THE COSMIC CONNECTION AND THEORY OF UNIVERSAL FULFILLMENT

Written by a philosophic friend.

Discussion 6: Masterminding the Universe

Major references used:

1. A Course in Miracles, Foundation for Inner Peace.

Just when I thought I'd nearly finished I realized I'd left a vital question unanswered, and for a while I thought I'd be unable to answer it. Then slowly I recalled having thought of the answer before, only to forget it again.

So what was the question again?

Oh yes. Can we foretell the future?

Well the answer to this is more enlightening than you might imagine, and not simply a case of tuning in. In fact the answer to this question reveals much more about the universe than merely its future. It reveals, once again, the nature of Reality itself.

If we go back to the beginning we envisaged the Cosmic Mind extending itself to its creations, then time set in, as depicted in Figure 6

According to A Course in Miracles, God extends His mind to create, while we project. The difference rests, not so much on the words, which are mere symbols, but on their meanings. Earlier we saw that in actual fact there is no separation, just a perception of one, and this relates well to the difference between extension and projection. There is no difference apart from how we perceive it.

Now if all creation is a shared thought thing, then even our own projections, such as they are, are upheld by Him. So with this in mind I advance to the next phase of my argument.

Although we think our own thoughts, the need to think lovingly and positively is such that when we don't many psycho/spiritual problems arise. Thinking lovingly and positively is essentially the Will of God. We might think we can make a success of life on our own, but in actual fact we can't.

Just listen to Rachel in my book. Here she is discovering herself for the very first time.

" Well enough," said Rachel, still tingling with the thrill of her discovery, the discovery of her gift. The one she ignored and now adored. That part of herself that lay hidden, latent, tucked away from her own awareness, put aside for later, until the fountain of Spirit emerged with an energy unmatched in everyday life. A sense of knowing with acute awareness. Every thought creative, every word a symbol, every particle a universe, every life an eternity: a bridge between heaven and earth. Glorious inhibition, Sweet Abandon.

Is this the same SA, the same Self Awareness or Spiritual Awareness to which TE Lawrence, either knowingly or unknowingly referred at the beginning of the Seven Pillars of Wisdom?

Equally likely SA could refer to Selfish Ambition. Only TEL and God will ever really know.

God knows us all so intimately. He gave us life plus personality (hidden human potential) plus a portion of His spirit, sometimes called the higher self, inner teacher, the call, Atman, daimon, soul companion or genius. And he wants us to be happy. But how can we be happy when we keep opposing His Will?

A Course in Miracles tells us to do nothing and answers to our questions will come. I can assure you they do if you choose to listen. This seems to suggest conditions will arise that will accommodate both our Will, and that of God's to be fulfilled. It's June 1998 and I'm trying to learn to trust it. Ask me in ten, twenty, infinity years time how I fared.

Becoming conscious is simply realizing we weren't separated from God in the first place. To some this may seem the personally insulting, it injures their pride, and when you're new to it, it is and it does. It's also well nigh unbelievable. You should try explaining it to others, everyone thinks it's you who is deluded. Personal relationships are sorely tested. But luckily these feelings gradually subside to be replaced by a new sense of understanding, compassion, freedom and joy.

Just take another look at TE Lawrence. He was so afraid of pain (predominantly of the psychic or emotional sort) and his sexuality as well, that he attracted his worst torment. He was brutally flogged and raped by Turkish soldiers during the First World War. Many biographers have been loath to accept Lawrence's testimony. Personally I believe him. The testimony withstands the ego litmus test as well as the personality litmus test. Although he was afraid of pain he continually courted it. As I pointed out earlier, later on he even paid for it. Psychologists and psychiatrists might categorize this as sado/masochism but its particular label doesn't matter. Other egos are called murderers, rapists, liars, cheats, gamblers, thieves, prostitutes, lawyers, doctors, dentists, teachers, dancers, divorcees, politicians, scientists, writers, carpenters, plumbers, real estate agents, addicts, psychotics, neurotics, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Christians, atheists, Pharisees and money changers. Once separated our egos place stringent conditions on all relationships thereby often sabotaging them from the very beginning.

