What can I say to that? Humans consist of material bodies and brains as well as souls (consciousness energy). Both can exist independently of one another, according to near-death research and the experiences of the enlightened. Enlightenment is therefore capable of being created via the world of material. But it can also be achieved with consciousness work (thought control and meditation). It can also come from a higher plane of consciousness, such as from God or gurus.

In the end, there is a higher field of consciousness that I would call spiritual energy. It is depicted in paintings as an aura around the head and body. Scientific research has only begun to consider this. I recommend further research. Today’s science should take on the topic of enlightenment if it wants to clear up the question regarding God’s existence.

Klaus: I can’t comment on the topic of near-death experiences as I don’t have the background there. I certainly wish there was something there.

Nils: You should definitely get acquainted with near-death research. It possesses the best chances for understanding the phenomenon of a consciousness independent of the physical body.

Brain Research
(Translated from the German Wikipedia article on near-death experiences): The case of Pam Reynolds is well-known from television documentaries. While Reynolds was a patient undergoing brain operation, various instruments were used to measure her brain activity while she was under the influence of anesthetics, and other brain activity slowing and numbing substances and techniques. The eyes of the patient were shut, and the ears blocked. Reynolds reported afterwards to have observed the operation while floating above her body and the scene of operation below. She gave details as to the discussion that went on, and could carefully describe the instruments and their application.)

Sven: Brain wave measurement is a complex and difficult undertaking. There are weak electromagnetic signals which need to be measured through thick, bone, ligament, hair, and cartilage. That researchers weren’t able to measure anything in this case is no surprise.

Nils: Your argument is incorrect. The near death researchers are not stupid. They researched thoroughly and came to the conclusion that no brain waves came through. With that statement, I refer to the researchers, such as Pim van Lommel from Holland and Sam Parnia of the University of South Hampton.

Sven: The brain cannot be emptied entirely. This would cause permanent and irreversible damage and could cause the patient to be mentally handicapped, and definitely not in the position to talk about God. At any rate, it is not noteworthy that patients under the influence of anesthetics can follow discussions during their operations. Even with blocked ears, patients can hear via the vibrations of the skull cap.

Nils: Your argument is not convincing. I do not believe that one can hear all of the details of a discussion with a skull cap and to see the details of an operation with eyes closed, particularly as a good supply of blood has been cut off from the brain.

I will admit that there was still blood present in the brain, as you stated. I have already explained that her brain was not entirely dead during the operation.

I have established that with ears blocked, it would be very difficult to follow a discussion only through the vibrations of a skull cap. Perhaps you have a very special skull cap. I would gladly have this, then I wouldn’t need ears anymore. This would be a very important medical development for those hard of hearing. Where can I find such a skull cap? Or do you only get one when you become a brain researcher?

Even more amazing is that you can see with eyes shut. You are probably God, as I have already concluded. You must have a super brain.

Karl Quark: I am not a biologist, but I know that the brain cannot be shut off. The body can only be slowed and cooled to the point where circulation is slowed considerably, but it is still intact. The oxygen present is not sufficient for normal purposes. The same goes for the deceased. Even when the blood stops pumping, the circulation continues for a time so long as oxygen remains in the blood.

Nils: The oxygen theory is scientifically refuted. The theory regarding hormone secretion has also been refuted. It has been established that brain waves did not flow. The ears were plugged and the eyes shut. How should a person observe things in a room when the brain, the ears, and the eyes have all been shut down?

The only explanation for this is the separation of the consciousness from the body. The soul observed the operation from above. Even you as a non-biologist should know that a person cannot easily observe an operation to the brain and then report its details. Perhaps there is something to the theory of the duality of the body and the consciousness. I’m just throwing that out there.

Hipsitipsu: You are nothing but a forum troll! Your Wikipedia article only contains a selected quote, in order to produce the wrong impression. Anyone who can read can see that it says, “ this is however not proof of the complete absence of consciousness. The neurologist Martin Klein: the EEG only measures the brain activity of the cerebral cortex, and only part of it”. That means impressions could still come to the patient in such a state.

Nils: I already wrote about that. To remind you, I said that blood was still in the brain. I admitted that readily. I have already explained the brain was not dead during operation. We have to take things carefully into consideration. Finally, I recommend that every reader of this forum read the entire discussion on Wikipedia.

I’ll stress it again: these things are not completely clear. It should be researched further and further discussed. At the moment, however, the results of the near death research point in the direction of the reality of the independence of the consciousness and the body.

There are thousands of other cases as a result of research performed on this topic. I already posted the gist of these findings at the beginning. If you’d like to have a look at the exact details, you should look into the vast wealth of research on the topic. I’ve already done just that, and summarized my results and posted them here.

Evoluzzer: I trust experts more than I trust yogis or gurus. For such extraordinary allegations, I require an extraordinarily convincing collection of proof from a serious site.

Nils: The experts say that there is no natural explanation. If you observe their discussions on near death experiences, there is a lot of room to infer the truth to the reality of a separation of brain and soul. This is also heavily discussed in science. There are various viewpoints. That’s good, that is the way progress is made.

It is a popular trick from materialistic scientists to set the standards for proof so high that no one can ever reach them. It’s important to approach these things without preconceptions, and to weigh the arguments wisely. I maintain there are many indications that higher dimensions of consciousness exist.

Julia and Nils
Julia: It would be nice if you would answer more than once a day and at the same time put all the arguments in their place, in your special way.

Nils: Julia, I like you. You have a sense of humor. Be happy that I can make you a little happy everyday. Even a Yogi has other things to do besides sitting in front of the computer. He needs to do Yoga and send atheists light. Today I am sending you lots of love. Feel the warmth in your heart. Open your heart.

Peter007: Hello Julia, have you heard this before? Little Julia goes to church on Easter and her father asks her afterwards what she liked the best and she answers:” that everyone sang “hello Julia”!”

Julia: In my opinion, a fully-developed theory on the part of an enlightened individual should be able to hold its ground without changing its basis.

Nils: Well said. Great that you find my theory well-developed. I would like to state, however, that I am not enlightened. I am just an unimportant Yogi. I don’t believe I am changing my theory when I formulate my thesis more gently, though.

Julia: If I may put your thesis into context: God is a concept that is not to be fully grasped, as I am not enlightened, which displays its essence in the form of strong feelings. These feelings can be measured and even proven by science and proof of God can only come to the individual’s own brain, at some point in time.

Nils: Dear Julia, that’s right. Enlightenment can be measured and has been measured (for example, in the case of Matthieu Ricard, who was tested by US brain researchers). There is already proof of this. On television, we can even observe how happily the neurologists went about their work, smiling while dealing with the enlightened. The only problem is proving whether God exists outside of the experiences and lives of the enlightened.

The strong feelings possessed by the enlightened are happiness, inner peace, and empathy. The feeling of empathy on the part of Ricard was much greater than that of the also-examined non-enlightened.

Julia: We can assume that someday the brain will be totally understood by science.

Nils: That I don’t believe. The cosmos are not to be completely understood by humans. We are a piece of a system (cosmos, God) and can only glimpse a small piece of this system. Science is an eternal process.

Julia: Is God to be understood as an established part of our material world, who lives only in the brains of the enlightened?

Nils: God is an established component of our world. According to the findings of quantum physics, there is a higher dimension of consciousness (a higher information field) that permeates the entire world. The enlightened see this higher dimension of consciousness as light. They see this light as happiness energy (peace, love, light, truth). They see light in the world around them and in all people. God is in all beings, even if these beings do not realize it.

Julia: I find the argument that God can be proven via the brain a shaky one.

Nils: Proving God using brain research is just one way. Brain research can prove that there are enlightened individuals and that there are people with special abilities. The supernatural abilities of the enlightened have hardly been researched. Some references are given in parapsychology, also when many materialistic scientists refer to this science as invalid. There are black sheep everywhere, but to condemn an entire branch of science is unbelievably arrogant.

Another way to prove God is via physics, even if Klaus says otherwise. Some other physicists interpret quantum physics more progressively than he does. There are even physicists who concern themselves solely on the question as to what existed before the big bang. For this reason, the topic often touches on spiritual themes.

