Light, Dreams, Realization
Some years back I was perplexed by a question regarding our dreams... where does the light in our dreams comes from? We all have dreams but when we see the forms, figures, shapes and expressions within our dreams... it's the light that makes those things 'real' to us. We could be asleep in a cave, totally removed from any outside light source, be in a dark and windowless room sleeping, no light anywhere but yet there in our dreams we 'see' the unfolding of dreams.In my own metaphysical approach to understanding such things I have currently reached an 'assumptive conclusion', i.e., concluded by my various assumptions that I have given this question, that the origin of this light is the same light that is within all of us... and this 'us' would also include quite possibly all life forms (have you ever witnessed your pet dog or cat having dreams... their legs kicking, their voices either meowing or a low bark?).
But within we humans, there is a greater light than that of the Sun, in as much as it can be viewed within a certain state of being, will not blind the physical eye for that is not the eye which is viewing this 'White Light,' but rather what is referred to in certain Eastern Mysticism/Religion as the 'Third Eye' - that which sees within.
Given that we all have dreams, this 'Third Eye' is what we are using when we are in the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep state to 'see' those images. This is analogous to a camera rapidly filming what we are dreaming. Within our dream-state we are wholly connected to our full consciousness and this state or consciousness is, indeed, much like a stream filled with various events/happenings that go on ad infinitum. It's is our own individuality, our uniqueness, that selects from this stream of consciousness that which is beneficial for our Self.
The larger question is our ability to see within this stream of consciousness... where does the light to visualize these occurrences originate? The origin is this eternal light within us, often referred to as an 'Eternal Flame' in religious connotations.
This Light is the same light that those who have experienced a near-death situation have talked about, This is the same light that many philosophers have called 'wisdom', and yet others more religiously inclined have called this same light 'God' or 'Godhead,' 'Buddha' in Buddhism. The same light referred to as 'Great Spirit' in American Indian cultures... the name is but a word and often it is in naming this occurrence that causes confusion in the minds of those that hear it. This 'Light' within is the 'Great Illuminator' that gives shape and form, mass and meaning to our everyday reality, analogous to the Sun which the early Egyptians symbolically gave worship.
The common denominator, the Light, is what is important in understanding this otherwise mysterious power that manifests itself into god-like proportions for some. The Light that is within each and everyone of us... our common connection within and with all Life. This Light lies outside mind, outside consciousness and yet, within all Life itself. This One Light giving us (life) our electrical energy that gives movement/motion to what we call 'living'. This 'electrical energy' is what gives us our 'aura,' the energy field that surrounds all living things. We've see those early religious paintings of Jesus or various saints with this painted aura surrounding their heads, [either the painters had the ability to visualize this energy field or it was requested by the person(s) that wanted the painting].
Can science ever offer proof of this inner light within all of us? Certain schools of science are currently involved in Quantum Physics, the 'science of the incredibly small'... beyond electrons, protons and neutrons... things that can only be theorized, but the science does exist only because of the logic of it all. IMO science will eventually find that matter only responds the energy from one source - the Light.. the giver of Life. Call that source what you choose but there is ultimately, not a beginning of the energy, but rather the eternity of this Light. Any other Light that has limited amount of energy is not the same light.
Metaphysically speaking, even the first words of the Torah/Bible: "In the beginning God created heaven and earth..." are the beginning of, not the heaven and earth, or even the beginning of 'God', but rather the beginning explanation of the mystery of existence. The mystic or one who has become 'enlightened' (become one with this Light), can easily accept what Jesus reportedly said in Revelation 1:8 - ""I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." The final line here, 'who is' refers to what we call the 'present', the 'who was' references the 'past' and 'who is to come' is the 'future'... all in One... the Alpha and the Omega at once the same. Arguably, when Jesus uses the word, 'Lord' he is refering to the Light which 'lords over all existence', i.e., is the one source of all that we 'were', 'am' and 'will be'... that one light that is without ending and without beginning.
Interestingly, these first words of the Torah were attributed to having been written by Moses some 1400 years before Jesus yet within those 1400 years the knowledge (logos) of the Light had not changed as far as knowing of this One Light. But as to the why Moses gave this Light a 'God-ness' instead of an inner experience one may have to pursue more with a psychological mind. (East/West - yin/yang?)
In India, where religion predates Moses by (who knows how many years?), this enlightenment is not considered to be as much a 'God' as it is a Self Realization' of this Inner Light within us.. all of us. True there is in Hinduism the 'god symbologies', i.e., Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - the wholly Trinity which may be a parallel to the 'Holy Trinity' within Christianity, but more importance is placed upon the individual to find this Light within in order to become more 'god-like', versus the worship of this word, 'God,' that Christianity (and even Islam with the word 'Allah') requires. The worship of Jesus is but another 'agent' between one that desires their Self-Realization (knowing the Light within) and this word 'God' which is but the 'Eternal Inner Light' to put it in more religious terms.
Oddly, this worship of Jesus, can be interpreted as a 'sin' in Christianity itself if we read the first commandment which essentially says: "You shall have no other gods before Me." So why does Christianity put Jesus in front of 'God'? If your a Christian you know what your answer is and that is because Jesus is the son of God... he said that many times within the New Testament.
This Stream will not tackle the issues of that for I'd digress even further from my intent and that is this Light within us is real, it is not simply imagination nor is it to be ignored. My intent is to inform that no matter if this Light is described by a Moses, a Jesus, a Mohammed, or if it is described by a mystic, philosopher, poet or even a Zennist even one that has had a near-death experience... no matter the source, this Light is universal for all living things... it is what gives 'energy', if you will, to all living matter. It is not the exclusive property of any one religion, any one philosophy, nor any one person that has had this self-realization. It is our gift of existence that launches all our questions and it is up to each of us to take the questions of mind as far as we choose - free choice/free will. Take yours to your limits. There is no thing to prevent you.
Cecil
09 April 2006
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Damn!! 