Conditional love = I love you while you meet my conscious or unconscious expectations
Unconditional love = I love you because I appreciate and value all that you are

However when our perceived needs fail to be met we begin to feel let down, deprived and angry. Communication breaks down, war breaks out. Pride and Prejudice runs riot. Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy were simply shadows of each other, soul mates if you like, complementary and instructive. So I suggest this is why so many permanent and/or temporary partnerships/relationships including those in business, marriage and family are difficult and painful. They provide an arena for recognition and integration of the shadow, change and growth of the soul, not necessarily the comfort and security of the body.

Science, philosophy, psychology, art and literature are simply efforts, on our own behalf, to restore ourselves to the fullness of our nature: to restore the awareness of our wholeness, our holiness. Such was my Miracle of the Desert: The Untold Story and the bulk of TE Lawrence's writings. We should all be grateful to each other as teachers and students. Without the love and acceptance of our brothers we could never learn to love and accept ourselves.

TE Lawrence was no liar but an unenlightened man continually defending an ego that both he, and many others, greatly misunderstood. What he didn't realize was that the ego doesn't really exist, but is essentially an unhealthy thought projection programmed during early childhood and maintained and justified in adulthood. It is the legendary Devil in Disguise, the illusive Mask of God.

The real TE Lawrence was a man whose spirit was divine.

Just as it is for all of us.

There is only one banner.

And that is -

THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN

The complicated network of habitual thought patterns, or maps as M Scott Peck and others calls them, that arise from our minds produces the Karmic field, from which all karmic adjustments are made. You see God has a highly organized spirit/mind, He leaves nothing to chance. He's no amateur producer, but the ultimate scientist, statistician, dramatist, artist and magician all in ONE.

Well that's positively charming you might say. Is freedom (from the ego) just another word for nothing left to lose? Am I just a Platonic shadow puppet after all, or just a God damn fool?

Well you're not wrong, but you're not right either. It's a case of, you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. There's that clever karma again.

This is not to say God's not around helping all the time, we just don't know that He is. Grace does in fact, fall like rain from Heaven. His angels are always hard at work. His vital presence in our minds as well as the activities of His angels actually help stimulate and synchronize activities destined to be of benefit to all of us. This, I believe is why personal biographies always look like they were meant to be. Over- control is inherent in the universal network. We are literally guided towards salvation. At the end of our lives we see the thread because each step of the way was guided and reinforced by the Higher Power within and around us. How long it takes is determined by our free will.

Perceived images from spirit/mind over write all current documents (manifestations) continually.

And so, from my original hypothesis:

...our forms and natures (personalities) will evolve (unfold) according to the changing universal pressure, but maintaining with uniqueness and continuance those qualities which will remain forever Creativekind's most peculiar gifts.

It follows then that the more spiritual we are the more real we are. God is so real He is pure spirit.

How many times have unexplained things happened to you? And how many times have you wondered why things work out the way they do? I guarantee if we were all to be more flexible and to trust the universe more, most, if not all our needs would be met. We would manifest our destiny. However problems arise because we set goals and are disappointed when the results are not immediately to our liking. We become impatient. We throw a temper tantrum and behave like spoilt brats. We behave like children.

If the universe truly knows us, and I think it does, then surely it will provide for us. If, in the process, we have to be a little meek, a little humble, then so be it. Wasn't this the very message that Jesus tried to give us when he talked about His Father providing everything for all living things?

However, in all of this an element of trust, or rather, faith, is required. This trust or faith is not blind fatalism but rather an active, alert and ever grateful state of mind.

And,

Timing is everything.

The Hindu Scripture, The Bhagavad Gita covers this aspect nicely too. Krishna tells Arjuna to detach from the fruit of his action. In other words, Arjuna was free to act, albeit, expected to act, but Krishna was to be allowed to help deliver the goods.

I don't really think the universe is meant to be an unfriendly place. I think it's meant to provide everything we want and need. But until such time as we allow it to do its job, or fulfill its function, we deny our true heritage as well as our freedom. Nor are we meant to be mere cosmic consumers, but rather respectful, responsible and receptive co-creators with the Ultimate Creator Himself.

I call these three qualities the essential R's of cosmic citizenship. Reading, writing and arithmetic, that is, language, literature and mathematics are merely man-made symbols for the immediate and unequivocal communication that is our true means of creation.

Thought.