The main form of scientific proof being dealt with presently is in the field of near death research. An important reference on life after death was given by the sixteenth Karmapa. Many statements from enlightened masters and clairvoyants refer to the existence of the soul after death.

Thanks, Wikipedia
Someone: Not only atheists see that differently, but all serious scientists.

Nils: In Science, these things are often debated. There are materialistic and more holistic-thinking scientists. Who is serious? It is a popular trick to consider those who have a conflicting point of view to one’s own as not “serious”. First, there are some trailblazers, then a hundred years later that point of view is the mainstream.

Peter007: Nils, I am amazed at the patience you have to try and get people to understand your ideas regarding the notion that there are other dimensions.

Nils: I believe that the discussion between atheists and spiritual people has purpose. The most important part is that this is taken seriously. We live in aggressive times. Therefore, aggression and offense in a discussion are normal and should be taken in stride. Humor makes the debate interesting. We should, however, be careful that the emotions don’t get too strong.

I write for the silent majority who read this forum. Most of the active discussion participants have their opinions and stick to them. I mainly write for those reading. I wish that the world was a happy place and that all people could be happy. Spiritual knowledge is necessary.

Karl Quark: Perhaps you could give us a link.

Nils: On the topic of enlightenment, Wikipedia is quite good. The experiment performed on Pam Reynolds can be found under near death experiences in Wikipedia. The duality of brain and soul is described quite well there.

Sven: I would not like to say that the scientists you have mentioned are incompetent or esoterics or pseudo-scientists, but there are reasons why their work isn’t recognized among mainstream science.

Nils: The majority of scientists think bound to materialism. They are stuck in an old way of thinking and are blocking new developments. Despite this, there are many scientists who do argue in a way similar to my own. It is often the case that there are first a few trailblazers, and then this line of thinking becomes mainstream a few years later. Finally, I am only interested in arguments. When we can respect both sides, then we can get along.

Being called an esoteric is not an insult for me. In esoterism there are many people who seriously and honestly try to find their way in life. We live in a multi-faceted culture, and that should be accepted.

Julia: As far as I understand, science regards the topic of near death experiences as a possibility. That means scientific findings cannot prove this phenomena wrong, but they cannot prove it either. It is a topic not completely understood.

Nils: Simply read the Spritualwiki under near death research and Wikipedia for text on near death experiences and enlightenment. Then perhaps your opinion will be more concrete. There is a considerable amount of indication for the theory of duality from brain and soul, and the existence of another dimension.

At any rate, Wikipedia and SpiritualWiki are on my side when it comes to the topics of near death research, near death experiences and enlightenment.

Seven Arguments
Wolfgang: "How can you justify your presumption that God exists?" Nils: "I have seven arguments: The statements of the enlightened. They see God as light in the world in the form of love, peace, and happiness. God is a term for the perception of the enlightened. Every real religion establishes itself around an enlightened master. Every real religion has a word for God, (Tao, Nirvana, Brahman, Allah, Yahwe). The near death research refers to the independence of the soul from the body and the continued existence of the soul after death. Wikipedia supports my view on these things. At the same time, Wikipedia also brings up the arguments of the opposition. Everyone can read the discussion there. The most important witness is Pam Reynolds. She has seen the light of God in the afterlife, and learned that there is a paradise area. She has also demonstrated that her otherworldly experience was real. She heard the doctors during her out-of-body experience and could reproduce exactly the conversation later on. The gauges showed during her out-of-body experience that her brain could not think. There were no brain waves. And yet she has heard the conversation. Pam Reynolds could have heard the conversation of the doctors only with her soul. Her ears were stoppered while the operation. Reincarnation research has referred to many cases of rebirth. Buddha knew his earlier lives. A good overview on reincarnations research can be found on Wikipedia. The most important and well researched case is Shanti Devi. Physics refers to the existence of a higher cosmic information field (Amit Goswami, God as higher consciousness). The string theory supports this point of view. Parapsychology researches spiritual abilities such as thought transfer, the ability to see into the future, and to perceive and sense over large distances. This field has collected many cases of aforementioned topics. Scientific happiness research has proven the context between enlightenment, peace, happiness, and love. They have recognized the principles which lead to a happy life. They have researched Matthieu Ricard as an enlightened person. I live as a Yogi. I have been in various states of enlightenment. I have seen God as light in the world, and as happiness, love, peace, and truth in myself. I maintain that enlightenment and God exist. I maintain that it is better and happier to be enlightened than unenlightened. I maintain that it is good to live in God."

God and Enlightenment
Fridolin: The discussion here has brought me further.

Nils: I also think that a lot of good arguments have taken place here, except for the more aggressive ones.

Fridolin: Even in Germany, Evangelical churches with rather radical perspectives have been popping up. Encouraging more moderate churches doesn’t seem like the worst idea to me.

Nils: I agree. We need to strengthen the moderate position if we would like to have peace in the world.

Karl Quark: You see God as love and through your feelings of love, you live in God? How should I interpret that? We live in a material universe. We are nothing more than material.

Nils: That is difficult for a materialist to understand. Love can be developed with spiritual techniques. God is then experienced as limitless love and peace.

Karl Quark: For you, experiences of love are unexplainable and godly?

Nils: That can only be understood by those who have experienced it. The causal explanation is God, because cosmic consciousness opens the door to love, peace, and happiness. In Yoga, that is called Sat-Chid-Ananda. First, limitless existence (inner peace), then a cosmic consciousness (the experience of the unity of nature), and then suddenly happiness occurs. If this is exercised systematically, one finds enlightenment.

Karl Quark: The term God leads to the experience of contentment?

Nils: The cosmos is a system of happiness. It serves to bring souls to enlightenment. That can only be seen when we assume that the soul exists after death. The evolution principle exists on this higher plane as well. Everything develops to a higher and higher enlightenment consciousness (the life in God, in paradise). Humans then go to God.

Karl Quark: Why cannot God be comprehended rationally?

Nils: God cannot be comprehended rationally because God is a higher form of consciousness. If you consider God as a quantum field (or a higher cosmic field of information), as Professor Dürr understands God, then God can permeate every aspect of the material world. Then you stumble upon God in through physics, but to really comprehend God, you need to be enlightened.

Karl Quark: Enlightenment means inner peace, inner happiness, and all-encompassing love, according to you. Good, then I cannot find fault with enlightenment.

Nils: Wonderful. Then we can come to terms on that.

Klaus: Do you believe that God only allows himself to be found where rational understanding ends?

Nils: Yes. God can only be found through enlightenment. Life in God can be found through spiritual practice. The knowledge of God transcends all rational understanding. According to Buddha, enlightenment is best described as the way there, rather than the goal itself.

The way there is very simple. Set yourself somewhere for twelve years ( the amount of time most often given in Yoga texts) in an isolated place, stop your thoughts, meditate, and the light in you will awaken. You will see and understand what God is.

It is good to have an enlightened master as a role model along the way to God, such as Jesus or Buddha. A Darshan can (but doesn’t have to) open the gate to spiritual energy (love, light, peace, and happiness) in you. It is helpful to be peaceful, honest, and to have all-encompassing love for all things.

But be careful: enlightenment is not a game. The path should be tread carefully. It could happen that you open a door and need twenty years before you can integrate the newfound energy into your life. It can be quite intense to go through the purification process that ensues after such an energy gate is opened.

Klaus: I want DETAILS. Where and how can scientists find God?

Nils: I’ve already explained enlightenment in detail, as you can read in many spiritual books. It isn’t easy to give a physicist the convincing details he or she wants. Look at it this way: I give you what I know and you give what you know, and together we can try to find the way of truth.

Practice and Grace
Todoroff: We are saved through grace. Grace cannot be worked on.

Nils: Enlightenment occurs through spiritual practice and grace. To reduce enlightenment to grace is a big mistake. It encourages spiritual laziness. Martin Luther’s biggest mistake was the teaching of grace. This should be reversed by the Protestant church, the Catholic church has a better position on this matter. They know that one has to practice intensively if he or she wishes to go far in the afterlife. They didn’t get rid of cloisters, instead they preserved them as places for intensive spiritual practice.

