2009.Compton.Laura Lucille 1 |
Previous | 1 of 101 | Next |
|
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
All (PDF)
|
This page
All
|
AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS/PROJECT
of Laura Lucille Compton for the degree of Master of Arts in Applied Theology
presented on June 6, 2009.
Title: This Present Moment: The Transformational Power of the “I AM” Consciousness
Abstract approved:______________________________________________________________
The word religion means to “bind back.” The purpose of religion is to bind us back to God. My thesis considers this sacred purpose through the lens of “I AM” theology and the principles of non-dualism associated with Advaita Vedanta. Through that lens, the two thousand year old Christian promise, the “second coming,” is seen as our return to the “Being” of our own thought-free consciousness in the Present Moment.
“I AM” theology does not regard the individual Jesus as the fulfillment of that promise. When prefacing a statement with the words “I Am,” Present Moment theology teaches that Jesus was referring to his inner consciousness, his inner “I am-ness” that every human being shares. When Jesus said, “I am the Way” he was referring to the “I” that we all are, now, prior to thought.
With this paper I assert that human consciousness, when genuinely free of thought and perception, is the essence of Christ, the essence of God this very moment - NOW.
I argue that the very conditions that we go to church to heal are created and sustained by looking for peace, happiness, and fulfillment outside of ourselves – in the fictional domain of the past and future. Using the words and wisdom of great teachers such as Thich Nhat Hanh, Eckhart Tolle, and Ascended Master Jesus Christ, I contend that God can not be found in time. I maintain that God is found only outside of time, in the eternally existent Present Moment, THIS MOMENT. And, I also maintain that this Divine experience is available to anyone who chooses to practice Present Moment principles.
With this paper I intend to inspire Rabbis and ministers to incorporate Present Moment principles into their ministries where they are now so urgently needed. This fresh focus would breathe new life into the fatally flawed paradigm of Western worship that blindly relies on belief in God as opposed to the direct mystical experience of God. In essence, my paper poses the question: “Would you rather believe in God now, or directly experience God now?”
Object Description
| Rating | |
| Title | The present moment : the transformational power of the "I AM" consciousness |
| Author | Compton, Laura Lucille |
| Subject (LCSH) |
Spiritual life--Buddhism Spiritual life--Hinduism Mysticism--Buddhism Mysticism--Hinduism |
| Abstract | The word religion means to “bind back.” The purpose of religion is to bind us back to God. My thesis considers this sacred purpose through the lens of “I AM” theology and the principles of non-dualism associated with Advaita Vedanta. Through that lens, the two thousand year old Christian promise, the “second coming,” is seen as our return to the “Being” of our own thought-free consciousness in the Present Moment. “I AM” theology does not regard the individual Jesus as the fulfillment of that promise. When prefacing a statement with the words “I Am,” Present Moment theology teaches that Jesus was referring to his inner consciousness, his inner “I am-ness” that every human being shares. When Jesus said, “I am the Way” he was referring to the “I” that we all are, now, prior to thought. With this paper I assert that human consciousness, when genuinely free of thought and perception, is the essence of Christ, the essence of God this very moment - NOW. I argue that the very conditions that we go to church to heal are created and sustained by looking for peace, happiness, and fulfillment outside of ourselves – in the fictional domain of the past and future. Using the words and wisdom of great teachers such as Thich Nhat Hanh, Eckhart Tolle, and Ascended Master Jesus Christ, I contend that God can not be found in time. I maintain that God is found only outside of time, in the eternally existent Present Moment, THIS MOMENT. And, I also maintain that this Divine experience is available to anyone who chooses to practice Present Moment principles. With this paper I intend to inspire Rabbis and ministers to incorporate Present Moment principles into their ministries where they are now so urgently needed. This fresh focus would breathe new life into the fatally flawed paradigm of Western worship that blindly relies on belief in God as opposed to the direct mystical experience of God. In essence, my paper poses the question: “Would you rather believe in God now, or directly experience God now?” |
| Degree Granting Institution | Marylhurst University |
| Degree | MAAT |
| Date Degree Awarded | 2009 |
| Faculty Advisors | Carreker, Steven C.; Roussell, Jerry |
| Call# | THESES 294.3 C66 2009 |
| Language | English |
| Rights | Copyright by Laura Lucille Compton |
| Digital Collection | Marylhurst Thesis |
| Format.FileType | |
| Identifier.FileName | 2009.Compton.Laura Lucille.pdf |
| Date created | 2011-08-18 |
| OCLC number | 806162722 |
Description
| Title | 2009.Compton.Laura Lucille 1 |
| Abstract | AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS/PROJECT of Laura Lucille Compton for the degree of Master of Arts in Applied Theology presented on June 6, 2009. Title: This Present Moment: The Transformational Power of the “I AM” Consciousness Abstract approved:______________________________________________________________ The word religion means to “bind back.” The purpose of religion is to bind us back to God. My thesis considers this sacred purpose through the lens of “I AM” theology and the principles of non-dualism associated with Advaita Vedanta. Through that lens, the two thousand year old Christian promise, the “second coming,” is seen as our return to the “Being” of our own thought-free consciousness in the Present Moment. “I AM” theology does not regard the individual Jesus as the fulfillment of that promise. When prefacing a statement with the words “I Am,” Present Moment theology teaches that Jesus was referring to his inner consciousness, his inner “I am-ness” that every human being shares. When Jesus said, “I am the Way” he was referring to the “I” that we all are, now, prior to thought. With this paper I assert that human consciousness, when genuinely free of thought and perception, is the essence of Christ, the essence of God this very moment - NOW. I argue that the very conditions that we go to church to heal are created and sustained by looking for peace, happiness, and fulfillment outside of ourselves – in the fictional domain of the past and future. Using the words and wisdom of great teachers such as Thich Nhat Hanh, Eckhart Tolle, and Ascended Master Jesus Christ, I contend that God can not be found in time. I maintain that God is found only outside of time, in the eternally existent Present Moment, THIS MOMENT. And, I also maintain that this Divine experience is available to anyone who chooses to practice Present Moment principles. With this paper I intend to inspire Rabbis and ministers to incorporate Present Moment principles into their ministries where they are now so urgently needed. This fresh focus would breathe new life into the fatally flawed paradigm of Western worship that blindly relies on belief in God as opposed to the direct mystical experience of God. In essence, my paper poses the question: “Would you rather believe in God now, or directly experience God now?” |
| Digital Collection | Marylhurst Thesis |
| Date created | 2011-08-18 |
Tags
Comments
Post a Comment for 2009.Compton.Laura Lucille 1