I also think that maybe, just maybe, if the incredible happened and we all started getting along with each other the Seti program might just make Contact. But whilst collectively we remain mentally/spiritually ill we will be quarantined.

Luckily God is quite content allowing us to think we're separate from Him. Although He knows we're not as happy and fulfilled as we could be. But he's left the door open for anyone who wants to return.

Return to what you ask?

Return home, of course.

Now, back to the future.

When the separation occurred, a foolproof plan was put into place. A plan called the Atonement. This simply means that those who feel inclined can return if they choose to. Mostly the people who choose to go home are those who've had a gut full of Samsara. Usually the HS knows their ready to receive so steps in to give them a helping hand. The experience can be termed a mystical experience, the descent of grace or revelation. Without this help it would be well nigh impossible to realize or see yourself at all. You'd be stuck in Trumanville forever. Grace is the precursor to enlightenment but like everything else whether or not to follow the path to peace is a matter of choice. Because of what it involves it is not particularly pleasant or easy and is thus easily avoided. Enlightenment is not a place or a condition but a new and improved, fully responsible and authentic way of living. One must be truly committed to learning to love God and his neighbour as himself.

Now the fascinating thing is this. If God foresaw that the separation would occur, he also planned the Atonement. That is, both are his ideas and both are inevitable. Perhaps, as A Course in Miracles seems to suggest, the Atonement has already happened. After all, the separation has.

Creation was complete from the first, and this is the true meaning of the Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and end of…time

Just imagine choosing a knitting pattern you wanted to knit. The idea or image of the finished garment is the cause and the completed garment is the effect, translated into Biblical terminology, it is the Alpha and the Omega, where the Alpha is the original idea or concept, that is, the Word, and the Omega is the finished product. These two, when viewed together, are One, and inhabit the Circle of Eternity, that is, the beginning and end of time.

Therefore the universal story is written backwards by going forwards, producing what the theoretical physicist Steven Hawking refers to real and imaginary time. How long the garment takes to complete, and how many mistakes are made along the way is the responsibility of the knitter or knitters, ie us. In this scheme of things time isn't linear but relative, that is, relative to the time, effort and patience put in. And strangely, don't we create things the same way? We get an alpha of an idea and then an omega of an effect, with time apparently intervening in between to facilitate its happening. From this metaphysical point of view time is nothing more than an illusion of a constantly changing stream of events and destiny is the manifestation of everyone's muddle of thoughts in the all together.

What, then, is space?

Space, could, in fact be considered as that aspect of time that is motionless: pure, unsullied consciousness; the spirit/mind matrix, mother universe or universal mother spirit. As Buddhists call it, the nature of mind. With the aid of meditation we might appreciate this, whereas in Reality we are the thoughts, ideas, concepts, the Word of God existing in and of His pure consciousness, His vitual Reality, His Absolute.

T. E Lawrence was right: there is no Absolute: there is no end.

Unfortunately the only proof I have is that purely personal religious experience during which I recognised myself as a thought or creation of God. Like the creations (thoughts about my story) that I was creating or thinking at the time, I suddenly realised that I was just a part of the big over all shared thought scheme of things.

I suppose, when I think about it now, I could simply be a thought or creation of myself, which essentially robs me of the possibility of a rich and enduring relationship with a higher power or personality or God. Life becomes an isolated phase of existence in one's own consciousness and the precious gift of enlightenment is rather like having made a home run without having a home to run to. Also this means I made the idea of everything up including bacteria, computer viruses and AFL football! Therefore, for me, at least, this isn't satisfactory. Instead, for me, religion has become a purely personal expression of my own relationship to God where outlook apparently influences outcome.

Now, back to business -

The only remaining complicated factor in our study of creation being the relative time it takes for the garment, that is the Atonement, to be completed, and this is dependent on our free will. We can refuse, stall, hesitate and make mistakes now until Kingdom come, but that won't alter the fact that it will happen.

God does not make mistakes.

Now, have you got your thinking caps on?

While the Atonement, or rather the At-one-ment, is delayed, the egotistic ritual of trial and error continues. But if one of us decides to pull our heads in and become harmless and helpful, that is tames his or her ego and does not blame another or oneself, that is, forgives, then the resultant karmic adjustments are to our advantage. Time literally collapses. Years of unnecessary misery (mistakes) can be saved.