The Dalai Lama teaches, „enlightenment is hard work.“ I can confirm that after twenty years living as a yogi. Grace is part of it, but laziness is not smiled upon by God. Jesus explained, “those who believe in me will go to heaven.” He meant a real and deep belief with that statement. The non-enlightened are not capable of total belief. The Dalai Lama has the “two hand” teaching. One hand is that of the student, and the other that of the master. Only when both hands work towards the goal, can the student be brought to the world of light.

Regarding intense spiritual practice, a few sentences from the sermon on the mount: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Righteousness means truth. To hunger for the right life means to long for a life in light. To be pure in heart, one must first engage in intense spiritual practice.

Jesus Christ was enlightened. He sat for forty days and nights in the desert. Than the angels of God came to him and served him. Those who wish to live in God must meditate. Meditation is the way to a godly life. The early Christian desert dwellers often meditated in the desert like Yogis. The gospel of Thomas says “search for a place of calm.” The gospel of Philip adds, “it is necessary that each disciple finds a place of stillness. From strength Christ managed his work, but through rest (meditation) he created light (the divine child). “

Shuichi: I tend to exercises and ways to achieve something now and not work towards a later goal. This striving for enlightenment is a matter of ego. That would be actually counterproductive, because you are so focused on a target, instead of momentary existence. I believe that also unenlightenend people can talk about God.

Nils: 1st Enlightenment is good. Living in God is good. Unenlightment sometimes is not so nice.

2nd Anyone can talk about enlightenment and God. The preoccupation with the question of the meaning of life is basically good.

3rd Since enlightenment is a good goal, it is good to strive for it. The enlightenment itself comes from grace, but without any effort is usually no grace.

4th After I had met the enlightenment, I realized that it is the deeper meaning of life and it’s all worth to do it.

5th The path to enlightenment is very individual. You should feel very sensitive, where the road is personally. In my experience, the principles of truth (wisdom) and love are very important.

6th Who really wants to reach the target, is helped by God (the enlightened masters). It is good to pray every day, to meditate and to read spiritual books.

7th Aims are a matter of ego. Shortly before reaching the aim of enlightement the ego disappears. Then you fall into the great being. On the path of yoga I find a constant back and forth between being and striving for the goal. Both are important. Both must be lived in each of the right moment.

8th Do not listen to the words of a stupid yogi. Think for yourself.

title: User:Nobody60/Nils/Discussion about God


text:
User:Nobody60/Nils/Religious Toleration

<God '''Tolerance between religions and all people is requirement to create a world of peace, love and happiness. Inter-religious dialog is important to achieve a better world. Even theists and atheists should find a way of understanding. This is possible on the basis of scientific clarification of the question of God.'''

'''In history we often find that war and hate is rooted in religions disputes. Our future can only exist by promoting the goal of peaceful cooperation. Killing each other has to be repudiated and for this strengthening the peaceful tendencies of religions will be a factor.'''

'''Toleration of thoughts from other people is part of the essence of true democracy. Only if freedom of expression exists, it is then possible to discuss the best way for all. True democracy is, so far, the best way of living in a society without war and killing each other.'''

'''The first goal of toleration is to avoid hate in a society. The second goal is promoting constructive discussion, especially between divergent views, like religions. The third goal is that all work together for a world of love, peace and happiness.'''

To create a global dialog of faiths is the goal of the Parliament of the World's Religions.

Jesus as the One Way?
Christian: Jesus Christ said: "I am the way and the truth and life, no one comes to the Lord without me." Yogi: This sentence has been misunderstood by many Christians. '''Jesus didn’t say that he was the only enlightened and the only way to God. If that were so, he would have denunciated spiritual masters such as Abraham, Moses, John the Baptists as false prophets.''' Jesus didn’t seek to start his own religion. He explained clearly “I did not come here to dissolve the teachings of Moses or other prophets, I am here to fulfill their teachings”. '''Jesus saw himself as a person who had realized the laws and testaments of the Bible in his life. He wanted to take the Jewish people back to the original point of the Bible.''' He wanted them to practice spirituality. Many Jews had interpreted the teachings at the time in a dogmatic way and were missing the true point of these teachings. '''Without an enlightened teacher, every religion can become dogmatic. The task of the enlightened is to bring humans back to effective spiritual exercise. The words “I am the way” should be understood in this light. Every enlightened is a way to God.''' When we understand the words in that sense, then we can refer to the necessity of enlightened masters to effectively practice spirituality. The Desert Fathers (St. Anthony) had this principle and were therefore successful on their spiritual path. Later the Christian church has abandoned this principle incorrectly. One can also understand this sentence, that one has to develop the qualities of an enlightened (Jesus, Buddha) to attain enlightenment. Personally, I can accept that every religion thinks its founder is the only true enlightened one. Scientifically and with respect to tolerance and religious freedom, we should honor all positive religions as paths to God. Those who consider their religion as the one true religion, only serve to strengthen violence on earth. When we fail to stop this, there will always be faith driven wars. When a group of believers think they are the only ones who are right, they need to then slay their foes, those who believe otherwise in a physical or spiritual way. A too rigid interpretation of the sentence “I am the way” is incorrect. '''Every enlightened is a son or daughter of God. He or she embodies God consciousness. The Christians need to let go of the idea that Jesus was the only enlightened master. This idea is understandable from a psychological standpoint, but fully unacceptable in scientific terms.'''

God is Love
Anna Franziska: I am a Christian, but I respect Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and other religions. Nils: Thanks. We should all respect one another. Atheist: You have your interpretation of the Bible, but I could imagine another just as well. Nils: '''Jesus gave humanity a new idea of God. God is a God of love according to Jesus. Most Christians believe in a God of love. We should defend ourselves against confused fanatics. They have the wrong idea about religion.''' Agnostic: You mean God has something to do with love, but you cannot prove it. Nils: I can prove that. '''God is a term from the experiences of the enlightenment. When you live in God, you experience love. You live in the energy of peace, love, and happiness.''' God has everything to do with love. Esther: God’s most important concern is love. “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”( John 4,16) Nils: Thank you. That is exactly the way it is. God and enlightenment (holiness) are two sides of the same coin and the middle is love. Agnostic: The Bible is a collection of myths. Nils: That’s right. That’s how I see it as well. '''The old Testament is mostly a collection of myths. The myths serve as a description of the way to enlightenment.''' The new Testament, which is what Christianity is based on, is however not a collection of myths. '''The mountain sermon is the most important part of the new testament and is a direct indication of the way to go about the spiritual path. The statements made there fit according to the knowledge of many of today’s enlightened.'''

---> "Mother Teresa: The fruit of calm is prayer. The fruit of prayer is belief. The fruit of belief is love. The fruit of love is service. The fruit of service is peace." In meditation, conflict and tension dissipate. When all conflict recedes, inner happiness remains. The human lives in God. He or she experiences God and believes in God. With God, love and goodness awaken. He or she would then like to help his suffering fellow beings. He or she remains in God when he lives from that point of inner calm, and for the good of all beings.

Stop religious fights, get peace, love and happiness. It is possible!!
Klaus: If there is God, there is also truth. I am searching for this truth because it’s important for me to understand the similarities and differences among the religions, and as such it is also important to take those differences seriously. Nils: There is only one truth. There is only one God. But this God is not comprehensible for unenlightened people. God can be described with words like love, peace, truth, happiness, and light, but those are words which cannot replace the experience of God. The main way to reach this experience of God is to do the corresponding exercises and activities of one’s respective religion consistently and with wisdom (with real feeling and emotions). Everyone must find the way which is correct for him or her in order to proceed spiritually.

Klaus: Of course differnt religions can meditate together, but that doesn’t get rid of the differences, meditating together doesn’t lead to the transcendental experience which brings everyone to the same God.

Nils: If we really comprehend what God is, then every religion will come to the same God. Every religion can practice its own rituals, but we should also find ways to practice spiritually together. Meditation is a good way toward this goal, as well as praying, singing, and celebrating together. When meditating, everyone may use their own understanding of God, their own term for God. When we deeply experience our understanding of God, every term or word for God will lead to inner peace and all-encompassing love. I wish for a world of love and peace, and not a world of so-called holy war, or wars over religion. I wish for the various religions to stop fighting one another but that they love and support each other.

