The universe is the Body of God, yet this Body of God is in process of development over time. Just as all living things develop and mature over time, the physical universe itself, all of manifestation, is continually developing and maturing, which is why it is called a Process. So this world and our own bodies are all embodiments of God. But unlike the eternal Ideals and Qualities of God, the embodiments are in process of completion. Bodies, or expressions in general, are all influenced by a higher mind intelligence, and ultimately influenced by the eternal Ideals, but these influences are not directly forced because of the necessary principles of freedom.

Mind is the Interior aspect of God-Being, while physical existence is the Exterior aspect. The Interior called God-Mind is the composite of Divine Ideas, while the Exterior is the manifestation of these Higher Ideas (though the manifestation is unfolding in time, and so not fully complete at this present time). The Divine Ideas are Ideas for becoming, Ideas for existence, and they originate from the necessary Qualities of Divine Being. This wisdom teaching comes from the ancient mystic philosophers. Yet we can refine these teachings, taking them to a deeper level of wisdom or truth.

First, the Divine Ideas are not conceptually clear or exact in the primordial Divine Mind. It is not that the Divine holds clear Ideas for existence - such that the individual minds may reflect or mimic these Ideas. Rather, the Ideas are potentials (from Being and for existence) yet to be conceived. The conception of any [potential] Idea occurs in a moment of unfolding time by a being of existence. This conception brings into birth that Idea for all others in a sphere of influence (ie, humanity). The conception, in time and through an individual being, brings forth the potential Idea into actual ideation. Thus, we can deepen our understanding of the Mirror analogy by seeing that on one side are Ideas in potential, while on the other side are ideas conceived. The actual conception is partly due to the Potential Idea and partly due to the receptive circumstance. This is an esoteric truth to ponder, and it is represented by the conception of Jesus.

These conceptions are equal in meaning to realizations. Realizations are as great Ideas in our mind. On the one hand realizations come from the Divine Knowing of Being, what Being IS (the potential Qualities of Being), and on the other hand realizations are understandings of how these Qualities of Being ideally should manifest. On the one hand realizations are of Divine Being Qualities, and on the other hand realizations are ideals of becoming.

Realizations of truth in individual minds is partly due to the work and preparation of those individual minds, but also partly due to the Radiance of Truth from the Divine Side of the mirror. Truth radiates from Divine Being through the medium of Mind - the One Divine Mind. It may then be understood (or realized) by individual minds. Thus each mind has the possibility of realizing Mind (Divine Truth), to various degrees, and this realization is a reflection. The Greater Mind is the knowingness of Divine Being, but this is a knowingness of Being's essential Qualities (other teachings have called this Ideas or Forms). It is the individual mind that formulates the Abstract Knowing into intelligible ideas, principles or truths. So on the spiritual side Mind is the eternal Knowing of Being (or God), while individual minds on the existence side actually formulate ideas concerning spiritual Truth.

Mind has two complimentary poles, or two sides, one being its spiritual side and the other being its existence side. On the spiritual side, Mind is the Unitive knowingness of Divine Qualities and Intention. On the existence side, we find a plurality of minds, each with its own limited realization of the One Divine Mind, each limited and some quite distorted. Yet it is through these limited minds that forms and events must evolve. For the events and behaviors of existence depend on the limited realizations (or evolved intelligences) in the minds of the things and people of existence. We can see this in the living things of creation, as forms and actions are the consequences of mind or intelligence, or in the simple fact that we think of something before we do it. In other words, much of what occurs in our world here depends on the quality of mind (or the quality of realization) of people, or to what extent their minds reflect the Divine Mind (knowing Its Qualities, Ideas, and Intention). Besides this dependence on the extent of mental realization, actualization (of the Divine Qualities) will also depend on how free one is of emotional and physical obstructions. Realizations or knowingness in mind will often eventually overcome emotional and physical obstructions, but not necessarily or immediately.

There is really only One Mind, just as there is really only One Heart and One Love. In the world there is the phenomena of separate and different minds, because each ‘individual’ [of the One Being] has limited knowing of all that is Mind and this limited knowing may be distorted as well. So the cause of separateness and difference in individual minds are limitations and distortions of knowing. One can only know a portion of the One Mind, and in this limitation there is also possible distortion of knowing. The factor of limitation is unavoidable, but each is in process of expanding their individual knowing beyond levels of limitation, or expanding their knowledge of the One Reality of Being. Distortions are also somewhat unavoidable, but each is in process of becoming more clear in their knowing. This is a process of clarification, which is developing clear understanding about the One Reality based on real experience. We call these ‘processes’, but they require intentional work rather than being automatic. Thus, there is an apparent phenomena of separate and different minds, but this is still within the Reality of One Mind and within the process of gradual understanding.