Look at it this way, and I assure you, I'm speaking from experience.

For whatever reason you're feeling unhappy with someone. You may feel they expect too much of you or that they are not taking enough notice of you. You may not agree with their way of doing things and think you can do better. Let me tell you, this one is particularly dangerous. Many a religious fanatic and paranoid political leader owes his rise and fall to this germ of an idea. It is very easy to be betrayed by your own ego ideals. Just recall poor Lucifer.

While a particular ideal or set of ideals may appear to be progressive and altruistic, they can, in fact, be completely selfish. Having lived with these ideas for some time now I can honestly say I have fallen into every ego trap imaginable. Have a read of this.

In a dream I saw Jesus,
half way down a pit.
When He turned to look at me,
I knew that I was Him.

And I know I've slipped into the pit again because I'm restless and moody, and sometimes downright miserable. This clearly indicates that I have begun to live in the past again, or have criticized another person's character and motives. In other words, I've fallen back into bad habits. The result is a sense of resentment and guilt.

However, regardless of what form the fear takes, the origin of the ego problem is meaningless, but what is important is how it is dealt with. If your time is taken up thinking about the situation and grumbling to yourself, then your time is badly spent. It's wasted. Such negative (unforgiving) thought patterns easily increases your own karmic debt. You are responsible for the way you think and act, regardless of the behaviour of others.

Even Stephen Hawking says that the universe is made out of positive energy.

On the other hand, if you realize that the thoughts you have are exclusive to you, and that you don't have a clue what the other person is thinking, then the best advice is to let it go, don't misinterpret it; forgive it. This then neutralizes the negative thought patterns and, in turn, saves time.

Now this is indeed an odd way to define salvation, but essentially salvation is the means of saving of time.

It must be remembered that time is relative, that is, it's dependent on thought, and that any time spent in negative unloving ways produces a negative, or a less than positive (perfect) result. However, if time is spent in a positive loving way, then this has the effect of reducing or even preventing the establishment of karmic debt. In other words, don't let negativity add to your problems.

But hold on a minute, what about situations that are more complicated such as criminal or abusive behaviour?

That's a good question, but you might not like the answer. And really, let's face it, this is where I need your help.

If I was to be completely honest, and I will be, I would say that to answer this question is the very reason I'm writing all of this. I've been lucky all my life. People have been good to me. And even though I may not have always known it, I have a lot to be thankful for.

Thanks Mum. Thanks Dad. Hi guys.

But that doesn't mean I'm blind, deaf and dumb. I know there's a lot of suffering going on out there, and I don't like it. I want to do something about it. I hate the television news. I rarely watch it because it really hurts. But I've come to the not-so-startling conclusion that we can only help ourselves. Science and man made institutions alone cannot be expected to solve all our problems. Therefore we must be taught how to take care of ourselves successfully, and so I have written this. Such a circular argument, isn't it? Typical!

When we have a problem no doubt we try to fathom it out. In other words look for the reasons why it is happening and then try to do something about it. But what if the reasons are incomprehensible? What if we can't find satisfactory answers? What do we do then? Do we do what some people do and resort to divorce, crime, self- abuse, drug addiction and suicide, believe in divine retribution and/or reincarnation? Or do we look for a reasonable alternative?

Hopefully, we look for a reasonable alternative.

Now the alternatives currently on offer are not always peer-group palatable. Becoming a born again Christian might not be your cup of tea. I never imagined it would be mine. I tried very hard to be an atheist. However, The Theory of Universal Fulfillment offers more than tea and scones after Church, or symbolic bread and wine during it. It offers an intellectually appealing explanation to questions about life, the universe and everything.

So those who are in unpleasant, difficult or traumatic situations feel the need to escape from them, where escape is often achieved by complaining, running away, hiding, arguing or withdrawing into denial. Hardly ever do they realize their own role in attracting and maintaining the situation in the first place. They are blocked by memories, fears and habitual reaction patterns. Always do past reactions determine present ones therefore responsibility goes unrecognized, healing incomplete and freedom but an idle daydream.

Unrest is a sure sign of unrest.

As usual, Lawrence handles this aspect of judgement beautifully.