Mountain of Religions
There were five people who sought God. One was an atheist, an other a Christian, the third a yogi, the fourth a Muslim, and the fifth a Buddhist. One day the five seekers came to a large mountain. Up on the mountain shone a bright light. The atheist said: "This is the sun." The Christian said: "This is God." The Muslims gave it the name of Allah. The Buddhist thought it was the Nirvana (emptiness / unity / bliss). The Yogi called it Brahman (the higher reality). The five-seekers debated long about the light, the happiness and God. The atheist insisted that there is no God. The Buddhists did not believe in a personal God. Which the Muslim and the Christian contradicted violently. The Yogi surprised his friends by stating: "This question cannot be clarified by an unenlightened man. We all must get enlightenment, then we will understand what God is."

The five seekers had a long talk about God. They learned about their respective viewpoints. The talk was a great enrichment for all. But they could not come to a final result. They therefore decided to climb the mountain and to investigate the light exactly.There were many paths leading up the mountain. Everyone rose up on his own path.

When everyone had arrived at the summit, they decided to enter into the great mystery. They took each other by the hand and went into the great light. They passed through a great darkness (the ego resolution) and found themselves in God (transcendence). They stayed some time in God and then went back into the world of matter (the duality of things). In God all had been speechless. But now her mind began to work. Excited, they told each other about their experiences.

The Yogi felt God as happiness (peace-unity consciousness-bliss), the Christian as universal love, the Buddhist as inner peace (no attachments), the Muslim as a great power and the atheist experience God as a higher truth. The Muslims got the word "Allah", the Christian the word "God", the Buddhist the word "Enlightenment" (my Buddha nature), the Yogi "Sat-Chit-Ananda" (I am this) and the atheist "Cosmos" (unity consciousness). If they thought their particular word, they could immediately go back into the light. The word was their personal key to entry into the great mystery. Anyone who has met God, can come with the power of the memory and his personal mantra again into the state of enlightenment.

Each of the seekers kept his word as the greatest. They were arguing about their prayers and could not agree on a verbal level. So they decided to end their conflict and prefer to concentrate on the spiritual practice. They lived many years together on the mountaintop. They read in their scriptures, meditated a lot, pilgrimaged every day to the mountain summit and met once a week to a joint celebration. Some day all arrived the permanent light. And the great light transformed them. They saw the light in all beings and all things of the world. They realized that they are all brothers and sisters. May we stop all religious wars in the world. May we be build a golden age of love, peace and happiness on earth. May the light, the love and the truth always be with us.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: User:Nobody60/Nils/Religious Toleration


text:
User:Nobody60/Nils/Paradise

<God

The Afterworld
The other side (in the spirit world) consists of many regions. The more closely one looks into it, the more energy levels (or consciousness dimensions) can be seen. One could divide this spirit world int a thousand, into fourteen, into seven, three, or even one area (heaven).

In Christianity, heaven is often spoken of. Paul the Apostle saw three Heavens in the course of his trip to the Afterlife. In Yoga, it is said that there are a thousand levels of enlightenment. Mainly, three worlds are considered (material cosmos, Bhur), the astral world (the energy world, the world of spirit, Bhuva), and the world of light (heaven, the dimension of enlightenment, Svarloka).

In the West, the most well-known concept of heaven is that of seven heavens. Everyone knows the saying “I feel like I’m in seventh heaven.” Connected with this saying is the concept of the biggest sense of happiness. According to this teaching, seventh heaven is where the most all-encompassing happiness to be found, and under this level the six smaller heavens have slightly less.

The Four Astral Worlds
Let’s say there are seven energy regions. When we die, we first come to the lower astral world. In Yoga, this is considered part of the earth and named Bhurloka. The lower astral world (the ether world) is part of the earth and is around the earth. This is the energy level next to the material world. We leave the body with our spirit and find ourselves suddenly next to our bodies. We our now composed of consciousness energy. We can see our bodies and the people in the material world, but they cannot see us.

The lower astral world is the world of spirits. Spirits are beings with slightly developed consciousness. They are possessed of seven emotions: rage, fear, sadness, dullness, addiction, jealousy, and pride. The most dominating of these emotions in the lower astral world is that of addiction. The beings in the lower astral world are mainly hunger ghosts (Pretas). They always want something and never get enough. They are never content. All people with a tendency towards addiction land in this world after they die. They live according to this temperament after they die.

The hunger ghosts do not realize they only need to change their consciousness. One only needs to orient oneself to inner happiness. These spirits only need to leave their search towards outer things and concentrate on happiness within. The characteristics of frugality, humility, temperance, positivity, and all-encompassing love as well as inner peace should be exercised. Then the soul becomes free and rises to the next highest consciousness level.

The lower astral world is already a sort of heaven. The all-around happiness of the soul is somewhat higher than that on earth. The souls there do not possess bodies and are therefore free of all bodily suffering. They are closer to God than the beings on earth, if only a bit closer.

The really tragic aspect of the lower astral world is the reality that a much higher level of happiness is possible. The souls there only needed to concentrate more on the way of inner happiness during their time on earth. They should have exercised positive thinking more, and they would have gained so much from that. They only need to be a bit happier during their lives. Those who devote just five minutes per day towards a spiritual life and a positive life can go so much further in the afterlife.

The second heaven is the middle astral world. This exists to the very edge of the cosmos. The souls in the middle astral world are not so attracted to life on the earth and the forms of enjoyment to be found there. They can therefore move about the entire cosmos. They can go to the region of stars. Every star has a different sort of energy, and every soul can settle itself in the realm of a star and stay there as long as it likes. They can meet similar souls in this region.

The level of happiness in the middle astral world is already larger than that of the lower astral world. The level of happiness is even higher in the upper astral world, the third heaven. The souls there administer the cosmos, the stars, and the earth, but their concentration is elsewhere. They do not focus on material things, rather, on positive ideas. Every soul in the third heaven has a task in life that makes he or she happy.

The fourth heaven is the world of positive souls. They have a positive system of beliefs. They follow love, peace, and truth. They are not totally enlightened in that they still have strong egos. They can control the negative tendencies of their spirits and concentrate on positive. All souls who are positive with one another can therefore establish a positive world.

A positive belief system could be established by a loving Christianity, a tolerant Islam, a peaceful Hinduism, or a loving Buddhism. An Atheist Humanist could also land here after death. Because consciousness after death is the consciousness before death, all positive people can continue to be so after death. They create forms of life with their consciousness. They move friends and relatives into this afterworld with whom they would like to work with further.

Three Worlds of Light
The fifth heaven is the first world of light. This light world is a paradise. This paradise cannot be described with human words. In paradise, souls live in a state of enlightenment. Just as enlightenment cannot be described in words, this paradise is equally indescribable. One can only begin to touch upon the surface using words as symbols, but it is only a basic understanding that can be reached under such terms.

The first important statement regarding this paradise is that enlightenment and this paradise are two sides of the same coin. One side has one image on it, perhaps a head. The other has another image, perhaps a number on it. The essence of the coin is the gold it is composed of. The gold here is compared to God, the life in light. The head is the happiness, the enlightenment, and the number is the happiness in and around us, the outer richness of this state.

Enlightenment is to really be aware of the light and the happiness within oneself. Paradise is to recognize the bliss in the world around oneself. Both are therefore connected because only a happy person can really see the positive aspects of the world. Only those who think positively can see the positive in the world, and only those who are positive with the world around themselves can really be happy.

The souls in paradise (the world of light) are happy within themselves and are also happy with the world around them. One can only get to this paradise by being happy with oneself. It is helpful to exercise spiritual practices such as yoga and meditation.

The main technique for entrance into the world of light is the disintegration of the ego. The souls in paradise live in a state of love and the giving of love. They consider other souls to be more important. They are not egoistic, rather altruistic.

The dissolving of the exaggerated „I“ consciousness is the central point of enlightenment. It is also the central element of life in paradise. Those who wish to end up in paradise must work towards dissolving the ego. They need to develop such characteristics as inner peace, all-encompassing love, and truth. One needs to live more for others than for oneself. God (inner happiness) must be the main point of life. Those who grow spiritually during their lives can end up in this world of light after death.

The first world of light (the fifth heaven) is the region of the smaller enlightened souls. These souls are considered the blessed within Christianity. The first light world can be described symbolically as a world of flowers. It is a world of plenty. In Christianity, this paradise is a garden full of fruit, such as the Garden of Eden. In Islam, it is seen as a world of springtime full of beautiful people. In Yoga, it is a mountain landscape with lots of flowers and a pleasant temperature. All beings there live with one another positively. It is a world full of love, flowers, and sunshine.

