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[anagogy]

The philosophical point I'm exploring can be described as the teleology of spiritual evolution, the "why" of this illusion of separation.  Infinity being infinite, nothing can exist that is not contained within that infinity.  So the issue is what it is about experience of separation in some of the forms you describe -- both positive and negative -- that makes's the Creator's foray into separateness valuable or necessary in some way that wasn't already part of that infinity?

In many cases the Confederation have described the Creator's ultimate goal as "knowing itself" or learning about itself in some way.  The mystery, to me, is how something that is already infinite could have more of anything, whether that be knowledge, understanding, appreciation, etc.  A goal implies a lack to be filled, and infinity cannot lack anything by definition.

I think you're absolutely correct that infinity contains all. The real problem here is words, and human conceptions and conventions, which cannot adequately express the absolute in a cogent or articulate way, without significant distortion. But these are the pointers we have to work with.

The understanding that was offered to me, by my teachers, is that the foray into illusion doesn't increase infinity at all. Rather, the foray, itself, is simply an always existing component of that infinity. If you can imagine infinity (a difficult prospect indeed), try to imagine what it is like to 'know everything' to know 'all possibilities' in an eternally existing present. This intelligent infinity even knows what it is like to 'not know' everything. Omniscience is a mind boggling prospect to conceive of, and the staggering array of configurations it comprises -- the infinite possibilities and play of shadow and light. We confuse this vibratory configuration, or reverberating pattern in consciousness (which is necessarily predicated on separation) as our illusory separate existence, simply due to identification. We confuse the infinity "knowing" what it is like to be separate, as actual separation. As Ra said, it is chosen by each of us as an alternative to understanding the complete unity of thought that binds all things.

So really, you can only look at infinity in terms of identification. The infinity looks different at every level of identification. These levels of identification are the densities, or colors, of the infinite light as it eternally radiates from the core of truth (that which is) outwards towards the void of falsity (that which is not).

At the broadest level of identification (or non-identification) -- the level of 8th density, absolutely nothing is 'happening'. It is changeless, undifferentiated, and always will be. It is simply just infinity -- the Beingness that contains all possible configurations of light and energy. Anything below that involves some level of identification with one of these levels of 'knowingness'. (knowingness is the level below Beingness -- which is the realm of mind) It is not nothingness, but it *IS* No-Thing-Ness. It is the level of Ain, in Kabbalistic terminology -- the level of absolute non-differentiation.

Why does identification happen? (of course it should be inserted here we can only speak of 'happening' below the 8th level) I think it is no different than the question of: why do ice crystals form in cold water? It is simply just nature. As the infinite continuum of consciousness, which comprises the infinitely and eternally existing spectrum of possibilities ranging from perfect truth (that which is) to the twilight of distortion that comprises the possibilities of infinite falsity (that which is not), the consciousness naturally forms 'identities', just like the ice crystals naturally, and impersonally, forms in cold water. The mind at these colder levels of consciousness is naturally inclined to "freeze" into perspectives or "identities". This causes fragments of consciousness to seemingly splinter off from the One, which then requires 'melting' (again, merely from their vantage point).

I think it is just a cosmic and indifferent eternal process, which we then impart various divine creationary narratives to (which are not completely false btw). I don't know if this helps you at all. I'm merely sharing what I've learned. I know the feeling of yearning for this understanding.