Much of my doing was from this egoistic curiosity. When in fresh company, I would embark on little wanton problems of conduct, observing the impact of this or that approach on my hearers, treating fellow-men as so many targets for intellectual ingenuity: until I could hardly tell my own self where the leg-pulling began or ended. This pettiness helped to make me uncomfortable with other men, lest my whim drive me suddenly to collect them as trophies of marksmanship; also they were interested in so much which my self-consciousness rejected. They talked of food and illness, games and pleasures, with me, who felt that to recognize our possession of bodies was degradation enough, without enlarging upon their failings and attributes. I would feel shame for myself at seeing them wallow in the physical, which could only be a glorification of man's cross. Indeed, the truth was I did not like the myself I could see and hear.

I also realize this is little or no help to complicated cases of unhappiness, but after all the aim of this particular theory is to offer hope as well as to provide an scientifically acceptable argument for belief in the Divine.

Gone are the days when we religiously attended Church, read the Bible and said our prayers before drifting off to sleep. Like many others I prefer hard-core philosophical mumbo-jumbo any day to humourless hymns, counterfeit confessions and insincere prayers. The world is desperate for direction, ripe for a reward based renaissance and susceptible to seductive slogans,mine included, and this theory, and those just like it given to us down through the ages, provides it. And it's not nearly so radical as it seems. A lot of it is just plain ordinary, good old- fashioned common sense.

The fundamental basis for the Theory of Universal Fulfillment is that everyone receives fulfillment.

So how do we do it?

We begin to look beyond the physical to the spiritual. We identify with our true nature. We recognise each other as having been created unique, spiritually equal and perfect regardless of any perceived physical/material imperfections and unattractive personality traits. We stop identifying with the ego and identify with each other's spirit instead.

We look with spiritual sight rather than physical sight.

Only by doing that can we cancel out the effects of unreal thoughts, unloving, negative creations can we begin to heal ourselves, to straighten ourselves out. And oddly, we can't do it on our own. We have to forgive to be forgiven. Love to be loved. Trust to be trusted. Hiding from the truth simply delays the inevitable.

God didn't reject Adam and Eve. They rejected/resisted him. Since the time of the perceived separation men and women have lost their way. Fear, anguish and suffering are the result of the fear of God's rejection commonly called guilt. Distinctions of all denominations are simply fancy ways of describing the only problem we've got:

Ignorance.

Please ask yourself this. What is it that you complain about/fear most? Write a list. You might include things like examinations, unemployment, public speaking, loneliness, rejection, inadequacy, sexual impotence, old age and death. The list goes on and on. Nearly everything we do or don't do involves a certain amount of fear. Often the reason we do and don't do certain things springs from just that fear. Fear tempts us to be its slave all day long. We work or we'll go hungry. We don't work because we're scared we won't do a good job. We work too hard to make sure we succeed. Everyone is different so everyone's fears will be different but they all come from the same initial cause (conditions), the same so called Creation Event, Genesis, Big Bang, Singularity, State of Dissatisfaction, Splitting of the Atma.

Gosh! Have I gone over the top or what?

But seriously, have you seen the pattern?

Ego = Fear

And fear is inversely proportional to love.

Projection = Rejection

Please recall my book.

As I chartered new moist mountains my harassed and weary footsteps, so well earned, made patterns like lanterns in the mud.

No matter what the ego will try to find a way to make us afraid. Sometimes its methods will be tolerable, sometimes catastrophic.

The ego is as slippery as a snake.

There's no limit to its imagination, its creative context. It tempts us in so many ways so that we won't recognise how utterly perverted and insane it is. It is the universal parasite, deriving its ultimate satisfaction from our bodily death and decay.

Didn't God say in the Garden of Eden that Adam and Eve would know good and evil as well as death? Surely this is just another name for duality. No matter who or what we are our fear of God's rejection is killing us. Guilt is killing us. The ego is killing us.

It can get so bad we reject those we know and love because we're afraid they will reject us. In fact now I come to think of it fear of any kind, whether it is a fear of failure, abandonment, rejection or death is merely a deadly cover up, a traitorous mask, an insane smoke screen that hides our fear of loving too much. Somehow, deep inside, we know that if we love too much we would be transported to heaven, there to stand in the unconditionally loving presence of God, our spiritual Father. According to the ego this is far too fearful. According to the ego this is death. And it would be, for the ego at least. In fact, in reality, it is the promise of eternal life. Consequently we get such revengeful ideas as an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. I'll get him before he gets me. I'll show him… sue him…shoot him etc., etc. Our speeches are written; our writs issued; our guns loaded and ready; nuclear explosions just the push of a button a way. We'd rather die than lose face. We'd rather die than love.

