A funeral or a wake often invites us to reflect on the existential questions: Who am I? Where do I come from? Why am I here? What happens after I die?
In the Bible we discover that we are the Divine Breath or made in God’s image and likeness; Hinduism teaches that we find out identity in the Divine Essence, the Divine and I are not one, but the Divine and I are not two; the Quran is clear that God is closer to us than our jugular vein.
While the Scriptures are clear about our Divine identity, religion on the other hand teaches us that humans are basically sinful needing redemption. They invent the myth of Original Sin and develop the theology of Salvation.
The myth that God breathe the Divine Breath into dust and we became living beings reflects all the other myths. Science tells us that our bodies are made from star dust. So when we die our bodies will continue to be star dust while our life giving breath will become one with the Divine Essence that is present in every part of Creation.
Ronald Eyre, a British journalist, once interviewed a man in India. He began by asking, “How old are you?” to which the old man replied, “About 80.” Eyre was amused and said, “About 80?” and the man replied that he did not know his exact age. About 75% of people in India at that time did not have birth certificates. What an amazing way to live life! Eyre continued, “Are you afraid of dying?” The old man said, “Yes. But something tells me that when the time comes for me to die, then I will not be afraid.” To Eyre’s final question, “What will happen to you after you die?” he responded, “Now I am an individual; after I die I will become universal. That is my belief.”
The challenge of our present life is to realize our identity in the Divine Essence and experience the interconnectedness of all of Creation.
Paul's Blog 
Paul, I never thought much of “original sin”.
Our story begins in a world before sins
A time without evil or guile
When the moon shone bright on the fields at night
And mornings began with a smile
That is beautiful.
I agree with you and your description and metaphors are wonderful.
Thank you.
Hugs.
Josephine Ludwig
Out beyond the ideas of right and wrong is a field. I will meet you there. Rumi. Thank you Henry. I enjoyed your comments.
We are universal now. With skin and bone and thought limitation. We can do something about the “thought” limitations. Even psychologists today recognize the interconnectedness of the soul of all with the state of universal consciousness. I do not believe the traditional definition I was taught regarding original sin. The God I know today has been and always will be bonded to all that is created. That includes all of we humans. Jesus did not die to redeem me. Jesus died to REMIND me. Jesus loved like ABBA loves. Jesus was ABBA in flesh to teach us how to live. Jesus blood coats me with love not cleanses sin. There is a big difference between those two ideas. I want to find a community that teaches that about Jesus. If you know of one PLEASE let me know. Hugs. Josephine
Ps
Paul,
I shared this on my Facebook page.
Hugs
Jo
Makes me wonder why it is that we don’t view our lives as priveledged opportunities to realize our Devine Essence in life. I myself once exported the possibility of a blissful existence to a mythical place only accessible after death. Happiness and peace are human constructs in the form of emotions. We can have them in this life, our egos veil the Devine essence of our true selves. Ramana Maharshi once said; the numbers one and two give rise to other numbers. The truth is that it is as it is. I can only think in terms of human consciousness but the true self is not bound by the frailties of my experience or my abilities. Surely we are all Devine, all connected and all are one. I sought my place in Creation for years diligently, in search of the Bliss I thought the answer might bring. But it was always within me, my mistake was to search outward. We need add nothing I think, we need only subtract what has been incorrectly placed upon us, even our own identities. “we seek to gain reality but in truth it is only the reality we experience. Is it not a wonder of wonders! Who am I is the axe with which to cut off the ego and only the true self remains, ” Ramana Maharshi
I am finding life is more an awakening than a journey. It is in surrendering to the Divine that I find what I am. When the seer and the seeing become one the false self disappears for an instant and it becomes apparent that it is all one web of life and we are all connected. JoAnn
Joann
That’s so loving. Your response warms my heart and SO encourages me that others feel what I feel.
Thank you !!!!!!!
Jo
Well said JoAnn! Well done Paul! Great conversation is taking form due to your thought provoking post.
Very nice! This is exactly what I have been reading about lately. Perfect timing!
If sin is defined as forgetting who we are, then I conclude that we are both divine and a sinner.
Teilhard de Chardin writes of four universal principles, namely, Attraction, Connection, Complexity and Consciousness ( which includes response). If as we evolve to higher levels of consciousness, I think the divine will shine more brightly. Thanks, Paul, for raising this intriguing question.
I hope you can see that the proposition that… simply because we have forgotten who we are makes us a sinner as well as divine, is false. That proposition lacks more wisdom, knowledge, critical thinking. The goal is to remember, to experience, seek who we truly are as children of God and one with the Divine, which you are clearly doing. To forget or be misdirected through false teachings is no sin, just deflection, distraction from the narrow path.
Rooted to Mother Earth and related to all Beings in the Cosmos …… This is how the meditation goes (The Power of Silence by S. Painadath SJ). Yes, Paul there is interconnections in our existence. We live in a vast network that enhances our meaning of life and make us realise that we are together in our journey. Thank you very much for being connected.
How do I know I experience the Divine Essence?
In my opinion realizing the Divine essence as our identity and experiencing the interconnectedness of all creation is a simultaneous happening. I view this not just as one of the challenges but as a life goal. Thank you Paul for challenging me by reminding to me my life’s ambition.
Tresa
Love your response.
Yes, I agree it IS our life purpose.
That is a great perspective.
Thank you for your thoughts.
Hugs
Jo
Right now I feel the weight of the sinner, but I long to live in the Divine.
Not sure I want to be an element in the afterlife. I’d like to see my Mother for real.
I am more of a concrete person.
Patricia
Hi Patricia
You seem sad.
You are in my heart prayers.
Hugs coming your way.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Jo
Josephine Ludwig
As is so often the case, I’m grateful to be presented with your perspectives for further reflection. Thank you.
Paul,
In reading this I easily experience a sense of truth and a sense of joy.
Dear Paul,
Greetings from Sharjah,
I wonder if you remember this friend of yours, from your B.Ed class at Hansraj College many years ago?
Was surfing the net one fine day and came across some articles of yours. Logged on to YouTube and to my joy realized I had rediscover a long lost friend.
Glad to know your achievements and the good work you are doing in your ministry especially in the US.
There is a lot to learnt in the scientific approach used by Paul to justify Lies
https://dindooohindoo.page.tl/Noble-lie-of-Plato-to-Holy-Lie-of-Paul.htm
Philippians 1:15-18
18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
But the Lies of Paul – that it was all the Will of the Lord – as the Lord Put lies into his mouth
1 Kings 22:19–23
Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’
22 And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be ha lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’
And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’
23 Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has declared disaster for you.”
Even Jeremiuah was cheated by the Lord – It is all the Lord’s Fault
Jeremiah 20:7,
7 You deceived me, Lord, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long;