That Thou Art

Quantum Source ... Quantum World ... Quantum Void ... Quantum You!

A philosopher whose work I have followed for many years (Paul Brunton) introduced me to the following phrases, the origins of which are in the Upanishadic teachings of the Indian metaphysical tradition (Vedanta): “Mind Alone Is,” and, “That Thou Art.”

In the language we use today as part of Bill’s community, we would say, “The Quantum Void Alone Is,” and “THAT is what you essentially are.” (I believe these are equivalent statements.)

Now, Bill has been enthusiastically encouraging us to look very carefully at two interdependent states of being: duality and morality. With duality, we are felt to be a separate being, within a universe of other beings, objects, ideas, and so on; and from this being, to have opinions and judgements, and preferences about these others. He has encouraged us to release ourselves from this kind of consciousness.

Following this, we (I confidently assume the plural here) have faced challenges when it comes to some of the horrors of the current world situation. You see? Already, using the word ‘horror’ lends a judgmental tinge to the feeling. So the question arises, how are we to understand the suggestion to drop judgement and duality in the face of powerful feelings of outrage, horror, and grief?

What does it look like if we assume that we are, in essence, the Quantum Void? What is the void’s characteristic, the acknowledgement of which could help bridge the gap between what we feel in the day to day with the suggestion not to judge, not to be separate?

I sense (and then forget, and then sense again) that the answer is Power, a word I chose to capitalize because it is not one of the normal powers we ascribe to humanity, powers that show up in our acting and doing, powers that have led to the creation of the world of our experience, in so many ways.

The Power I am attempting to talk about here is in a way synonymous with Void itself. It is the same as Void because Void has no parts, yet magically rests as the source of all the other powers and of everything. So, if we are That, then our grief is Power, with all the potential inherent in Void. The seeming objective, out-there-horror is Power, because Void is all there is. Can this thought bring solace in the midst of our outrage? I believe it can, as a reminder of what we are.

Perhaps this Power moves us to take action, even if the action is merely contemplation of its truth; or maybe we join a movement, make a donation; travel to a far-off land to lend a hand. From the perspective I am offering here, they are equivalent.

And finally, the efficacy of any stance we take is beyond the capacity of the conventional mind to determine. Faith in the efficacy is a nod to the fact that a wisdom/intelligence greater than what we call our own is running the show. Being that wisdom-intelligence, as Void, is its confirmation.