I heard the Orphic / Dionysian ecstasy described and it recalled an experience I had, after chanting The Jesus Prayer for some hours. I felt like I was literally outside of myself, sort of above and behind, but, at the same time, I think, I never left the body. Something happened, on a spiritual level, with the locus of the "I". This mind-body mechanism continued to go about its business, like the whole thing was just a movie playing out; a river of celluloid passing under a lamp and a lens. The biological and cultural programing was all "I" had to work with, so to speak. But what had been a more rigid constellation of associations, between points of light, seemed to shatter, like ice crystals, then, to melt and pool and resurrect. While it was the same constellation as before, somehow, it was not so confining to me as it had been. As with the body, I seemed to overlook the connections in my own mind's experience, so that every point of data was now directly related to every other point; or, at any rate, if I could not anticipate every relation, nonetheless, I was poignantly impressed with the sense of my mental apparatus as a unity, in which the available information would surface, or find its way, through chain reactions; it was only a matter of time. The process could not be accelerated; but, at this point, it could be recognized; accepted. No longer was I so personally identified with those chemical and metaphysical reactions, like a pinball in my own mind, but, rather, I dispassionately "knew what I knew". My assumptions were all provisional, and I knew (i.e. assumed) that they did not need to be more, or other, than they were, in fact. The only possible associations between ideas were still just taking place, automatically, including doubts, reconfigurations, and deconstructions; as this "I" was felt by the body to be nothing but an eavesdropper, or a witness; more of an Eye, than an I. Everything happened with preternatural spontaneity. The body prepared tea, sat down, and sipped from it. The mind, or brain, was sort of vainly struggling to make sense of what had happened; to classify the experience, and identify with it, but none of the mental operations were "sticking". They just sort of broke up and floated off like smoke. After a while, the brain was speculating that "I" was a guardian angel or maybe just a light of awareness, overlooking this eternal river of mud. At the same time, it seemed plain that there was nothing else. Reality was fully present and there was nothing to compare with present reality, so there was no resistance or impatience; just a matter of fact awareness that it was all one thing; a sequence or stream in which "not one tittle of the law could be skipped", or overstepped. This person, whose life was the only life I had, at present, had no practical choice but to play out his karma/dharma, under the ever watchful eye of consciousness. Even if he/I became enlightened, there would still be nowhere else to go, nothing to discover, realize, transcend, or escape. All of that is it. This is it. This is the only world. Right here. Hello. Nothing is more spiritual than what is now, and your spiritual progress, so called, has nothing to do with you. We attach labels and invent distinctions but, ultimately, it's just this; I mean, that attaching was it, all along. A game to occupy the mind. As the ego is an identity for the light of awareness to occupy, inhabit, inherit, or receive as grace from God. It - He - can't do anything else but be Itself - Himself, like we can't; it is what it is. Sometimes I like to call it This. We may speak conveniently of "the other side", but, when we get "there", we do not call it "the other side"; rather, we will continue to say, just as we always have, "We are in this world", just as we shall always be. Amid reflections of this type, something clicked or reconnected; I seemed to decide that it was better to embrace this experience, since it was going to happen regardless, - it was the literal word and will of God, - and since it would be more interesting to surrender to the current; or allow myself to become reinvested with the journey. Since that day, I've been measurably much less anxious, more present, authentic, honest, confident, and courageous. I can date so many changes to that point. Another breakthrough, was fasting on water and electrolytes; specifically, potassium chloride and sodium chloride [SEE: "snake juice", or "snake diet"], and a generally low-carb, high-protein, high-fiber diet. That's my story, until it changes! 🙏 'NEAR IS AND DIFFICULT TO GRASP THE GOD' ~ Friedrich Hölderlin
Wonderful video. Many thanks! The role of the mirror in this myth is particularly interesting if we consider the form-matter duality at the root of worldy experience. Excellent find with regards to the Titans @6:00. This is evidential support for the notion that the generations of Gods in ancient Greek mythology are indeed imaginations for different levels of consciousness.
One idea: the Titans were ritually dividing up Zagreus and cooking him over a flame. To modern readers, this sounds abhorrent, like cannibalism. But what the ancients would have recognized is that they were making an offering. Just as a sacrificial cow or goat would then be cut into pieces and shared among the attendees, so too was Zagreus.
Another great video!
