What is heaven to you?
By Oneironaut
@_sketch_ (5742)
United States
January 9, 2011 3:04am CST
Regardless of spiritual or religious beliefs, or the absence thereof, I'm sure that most people still have their own ideas of heaven. Even an Atheist may use the term, but I'm sure that their idea of it would differ significantly to that of a Christian, for example.
To me, heaven is enlightenment.
What is enlightenment? Well according to Eckhart Tolle it is this:
"(Enlightenment) is simply your natural state of felt oneness with Being. It is a state of connectedness with something immeasurable and indestructible, something that, almost paradoxically, is essentially you and yet is much greater than you. It is finding your true nature beyond name and form."
Heaven is not the absence of adversity, but rather simply the ability to accept all things as they are. Now when I say accept, I am referring to acceptance; I am not referring to tolerance.
People often use the word tolerance when speaking of harmony and peaceful coexistence between religious, racial, etc. groups, but I have never felt that this is the right word. Is that really what we want to aim for? We want to be able to "tolerate" those different from us?
I think we all truly want peace and true peace - heaven - can only be achieved when we can fully accept those differences, even when we disagree with them. It doesn't mean that we agree with or condone all things, behaviors, or beliefs. Of course I don't think that murder, for example, is okay. However, when I am in an enlightened state, I am able to accept that bad things do exist in the world.
To me, heaven is the balance and the connectedness of all things. We are in heaven whenever we can look beyond the mask of ego and see this balance.
Okay, enough rambling. What is heaven to you?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@Lore2009 (7378)
• United States
9 Jan 11
Did you read his book?
I agree with your definition of heaven. I feel the most heaven, when I am watching the sun rise/set or when I am adoring my cat because in these moments, I am really in the present and am enjoying and accepting that moment. It's really the quickest way for me to get there when my mind is all clustered with the past and future. But even in those moments the sun and my happiness towards my cat always brings me to my 'sanity'.
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
10 Jan 11
Which book? The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment? Tolle has written a few. I agree in that the small, simple moments are very powerful. I agree that being in the now is heaven; being in those moments which ground us.
@forcemaster245 (220)
• Singapore
9 Feb 11
From what I know, Heaven is another dimension of reality that some of the more spiritually evolved people go to after they have passed on. People who go to Heaven are usually those who have done more good deeds than bad ones, and have lead a largely spiritual life while they were alive. When they are in Heaven they enjoy the fruits of their merits that they accrued during their earthly lives. Most of these people would finish enjoying themselves in Heaven first before going through reincarnation again. Only a few people would be able to move to regions higher than Heaven. These are people who are free from the shackles of worldly living, and are on the way to being one with God Himself. They do not need to reincarnate, and re-experience the pains that one usually face on Earth.
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
9 Feb 11
They are usually those who have done more good deeds than bad ones? What would be some cases in which a person who has done more bad deeds than good ones goes to heaven? Are all deeds equal? What dictates a good or bad deed? Are some bad deeds justified? What if someone does good deeds for selfish reasons? What if someone does bad deeds for selfless reasons?
@DawGwath (1042)
• Romania
10 Jan 11
I think heaven is when you get to do what you love to do. We are mostly dependent to hormones that give us tingly pleasures, everything from satisfying primary needs to playing tennis, singing and doing rocket-science. Enlightenment is when you realize what the meaning of life is. And the meaning of life is just that, doing the stuff you like, reaching certain goals, loving, existing.
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
10 Jan 11
Reminds me of the song "Heaven is a Halfpipe" by OPM. :) I love that song.
@nattesc82 (22)
• Indonesia
18 Jan 11
Heaven for is a perfect system, where everybody lives in peace. No war, no poverty.
@meditated1 (238)
• United States
1 Feb 11
I agree with you that heaven is when we are at true peace with ourselves. Heaven to me is a state of positive and pure emotional/mental bliss that abounds throughout your very being whenever you experience it. Whenever I feel appreciation, love, eagerness, or joy I am in a state of the utmost peace and positivity capable in my life to which I assign the word Heaven to showcase how its here with us and possible to get there with a simple manipulation of my own thoughts.
