Tag: Spiritual Paradox

The Stage Beyond Oneness

When Even the Kosmos Falls Away

There comes a point when even the most expansive vision collapses—not from error, but from completion.

On the path of awakening, seekers often journey from the confines of selfhood to a union with all things. Ego dissolves, and what once felt separate now reveals itself as interconnected. Compassion grows. The heart blooms for all beings. One begins to live for the Whole.

But for some, even this union becomes too crowded.

Even the notion of “One” becomes too noisy.

This is the threshold where Kosmocentric awareness—a state of profound unity with all life and existence—gives way to something quieter, more radical. Not a deeper connection, but the quiet erasure of the very need for connection. Not expansion, but the release of expansion itself.

This is acentric awareness.

Not centered on the self.

Not centered on the world.

Not even centered on the All.

Acentricity does not point toward identification with something greater. It simply makes no identification at all. No vantage point. No witness. No center from which to perceive. It does not declare that all is One—it no longer needs such declarations. Truth requires no thesis here.

Reality just appears.

Without context.

Without a watcher.

Without the echo of a thought that says, “I am aware.”

Call it suchness.

Call it the absence of everything, shimmering as everything.

Call it the stillness that doesn’t oppose movement, because it was never still.

This isn’t transcendence. It isn’t detachment. It isn’t a stance. It’s the utter end of stance—the collapse of spiritual architecture, without the rubble. It doesn’t reject the world. It simply no longer perceives it as something to accept or reject.

And what does such a life look like?

Unremarkable.

Utterly simple.

Perhaps quiet, perhaps animated.

But always empty of claim, even the claim to be empty.

There are no teachings left to transmit. Not because truth has been mastered, but because it was never a possession. No more climbing. No more seeking. No more union. Not even rest—because rest would imply effort once existed.

This is the unborn silence that does not speak—not even through the mouths of sages.

It appears as a leaf falling, as someone stirring soup, as the sound of a crow at dusk.

And you might pass by it without knowing.

Because it doesn’t need to be known.

It just is.

And it is no one’s.

Morgan O. Smith

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The Paradox of Divine Knowledge

Beyond the Mind’s Perception

God knows nothing yet knows everything—a contradiction that stands as a perfect reflection of the nature of absolute reality. This enigmatic statement, like a koan, invites deeper contemplation beyond linear thinking. It points to a knowledge that defies conceptual grasp, a knowing that cannot be possessed by the mind.

To say God knows everything implies omniscience—a perfect awareness of all events, possibilities, and outcomes within the realm of manifestation. Yet, to say God knows nothing points to an awareness that transcends any form of subject-object relationship. Here, knowledge is not fragmented into parts. Rather, it exists as a pure, nondual state of being.

This paradox can only be resolved through a radical shift in perception. From the mind’s perspective, knowing implies a knower and a known—a separation that inherently breeds confusion. The clearer this division becomes, the more apparent the contradiction. But from the perspective of absolute awareness, there is no such division. Knowing and not knowing collapse into a single essence, a seamless flow where everything is already perfectly held without the need for grasping or possessing.

The confusion arises only when one attempts to use a dualistic framework to analyze a nondual reality. For those entrenched in rational thought, this statement appears illogical. Yet, the crystal clarity of this confusion emerges when seen through the lens of direct experience. God’s knowing is not intellectual; it is a luminous stillness that enfolds every possible expression of existence without ever defining itself through those expressions.

What, then, does it mean for God to “know nothing”? It signifies the emptiness of all forms, a state where no thought, label, or concept can fully capture what is. It is a knowing that is the essence of all things yet free from the content of knowing itself. There are no judgments, no biases, no preferences—just a silent, omnipresent witnessing. The awareness is so pure that it does not even recognize itself as “knowing” in the conventional sense. It is like the sky holding all clouds yet remaining untouched by their presence or absence.

This is the clarity that lies within the paradox: God knows everything because God is everything. Simultaneously, God knows nothing because God is not bound by the limitations of any particular knowledge. The confusion dissolves when we release the need to categorize and understand reality through fixed structures.

To experience this confusion as crystal clear requires embracing the humility of not knowing. When all concepts, beliefs, and labels are dropped, what remains is a pure awareness that is as empty as it is full. The mind may struggle to grasp this state, but the heart recognizes it intuitively. It is a state of grace, a luminous unknowing that is beyond the reach of both thought and language.

Paradox is not a flaw in understanding; it is the gateway to freedom. It invites one to look beyond the confines of intellect and rest in a knowing that cannot be spoken. This is the ultimate clarity: a confusion that reveals the divine nature of all that is.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Paradox of God’s Purpose

Beyond Time and Space

The idea of God having a purpose evokes a curious paradox. Purpose, as we understand it, requires time. There’s a beginning, an intention, and an outcome. Yet, God exists beyond time and space, transcending all dimensions that human minds perceive. How, then, can the ultimate transcendence have a purpose when both purpose and fulfillment rely on the passage of time?

