The Universe Within -- Theosophical Discussion

This month we'll be discussing such questions as: Who are we? How can we describe our nature and awareness? Are we in fact a miniature universe? Is our inner self finite or boundless? How do the various aspects of our being relate to each other and to the surrounding cosmos? What are the pros and cons of various methods of self-exploration? How does more self-understanding benefit our lives? All are welcome - come and share your ideas! Non-political, unsectarian. ---Food for Thought---- Consider a pond that borders on and is continuous with the ocean. Our awareness, the observing self, is the surface of the pond. Thoughts, feelings, and other mental activities are like splashes and ripples in the water, as if small stones were being tossed in from the shore. When such activity subsides, the pond is smooth, still, and reflective; at such times the observing self is enhanced, becomes prominent, and is the major dimension of consciousness. At other times, when thought has transformed the surface into a mass of waves and ripples, awareness seems to have vanished and consciousness contains only the patterns of disturbance in the water . . . When the water becomes still, and the quiet extends to a sufficient depth, the pond begins to resonate with the longer phase pulsations originating from the ocean. When stillness and activity are in proper balance, the state of the pond reflects the subtle rhythms that are ordinarily obscured and confused by surface ripples. ÂÂ- Arthur J. Deikman