One is thus becoming conscious of What Is. This is the process of understanding, or awakening to what is already true and Known in the One Mind. “This Is” and “I Am” become one understanding. The truth of what is and the truth of oneself is gradually becoming conscious. Understanding is moving from limitation and distortion to expansion and clarity. From the perspective of the limited understanding, or limited mind [in process], most of the One Mind/Being is unconscious. This is what Jung called the Unconscious, the greater Unconscious of oneself. This is what we must open to, discover, and become conscious of. It is the [as yet] unexplored territory and reality of Mind, or oneself. This vast Unconscious, though, is not really unconscious in Itself. It is unconscious only to our limited knowing. The One Mind is already conscious of Itself, and there are many beings already conscious in this Mind/Self in much more degree than we are. So even though from our own limited perspective there is a vast Unconscious, this “Unconscious” is really the vast Conscious Mind that we have yet to make conscious in ourselves. Again, this is all about the process we are in and the work of Self-awakening in front of us. It is a process of self-understanding, or knowing oneself; yet this ‘knowing oneself’ is not merely about ‘separate me’, but rather about the Universal Self of Who I am. Essentially, one is not merely exploring and learning about little-me, but rather everyone, or all of us. For remember, there really is only One Self, One Mind, One Being.

So there is an important esoteric distinction between Mind and minds, Ideas and ideas, Qualities and qualities, and Form and forms. The terms called ‘spiritual Ideas’ or ‘spiritual Forms’ were used in neo-platonic writings. But again, do not make the mistake in thinking that the existence side of the mirror (of minds, ideas and forms) are at best mere copies of Mind, Ideas or Form on the spiritual side. For to think in that way is to lose the profound creative significance of minds, ideas and forms, which actually formulate and concretize the abstract Potentiality of Divine Mind (of Ideas or Forms). The Ideas and Forms are not really existing but are abstract potentials. The Ideas and Forms are really the same meaning; only in existence are ideas and forms different, ideas being mental and forms physical. The Ideas are not literally like our ideas, and Forms are not literally like forms found in the world or even in imagination. The Ideas/Forms are not like perfect ideas/forms, as some writers mistakenly assumed. These terms were used for want of better words and also because there is a relation between Divine Mind and individual minds. Divine Mind is the greater field or substance in which minds exist, while individual minds are the conceptualizers and realizers of Divine Mind. Divine Ideas are the Source for particular ideas, and any true idea participates in an Idea, so particular ideas/forms depend on the Greater Ideas/Forms for their intelligence or truth. Yet the Ideas/Forms depend on particular ideas/forms for their manifestation or existence, for their shape and activity.

The Ideas/Forms do not determine particular ideas/forms in an exact manner; in other words, the forms of existence are not rigidly determined by Divine Forms, nor are ideas (for and about existence) rigidly determined by the Divine Ideas. There could be no rigid determinism, because the Ideas/Forms are abstract (and not clearly particular) and thus they could not enforce any clear-cut definite ideas/forms. An abstract or general Idea cannot deduce any necessary or determined particular ideas; though a particular idea, if true to its genera Idea, must satisfy the essence of that general Idea. Thus, [true] particular ideas or forms are determined generally (by the essence of the Idea/Form) but not exactly. In this way, there is creative exploratory spontaneity and diversity within the Idea/Form, not rigid determinism. There is general determinism, but not rigid determinism.

One should not make the mistake, though, in thinking that the existence side of the mirror reflects forms on the spiritual side of the mirror, for there are no forms on the spiritual side. So it is not true that existence copies forms from the spiritual side. Rather, the spiritual side is formless, and the existence side is how the formless potential of the spiritual side comes into form. The spiritual dimension is composed of potential Qualities for existence, and these Qualities are coming into form (through the existence side of the mirror), and over time the forms of existence are perfecting in relation to the potential Qualities on the other side of the mirror. So this reflection of existence, in relation to the Divine Qualities of Being, is not an immediate perfection but rather an evolving unfolding and evolving clarity.

The Divine knows what IT is (as Qualities but not form), and so the Divine knows what is intended for existence. But this Divine Intention unfolds in a process over time, and this process of unfoldment is not exactly determined by the Divine Intention - rather, the process has inherent degrees of freedom, and thus hazard and uncertainty. What we have here are Divine Qualities (such as Love, Goodness, Beauty and Excellence) intending to become form (physical things and events). Existence mirrors these Qualities in various degrees of perfection in any one time or place, while the Intention towards perfection has continual general influence within the overall system or process of existence.

The mirror between Divine Being (as Potentials) and existence (as actualized forms) can be regarded as Mind, for Mind is the mediator between the potentials of Being and the possible forms of existence.

To fit this into Platonist philosophy, individuals and the world are in a learning process of moving towards the ‘Form’ of Justice, Goodness and Beauty. This ‘Form’ is of course abstract, not definitive or specific. Plato did not simplistically hold a belief that these highest Forms are specific, as though one example could fully define or represent the Form of Justice. The abstract Forms are as general principles, and they are open-ended in their particular possible versions. These Forms are equal in meaning to God’s Qualities or Essences, or the Divine Attributes, or Divine Ideals. These can be understood as inherited by human being, or understood as that which man has the potential to share and participate in. For we are meant to participate in God’s Being-Essences and in God’s unfolding manifestation of Essences. Within the human soul, or what is inherent in the human mind-heart, is the spiritual sense and moral reason capable of recognizing that which ‘conforms to the Form’ of Justice and Goodness. And also within the soul is the spirit-impulse (what we also call the inner spiritual will) to aspire and struggle to achieve realization and actualization of the Form.