Appreciated!🙏
I heard the Orphic / Dionysian ecstasy described and it recalled an experience I had, after chanting The Jesus Prayer for some hours. I felt like I was literally outside of myself, sort of above and behind, but, at the same time, I think, I never left the body. Something happened, on a spiritual level, with the locus of the "I". This mind-body mechanism continued to go about its business, like the whole thing was just a movie playing out; a river of celluloid passing under a lamp and a lens. The biological and cultural programing was all "I" had to work with, so to speak. But what had been a more rigid constellation of associations, between points of light, seemed to shatter, like ice crystals, then, to melt and pool and resurrect. While it was the same constellation as before, somehow, it was not so confining to me as it had been.
As with the body, I seemed to overlook the connections in my own mind's experience, so that every point of data was now directly related to every other point; or, at any rate, if I could not anticipate every relation, nonetheless, I was poignantly impressed with the sense of my mental apparatus as a unity, in which the available information would surface, or find its way, through chain reactions; it was only a matter of time. The process could not be accelerated; but, at this point, it could be recognized; accepted. No longer was I so personally identified with those chemical and metaphysical reactions, like a pinball in my own mind, but, rather, I dispassionately "knew what I knew". My assumptions were all provisional, and I knew (i.e. assumed) that they did not need to be more, or other, than they were, in fact. The only possible associations between ideas were still just taking place, automatically, including doubts, reconfigurations, and deconstructions; as this "I" was felt by the body to be nothing but an eavesdropper, or a witness; more of an Eye, than an I.
Everything happened with preternatural spontaneity. The body prepared tea, sat down, and sipped from it. The mind, or brain, was sort of vainly struggling to make sense of what had happened; to classify the experience, and identify with it, but none of the mental operations were "sticking". They just sort of broke up and floated off like smoke. After a while, the brain was speculating that "I" was a guardian angel or maybe just a light of awareness, overlooking this eternal river of mud. At the same time, it seemed plain that there was nothing else. Reality was fully present and there was nothing to compare with present reality, so there was no resistance or impatience; just a matter of fact awareness that it was all one thing; a sequence or stream in which "not one tittle of the law could be skipped", or overstepped.
This person, whose life was the only life I had, at present, had no practical choice but to play out his karma/dharma, under the ever watchful eye of consciousness. Even if he/I became enlightened, there would still be nowhere else to go, nothing to discover, realize, transcend, or escape. All of that is it. This is it. This is the only world. Right here. Hello. Nothing is more spiritual than what is now, and your spiritual progress, so called, has nothing to do with you. We attach labels and invent distinctions but, ultimately, it's just this; I mean, that attaching was it, all along. A game to occupy the mind. As the ego is an identity for the light of awareness to occupy, inhabit, inherit, or receive as grace from God. It - He - can't do anything else but be Itself - Himself, like we can't; it is what it is. Sometimes I like to call it This. We may speak conveniently of "the other side", but, when we get "there", we do not call it "the other side"; rather, we will continue to say, just as we always have, "We are in this world", just as we shall always be.
Amid reflections of this type, something clicked or reconnected; I seemed to decide that it was better to embrace this experience, since it was going to happen regardless, - it was the literal word and will of God, - and since it would be more interesting to surrender to the current; or allow myself to become reinvested with the journey. Since that day, I've been measurably much less anxious, more present, authentic, honest, confident, and courageous. I can date so many changes to that point. Another breakthrough, was fasting on water and electrolytes; specifically, potassium chloride and sodium chloride [SEE: "snake juice", or "snake diet"], and a generally low-carb, high-protein, high-fiber diet. That's my story, until it changes! 🙏
'NEAR IS
AND DIFFICULT TO GRASP
THE GOD'
~ Friedrich Hölderlin
I really appreciate your presentations - scholarly and always pushing us into deeper aspects of the classical world view.
Glad you like them!
Wonderful video. Many thanks! The role of the mirror in this myth is particularly interesting if we consider the form-matter duality at the root of worldy experience. Excellent find with regards to the Titans @6:00. This is evidential support for the notion that the generations of Gods in ancient Greek mythology are indeed imaginations for different levels of consciousness.
The idea of humans coming from the Titans was something I was not aware of in this topic, truly fascinating.
Great video ❤
thank you!
I've missed your content 🧿🧿
Please post stuff related to the origins and developments of Greek drama. Oedipus analysis and themes.
Idea noted
Absolutely one of my favorite myths 🍷
One idea: the Titans were ritually dividing up Zagreus and cooking him over a flame. To modern readers, this sounds abhorrent, like cannibalism. But what the ancients would have recognized is that they were making an offering.
Just as a sacrificial cow or goat would then be cut into pieces and shared among the attendees, so too was Zagreus.
If there's anything about mystery schools & Eastern religion or the "dying & rising god " beliefs, I wouldn't say 'no ' to it / them.