Oneness... in Jesus...?

[Tellyontellyon]

I'm a Buddhist, and being an Eastern tradition have things in common with those traditions. Experiencing oneness is a common theme in Eastern religions... and is realised through letting go of our individual egoic identity, and the actions that come from and support egoic identity (I, Me, Mine!)

Selflessness, and letting go of pride also seems to be an important part of the Christian tradition. St. Paul warns against the boastfulness of 'works', St. James seems to criticize an empty faith (pride based) that has no real substance to it.
❤️ Is it a common experience for Christians to experience oneness. Would you share your testimony please.
Thank you.

 

[Pavel Mosko]

Is it a common experience for Christians to experience oneness. Would you share your testimony please.
Thank you.

I don't think it is common according to my understanding of that concept from my days of dabbling with Zen and Taoism in college. But there can some instances like that. I had an experience in my own life that was sort of like that but rather than being "One with the Universe", it was about being part of the "Communion of Saints" Ecclesia, aka Church, all believers through history, on Earth and in heaven. I found an old email where I wrote about it, which is below.


"I figured I would give you a praise report on things. I had a Word not to long ago to get more into fasting and prayer to unlock more of what God wanted for me. And I did some dabbling with it with some modest success. But I think making a once a week commitment for fasting and prayer as part of intercessory team is probably "the ticket" for that.

One of the big benefits I received I received had to do with some feeling of loneliness. I've actually done really well with the separation (that I think probably is moving for divorce) much much more than my wife who is pushing the issue and at times seems to be leaving her Christian faith. In fact people have remarked to me, how much happier I seem than a few months ago. Anyway with praying for other people's needs I do get more of that feeling of being part of the Body of Christ etc. and those past lonely feelings went away.

Anyway thought you two would enjoy that.
I'll talk to you later,
Pavel"

 

[Bond-servant of Christ]

and is realised through letting go of our individual egoic identity, and the actions that come from and support egoic identity (I, Me, Mine!)

This is what the Lord Jesus Christ says about Himself:

"Jesus said to him, “I am THE Way, and THE Truth, and THE Life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (New Testament, Gospel of John, Chapter 14, verse 6)

Jesus here is saying, that HE, and HE ALONE is the ONLY Way that a person can get to heaven. This means that Jesus is THE UNIQUE Way for all sinners (the entire human race), to go to heaven. No other faith/religion/way, can get any person to heaven! This is Spoken by God the Son.

 

[Aussie Pete]

I'm a Buddhist, and being an Eastern tradition have things in common with those traditions. Experiencing oneness is a common theme in Eastern religions... and is realised through letting go of our individual egoic identity, and the actions that come from and support egoic identity (I, Me, Mine!)

Selflessness, and letting go of pride also seems to be an important part of the Christian tradition. St. Paul warns against the boastfulness of 'works', St. James seems to criticize an empty faith (pride based) that has no real substance to it.
❤️ Is it a common experience for Christians to experience oneness. Would you share your testimony please.
Thank you.

Christians have much greater unity than it appears on the surface. Before I was born again, I avoided church and church people as best I could. After I was born again, I wanted to be with the people I formerly shunned. Christians are called a "body" in the Bible. We are not all the same as if squashed into some kind of religious mould. However, we are meant to work together in harmony, much as the physical body works. When you find a group of Christians who have this harmony, it is a beautiful thing. I was in a group of believers where no one went without anything material, whatever their circumstances. The pastor gave to the people instead of the people giving to him. When some us did give, he promptly found someone needy to help.

We helped each other, even doing a group car wash at times. We worked together in gardening and also helped older neighbours who struggled to keep up with their gardening. A number of people were attracted to our lifestyle and our fellowship grew. It was a great time and I miss it.

I won't go into why it all faded away, but it has. I'm looking forward to something similar starting up soon.

 

[Pavel Mosko]

From what I remember of Oneness it is like a positive take on what might be called depersonalization in psychology. You feel euphoric but in a positive way and degree from realizing that you are part of the universe, rather than the need to be an individual, separate entity etc.

I think the fundamental problem with that in Christianity is the notion of the Sin fallen world. God once created the World good which is something to be happy about, but making that a point of emphasis not really a thing. In the World to come, where all things are made new again, I'm sure it will be a thing. But even there is kind of a hierarchy where humans are the pinnacle of Creation and not just a part of it.