The portrayals of paradise in the various religions differ widely. It must be understood that these portrayals are merely symbolic. These afterworlds are described in such a way that we people in various cultures can understand them. When we imagine a lovely vacation land where all the people are happy, we have some idea of paradise. The various forms of paradise on earth are limited. The paradise in heaven is eternal, and we can be happy there forever.

In Buddhism, there are many understandings of paradise. Buddha concentrated on the life in light (Nirvana, the highest paradise). The Amitabhabuddhismus (the teachings of the pure land) is portrayed as having bright flowers and happy people. In Tibetan Buddhism, this paradise is considered to have mountains with flowing springs, trees with crystals, and joyful birds.

Everyone can imagine these forms of paradise in his or her own way. The only important point is that this heaven is a world of love, peace, happiness, and light.

In the fifth heaven there is a place where one can live with relatives and acquaintances happily. This is called Pitr Loka in Yoga. There are also places where one can exercise oneself spiritually. This place is called Sadhana Loka. There is a place to exercise for Karma Yogis, who are Yogis concerned with helping others, and for Hatha yogis, who are concerned with bodily exercise and meditation. In Christianity, the world of angels is the most commonly considered place for spiritual practice, for spiritual cultivation. The angels praise God, pray, sing, and develop further in the light.

The sixth heaven is the world of the holy. The holy are closer to God than the blessed. Their happiness is slightly higher than that of the souls in the first paradise. Each holy individual has let go of the ego and lives in essence and light, and feels to be of light (of happiness energy), rather than to be a person. This type of soul lives in love, peace, and in happiness and has a highly developed cosmic consciousness.

The holy souls in the sixth heaven are still beings which can deal and administer. They can send their fellow souls light and facilitate spiritual practices. They live from their point of being and act positively, at times, for the world. On the other side, it is generally the case that souls on higher planes can visit souls on the lower planes. The enlightened souls can therefore go to all other souls in the lower heavens and make contact on earth. They can send positive thoughts and power.

Symbolically, we can imagine the fifth heaven as being full of happy people and the sixth heaven as a place full of wise men and women. The wise women and men beam with peace, calmness, and love that streams from them. They are seen as inner happiness and holiness. One can sense the holy energy that emanates from these souls. They are an expression, an extension of God.

The holy women and men have the chance to go into the light, at which point they must dissolve fully of their individual egos.

There are three ways to evolve spiritually. We can go the way of love, power, or happiness. The way of love means to see all other beings as love and we visualize them as gods or holy beings, and this way we ourselves become such. The way of wisdom consists of imagining the unity of the cosmos and identifying the cosmos according to our spiritual example.

The way of power can be brought on with spiritual practice, such as with mantras, breath exercises, and bodily exercise. We let our happiness energy flow, and our entire thoughts are stopped and we rest for a time. This triggers an inner change. From this emptiness and lack of striving, we can let the light of God come in. Happiness, peace, and love, as well as the wisdom of God flow within. Then we are in the seventh heaven.

In the seventh heaven, duality ceases to be. The soul rests still within God. Love, happiness, and peace in the seventh heaven are so big that there is no more room for movement. The holy beings here are simply enjoy their rest within God. They can, however, get active again. They can return to the sixth heaven and so work for the happiness of all other beings.

In the seventh heaven, all outer forms cease to be. The soul takes only energy, love, and light to be true. However, this energy is still an individual consciousness within God. The soul does not cease to exist. Souls can unite into one at the end of the time, and then divide again. According to Hindu philosophy, the cosmos is a system of eternal coming and going.

The seventh heaven (the third world of light) is the absolute highest level of happiness within the cosmos. It is God himself. This is rest within God. We could describe this area as a large sun. The sun consists of strong light. This consists of happiness, love, and vast peace. Only spiritually developed souls can reach this region. We have to be strong enough to keep the energy of God within.

When we are one with God, there is nothing left to be achieved. We have realized our goal as souls. We have achieved our full selves and we have reached utter contentment. Teresa von Avila explains that “God alone is enough”. In God we have an end to all our wishes. Before we can reach this life in God, we can never be truly satisfied. People are geared towards this search for God, and through God the sense of life is achieved.

The Eighth Heaven
The eighth heaven is found above the seven heavens. It is everything in one, the connection of light and love in one dynamic, unified entity. It is life in light and the ability to affect in the lower worlds (earth and the astral world).

When we allow our happiness and enlightened bliss to permeate beyond the world of light, the happiness grows. The further we succeed in dissolving the ego, the more expansive is our level of happiness. If we live for the happiness of others, rather than our own happiness, we then become a kind of cosmic mother or father of all beings. God exists in essence as a mother and a father of all beings. He or she wants all beings to come to live in happiness and to come to the seventh heaven one day.

This ist the way of a spiritual master. A spiritual master devotes his or her life to the service of others.

Who wants to live as a spiritual master, should first of all even walk the spiritual path to the destination. Or he should practice a dual path. He should make himself spiritually to the target and simultaneously take all of his fellow men. Both ways are possible in yoga. One can live many years as a yogi first and then return after his enlightenment in the world in order to help his fellow human beings. Or you live simultaneously as a yogi and a Karma-yogi (spiritual teacher).

Who lives in the eighth heaven, lives in the ultimate double happiness. One lives in the light (in God) and additionally in the dimension of true love (in the heart of their followers). But this way is to go even harder than the normal spiritual path. It requires much wisdom, if you want to help the many souls in the cosmos. One often has to take grief into account, in order to lead his fellows well on the way into the light.

A spiritual master takes it into stride by bringing all the elements into balance within. The inner calm is achieved through outer peace in the form of time for oneself, spiritual exercises and trust in God. He deliveres essentially the leadership of the great masters and the spontaneous activity of life.

The path of love is a mystery. He feels like a way of sacrifice and ends in the overall happiness. One day, suddenly starts to flow the inner happiness and fills the whole world.

Paradise Meditation
'''With this meditation, we purify our mind of stress. We learn something about the way to Paradise. We get into a life in the light. We realize happiness in our life. We become a master of life and awaken our enlightenment energy.'''

The Body
We concentrate on our bodies and through this process bring the spirit into a state of peace. We sense this through our legs and feet as we let the light circulate through our lower limbs. We think of the word “light” as our mantra. We let the light then circulate through our arms and hands while envisioning the word “light”. We then wrap our entire bodies in a vision of light and think of the word at the same time. Then we relax.

Energy Cloud
We begin our ascent to heaven. First we enter the astral world. We become a soul. We then visualize a cloud composed of very fine energy which encircles the body. We are this cloud. We concentrate on the cloud and not our bodies. We leave the body and think of the mantra '''“I am a cloud. I am a soul. I am independent from my body.”''' We think of this mantra until we can feel this cloud.

Stars
We visualize the entire cosmos around us as full of stars. Our souls can travel anywhere they so desire. We meditate on the cosmos. '''We think of the mantra “stars”. We make large circles with the arms until we feel at one with the cosmos.''' We feel secure with our place in the world, we are at one with the world.

The World of Positive Souls
We land in the upper astral world, beyond the material cosmos. This is the world of positive souls. We become positive unto ourselves. We consider the positive points in our lives. We think of the mantra “Positive in my life is...” We count as many positive things as possible, until the soul is glowing with positivity.

The World of Happy Souls
Over the positive souls are the blessed souls. We are now in paradise. We imagine that all our wishes have been fulfilled. What do you wish? Fulfill them or let go of them here. Define the point where you have reached enough. Create contentment with your life. “My way to contentment is...”

The World of the Holy
Above the world of the happy souls lies the world of the enlightened. We become sons and daughters of God, Gods and Goddesses, enlightened Buddhas. We wish for a happy world. We envision the following: '''“I send light to... May all people be happy. May the world be a happy world.”'''

The Great Transformation
We move our hand to bless the entire cosmos with love and light. We move light into all areas of suffering. We send all suffering beings light. We surround them with light and think of the mantra “I send light to all suffering beings”. We think of all the problems in our lives and surround these problems with light. We integrate our problems into our life. We become masters of our lives. We surround all our life’s situations with light.