God, in the most absolute sense, is timeless. Purpose implies movement from one state to another, a process that cannot apply to something that exists beyond time. God, as the eternal presence, neither moves nor changes. Yet, this same timeless God includes time and space as aspects of reality. Everything exists within God, and time is simply one of the infinite expressions of that existence.

From our limited perspective within time and space, purpose appears necessary and real. The flow of cause and effect shapes our understanding of meaning. Thus, we perceive God as having a purpose, as if the universe itself was an unfolding plan. But this perception only holds because we exist within the constraints of time. In truth, God’s purpose is as illusory as time itself—a projection of human understanding onto a reality that transcends all conceptual boundaries.

God, being everything, includes the illusion of purpose, yet remains untouched by it. In this sense, what we view as God’s purpose is simply an expression of the unfolding of existence within the framework of time. This divine play, known as *lila* in some traditions, is neither driven by need nor aimed at fulfillment. It is simply the unfolding of what is, without beginning or end.

The purpose we attribute to God is an attempt to understand the unfathomable. But ultimately, God’s true nature exists beyond purpose, beyond time, beyond any duality that our minds attempt to impose. To realize this is to recognize that the essence of existence is purposeless in the most profound sense—not in a nihilistic way, but as a reflection of absolute freedom, where nothing needs to be done because all is already complete.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Paradox of Separateness and Oneness

In the vast expanse of spiritual exploration, two concepts often emerge as seemingly opposing forces: separateness and oneness. Yet, upon deeper contemplation, we uncover that both are not just interconnected but also encapsulate a profound paradox that challenges the very foundation of our understanding of reality.

The Illusion of Separateness

From a conventional standpoint, separateness is the bedrock of our physical existence. It’s the principle that delineates you from me, the tree from the soil, the ocean from the sky. This distinction is crucial for navigating the physical world, allowing us to make sense of our environment through categorization and identification. However, this perception of separateness is, at its core, an illusion—a construct of the mind that confines us within the boundaries of our individual experiences.

The spiritual journey often begins with the recognition of this illusion. As we delve into the depths of our inner world, we start to perceive the threads of connection that weave through the fabric of existence. These connections blur the lines of separation, revealing a more intricate and interdependent reality. Yet, acknowledging this interconnectedness is only the first step toward a more profound realization.

The Illusion of Oneness

Oneness, often heralded as the ultimate spiritual truth, suggests that all forms of existence are intrinsically connected, emanating from the same source of divine energy. This perspective invites us into a state of unity with the cosmos, where the illusion of separateness dissolves into the universal whole.

However, labelling oneness as the ultimate truth also presents a paradox. By defining our experience within the confines of oneness, we inadvertently create a new duality between the concepts of oneness and separateness. This duality suggests that while oneness seeks to unify, it simultaneously perpetuates the cycle of illusion by opposing separateness.

Navigating the Illusions

The recognition that both separateness and oneness are illusions invites us into a space beyond dualistic thinking. It beckons us to explore a realm where these concepts are not opposing forces but rather different aspects of the same reality. This realm, free from the constraints of conventional categorization, allows for a fluidity of experience and understanding.

In this space, we find freedom from the need to label or define our experiences as either separate or unified. We open ourselves to a state of being that embraces the full spectrum of existence, acknowledging its inherent complexity without the need to simplify it into comprehensible constructs. This state of being is not about finding a middle ground between separateness and oneness but about transcending the very need for such distinctions.

Conclusion

The journey through the paradox of separateness and oneness is not about choosing one illusion over the other but about transcending the limitations they impose on our understanding of reality. It invites us into a deeper exploration of existence, where the boundaries between self and other, between individual and universe, become permeable and fluid.

By navigating these illusions with an open heart and a curious mind, we can move closer to a state of spiritual freedom—a state where the intricate dance of separateness and oneness plays out within us, not as conflicting forces, but as harmonious expressions of the infinite complexity of being.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

Unveiling Infinity

The Journey Beyond Spiritual Constructs

In the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment, a paradox often emerges: the journey toward liberation can inadvertently become a new form of bondage. It’s an intricate dance where the very tools and practices designed to free us can subtly entangle us in a new web of spiritual identity and attachment. This realization beckons a profound question: how do we liberate ourselves, not just from worldly entrapments, but from the constructs of spirituality itself?

**The Illusion of Spiritual Identity**

Spirituality, in its essence, is a quest for understanding, a search for the absolute truth. However, in this quest, there is a risk of creating a ‘spiritual identity’. This identity, though seemingly elevating, can become a subtle trap. It fosters a sense of separateness – the ‘enlightened’ versus the ‘unenlightened’, the ‘seeker’ versus the ‘found’. To truly transcend, one must recognize this dichotomy as an illusion.

**Dissolving the Constructs**

The path to true liberation involves dissolving these constructs. It’s about transcending not only material attachments but also the conceptual frameworks that spirituality often constructs. This includes letting go of labels, practices, and even the concept of enlightenment itself. It’s a journey into the uncharted territory of pure being, where the mind’s compulsive need to categorize and define is relinquished.


