What is "Heaven"?

When we think of "heaven," we often think of it as did our twelfth-century ancestors, as "in" the "sky," or beyond it, in outer space somewhere. This is, in fact, one of the meanings of the ancient symbolic Greek word for "heaven"-- where the birds fly. So, when we pray to "our Father who art in heaven," or to the heavenly "Mother," we might think of Her/Him as being far away, somewhere out in the galaxy.

These old notions have a powerful grip on the childish imagination, as does the primitive, backwards idea that God has many human characteristics, like the ancient and backwards Jehovic mythology. Do ants "pray to the great Ant in the sky"? Do dogs "pray to the great Dog in the sky"?

Probably not. But if they had the imagination of human beings, who knows? The point is, we tend to see God according to our limitations and our training. And very primitive peoples, such as the Hebrews of four thousand years ago, also saw their "gods" as "very human."

Each human being in our world has a place where she/he lives. So, the old gods also had places where they lived-- often on sacred mountains such as Sinai or Olympus. Only much later did God become recognized as "omnipresent," which means "present everywhere." In other words, they lived on earth. And still others lived in the sky, above the clouds.

It was impossible for primitive peoples to fly above the clouds, as we have now done, and as we do thousands of times every day. They could not know, as we now do, that there are no "gods" in that sky.

What is the solution to this complex mystery/drama called "heaven"? It is this: Heaven is not a place. It is a dimension, or universe. It is what is called in physics "an alternative universe." It is accessible not by airplanes or space-craft, but only by the mind.

To understand, let us examine the parable of the mind as a complex interior "radio." That "radio," for all of us, almost all the time, is tuned to one station or channnnel-- WRLD. This is our everyday, commmmon, ordinary world. We cannot change this channel, except in most profound meditation (interior prayer or silent prayer), or when we die. The mechanisms of this radio make it usually impossible to "tune in" to other "channels" (such as WBLS, "bliss," WSTY, "ecstasy, or WHVN, "heaven.")

So, "heaven" is not "out there," but "in here." It is attunement to another universe, as "real" as our everyday world. It is not "far away."

Thus, ancient enlightenment traditions assure us that "God is closer than your hands and feet, closer than the air that you are now breathing in." But to "know" God personally as pure Love, we must allow the "interior radio" to "change channels." This cannot happen from our efforts; it occurs by pure grace, from "God's side." In time, for the enlightened, this "alternative universe" becomes even more real than the everyday world. She becomes "atuned" to God, to Love, and this is her perfect joy, her complete fulfillment, ecstasy, satisfaction, and pure
contentment.
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Understanding the Cosmos

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The world is a highly complex and interwoven place of so many currents that, at times, even the greatest mystics are bewildered by it all. To "uncross the t's" and "undot the i's" of the universe, to break everything down into comprehensible bits and pieces, is only one way of explaining the vastness and complexity of the cosmos. Another, equally valid, is by intuitive grasp. But even this process, as reliable as it can be, might be affected by wishes, expectations, and overlays. You simply cannot have any understanding without mind, but that very mind can alter things, so we are caught in a conundrum from which none of us is ever completely free, however objective we might truly want to be. So, we all live in a personal cosmos highly colored by the tints and hues of biology and background. In our many spectra of attempted explanations, we traverse many colors, some of them quite bright, and many beautiful.

In the final analysis, the most is also the best that we can do: Embrace the cosmos of our understanding, in Love, and live within the heavens and hells that we create within personal minds. (The more that we decide, and the more things and people, that we Love, the greater the heaven; and the more that we decide to hate, reject, or dislike, the greater is our interior hell.) And so, the cosmos ticks on, with mind penetrating every atom, interwoven with reality, being Reality Itself.

The great Wheel of Time has turned yet again, and Christmas again approaches. So, please allow me to be the very first to wish you a very happy Christmas; may the celebration of the Season of Love sink deeply within all of us, saturating and immersing us all in purest Love, making us both holy and healed.
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First and Second Corinthians

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First Corinthians is considered one of the great written classics of Christian spirituality. It begins, in chapter 2, with correcting the "errors" in the church.
There is a warning against factionalism, against "following men."

Spiritual people are encouraged to agree with each other, not because of centralized dogma or doctrine, but because they all receive from the same Source, and God wants peace, not disputations and disagreements. The church was factionalizing, fragmenting due to human selfstyled "leaders," each getting a following. This is analogous to the formation of cults, in which people receive "new understandings," and break away from, and disagree with, all others. But "Christ" (God, Love) should be the only "leader."! Even Paul did not want people to follow him. God's message
is not intellectual. From that view, it looks "foolish."

The Gospel was rejected by the Jews because it did not have the "proper authority." God does not use merely human wisdom. The "Holy Spirit" teaches spiritual people directly.

We are God's "living building." It is built upon Christ (God, Love). No human leader is to be followed, but you are to follow only the "Word" of God. This is not only the Bible, but the living Word, which is God Itself. (Jn. 1:1) Christians should avoid intimate association with people who are openly sinning. Our bodies are the temple of God. We should not abuse them through fornication.

Both marriage and the single state are acceptable to the Lord of Love. Paul implores Christians to support his ministry via charitable giving. Yet he refused to be "hired" for "payment." As the people of Love (God), we are unified through Communion.

Next, Paul supplies the famous and important principle, "All things are lawful." That is, everything which does not resist or destroy Love is not forbidden by God. Next, Paul betrays some chauvinism no doubt picked up during his days as a Pharisee, and commands that women symbolically cover their heads when praying. Paul then gives advice re the ceremony of Communion (Eucharist). Paul then examines the famous analogy of the Church as a "body," unified although it contains many "parts." God gives spiritual gifts and Love-gifts. This is where we find the famous "Canticle of Love," in First Corinthians chapter thirteen. Paul also has much to say about "glossolalia," or speaking in foreign languages. Again, Paul's old bigotry slips through into his words, and he prohibits women to teach in the public church. Paul closes with what has been called the "Gospel of the Resurrection," in chapter fifteen. He says that everyone who has a physical body also has a spiritual one designed for "heaven" (perfect Mindworld of Love). The "resurrection" is a fundamental tenet of true spirituality, and is associated with several other important ideas. As we reflect the nature of "dusty" man, Adam, so we must also reflect the nature of heavenly Spirit, Christ. We will not all die; some of us will be "translated" into our heavenly bodies.
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2 Corinthians summary


The truth is only hidden from those who do not hear the call to believe
(4:1-6)
The weakness of the suffering apostle demonstrates the glory of god which
we will share in the resurrection (4:7-5:10)
the apostle is even willing to suffer to bring people to Christ (6:1-13;
7:2-4)
Holiness is separation from the "world" (material order]. (6:14-7:1),
possibly non-Pauline]
Against the "super-apostles" (chapters 10-13)
Do not be led astray by their flattery (11:1-6)
True sign of an apostle is God’s power manifested in suffering and
weakness (11:16-12:13)
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