[[ These Ideas are not like human ideas about what is true, but they are like our ideas about what to create and how to be in the world. They are creative Ideas. But let us consider this more deeply.]]

For example, in God emerges an Idea of the butterfly. Now traditional theology might say that this idea of a butterfly is an idea that God will create in the world, that God has an idea of creating a butterfly and then does so. But the mystical theology of emanation says that this idea of butterfly is an idea for being, that is, for how God can be. In other words, the model here is not that God is ‘creating’ the butterfly, but rather that God is ‘becoming’ the butterfly. The idea of butterfly is an idea for being. So using this as an example, all Divine Ideas, or all Ideas of God, are ideas for being, different ways for God to experience being. So God becomes butterflies, which also expresses some of God’s spiritual qualities, though not all; and thus, in any part or life of creation, God is present yet limited in the fullness of such presence and qualities. We can speak of God becoming a butterfly or a flower, and that such entities in creation are expressive of God; but we should also qualify that nothing in creation is all of God and that God in fullness transcends any particular living being.

God became you, God became me. And we continue to be God-in-becoming. And thus we are divine beings, divine expressions, and God is the essence of our being. But of course the Whole God cannot be expressed or incarnated in any one particular being.

*** Divine Ideas such as peace on Earth, Brotherhood-Sisterhood, social cooperation, creative synthesis, harmony, beauty, justice; these are Big Ideas, great Divine Ideas. They are the Bigger Ideas, from the Mind or Creative Intelligence of God, but the details have yet to be worked out, for that part depends on the imagination and intelligence of humanity – as a working function of Divine Creativity.

We each are a Thought in the Mind of God. This is not merely an aberrant or random thought, but rather a significant thought, an important thought. So we are an important idea in the Mind of God. It can also be said that we are a perfect Thought, meaning that God sees us in our perfect potential. This perfect potential is synonymous with our true destiny, or who we are meant to be. But this is a potential destiny, rather than a determined fate. Our destiny, as potential, is given by the Divine, but it is up to us to actualize. So it is up to us to realize and actualize the Thought of God corresponding to our own individual being. The perfect Thought is here in us, like a seed, but we must do the necessary work to develop and complete this Thought or Idea. Consider and visualize the perfect idea of yourself. Or visualize God’s perfect Idea of yourself, or how God wants you to be. There is no fixed description or fixed directions for this visualization practice. It is solely up to you, in how you perceive yourself from the perspective of God’s Intent. You can expand this visualization practice to include how God wants you to be and what God wants you to do. Just let the visualization unfold naturally, while remembering that God is loving and wise.

We can take this to an ever deeper level. I am a Thought in the Mind of God; this is a Thought of God about God. It is a Thought about Being. So it is a Thought emerging from Being, from the God-Self. Now it might be misunderstood that this Thought is static, that it is like a static, fixed, rigid blueprint, which determines our destiny. But what has to be understood is that this Thought, this God’s Thought becoming oneself, is continuously created, like an Idea continually being explored or thought-out. It is not something static that was created long ago and is now merely being played out. The Divine Idea of oneself is being thought-out right now; we are right in the middle of this Idea being creatively thought-out. So the Divine Thought (as ourself) is right now in its own process of being formed and worked out. And what we feel as our own freedom, this very moment right now of free creative choice, or this moment of indecisiveness and uncertainty about choices, is in the middle of the creative process itself. In other words, we are right in this process of Divine Thought-formation, and our freedom is really God’s freedom. That is worthy to repeat: our freedom is God’s freedom. The creative exploration and formation of our own life, how we live and what we do, is God creatively exploring and forming life through us. Of course, this is true only to the extent that one is more consciously awake in spirit and not merely mechanically sleep-walking in a very small-minded illusion.

So let us get even more direct to the point. The free and creative self is God. Our freedom is God’s freedom, and our creativity is God’s creativity. The self is the focal point for God; it is a centre of God, each centre being like a hologram of the Whole, having all universal potential within it. Each self, each I, is a hologram of the One Self, the Divine I Am. Thus, I is God; that is, when I is fully awake and realizing the divine transparency of oneself.

Of course this kind of talk would be construed by most religious authority as incredible blasphemy, and many people are so conditioned by traditional taboos that this direct step into a completely new paradigm is difficult to break into. It takes courage and trust, like diving off a ledge and plunging into unknown waters. And yet this is a key into a new life, the new life that Jesus was really talking about. It is the courage to leave behind the foundations from which we have been conditioned to stand upon, and leap beyond this into the great Unknown, the Mystery of Being. If we can do this, then we are the Mystery exploring Itself.

We realize ourself to be God exploring and God thinking. This is the experience of realizing oneself as God. Though this spiritual realization needs to be tempered by a healthy realism that everyone (including oneself) is limited, to some degree, in present understanding, in the fullness of love, and in physical abilities. An important part of the understanding here is that we are each in process of Self-discovery or Self-Realization. One may realize that one is God, but one should also acknowledge that one is somewhat limited at this time in the complete fullness of God/Self Knowledge, and that Self-Realization is in process rather than being a completed static state in any one moment. In practical terms, this means being always open to new learning and open to greater awakening of Knowledge. Also, we don’t want to be leaping off high buildings, shouting “I am God!” In fact, the mystic masters suggest keeping quiet about all this, while working inwardly from the realization.

