We say 'it resonates' but do we really know why?

[Bring4th_Austin]

Hi Lynette, wonderful post . Not a day goes by I don't contemplate words similar to what you have just posted.

I feel like, as a spiritual person, I have an advantage as far as the "faith" issue goes. For a long time, I was a strict atheist. I believed that the Universe was a random event containing more random events with no guidance aside from the physical laws of physics. I believed that when we died, that was it...we would cease to exist.

I feel like this is an advantage for me because that idea does not make me uncomfortable. I've spent most of my life being okay with the fact that some day I wouldn't exist any more, I wouldn't experience any more, and the only shot I got at experiencing anything was this random life I was randomly awarded by the Universe randomly coming together in a countless number of ways to produce me. This thought was almost more exciting to me than eternal life, grander experience, and all that.

And can I say now for sure that I know that's not how it is? Do I know for sure that when I die, my soul will still exist? Absolutely not. Despite the things I have experienced, the "absolute truths" and "unquestionable knowing" I've experienced throughout my spiritual journey through meditation and seeking, I still don't know that eternal life is awaiting me when my physical heart ceases to beat.

But I believe it does. And that, to me, is faith. And what I have found in experiencing the extreme of absolutely no faith vs. incredible faith, is that faith is powerful. Do I know that my higher self exists? Nope, but I do know that when I trust it, I am never led astray. Do I know that suffering will someday end? No, but when I believe that it will, it ceases to be.


So maybe I'll die and nothing will happen, and existence will disappear for the random spark of life that is me. I'm okay with that. Maybe eternal life exists as Ra described. I'm okay with that too. Neither option will distract me from living my life in a way that I feel is meaningful. Whether my life continues or not, I'm not going to leave this world without making sure that my net influence has been positive. And what I've found is, when I trust in faith, the ability to have that positive influence becomes exponentially easier. So in faith I trust.