Besides this there are the notions of what drives your the metaphysics of your theology or philosophy. Things like Gnosis type enlightenment and surrender are very important themes in Christianity, but they are not thee thing like they are in some of the Eastern religions and philosophies.

 

[bottoWordx]

Sharing the same sinless/holy heart

 

[honey badger]

to be one with God is to be equal to Him .....

 

[Tigger45]

I'm a Buddhist, and being an Eastern tradition have things in common with those traditions. Experiencing oneness is a common theme in Eastern religions... and is realised through letting go of our individual egoic identity, and the actions that come from and support egoic identity (I, Me, Mine!)

Selflessness, and letting go of pride also seems to be an important part of the Christian tradition. St. Paul warns against the boastfulness of 'works', St. James seems to criticize an empty faith (pride based) that has no real substance to it.
❤️ Is it a common experience for Christians to experience oneness. Would you share your testimony please.
Thank you.

At the Garden of Eden Adam & Eve sinned which resulting in a fallen nature causing them to be removed from God's unveiled presence. By grace through faith we may begin to become more in the likeness of God by acquiring His divine nature.

2 Peter 1:4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

 

[com7fy8]

Is it a common experience for Christians to experience oneness.

Prayer means how God has me being submissive with Him, so I am with Him in His own peace. And then I discover how He has me seeing people and things . . . the way His peace has me experiencing, perceiving. So, this is in sharing with Him, plus this has me together with others who are doing this.

And then I do well to continue to be this way, all the time while I am not in time of prayer. Prayer, then, is my investment for how God wants me to be and to love, all the time; prayer standardizes me for how to be while with other people. And it is not about how I can get myself to seem like I am submissive to God, but we depend on God.

So, the oneness of this is very personal with God (1 Corinthians 6:17, Romans 5:5), and not by ourselves in isolation. The prayer of this might be while we are alone, but this brings us together with God and one another who are into this > "in one body" >

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

Maybe someone would like to look up "obey God in His peace" in YouTube. This is about how personally sharing we can be with God while submitting to Him in His peace, and how this effects our relating with others who relate in His love.

 

[Joyous Song]

According to Kabbalah, the only way to reach the L-rd and holiness is by giving up our ego, I selfish, me as you describe as oneness. Ego creates a fence that blocks his Light coming down. This is why we are called to let go and allow Him to enter in.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I'm a Buddhist, and being an Eastern tradition have things in common with those traditions. Experiencing oneness is a common theme in Eastern religions... and is realised through letting go of our individual egoic identity, and the actions that come from and support egoic identity (I, Me, Mine!)

Selflessness, and letting go of pride also seems to be an important part of the Christian tradition. St. Paul warns against the boastfulness of 'works', St. James seems to criticize an empty faith (pride based) that has no real substance to it.
❤️ Is it a common experience for Christians to experience oneness. Would you share your testimony please.
Thank you.

Thanks for sharing. I believe your understanding of oneness would be contrary to the " One Body" doctrine in Christianity. Eastern philosophy has the ultimate goal of achieving nirvana without God, in other words "self realized" perfection. It is opposite with Christianity. We are in a Kingdom where Jesus Christ of Nazareth is our King. There is no oneness. There is only communion.
Blessings.

 

[Joyous Song]

Thanks for sharing. I believe your understanding of oneness would be contrary to the " One Body" doctrine in Christianity. Eastern philosophy has the ultimate goal of achieving nirvana without God, in other words "self realized" perfection. It is opposite with Christianity. We are in a Kingdom where Jesus Christ of Nazareth is our King. There is no oneness. There is only communion.
Blessings.

Thanks. Kabbalah then diverges from the eastern thought as reaching for cleanliness, discipline of ego, is the first step in holiness. Of course if one opens themselves up without first offering an address to whom they wish to let in, this might create a serious problem.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Thanks. Kabbalah then diverges from the eastern thought as reaching for cleanliness, discipline of ego, is the first step in holiness. Of course if one opens themselves up without first offering an address to whom they wish to let in, this might create a serious problem.