There is a Divine Idea of the human being, of what the human being can be, and this is known in the One Divine Mind. To summarize this Idea, it is to realize and manifest all of the Divine Qualities. Now that is certainly a lofty Idea. But it is possible. For it is our Divine potential. If we imagine what a perfect, loving, wise and creative person we might be, then we are coming closer to understanding this great potential. This Idea is not simply one particular image. There is not just one exact image of a perfect complete person for all people. The perfect ideal is much more open-ended, in the sense that there is no perfect image pre-known or pre-determined in the Divine Mind. Rather, the Divine Mind is creatively exploring its Potentials through us. Yet, the Divine Idea for our perfect self-manifestation does involve general Qualities coming into completion. For example, there is the Quality-Idea of being an explorer, a learner, a teacher, a lover, an artist, or a healer. And we can become more perfect in this general qualities. But how exactly this will manifest for each person is open-ended, and it will be somewhat unique for each person.

Divine Mind gives the Idea for being an explorer or an artist. It gives out that quality or that impulse. But this Idea does not show what exactly to explore or what exactly to make. The Divine Mind may give someone the idea, quality and impulse to be a scientist or inventor; but in this idea there is nothing about what the scientist will or should discover, nor what the inventor will or should invent. So there is openness and indeterminacy in the Idea. The general modality is given, but no specific details are given about how this Idea will play out in the various unique circumstances of life.

What is important to consider in this is that we have the natural-divine potential to complete these qualities in ourselves, such that the qualities become more perfectly complete in ourselves. These Divine Qualities or Ideas are seeds within us, and they can come into completion, like a flower comes into completion from its seed.

So how does the potential come into completion? How does our divine seed, the Idea, become the flower it is meant to be? Three forces need to be present. One force is the divine power itself, the divine power within the seed. This divine power is always at work, always working towards greater completion. But this alone is not sufficient, for we ourselves have a role to play. Our role is two-fold, which are the other two necessary forces. One necessity is intention. Energy follows intention, which involves will and mental direction towards the goal. This also includes the necessity of desire, an inner desire to become divinely complete. The other necessity is faith. We need faith in our divine potential, and faith in its natural completion. Though we should also include here the necessity of allowing the completion. This is part of having faith. Faith in the divine process of our becoming complete, and allowing this to happen, are both necessary.

So there are these three necessary forces. The divine power is ever-present, so we do not need to be concerned about this. But for it to be fully effective, we need faith in it. We need trust, and we need to allow it to happen. Allow yourself to unfold. Allow yourself to be in the process of divine completion, and have patience in this. Trust and have patience in this. The force of intention and will is also needed. The energy of our intention and will brings us into alignment with the spiritual goal. It is like pointing at the spiritual goal, and saying “Yes, that is where I shall go, so I will paddle in that direction.” Afterall, one could have intention and will towards less lofty goals or towards goals of the limited ego. So if one is facing an ego goal, then one is probably directing energy and attention away from the spiritual goal. Some teachings have claimed that all intention and will must be eliminated, but this is wrong. For if we do not place intention towards the spiritual goal, then it will be placed towards somewhere else. We are always facing in some direction; this is inevitable. So to reach the spiritual goal, we need to face in that direction. Some teachings have claimed that all goals are ego goals and thus all goals must be eliminated, but this too is wrong. The spiritual goal is not the same as an ego goal (in the sense that we are now speaking about the ego). The spiritual goal is towards completion and perfection of our inherent, potential spiritual qualities; which is to complete our spiritual destiny or spiritual purpose. This means to become great – but great in Spirit, great in Love. And then we will be able to do greater things. Yet this is a spiritual motivation, rather than a mere ego motivation, for it is aligned with spiritual purpose. To be a greater person, with greater love and wisdom and abilities, could seem to be ego motivated, but it is not. The ego is motivated by desire for greater power and prestige, and that is what it really cares about. But the spiritual motivation is to become a greater being of love with ability to serve life. The vision is much larger and more in unity with larger purposes of life. The ego is really small-minded. Even a ruthless dictator and conqueror is really small-minded in comparison to the greater spiritual goal. Also, the spiritual goal can only be attained by a sacrifice of the ego, a movement beyond the ego that the ego cannot even understand.

The final obstacle is faith. For at some point one is confronted with the obstacle of doubt. Doubt is dissolved by direct realization, so we need to realize that God (or the Divine) is ever-present and at work in our lives. Think of faith as the opening of the door, or opening of the flow. And with intention and will, we are paddling with this flow.

The greatest and largest Idea is existence itself. Existence, or the forms of existence, would not be if it were not for the Idea of existence. Yet this Idea is most general, and thus its logical possible derivatives are open-ended with degrees of freedom. Another of the great Ideas is the human (man and woman). Humans can consciously and intentionally participate in the Divine Potentials, the Ideas/Forms latent in Being Itself. This is our potential, derived from the Potentials of Being. The completion or perfection of this potential has been called 'complete man', when he or she fully realizes the Qualities of Divine Being and fully brings them into manifestation. Complete man realizes and expresses the Form of God (this Form being the totality of Divine Qualities, not form of shape) to the fullest possibility at any moment in existence. Thus the form of complete/perfect man (this form being the form of realization and expression, not the literal form of a physical body) is a reflection of God's Form. This is the meaning of 'man is created in the Image of God'.

