What is the Substance of Experience? (1265).MOV

Summary

In this thought-provoking discussion, William Blake explains his mystical view of non-duality. When asked about his perception of a sunset, Blake rejects seeing it as an object and instead perceives it as the divine presence, with everything in the universe, including sensory experiences, reflecting God's glory. His perspective aligns with non-dual teachings in Sufism and Christianity, where the divine and the individual are united. Blake’s experience is of a singular, luminous awareness, where all things are expressions of the same ultimate reality, and everything celebrates God's presence.

Takeaways

• 😀 William Blake saw everything, including the sunset, as a manifestation of God, rather than as separate objects or phenomena.
• 😀 For Blake, the experience of seeing was not about observing an object but about perceiving the divine presence within everything.
• 😀 Blake rejected the conventional duality of subject and object, instead perceiving the luminous, transparent presence of awareness as the only reality.
• 😀 The heavenly hosts that Blake saw were expressions of God's glory, continuously praising the divine in all things.
• 😀 Blake's vision aligns with the Sufi belief that wherever the eye falls, there is the face of God.
• 😀 The Christian concept of unity with God, as expressed by Jesus Christ ('I and my Father are one'), is similar to Blake's view of the non-dual nature of existence.
• 😀 Non-duality suggests that the ultimate reality is a singular, unified presence, which is experienced in all forms of perception, such as seeing, hearing, touching, and thinking.
• 😀 Everything in the universe, according to this perspective, celebrates the divine presence and acknowledges the unity of all existence.
• 😀 Blake’s worldview highlights the importance of recognizing the sacredness in all experiences, without separating the self from the divine or the world.
• 😀 Non-duality in this context emphasizes that there is no true distinction between the subject and object, only the divine, omnipresent awareness that permeates everything.

Q & A

What was the primary subject of the conversation between William Blake and his friend?

The primary subject of the conversation was non-duality, with Blake emphasizing a perception of reality beyond the separation of subject and object.

How did William Blake describe his perception of the sunset?

Blake did not see the sunset as a physical object (like a round disc of fire) but as an innumerable company of the heavenly hosts, symbolizing the divine presence of God.

What did Blake mean when he said he saw 'God itself' in the sunset?

Blake was describing his perception of reality as not involving separate objects, but as a direct experience of God's presence through awareness itself.

What is the significance of Blake’s statement 'glory glory glory is the Lord God Almighty'?

This statement emphasizes that everything Blake saw was a celebration of God’s presence. It suggests that all of reality, in Blake’s view, is a manifestation of divine glory.

How does Blake’s view challenge conventional perception?

Blake challenges conventional perception by rejecting the idea of seeing separate, objective entities. Instead, he perceives everything as an expression of a singular, divine awareness.

How is Blake’s perspective similar to Sufi mysticism?

Blake’s perspective aligns with Sufi mysticism in its idea that the divine is present in everything, a concept reflected in the Sufi saying 'wherever the eye falls, there is the face of God.'

What is the connection between Blake’s view and Christian mysticism?

Blake’s view resonates with Christian mysticism, particularly the teachings of Jesus Christ, where the unity between the self and the divine is emphasized, as in the statement 'I and my Father are one.'

Why did Blake reject the idea of seeing objects or a subject?

Blake rejected seeing objects or a subject because he viewed all experience as the manifestation of a single, luminous presence of awareness, not as separate entities or experiences.

What does Blake mean by 'the luminous transparent empty presence of awareness'?

This phrase refers to Blake’s perception of reality as a unified, clear, and empty awareness that underlies all phenomena, rather than individual objects or experiences.

What does Blake’s view imply about the nature of reality?

Blake’s view implies that reality is not a collection of separate physical objects but a unified, divine awareness that is experienced and expressed in every moment and through all senses.