What is the Light
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« on: February 11, 2012, 07:58:45 PM » |
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I don't know if this is the right place to put this but here it is.
Years ago I was cooking and as I was standing there I had this experience. The world stopped for a moment a feeling of lightness, joy, emptiness (in a good way), and the cessation of thought. For a moment all my worries were gone, so was everything else. When I think of this I remember a white light, I don't know if that was from the experience actually. It was there for a moment then it was gone, fading away. I've never had a clue of what this was. Does this correlate to any thing in Orthodoxy?
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PeterTheAleut
The Right Blowhard Peter the Furtive of Yetts O'Muckhart
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EXTERMINATE!
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« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2012, 08:04:41 PM » |
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Usually only with those most advanced in the practice of hesychastic prayer. Since talking about their experiences is very often a temptation to pride, they're generally very reticent to speak of them except to their spiritual elders, kinda like St. Paul and his experiences of the highest heaven, which he related only by talking of his experiences as though they were someone else's. At least this is how I understand it according to my limited knowledge.
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« Last Edit: February 11, 2012, 08:07:00 PM by PeterTheAleut »
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What is the Light
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« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2012, 08:37:43 PM » |
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So perhaps just let it be a mystery?
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witega
Is it enough now, to tell you you matter?
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« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2012, 01:30:54 AM » |
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So perhaps just let it be a mystery?
It could have been a spontaneous gift of Grace given to you because God knew it would be good for you. It could have been a random neuron misfire. It could have been many things. I think the point is that even if there is anyone on this forum qualified to make such a judgment (and I'm certainly not one of them), they wouldn't be able to do so through some sort of anonymous discussion on the internet. What you described does have possible correlates in Orthodoxy. But the exploration of what it actually was is something that should be undertaken in the context of a personal relationship with a spiritual father. If you have a parish priest, discuss it with him. If that is not possible for you at this time, then, yes, probably best to just 'let it be a mystery' until you are in a position to discuss it fully with a confessor. |
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Ariel Starling - New albumFor it were better to suffer everything, rather than divide the Church of God. Even martyrdom for the sake of preventing division would not be less glorious than for refusing to worship idols. - St. Dionysius the Great
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What is the Light
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« Reply #4 on: February 12, 2012, 09:04:08 AM » |
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Witega: good point.
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Αριστοκλής
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« Reply #5 on: February 12, 2012, 07:57:01 PM » |
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Many are called...
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"Religion is a neurobiological illness and Orthodoxy is its cure." - Fr. John S. Romanides
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Punch
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« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2012, 07:59:13 PM » |
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A mini-stroke?
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God did not create man equal. Samuel Colt made man equal. Blessed be the Peacemaker.
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Maximum Bob
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« Reply #7 on: February 13, 2012, 12:17:26 AM » |
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It does seem to remind me of some things I think I've read in lives of Saints, but then it also reminds me of an LSD flashback, and an experience I had with some fireworks when I was a child. While I would not say God is constrained in manifesting himself only to those we think he should, I am also mindful that there is much delusion in the world and much harm that can come from drawing conclusions on our own without proper guidance. I agree with witega take it up with a priest.
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Prov. 3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Psalm 37:23 The Lord guides a man safely in the way he should go.
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mabsoota
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Kyrie eleison
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« Reply #8 on: February 13, 2012, 10:08:18 AM » |
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very good answers.
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IoanC
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« Reply #9 on: February 14, 2012, 12:28:22 PM » |
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It's probably hard to determine what it was. But if you think about too much, or if it confuses you, try to put it aside. Maybe leave it up to God to explain to you what it was, if/when He thinks it's the right time.
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