Some of the Sufi mystics said that Muhammad was the cause of the whole creation. Of course this seems an outlandish statement; though maybe not anymore radical than Christians saying that Jesus is the only son of God. Yet more traditionally, Muhammad is never revered as anymore than a mere man, however a very saintly man who was given a prophetic mission to fulfill. Yet the Sufis often taught with symbols, so Muhammad became a significant symbol as well as a historical prophet. What he symbolized was ‘perfect man’ or completed man, an actualization of the potential that a human can be. So this manifesting Idea of the ‘perfect man’ (or human) is said to be the cause of all creation. In other words, this Idea is the greatest purpose of creation, and it is that to which creation is developing.

But notice that in order to understand this Principle one needs to abstract the universal meaning from what is being said. If understood most literally, that Muhammad was the cause or purpose of the whole creation, then this is quite absurd. But we have strip away the incidental qualities of Muhammad, in order to arrive at the universal essence of what this teaching is meaning. One has to strip away Muhammad’s body and gender, and also strip away the cultural and historical setting in which this person lived and gave teaching. One has to strip away everything about this person, except for the person’s universal qualities that are potential in all people. Thus, Muhammad can be a symbol for the perfect or completed human, but it would be misleading to make everything about Muhammad into a specific model for everyone to copy.

What one should be discovering is the divine potential in oneself and expressing this, which is in essence what Muhammad accomplished. So what is the purpose and cause of creation? It is not an image or manifestation of Muhammad, nor Jesus, nor Buddha, nor of anyone else in particular. It is the completed and actualized potentials of what the Divine can be in life. It is the manifestation and expression of fully conscious, loving, intelligent, and aesthetically creative beings. This is why creation has come to be. It is the purpose and also the cause teleologically, and it is what creation is heading toward.

In the unfolding Divine Process new Ideas enter into the mental world of humanity. These Ideas come from a higher world, a plane of Reality between the human mind and Divine Being. It is the Reality of Truth, of what Divine Being really IS and what is Intended to be manifested. This plane of Reality has been called the Divine Intellect and its substance has been called Divine Ideas. It could also called Divine Vision. Yet it is Vision/Ideas prior to human vision and understanding, that is, Divine Being Knows and has Vision of Itself prior to human knowing. This Divine Knowing (of Vision and Ideas) subsists as Potential in relation to the manifested world, until It is realized by existing beings and actualized in our world. It comes into actual existence gradually, entering when this existing world is sufficiently ready.

This Intellect or Vision enters through the mind/heart of human beings when they are sufficiently prepared. The Vision/Ideas of Divine Intellect, or the Potential Artistry of Divine Intellect, is intended to come through human beings, but not everyone will be ready at the same time. So in effect, the Vision/Ideas will enter a few particular people before entering the larger mass of cultures and humanity. In other words, some people realize it first, and if they are able to express and share it to many others, they may be acknowledged as visionaries or maybe as prophets. So the Divine Vision first comes through certain individuals and then, from them, it is progressively transmitted to others and hopefully to all (or most) of living humanity.

Many people may be able to receive the Vision on their own, just as the first visionaries did, but many more people will receive the Vision through those who originally received it from the Divine Source. This is why it is an important responsibility of those who do receive Visions/Ideas to somehow transmit it to others in humanity. Some are able to transmit the Visions into the social world through teaching or art, and some are able to transmit the Visions through mind (through esoteric telepathy, mental transmission, meditation). Thus, some of the transmitters become known as visionary prophets (such as religious prophets, spiritual teachers, or great philosophers), while other transmitters are unknown. Yet the basic point here is that Divine Visions/Ideas come through people and eventually transform the world.

Also to note is that the Divine Ideas are abstract (or general) at the level of Divine Intellect and only become concrete-expressible ideas through the intellect of the individual receiving and understanding them. Thus, the understanding and expression of these Divine Visions/Ideas are colored in some way by the intellectual or artistic apparatus of the recipient. It may also be colored by the culture and needs of the time. In other words, the expression/transmission of these Ideas, from the original recipient to others of humanity, may well be colored by what is particularly needed at that time (or in that culture). This is important to understand when we study traditional teachings of the past or of other cultures. Universal essences of Truth/Vision can be found in these teachings (or religions), but we may need to distinguish what is universal (true/good for all times and cultures) from what is merely temporal/cultural (that which was meant for just that time or culture or language system).

Another way that Divine Vision comes into the world is by individuals who express the Divine Truth through their very being-expression. In this way, the Divine Vision or Divine Qualities are transmitted to humanity through certain individuals who embody and express Divine Truth. In other words, they teach and transmit by their own example, by the very quality of their being-expression, without any actual expression of ideas. The Idea/Vision of Divine Being is expressed not through ideas or thoughts, but through their presence, their being, their love. As part of their being-expression, these individuals may have a certain higher energy that can be transmitted to others. It may be a healing energy, or an energy which inspires other people, or an energy which awakens the higher faculties of other people, or a pure love that awakens the love in others.