Kabbalah is not Christianity. There is no Holy Spirit communion. Blessings

 

[Joyous Song]

Kabbalah is not Christianity. There is no Holy Spirit communion. Blessings

I a Hebrew Christian and my local Bishop knows as does my Prime Bishop and they do not mind. They know it does not effect my faith in Christ.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I a Hebrew Christian and my local Bishop knows as does my Prime Bishop and they do not mind. They know it does not effect my faith in Christ.

Well I don't want to stray from the OP but I can't help pointing out that Kabbalah has no place in the life of a Holy Spirit filled Christian regardless of nationality. It is Rabbinic mysticism which denies the Gospel of the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ of Nazareth and replaces it with "occult knowledge".
Be blessed.

 

[Andrewn]

I'm a Buddhist, and being an Eastern tradition have things in common with those traditions. Experiencing oneness is a common theme in Eastern religions... and is realised through letting go of our individual egoic identity, and the actions that come from and support egoic identity (I, Me, Mine!)

"Depersonalization-derealization disorder occurs when you persistently or repeatedly have the feeling that you're observing yourself from outside your body or you have a sense that things around you aren't real, or both. Feelings of depersonalization and derealization can be very disturbing and may feel like you're living in a dream."

Depersonalization-derealization disorder - Symptoms and causes

"Depersonalization is a symptom of anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder.[10][11] It can also accompany sleep deprivation (often occurring when suffering from jet lag), migraine, epilepsy (especially temporal lobe epilepsy,[12] complex-partial seizure, both as part of the aura and during the seizure[13]), obsessive-compulsive disorder, severe stress or trauma, anxiety, the use of recreational drugs[14] —especially cannabis, hallucinogens, ketamine, and MDMA, certain types of meditation, deep hypnosis, extended mirror or crystal gazing, sensory deprivation, and mild-to-moderate head injury with little or loss of consciousness (less likely if unconscious for more than 30 mins).[13] Interoceptive exposure is a non-pharmacological method that can be used to induce depersonalization.[15][5] In the general population[disambiguation needed], transient depersonalization/derealization are common, having a lifetime prevalence between 26-74%. . . . A similar and overlapping concept called ipseity disturbance (ipse is Latin for "self" or "itself"[17]) may be part of the core process of schizophrenia spectrum disorders."

Depersonalization - Wikipedia.

 

[Pavel Mosko]

Thanks @Andrewn I was using it loosely, if you notice I did not use the word "disorder" and I qualified it as a "positive" experience or something like that. I got a BA in psychology, and went through most of a masters degree program in "Marriage Family Child Counseling even though that was 25 years ago... but it included a few classes of the DSM manual, diagnosis class and even a separate class on child abuse and substance abuse disorders.

 

[RBPerry]

Why do you think Jesus said "love others as yourself" once you fully understand that, pride, selfishness, and self-centeredness are no longer a part of who you are, you realize that we are all part of each other. As you draw close to the Holy Spirit he becomes part of who you are, a oneness if you will.
There are drastic differences between the oneness a Christian feels with their relationship with Christ through the Holy Spirit and what the Buddhist consider a universal oneness, they are attempting to experience the same thing but without Christ, and that will never work.
There are many positive aspects of Buddhism and enlightenment, but Buda wasn't a deity, Jesus Christ is, he is the son of God. Look at the positive teachings of Buda, and how many line up with what Christ taught us. Meditation being one of the most powerful, try this, clear your mind and during your meditation just focus on Jesus Christ for a couple of weeks, Jesus said "seek and you will find"

 

[Broken Fence]

I'm a Buddhist, and being an Eastern tradition have things in common with those traditions. Experiencing oneness is a common theme in Eastern religions... and is realised through letting go of our individual egoic identity, and the actions that come from and support egoic identity (I, Me, Mine!)

Selflessness, and letting go of pride also seems to be an important part of the Christian tradition. St. Paul warns against the boastfulness of 'works', St. James seems to criticize an empty faith (pride based) that has no real substance to it.
❤️ Is it a common experience for Christians to experience oneness. Would you share your testimony please.
Thank you.

The oneness I feel and experience through Holy Spirit is me surrendering my will to God's will. Example would be doing God's commandments even if I don't want to.

 

[Tellyontellyon]

Depersonalization-derealization disorder

That's not a feeling of oneness though... that's a feeling of detachment.

It's important not to confuse pre-personal experiences with transpersonal experiences....