What is Self? A Study of the Spiritual Journey in Terms of Consciousness,

by Roberts, Bernadette

• ISBN13: 9781591810261
• ISBN10: 1591810264
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-01-25
• Publisher: Sentient Publications

Summary

This extraordinary philosophical treatise on the nature of self and God follows on the author's now-classic book, The Experience of No-Self. A renowned contemporary mystic, Bernadette Roberts takes us to the ultimate consciousness that transcends self and experience. The book includes fascinating chronicles of her own spiritual journey. For many readers, this latest effort puts all her insights into clearer and sharper perspective. In this book, Ms. Roberts explains her concepts about ego, self, and the revelations of the contemplative life in a deeper and more mature fashion, as though her own journey has grown clearer with distance.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Jeff Shore	ix
Foreword by Ric Williams	xxi
Introduction	xli
PART I: What Is Self?
Definition of Terms	3	(2)
Consciousness and the Senses	5	(2)
The Function of Consciousness	7	(5)
The Knowing-Self	10	(1)
The Feeling-Self	11	(1)
Unity of Consciousness	12	(2)
Summary of the System of Consciousness	14	(3)
The Ego	17	(3)
No-Ego Experience	20	(6)
Beyond Transformation: The Pathless Path	26	(3)
The Critical Turning Point	29	(5)
Beyond the Turning Point: Unmasking the True Self	34	(6)
Ecstasy: The Vehicle of Crossing Over	40	(4)
No-Self Experience	44	(5)
Distinguishing Between No-Ego and No-Self	49	(4)
Conclusion	53	(2)
One Way to View the Passage	55	(2)
Appendix I: The Divine Experienced by Consciousness	57	(4)
Appendix II: True Nature of Death and Resurrection	61	(4)
Appendix III: Compendium of the Self Experience	65	(2)
The Knowing-Self	65	(1)
The Feeling-Self	66	(1)
Unity of Consciousness	67	(1)
Consciousness and Senses: Two Separate Systems	67	(1)
Ego-Self	67	(1)
True Self	68	(1)
Phenomenal Self	68	(1)
No-Self	69	(1)
Beyond No-Self	70	(5)
PART II: Three views of Consciousness
Introduction	75	(2)
Three Views of Consciousness or Self	77	(8)
Three Views of Ego	85	(7)
Different Views of the Unconscious	92	(9)
The Archetypes	101	(3)
Conclusion	104	(5)
Appendix I: Essence of the Divine	109	(2)
Appendix II: Personal Discovery of Buddhism	111	(8)
Part II Bibliography	119	(4)
PART III: The Christian Passage
Chapter One: An Overview Introduction	123	(40)
Christ's Revelation	127	(2)
Two Different Types of Oneness	129	(2)
Limitations of the Historical Christ	131	(4)
Experience of Oneness and Beyond	135	(1)
The Eucharistic Christ	136	(1)
The Unitive Mystery of Christ	137	(3)
The Fine Line between Two Dimensions	140	(2)
The Divine beyond the Unitive View	142	(4)
Experience vs Reality	146	(4)
Knowing Without a Knower	150	(4)
Did Christ Know He Was God?	154	(2)
The Ultimate Mystery of Christ	156	(3)
The Eternal Body of Christ	159	(4)
Chapter Two: Steps in My Christian Passage
Introduction	163	(1)
God as Immanent	164	(2)
God as Immanent and Transcendent; Christ as the Vessel	166	(7)
Transformation Process or Dark Night of the Spirit	173	(1)
The Marketplace	174	(5)
Falling Away of Union: No-Self	179	(3)
Resurrection	182	(4)
Ascension	186	(2)
Incarnation	188	(3)
In the End	191	(2)
Appendix I: How Is Christ Different from Ourselves or One of a Kind Among Men?	193
Introduction	193	(1)
Two Sides of the Incarnation	194	(10)
Experience and Manifestation: The Difference	204	(3)
Summary	207	(1)
Postscript	207