Seventh Heaven
We come to the seventh heaven. We visualize a sun with strong energy composed of peace, love and happiness. The hands lay relaxed in the lap. We think of the mantra, “Om sun, peace, love, happiness, living in the light.“ We fill our souls with peace, love, happiness and light, and rest in the light of God (in bliss, in the enlightenment energy).

Enlightened Masters
We connect ourselves with the enlightened masters. We rub the palms of our hands in front of the heart chakra and think, "Om all enlightened masters. Om inner wisdom. Please guide me and help me on my way.” We feel how the energy flows with the mantra into us.

Return
We move our feet slowly, then stretch and wiggle a bit. We then return to earth and our daily lifes. We are filled with peace, love and optimism.

Meditation Music
Open with a right click in a new tab and listen while meditating:
 * Joan Baez - We shall overcome (Music Video, 4 min.)
 * 100,000 Angels (Meditation Music Video, 2 min.)
 * Fairytales meditation (Meditation Music Video, 8 min.)
 * Relaxation Meditation Nature Sounds (Meditation Music Video, 5 min.)

title: User:Nobody60/Nils/Paradise


text:
User:Nobody60/Nils/Existence of God

'''There are millions of people in the world who bear witness to the reality of enlightenment. A million people from every culture and from every era of history have experienced this ultimate spiritual epiphany. Among the most well known of the Enlightened are arguably Jesus, Buddha, Moses, Laotse, Socrates, Krishna, and Patanjali. Today, thousands of enlightened inviduals exist in one form or another. There are several religions in the world. Every real religion is based on the teachings of an enlightened individual or several enlightened individuals. Judaism was based on the teachings of Moses, Christianity on the teachings of Jesus, Buddhism on the wisdom of Buddha, and Hinduism on that of many. The center of a religion is that of enlightenment. Religion should lead to enlightenment.'''

Wikipedia: ''Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, or levels of being, or aspects of reality, beyond normal human perception, including experience of and even communion with a supreme being. (...) Many if not all of the world's great religions have arisen around the teachings of mystics (including Buddha, Jesus, Lao Tze, and Krishna); and most religious traditions describe fundamental mystical experience.''

God is a Mystery
God is a mystery that can be seen and understand only by enlightenment. One can see God only in enlightenment. The Bible says: "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." Who cleans his heart (his mind) with spiritual exercises, enters the dimension of God and sees God. You must be a saint (an enlightened one), to be able to know God in depth. '''A proof of God is therefore ultimately possible only through enlightenment. With funding of physics or logic, we can describe God very limited and therefore can prove only some aspects of God. Science cannot explore more than circumstantial evidences for God. If one really want to know whether God exists, one must realize enlightenment.''' Or one has to trust the enlightened as witnesses for God. There is no other way for the proof of God. God is proven by the enlightened. And there are many witnesses.

Buddha said that all questions about God are senseless speculations. He pointed his followers to practice and to achieve spiritual enlightenment. Then they would understand and recognize. The majority of Christians do ultimately the same way. They say that God is not provable. At the same time God is the central element of their faith and spiritual practice. The majority of the Christians use the term God as a not to be proven fiction that leads to holiness. And then God will be recognized. The christian way and the buddhist way are identical. Except that in Buddhism the central witness for the existence of Nirvana (God) is Buddha. For all Christians, Jesus Christ is the central witness for God.

(Politikstube.de, 2012)

Bankasius (atheist): Enlightenment occurs through auto-suggestion. Enlightenment is only an illusion.

Nils: It's a big misconception that enlightenment is caused by auto-suggestion. The imagination of God, can help on the way to enlightenment. Enlightenment on the basis of auto-suggestion is a mental disorder and no enlightenment. Who, for instance, thinks he is God, but did not lose his ego and sees himself completely in his fellow beings, is on the wrong track. Anyone who thinks he is a great enlightened, but takes his fellow man not more important than himself has realized only a great spiritual ego. Those who do not go through the dark night of ego resolution, are not truly enlightened.

1st Enlightenment occurs when the tension in the body and mind are dissolved. In the Bible, this is described with the words: "God is found in silence." The tensions are caused by the stress of life and mental false reactions. Tensions can lead to mental abnormalities (neuroses) and psychosomatic illnesses.

2nd You can put it like this: "An unenlightened person is inwardly sick (not a holy, he has tensions in his body and his mind). An enlightened is inwardly healthy (whole, a holy)."

3rd Meditation and mental work are the two main techniques to resolve inner tensions. In meditation, there are various techniques. You can work with visualisations. Positive images can resolve internal tensions and mental disorder. The center of meditation is inner peace. Then all of the stored stress ultimately emerge by itself and dissolve.

4th The enlightened mind is characterized by inner peace. God is therefore no concept, but from the inner peace unfolds a higher consciousness. One can suddenly think better. The tensions are eliminated. The mental capacity is multiplied. One can think holistically (excluding an ego from the entire cosmic system).

5th By the purified mind he can recognize what God is. God is not a concept but the basic perception of man. A person sees all things as they really are. He sees everything in context. Where previously a man by his ego was fixated on himself, he now thinks and feels egoless as one with the cosmos.

6th If the tensions disappear in man, from the deep inner peace arises a deep inner happiness. The man is one with himself and the world. '''He feels peace, happiness, strength, love and clarity in himself. He has a higher perception. He can suddenly think above the higher dimensions in the cosmos. The space-time limitation is lifted.''' He can see in the past and future. He can see things in distant places. And he can transmit thoughts and energies to other persons.

7th '''An enlightened sees God as light in the world. He recognizes that there is a higher consciousness that permeates and directs everything. He is in his consciousness connected with God.'''

8th An enlightened person can look into the beyond and see the different worlds there. He can leave his body, travel there and give his fellow man on earth information about the afterworld.

Bankasius: Religions are different.

Nils: All the really enlightened see God. They describe it only with different terms. '''If you get enlightenment, you can recognize that the different terms base in the same experience of God. Only for the unknowing, the religions differ vastly.''' A mystic looks mainly to the common core, and this core is God. God works through all religions. I emphasize it again. God is a mystery. It can seen personal and impersonal. Different people have different spiritual paths. Important is what a person brings forward on the path of holiness (enlightenment).

(Quote Atheist Media Blog, 2012)

Max: I would have understood it if you had spoken instead of "God" from a level of relaxation.

Nils: In the enlightenment one comes in contact with a mystery. This mystery can be called God, or else (Nirvana, Tao, Brahman, the Absolute, the higher truth). Since you are not enlightened, of course you do not know this mystery yet. If you know it, you'll find your own word for it. This term will lead you again into this experience. For some people this is the concept of God. Jesus spoke of the Father, Moses of the "I AM", some of the great mother and some just remain silent (Zen). '''The Christian God is a technique that can lead you to enlightenment. What you recognize is indescribable. Even Christianity says that God is ultimately a mystery.''' Atheists do not have to work with the idea of a god. It is enough to meditate. The meditation can be a way into the mystery, if you practice it long and hard enough. Who knows the mystery, can describe it with different spiritual systems. Why is there the word God? Because it is helpful for many people to come to enlightenment. The center is enlightenment, not the word God. '''God can not be proven, because God is a mystery, and goes beyond the normal human understanding (the rational thinking, the four-dimensional system of thinking). What we can do is to prove enlightenment. That is enough. In the enlightenment, we learn that we are not only on a higher level of relaxation, but in a higher cosmic dimension.'''

'''And an enlightened can test this. He gets special abilities. There are many levels of enlightenment. The more one grows in his enlightenment, the more abilities one has.''' These abilities have something to do with omniscience (infinite knowledge), omnipotence (unlimited power), omnipresence (present everywhere) and omnibenevolence (perfect goodness). Perfect goodness means to see the good in all and to act basically positiv. Infinitiv knowledge means to see over the higher cosmic dimension the future, the past and all over the world. For me it is more a feeling than a seeing. But I am spiritually evolved very little. The enlightened abilities are written down in the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali. But only a few enlightened have them. In India they are called avatars and in Buddhismus a Buddha (a fully enlightened person). Mother Meera and Mata Amritanandamayi are avatars. For a christian Jesus Christ has these abilities.