**The Freedom of No Identity**

In this space of ‘no identity’, true freedom is found. It’s a state of existence where one is not defined by spiritual accomplishments, knowledge, or experiences. Here, the individual merges with the totality of existence, experiencing a nondualistic state where the observer and the observed are one. This is the pinnacle of spiritual liberation – a state beyond states, a presence beyond identities.

**Embracing the Void**

Embracing this void, this absence of identity and construct may initially seem daunting. Yet, it’s in this emptiness that the fullness of life is experienced. It’s a paradox where the absence of everything is the presence of the absolute. In this space, there is no ‘you’ that needs to be enlightened, no path that needs to be followed. There is just the pure, unbounded essence of being.


**Conclusion**

Liberating oneself from everything, including spirituality, is not about discarding spiritual practices or insights. It’s about transcending them, recognizing that they are but signposts to a destination beyond any path’s confines. It’s a journey from form to the formless, from identity to the boundless.

In this liberation, one discovers that the ultimate truth is not something to be attained but realized – the truth that you are not just a part of the universe; you are the universe. This realization is not the end but a new beginning, an invitation to live in the fullness of absolute freedom.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith



The Paradox of Self and No-Self

Navigating Samsara and Nirvana

In the profound journey of spiritual understanding, the concepts of birth, death, and rebirth hold a pivotal place. The intriguing idea that an enlightened being, despite their profound realization, can still be subject to the continuous cycle of reincarnation, presents a paradox that invites deep contemplation.

The pursuit of Nirvana or Moksha, as understood in various spiritual traditions, suggests a state where this perpetual cycle is broken. This liberation, often depicted as the ultimate goal in spiritual endeavours, implies an escape from the continuous loop of birth, death, and rebirth.

However, this raises a thought-provoking question: Can one truly experience and comprehend nondual suchness – a profound realization of their true self as the foundational essence of all existence – and yet remain entangled in the cycle of birth and death? This notion challenges our understanding of spiritual liberation and the nature of self-awareness.


The intricate relationship between Samsara (the cycle of birth and death) and Nirvana (liberation from this cycle) is a complex one. They are often perceived as two distinct realms or states of being. Yet, in a deeper existential sense, they might be seen as the same. This perspective opens up a philosophical exploration into the nature of the self.

The concept of ‘no-self’ is central to this discussion. It posits that the individual self we identify with is an illusion, a transient construct devoid of inherent existence. Paradoxically, this ‘no-self’ is also the self, as there is no true separation between the individual and the universal. Thus, one might refer to it as the ‘no-self,’ questioning the very existence of a label or reference point in this boundless, interconnected reality.

This exploration leads to profound questions: Who labels this existence if the self is an illusion? What is the nature of the self that encompasses everything, yet is nothing in itself? These are the riddles that spiritual seekers have pondered for ages, and they remain mystifying and intriguing today.


This philosophical conundrum invites us to dive deeper into our understanding of existence, self, and liberation. It challenges us to look beyond the conventional notions of identity and existence, urging us to explore the very essence of being.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Theist’s Agnostic Dilemma

On the Quest for Nondual Spiritual Awakening

For as long as humans have looked up to the skies and pondered upon the nature of existence, the question of God’s existence has been a prominent query. Some vehemently assert the presence of divine power, some deny it with equal vigour, while others remain in a state of uncertainty. What’s interesting, however, is the subtle paradox that emerges when one deeply contemplates the nature of belief and knowledge concerning God.

At its core, to be a theist is to believe in the existence of God or gods. This belief often stems from religious teachings, personal experiences, or intuitive convictions. Yet, if we pause and dissect this ‘belief’, we can identify an underlying layer of agnosticism. Agnosticism, in essence, is the state of not being sure about the existence or non-existence of God. While it might seem counterintuitive, the argument can be made that every theist, at some level, is an agnostic.

The reason is simple: to believe is not the same as to know.

Belief is a conviction, a deeply held trust in something, often without empirical evidence. Knowledge, on the other hand, suggests a certainty, a definitive understanding. So, while a theist believes in God, can they truly say they know God exists, in the same way, they know the sun rises in the east?

This uncertainty, this inability to ‘know’ for sure, brings us to the concept of the Nondual spiritual awakening. Nonduality, as a spiritual tenet, postulates that there is no separation between the self and the universe, between man and God. In this awakened state, one doesn’t just believe in God; one realizes or experiences God’s presence in everything. It’s akin to a veil being lifted, revealing a world where the divine isn’t an external entity but is immanent and present in every facet of existence.

Until one reaches this state of Nondual realization, the existence of God remains a matter of faith and belief. The journey from belief to knowledge, in the spiritual sense, is what many spiritual seekers aim for. It’s a transformation from the intellectual to the experiential, from conceptual understanding to living realization.

In conclusion, the theist’s journey, while rooted in belief, inherently contains a quest for certain knowledge. It’s a paradox that every believer grapples with, consciously or unconsciously. While some are content with their faith, others embark on spiritual voyages to seek that elusive Nondual awakening. Whether you’re a believer, an atheist, or an agnostic, the quest for understanding the nature of God and our place in the cosmos is a deeply human endeavour, one that transcends labels and challenges us to think beyond the confines of our current understanding.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith