Reference: Course on Subject Clearing
We see ourselves as the “self” that is trying to understand “God.”
SELF
Though “self” is generally divided into body, mind and spirit, it is essentially a single system. The body is the form of the system, the mind is the computing ability of the system, and the spirit is the power of the system. By no means are body, mind and spirit separate or independent of each other. At the root of this system are tightly knit postulates that make the self unique. Thus, there is individuality.
POSTULATE
A postulate is a self-created truth based on which further reasoning is done. The purpose of postulate is to give form to the unknowable to fill the gaps in the knowable. Everything that we know is based on some postulate. The postulate may develop into a system of postulates and theories. To be valid, the postulates must be consistent with each other and with the overall context.
UNKNOWABLE
Neither the cause nor the beginning of this universe is knowable. There is Inscrutable Power that keeps this universe running eternally; but, neither religion nor science has any clue to it. Unknowable excites the curiosity to know the true nature of things. Unknowable simply means that no matter how much you know, there is always something more to know. And that is wonderful because it makes one strive to achieve a deeper understanding.
UNIVERSE
Origin: “entire, all, literally, turned into one.” The universe refers to all that is manifested and knowable. It includes all matter, all energy, all space, all time, and all thought. In other words, the universe includes everything physical, metaphysical, real, imaginary, postulated or speculated. Nothing manifested is excluded from the universe. It is the whole existence treated as ONE. It represents the ONENESS of all reality.
GOD
Origin: “To call, invoke.” God may be viewed as the Unknowable that we are trying to know. We make postulates to know the Unknowable and this gives us the knowable universe. We see this universe as infinite; so, we call God to be infinite. We find this universe to be everywhere; so, we say that God is everywhere. Thus, we assign the attributes of the universe to the knowable aspect of God. We may extend the definition of God from Unknowable to the knowable universe, especially as the tightly knit postulates that lie at the core of the universe. When we say, “God is One,” it means that the reality of the Unknowable and the knowable universe is ONE. In other words, all that we consider spiritual and physical is a single integrated reality that is continuous, consistent and harmonious. The universe is as pure as God. Any impurity lies only in our minds, and it can be purified.
When you know your postulates, you know yourself.
When you know the postulates underlying this universe, you know the knowable aspects of God.
And, then, there is the Unknowable—the God yet to be known.
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Exercise
A. Study the definitions above.
B. Check the responses to the following questions. Run them through the FALSE DATA STEPS as follows:
- Look at the idea that came up in response to the question.
- Find the source of the idea—either a person, book, TV, newspaper, movie, school or something else.
- See if you can recall the exact moment when you received that data.
- Look at how that data seems to you now.
NOTE: you do not necessarily have to agree with the above definitions. Your own definition may be adequate. This exercise is simply to have a good look at the concepts you have relating to GOD as compared to the definitions above.
“Have you been told or taught a different definition of SELF?”
“Do you have any ideas or beliefs contrary to the given definition of SELF?”
“Have you been led to believe in a different definition of SELF?”
“Do you know of anything that conflicts with the given definition of SELF?”
“Do you have any false data about the concept of SELF?”
“Have you been told or taught a different definition of POSTULATE?”
“Do you have any ideas or beliefs contrary to the given definition of POSTULATE?”
“Have you been led to believe in a different definition of POSTULATE?”
“Do you know of anything that conflicts with the given definition of POSTULATE?”
“Do you have any false data about the concept of POSTULATE?”
“Have you been told or taught a different definition of UNKNOWABLE?”
“Do you have any ideas or beliefs contrary to the given definition of UNKNOWABLE?”
“Have you been led to believe in a different definition of UNKNOWABLE?”
“Do you know of anything that conflicts with the given definition of UNKNOWABLE?”
“Do you have any false data about the concept of UNKNOWABLE?”
“Have you been told or taught a different definition of UNIVERSE?”
“Do you have any ideas or beliefs contrary to the given definition of UNIVERSE?”
“Have you been led to believe in a different definition of UNIVERSE?”
“Do you know of anything that conflicts with the given definition of UNIVERSE?”
“Do you have any false data about the concept of UNIVERSE?”
“Have you been told or taught a different definition of GOD?”
“Do you have any ideas or beliefs contrary to the given definition of GOD?”
“Have you been led to believe in a different definition of GOD?”
“Do you know of anything that conflicts with the given definition of GOD?”
“Do you have any false data about the concept of GOD?”
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C. Go over each of the following questions repetitively, until there are no more answers:
“How have others generated confusion on the concept of SELF?”
“How have you generated confusion on the concept of SELF?”
“How have others generated confusion on the concept of POSTULATE?”
“How have you generated confusion on the concept of POSTULATE?”
“How have others generated confusion on the concept of UNKNOWABLE?”
“How have you generated confusion on the concept of UNKNOWABLE?”
“How have others generated confusion on the concept of UNIVERSE?”
“How have you generated confusion on the concept of UNIVERSE?”
“How have others generated confusion on the concept of GOD?”
“How have you generated confusion on the concept of GOD?”
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D. Handle any anomalies that come up on the following question. Resolve the anomaly by looking at it more closely.
”Do you have any reservations about any of the above definitions?”
If the anomaly does not resolve then review the relevant definition as well as the steps B and C on that definition to see if anything was missed. Then do step D again. When there is no anomaly go to step E.
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E. Contemplate on the following question.
“Do you have any reservations about getting someone else to have these definitions?”
If any reservation comes up, then consider the following:
“How would that be a problem?”
Get answers to this question until there are no reservations.
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