In essence, it is higher spiritual energy which flows through some people and is transmitted to others (who are receptive). This higher energy produces a definite effect on others: awakening love, devotion, spiritual perseverance, vision or creativity. The higher energy may even be assimilated by others, who will then have this same energy with which to transmit. In many cases, this is how spiritual energies are transmitted from one generation to another, and it is how certain teachers may hold the same qualities of energy as those great teachers (prophets, saints or masters) of their lineage. Thus, high spiritual energies and qualities are carried on from past to future, in the realm of humanity.

So these are some ways for the Divine to enter into the mind/heart of humanity: by ideas, by example, and by energy transmission. Each way is important, and often, spiritual disciples express in all these ways. Some express more outwardly and are thus more known, while others may express more esoterically (within the invisible mind/heart field of humanity). We can probably see how higher spiritual ideas and spiritual exemplifications have emerged in human history through particular individuals, and how religions and other movements have developed from their inspiration. But it is also important to realize that we ourselves can participate in this transmission from Divinity to humanity, from the Divine Plane to the actualized plane. We can participate as disciples or workers, so to speak, without having to think of ourselves as masters, saints or prophets. We do not need any label at all, for we can just participate in this to whatever degree we can. For now, we will call this the spiritual Work.

We can participate in this spiritual Work on one of four planes, or on more than one plane at once. The four planes for spiritual Work are the physical, emotional, mental and soul planes. These are the planes of humanity. When speaking about mental or emotional or soul aspects, there is a tendency to think in terms of individuals - my mind, your mind, my emotions, your emotions, my soul, your soul. But now we are considering how these are shared among all humanity on earth, our shared planes of reality. The usual tendency is to speak about mind in terms of individual minds - my mind, your mind. Yet each individual mind, though somewhat independent and self-autonomous, is participating in a larger mental field, the mental field or plane of humanity. {{this participation is often not-conscious, yet can be conscious}}

To help understand this, one could picture a vast network of singular fields interpenetrating to form a greater Collective Field. This would be the Collective Mind of Humanity, as it is at that time. This Collective Mind is not fixed nor static, but rather is in process of evolutionary unfoldment. Within this Collective Mind (of Humanity) we each share ideas, thoughts, ideals and visions. This does not mean, though, that everyone holds the same ideas. This is obviously not so. It means, rather, that any of the ideas pooled within the Collective Mind are available to any singular mind - if there is sufficient receptivity and readiness for such ideas. Remember again that higher Ideas/Visions enter from the Plane of Divine Intellect into certain individual minds and so into the Collective Mind. {{or it may be better stated ?? that Ideas/Visions enter straight into Collective Mind and then are picked by more and more individuals??, hmmm.}}

Yet as part of the free process of evolution (or spiritual unfoldment) there is free possibility for distortion, misunderstandings and false ideas - created by people. These ideas float about in the Collective Mind and are picked up by individuals or by small groups, and they may be taken on as beliefs. {{note that one could simply view the various ideas, like attending to different movies, but without simply believing everything hard or seen in the mind and being discerning about the truth or goodness of thoughts which happen to enter one's mind. That is, it would be silly make a place in one's house for every single thing one finds in street sale. It would be smart to be discerning and selective; alright to take a look at all the stuff, but stupid to grab and hold on to every idea that comes your way, into your mind. }}

Also note that some ideas in the Collective Mind have more power (more charge) than others. Some ideas can acquire more power, while some ideas can lose power. Some ideas can become more empowered by individual spiritual work (or group work); and this is Very important. Ideas are empowered, they gain more power, by every moment of focused agreement. Other ideas will lose power as we see the stupidity or falsity of them.^¹

Mind is the medium, or the middle dimension, between Divine Being/Essence and creation/manifestation. We can also call this imagination, because the mind is essentially imagination. Everything we know, everything we believe, even everything we see in the world, is through imagination. This is the medium of mind. This is not to imply that all experience is mere fantasy or illusion, for we are not using the word imagination in a derogatory or superficial meaning. We are using the word here in a very positive meaning; though it is of course possible for imagination to become distorted or delusionary or what might be called mere fantasy. But in the positive meaning of imagination, it is by way of imagination that we know anything about reality. For in its most positive use, imagination provides representational images and propositions, in order for us to understand or make sense of reality.

In spiritual terms, imagination is the mental medium for understanding spiritual reality. It is the necessary medium for Divine revelation. In other words, nothing of God (or Divine Being) can be revealed except by way of imagination – using images and analogies with language. We cannot possibly know God, or have any understanding of God whatsoever, without the use of imagination. So imagination is the medium for God to reveal Itself. Thus, divine revelation, knowledge and understanding must come through the imagination. But if our imagination is closed, or if we disrespect and disregard our imagination, then revelation and knowledge is closed.

So our imagination has to be free and open, as a medium for divine revelation and understanding. Though we need to remember that not all images or understandings of divine reality are equal in value, and there is the possibility of imaginal distortion. Imagination can lead one astray into unreal fantasy, just as well as it can lead us to divine understanding. Thus, even though imagination is of great importance and worthy of respect, it cannot be the judge of its own rightness. This is where the heart comes into play, for only the sincere heart (which is the knowing soul) can discern finer images of the Divine Reality from lesser fantasies and ego deceptions.