The suffering the ego causes is altogether personal, national, global and universal. But even more importantly we must realise that there is no blame, no shame and nothing to be feared. God would have us back any tick of the clock. The truth is we've always been in a state of grace. We only thought we weren't.

This is the truth that sets you free.

Now getting back to the theory.

Real or loving thoughts are extensions of Reality, the Cosmic Mind, God, or whatever name you prefer. On the other hand, unreal or unloving thoughts are those which arise from us, that is they are our own projections. This means that we can only experience ourselves, that any unreal, unloving thought patterns we experience are our own and no body else' s. But because our essential nature is loving we reject those unpalatable thought patterns and project them onto someone else, namely our parents, spouses, children, friends and enemies – Jesus Christ, God. We blame them and then attack them for it. We accuse them of thinking about us the way we think we think about ourselves. Of course, even thinking badly of our selves is another ego ploy and can lead to all sorts of mental and physical disorders. Re: TE Lawrence.

I have to admit that from the beginning I saw TE Lawrence as myself as well as Jesus Christ. I couldn't help it and I certainly didn't understand it. In fact I thought it more than a bit kinky. One night at a barbeque a friend made the casual comment that I seemed to see TE Lawrence as the Second Coming. Embarrassed, I laughed it off. But he was right. I did. And it seems to have paid off. Now I understand that the Second Coming is all of us realizing our Christ nature, or at the very least, realizing that we have one.

Only by forgiving, eliminating or neutralizing any unreal, unloving, negative thought patterns can we clear the karmic debt arising from such an unforgiving, habitually negative or unreal state of mind.

Please consider this.

It follows then, that our worst enemies are our best teachers, and that every difficult situation should be regarded as a useful learning exercise. It provides us with an invaluable opportunity to exercise strength over weakness, compassion over competition and love over hate. And what's even more important to realize is this. It makes no difference what the other person does; your forgiveness of yourself through them will adjust karma accordingly to the benefit of all.

You may be wondering about those particularly difficult and abusive relationships I mentioned before. Well so am I. Unfortunately there is no simple solution except to stick to the plan. After all, that's what its there for. Forgiveness must be maximal for the elimination of karma to be maximal. Only then, will the Atonement be complete, first for the individual, then for the planet and then the universe as a whole. And that means every one of us has a vital role to play. No wonder the good shepherd went looking for all the stray sheep! Until such time as we're all found, each and every one of us will suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

The first will be last, and the last, first.

Have you ever been at the end of a supermarket check out queue only to have an adjoining check out open and the good fortune of coming first? Well it's a bit like that. The parable about the workers is like this too. Those workers who came late received the same payment as those who arrived early. It might not seem fair but that's the way it is. We're all deserving of God's love and salvation no matter who we are or how long it takes. We all have a valuable contribution to make.

However, in the meantime, we can all begin to feel a hell of a lot better about life in general.

I know, you think it's too hard. But perhaps it's not as hard as you think. Looking beyond a person's physical appearance and personality to acknowledge their perfect equality with you can, like anything else, become a new habit. After only a short time it gets easier. Practice makes perfect. The world changes. The karmic clutter clears. Negativity literally becomes a thing of the past.

Unconditional love is conditional upon being unconditional.

Is this anything like the following statement made by Stephen Hawking in his book, A Brief History of Time?

The boundary condition of the universe is that it has no boundary.

But seriously, the truth of the matter is, that none of us can rest on our laurels, or pass the buck. Not one negative thought, transgression, mistake, sin or whatever you like to call it, escapes notice.

In the end time, (thought) catches up with you.

So if we are to have comprehensive change, then our minds much change comprehensively.

Separatism must be the final ism to go.

After all,

Any ism is a schism.

The diagram represents the cancellation of karmic debt when forgiveness is activated, that is negative thoughts are eliminated. The complicated network of Samsara breaks down, disappears, leaving behind only the positive or real aspects of creation, the warm and inviting embers, which correspond, most miraculously, with Reality itself.

Christ is risen.