--->See also What_is_Enlightenment

What is a Scientific Proof?
kidt: What is a scientific proof?

Nils: In the scientific proof of God we are dealing with an empirical (inductive) proof. A quote from Wikipedia: Proof is a valid derivation of correctness (verification) or incorrectness (falsification) of a statement from true premises. The inductive proof comes from observations and experiences and can principally deliver no absolute certainty. The inductive proof is used especially in the law and the sciences.

Deductive proof is mainly used in logic and mathematics and comes from a judgement made from premises or definitions according to established, logical methods of conclusion.

Proof is rendered when the individual responsible for providing proof has convinced the judge in a court of the correctness of said proof.

Wikipedia: A proof is supplied when the judge’s personal belief in the correctness of the statement of fact is given. A proof (in the words of the Federal Supreme Court) is whether the judge is personally convinced of the truth of the assertion of fact. It may ask the judge for his conviction no scientifically reliable evidence, but must deal with a practical degree of certainty to be content. The conviction of the court may rely on circumstantial evidence.

kidt: What we cannot do is to change the opinions of the sceptics. The criteria is missing to accomplish that.

Nils:The sceptics suffer from spiritual self-blockage. The sceptics should open themselves to understand, and indications would lead them to see the proof and the truth in these matters.

Quote from www.karl-leisner-jugend.de/gottesbeweise: (quoted from original German) What is proof? In theory there are three types of proof: natural scientific proof, mathematical, and historical proof. The historic proof is examined under one-time circumstances, the physical proof is based on empirical data (observations, experiments, or experiences which can be repeated). Mathematic proof is of a purely logical nature.

The problem in the discussion regarding the ability to prove something is the underestimation of historical proof. Things which happen only once and not in an experiment, and cannot be repeated in the context of an experiment, are called unproven by sceptics.

In the case of historical proof, it deals with the ability to believe in the details of an incident and to put these details into question. Are the consequences and effects of the incident conclusive? Are there witnesses? Are there reasons for the witnesses to not tell the truth?

It isn’t possible to experimentally examine these statements and findings. History happens once and cannot be repeated in a lab. Estimation is possible, and it must be estimated as to whether the witness are believable and real.

Psychological Proof of God
For the psychological proof of God, it is sufficient that the enlightenment is mental and that an enlightened one sees God. God as a transcendent experience is already proven. There are many enlightened witnesses (for example Jesus, Buddha, Patañjali, Church Fathers, Teresa of Ávila, Dalai Lama, Swami Sivananda, Mata Amritanandamayi, Sri Anandamayi Ma, Mother Meera).

 * Atheist: The proof of God has been rendered by TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation). The Canadian neurologist Michael Persinger put on his subjects magnetic fields, and they are touched by God. God is the creation of certain brain areas. Thus, your witnesses evidence is nothing more than auto-suggestion.
 * Theist: You make a major logical error, as many other brain researchers too. If God can be perceived by the brain (there are even certain areas of God), does this not mean that God is only in the brain. If an apple can be perceived by the brain, does this not mean that there is no real apple outside the brain. God can exist inside and outside the brain. Persinger did a psychological proof of God. Great thanks to him. TMS confirmed the fact of enlightenment. Enlightenment exists. The enlightened one sees God. Enlightenment is thus at least a psychological fact. As a condition of human consciousness enlightenment is already clearly established. The big question is whether God really exists outside the brain, such as the above mentioned apple. There are many facts such as the quantum physics, the supernatural experiences (for example, the cures of Lourdes) and the statements of the enlightened.

Physical Proof of God
The physical proof of God is that God not only exists in an enlightened, but also as an outer reality. The physics is approaching the realization that there are one or more higher dimensions in our universe (String theory).

 * Professor Dürr: "Basically, there is no such thing as material. Primarily, there exists only connections to material foundation. We could therefore call it consciousness material. Energy appears only as coagulated secondarily, solidified spirit. (... ) Many discoveries of quantum physics are not only immaterial, but that is a work in completely different ways that have nothing to do with the standard three-dimensional spatial sense we have. It is a pure information field, a sort of quantum code. It has nothing to do with mass and energy. This information field spans the entire universe. The cosmos is whole information because this field has no limit. There is only one, but this one united entity is differentiated."(P.M. Magazin 05/2007)

---> God and Quantum Physics

Threefold Proof of God’s Existence
In Christianity, God is defined as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. From this point of view comes the threefold proof of God’s existence. The threefold proof is attained by bringing spirituality and science together into a cohesive harmony of concept.

1. God as the Father is a higher consciousness field in the cosmos. God is cosmic energy (light). Albert Einstein proved that the cosmos are composed of energy. According to Amit Goswami (The Conscious Universe, 1992) consciousness is the highest form of energy. This point is yet to be researched in detail, but one can already see that modern atomic physics and spirituality are coming closer and closer to one another with their conclusions.

2. God as the son is every enlightened being. This encompasses God’s consciousness. There are many enlightened people on earth. The reality of enlightenment can be scientifically proven. One only needs to ask these enlightened individuals questions and test their specific abilities. This is already being practiced via brain research. Christians need to drop the notion that Jesus is the one and only enlightened to have ever existed. This idea is psychologically understandable but scientifically unacceptable.

3. God as the Holy Spirit is the spiritual energy (aura, energy field) that every sensitive being can sense around him or herself. This can be perceived as light, water, power, love, peace, unity, and bliss. The Holy Spirit can disolve tension and heal sickness. It can strengthen the ability to heal oneself. It can affect peace, inner bliss, and enlightenment.

The Holy Spirit can be generated via spiritual exercises or from enlightened masters. If an indivual doesn’t possess a form of spiritual energy, the existence of God is emotionally difficult to comprehend. In 1987, Nils practiced Yoga every day for thirty minutes for half a year when he suddenly perceived this trace of energy. He had a brush with transcendence. He could feel the energy of his students when instructing Yoga. He felt united with the entire world in grace and mercy.

In order to classify this spiritual energy, it still needs to be researched in a scientific fashion. One can assume that it has to do with a sort of connection to a higher field of cosmic information (a higher cosmic dimension). This spiritual energy has an especially significant meaning for the healing of psychological ailments, in terms of working with this energy to heal. Energy healers use this energy to cure various ailments and sicknesses of a mental variety. This has been documented in many films.

Spiritual energy could be referred to as a holy ghost because it seems to come from an entirely different dimension. With this energy, enlightened and highly developed spiritual people can help others. The bible describes how Jesus poured this energy onto his disciples on Pentecost. He filled his followers with this spiritual energy. The followers felt radiantly and divinely happy and radiated an aura of pure light and felt tiny flames of energy from their heads (this could be interpreted as the activated skull chakra).

Seven Arguments
Wolfgang: "How can you justify your presumption that God exists?" Nils: "I have seven arguments: The statements of the enlightened. They see God as light in the world in the form of love, peace, and happiness. God is a term for the perception of the enlightened. Every real religion establishes itself around an enlightened master. The near death research refers to the independence of the soul from the body and the continued existence of the soul after death. Wikipedia supports my view on these things. At the same time, Wikipedia also brings up the arguments of the opposition. Everyone can read the discussion there. The most important witness is Pam Reynolds. She has seen the light of God in the afterlife, and learned that there is a paradise area. She has also demonstrated that her otherworldly experience was real. She heard the doctors during her out-of-body experience and could reproduce exactly the conversation later on. The gauges showed during her out-of-body experience that her brain could not think. There were no brain waves. And yet she has heard the conversation. Pam Reynolds could have heard the conversation of the doctors only with her soul. Her ears were stoppered while the operation. However these experiences have been duplicated by people suffering oxygen deprivation too. Reincarnation research has referred to many cases of rebirth. Buddha knew his earlier lives. A good overview on reincarnations research can be found on Wikipedia. The most important and well researched case is Shanti Devi. Physics refers to the existence of a higher cosmic information field (Amit Goswami, God as higher consciousness). The string theory supports this point of view. Parapsychology researches spiritual abilities such as thought transfer, the ability to see into the future, and to perceive and sense over large distances. This field has collected many cases of aforementioned topics. Scientific happiness research has proven the context between enlightenment, peace, happiness, and love. They have recognized the principles which lead to a happy life. They have researched Matthieu Ricard as an enlightened person. I live as a Yogi. I have been in various states of enlightenment. I have seen God as light in the world, and as happiness, love, peace, and truth in myself. I maintain that enlightenment and God exist. I maintain that it is better and happier to be enlightened than unenlightened. I maintain that it is good to live in God."