Imagination can also lead astray, show false misleading images or models, or be slave to emotions of fear etc.

Note that the Divine or higher CAN have a PLAN for creation, without necessarily implying that everything is always planned out. The meaning of Divine Plan, in the sense we are using it here, is that there are Ideal Aims for humanity and the world. This meaning is comparable with how we often make plans or have a plan in our mind about what best to do and how best to reach a goal. In the sense of a divine plan, this is primarily general in its vision. In other words, there is no perfect exact image in God’s mind about how the whole world should look at a certain time. It is easy to get caught up in this kind of theological thinking, just as many theologians have in the past; this belief that God has a perfect, exactly complete world in mind, an exact image of the perfect world, that is either destined to be or should be. But in truth, the divine plan is primarily general, like general ideals.

Though within the whole Divine Mind there are beings who develop and hold more specific visions of what is best to come. So in this sense, at different levels within the Divine Mind, there are varying degrees of specifity in relation to an ideal plan for the future. Certain high-thinking and visionary people at every stage of human history have held had visionary plans for humanity and have worked toward manifesting those plans. Yet even beyond the immediate group of spiritual visionaries living on earth at any one time, there are other beings and masters who also function as visionaries for the world future, all within the hierarchical Mind of God. So in summary, the divine plan is mostly general and unspecific, but it does become more specific through the visionary minds of those on various levels of the One Divine Mind. These are esoteric truths to ponder upon.

One of the metaphysical mistakes often made is assuming that God knows all Truths. God does know His/Her own Qualities and Intentions, but this is a direct knowing (direct like perception or intuition) and not a knowing using concepts - for conceptual knowing is the role of man/woman. Yet the God-Mind is not aware of every truth in the universe, such as what is the quickest route to the store. These sorts of Truth are for us to realize, not God per se.

It is true that there is a quickest route from your house to the local store. This quickest route is a truth, and it is a truth even if you have not yet realized it. This example shows how there are truths, even if not realized. It might also be true that my computer will fail after a certain amount of use, but I probably do not know how much use will cause this to happen. Potentially, I could figure this out scientifically if I have enough facts about the computer's capacity and its use. So, Truth is not necessarily the same as knowledge. For what we know may not be (and is probably not) all the Truth that is possible to know. That is, there are Truths which we may not know. We can make a distinction between Divine Truth and existence, and we can then say that existence is capable of knowing the Divine Truths (to various degrees). But we need not make the mistake of thinking that all of these Truths are known on the Divine Side or by God.

The reason why this is important is to understand what is Not on the spiritual side of the mirror. There is not an omniscience of every detailed truth pertaining to existence. We can assume there is omniscience regarding what is happening, and what has happened, but we should not assume there is omniscience about every truth of existence. Many truths are like the example posed above, as in 'what would happen if X were mixed with Y', or 'what is the most efficient route from X to Y'. In other words, many truths remain in the realm of unknowing (though possible to know). So on the Spiritual Side there are Truths of Being and Truths of potential existence, but these are Truths without any realization of them - until they are realized by minds in existence. ]]]

Creation in general, or life on earth, develops toward goals. These goals are the Ideas inherent in creation. A Divine Idea is the cause for its eventual manifestation. A potential of the future is cause to the present activity. By analogy, having an idea, goal, or vision in mind becomes the motivating reason for putting forth effort or striving to complete that idea or goal. The striving effort is instrumental for this completion. So the idea/goal functions both as a motivation and as an end-pattern for the developmental active process. An Idea or Goal is like a magnet attracting matter towards it and also patterning that matter. Matter follows Mind.

This is one of the ancient beliefs as held by spiritual philosophers. It is known as a teleological cause, discussed by Aristotle. Yet most modern scientific theory does not accept this. It is difficult or maybe impossible to empirically prove. But a teleological principle does not necessarily contradict empirical evidence or scientific data; yet the teleological force is hidden. It is like the immense invisible energy inherent in the universe, unexplainable by modern cosmologists. There are normal energies, which are the usual cause/effect energies that bump and bounce off one another, and which appear to propel the developing world or universe. Yet unseen are teleological forces of a different sort, which are the overall patterning or guiding forces.

Divine Ideas are already subsistent in this material world. They are already present in seed form before they become manifest in the creative process. In fact, the creative process proceeds from the seeds of these Divine Ideas. Each part of the creative process, known as the Work, is a gradual sculpturing or unfoldment of a Divine Idea. And in terms of the whole creation, in evolution, it is the gradual manifestation of the overall general Idea of God-in-actuality, the Idea-Vision of God-manifest. This greater and primary Idea, as well as subsidiary Divine Ideas, inspire and propel the whole creative process, and these Ideas are the Forms that the creative process is leading to and manifesting. The Ideas are like magnets, drawing creative activity to manifest the Ideas.

So the Divine Ideas, like Ideas or Visions in the Mind of God, are subsistent and eternally present throughout creation. They are the Ideas subsistent in Divine Being. And because creation is the manifest emanation of Divine Being, these Ideas are subsistent and immanent in creation. The Ideas are within matter, like intelligence within a seed, so this intelligence will blossom through the matter, as matter becomes an actual form of the intelligent Idea.