Discussion
Nils: We have to understand, that God is a mystery. There is no complete definition of God. It is impossible to describe and define God. We only can experience God and then say some things about that. Most important is, that God exists for sure. You can experience God. Jesus did it. Many catholic mystics did it. Many mystics of other religions did it. The differences come from the culture, the language, the depth of the experience and the way to the experience. For me God in his center is the same in all religions. All mystics with a deep experience see the same. The most important difference is the way to God. There are many ways to get enlightenment. There is the buddhist way. And there is a specific christian way. This is the way of love to God and to all other people.

glorin: What do near death experiences and enlightenment theories have to do with one another?

Nils: When dealing with enlightenment theories, we are dealing with two things, the psychological and the physical proof of enlightenment. For the psychological proof, we don’t need near-death research. It is enough that enlightenment exists psychically and that the enlightened see God. God as a transcendental experience is already proven. There are enough enlightened witnesses who have attested to it.

The physical proof of enlightenment indicates that God doesn’t just exist in the enlightened, rather is also an external reality. There is an afterlife, there is a world of light in the afterlife, there is a soul which can live in the dimension of God after death. Body and soul are then independent of one another. To prove that, we need the near-death research, and also the proof of the Karmapa.

Shui: What happens then? Do you float above the body or through a jolly tunnel? If these experiences are really paired with life after death, it poses the question as to why there are such different experiences described.

Nils: First you float above the body. When the observation of the operation starts to get boring, you can continue your journey via the jolly tunnel to the light world. You can do both or either as a soul. There are two different levels (realms) in the other world.

Shui: These people were NOT dead, rather almost dead. Consequently, it wouldn’t be right to say that is what happens after death as these people were not really dead. If the heart stops, and they are pronounced medically dead, then they can be examined and this information then considered valid.

Nils: These things have been researched. For the cases of after death, there is the Karmapa case. From the near-death experiences, we can come to the logical conclusion that the soul is independent from the body.

Shui: Feelings are hormones. You can create feelings through hormones. What is so special about that?

Nils: That is the double-quality of feelings. They can be created through hormonews. But they are also consciousness energy. For that reason, they are also independent of the body. The fascinating thing is the duality of body and consciousness. After death, consciousness separates itself from the body. It lives in the afterlife.

Shui: The scientific problem is simple. We don’t know what consciousness is, and therefore we cannot fully comprehend why hormones create feelings.

Nils: Thank you for this sentence. We don’t know what consciousness is. Therefore, we don’t know what enlightenment is, and therefore we don’t know what God is. We don’t know if there is a body with an independent soul. These things are still not touched upon by science. The near death research and the death of the Karmapa disprove the one-sided materialistic explanations. They should also cause you to think. Rise above the limited model of materialistic explanations.

Shui: Everything that you experience through enlightenment are feelings and could simply be a result of hormones released through the brain. This also explains the similar experiences of others under the influence of drugs. Enlightenment could be anything.

Nils: You don’t want to understand. You see it as purely physical. I will try to explain it again. It principally deals with happiness. Enlightenment is psychology. Enlightenment is a way to create inner bliss. That can also be achieved with drugs. Drugs, however, destroy the body and the soul. Then the person isn’t happy anymore. Along the way to enlightenment it is better to create inner bliss using systematic thought work and regular meditation. You then live healthily, think positively, and have a happy life. The further you spiritually develop yourself, the larger and more stabile the inner bliss. At some point in time, you land in transcendence. You find unity with the cosmos. You see God. You have a consciousness experience that many would consider God. You could also describe that experience as Tao, Nirvana, or Brahman.

The second question is whether God is real and whether God exists in the external world. Physics entertains the idea that there are several higher dimensions in our cosmos. There are possibly higher information fields. There is probably an all-encompassing consciousness which exists behind the material cosmos. That would be God in the external form. According to the experiences of the enlightened, the consciousness of the enlightened connects itself with this higher consciousness dimension. The enlightened are not only happy, but they can deal in this higher cosmic dimension. They have special abilities.

Video
The proof of God. I have five arguments:

1. The statements of the enlightened. They see God as light in the world in the form of love, peace, and happiness. God is a term for the perception of the enlightened. Every real religion establishes itself around an enlightened master. Every real religion has a word for God (Tao, Nirvana, Brahman, Allah, Yahwe).

2. The near death research refers to the independence of the soul from the body and the continued existence of the soul after death. Wikipedia supports my view on these things. The most important witness is Pam Reynolds. She has seen the light of God in the afterlife, and learned that there is a paradise area. She has also demonstrated that her otherworldly experience was real. She heard the doctors during her out-of-body experience and could reproduce exactly the conversation later on. There were no brain waves showed during her out-of-body experience. Her ears were closed. And yet she has heard the conversation. Pam Reynolds could have heard the conversation of the doctors only with her soul. 3. Physics refers to the existence of a higher cosmic information field (Amit Goswami, Professor Dürr).

4. Scientific happiness research has proven the context between enlightenment, peace, happiness, and love. They have recognized the principles which lead to a happy life. They have researched Matthieu Ricard as an enlightened person.

5. I live as a hermit. I have been in various states of enlightenment. I have seen God as light in the world, and as happiness, love, peace, and truth in myself. I maintain that enlightenment and God exist. I maintain that it is better and happier to be enlightened than unenlightened. I maintain that it is good to live in God.

My parents are atheists. After my studies, I became a lawyer. When I was thirty, I found my spiritual calling in addition to my profession. In November 1986 I had my first big enlightenment experience. During a meditation while lying down, I was lifted for a short time in the highest heaven. I became one with the all-encompassing love of the cosmos. I experienced extreme happiness. I was suddenly able to understand the holy books written throughout mankind's history at a deeper level. The high point of my spiritual experience was what I felt as the entrance of the Holy Spirit. A thick beam of energy flew from the sky and into my crown chakra. The energy flowed through my body and filled it out completely. On my head was a flame of energy. Spontaneously arose in me the thought that now I have been blessed by the Holy Spirit. I felt the energy beam as a descent of the Holy Spirit. The basis of the term God is the experience of the enlightened. The proof of God must start with this point. God is a mystery that can be seen and understand only by enlightenment. One can see God only in enlightenment. A proof of God is therefore ultimately possible only through enlightenment. With funding of physics or logic, we can describe God very limited and therefore can prove God only some aspects of God. Science cannot explore more than circumstantial evidences for God. If one really want to know whether God exists, one must realize enlightenment. Or one has to trust the enlightened as witnesses for God. There is no other way for the proof of God. God is proven by the enlightened. And there are many witnesses. In the enlightenment, we learn that we are not only on a higher level of relaxation, but in a higher cosmic dimension. And an enlightened can test this. He gets special abilities. The more one grows in his enlightenment, the more abilities one has. Enlightenment occurs when the tension in the body and mind are dissolved. In the Bible, this is described with the words: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Who cleans his heart (his mind) with spiritual exercises, enters the dimension of God and sees God.  Meditation and mental work are the two main techniques to resolve inner tensions.

The enlightened mind is characterized by inner peace. From the inner peace unfolds a higher consciousness. An enlightened sees God as light in the world. He recognizes that there is a higher consciousness that permeates and directs everything. He is in his consciousness connected with God. One can think holistically. One sees everything in context. Where previously a man by his ego was fixated on himself, he now thinks and feels egoless as one with the cosmos. The man is one with himself and the world. He feels peace, happiness, strength, love and clarity in himself. Enlightenment exists. Atheists cannot really argue against it. God exists for sure. You can experience God. Jesus did it. Many mystics did it. For me God in his center is the same in all religions. All mystics with a deep experience see the same. The most important difference is the way to God. There are many ways to get enlightenment. There is a specific christian way. This is the way of love to God and to all other people. Love to God is the love to the goal of inner peace and holiness. The love to all other people tranforms your spirit into a unity consciousness.

God bless you

title: User:Nobody60/Nils/Existence of God