God is the One Being, Source of all emanation, and subsiding in this Being-Essence are God’s Divine Attributes. These are the same as the Divine Ideas. For all of the Divine Ideas are Potential Forms of Being, seeking to become manifest, and this seeking or yearning to actualize, this Will-to-be, is the creative propelling energy of all life. Thus, the creative process is the actualization, in time, of the Divine Attributes. This gradual actualization is towards completion or perfection of these Attributes. So we can speak here about the becoming of perfection, or perfected creation, and the perfect-completed human being as a conscious and self-actualizing microcosm of the Divine Being.

All of creation inherently strives to become perfected and completed, actualizing the Divine Ideas or Attributes of Divine Being. As well, there is an inherent striving of creation to consciously realize the Divine Ideas, the Attributes of God. This is the gradual awakening of man and woman, realizing the Divine Ideas and Qualities of creation and in oneself. God, in Essence and in its most perfect Ideas, is unknowable in its most pure perfection, yet can be partially known, for these Ideas/Qualities are at least partially actualized and unfolding through creation and through human beings.

Early esoteric writings spoke of the Divine Form of God, but this Form is not like a bodily shape. Rather, the Divine Form means the complete wholeness of the Perfect Qualities of God. These perfect Qualities, subsistent and internal within God/Being, are meant to be realized and externalized by us.

God, or the Universal Being, may at times be experienced as like a Greater Person; such as a Parent, a Friend, or even as a Lover. It could be argued that this is a false anthropomorphic projection, but there is nothing false in experiencing God in these ways, as long as we do not take this too literally. There is nothing wrong or distorted in experiencing God modeled by such analogies. God is like this, but not limited to this. Jesus told people that God is like a greater loving Father and we are his loved children. This helps to bring God into a closer feeling relationship, rather than keep God distant as some intellectual, impersonal concept. Some ancient traditions regarded the Greater Being as the Great Mother. The sufi mystics often spoke of God as The Friend, or as one's True Lover. God reveals Itself in many ways; so God as Father, Mother, Friend or Lover are each significant ways of experiencing the Greater Being in which we live. God is my Father, my Mother, my Friend, and my Lover. The common essence of these analogies is in the experience of God loving us. We are loved. And Love enfolds us. God cares for us, and God can guide us, yet we need to become open to this caring and guidance. We need to realize this and become open to it, and trust in it, in order for it to become effective.

So here we can ponder on the metaphysical analogy of the Great Man. This analogy pertains to the idea of God as The Great Man. We mean here both man and woman, as in mankind. We could include in this the idea of both God the Father and God the Mother, or male-God and female Goddess. The Father and Mother analogies are significant aspects of Being, in their own right, but we will consider this later. For now though, let us consider the idea of God as the Great Man, in its generic sense. It is said esoterically that man (generic man) is created in the image of God. This means that we are created as reflections of God-the-Creator, that we have the potentials of God, and that we are potential representatives of God. It logically follows, then, that God is essentially like us, if we are like God. Yet we do not have to suppose that God is a form like us, or that God exists somewhere in a super-human form. Rather, the Interior aspect of God is similar to our interior aspect, our aspect of mind or consciousness; although God is the Greater Interior in which we participate. So the Interior aspect of God is reflected (to some degree) in our interior aspect of mind and heart. Yet there is no Exterior aspect of God except for the exterior forms of God revealed in man and in the natural world.

The Interior aspect is essentially Consciousness, or Knowing of Being. Being is essentially Intention, Love, and Consciousness. Intention creates existence-expression, as Love wanting to be known or made conscious. From this comes the Divine Ideas for existence. Existence is the unfolding reflection of God's Self contemplation and discovery, through the medium of Mind wherein are the Ideas of Being - seeking form, expression, existence.

The Great Man, God, has mind and body. This is none other than the Universe Itself. The Mind of God is the pervading and subsisting Consciousness and Intelligence of the Universe. It is unlimited in Its depth and potential, and thus God's Mind is not merely constituted or contained by what is presently intelligent in the universe. The Body of God is the physical, manifested universe. There is no other Body of God. Of course though, this universe and the manifestations in it are in evolution and changing over time, so the Body of God is not a static or permanent thing. What we find in existence, at any one time, is not the completeness of God. That is, God is not merely the sum of existence, because existence is only the Exterior aspect or Body of God. The Interior aspect or Mind of God has infinite depth, which can never be contained or summed up by existence. Various degrees of realization are possible by the plurality of minds within Mind, but the complete vastness of God's Mind is uncontainable and unrealizable by any individual entity in the universe, and thus we must speak of God's ultimate Transcendence.

1 Anyways,... wrap up this idea/model of collective mental influence.

Same goes for the emotional plane -- shared emotions.

The inter relationship and mutual influence of physical actions is already apparent and usually obvious.

Interpenetration and collective field of Soul is more difficult to comprehend and this teaching has been reserved for initiates. yet some of this esoteric can be explained.... shared souls...

reincarnation... masters/initiates higher-souls "reincarnate" plural and simultaneously ... we sometimes call this channeling.

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