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The Sublime Of African Tradition |
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Ancient African Sages said that the revealed knowledge
enabling them to experience the wonderfulness of the Sublime--the connecting
link between the heavens and the finite world--was the ultimate "wonder of the
world". The word "Sublime" means "just under the lintel" (commonly known today
as the cross-piece of a door underneath which we walk) and constitutes the
Intangible plane of existence (i.e. the transition between energy and matter in
the universe). Its ethereal space is filled with the "ether"-- also called
Universal Energy (Yogi), "Prana" (Buddhist), Chi (Chinese), and the "Lofty"
(Europeans). The ether is thought to be the shinny, pure, upper air of which
the heavens, the lintel's stars and planets, nature, and natural laws are made.
Whatever comes out of the heavens is in highest concentration in the Sublime.
Those heavenly contents fashion things of "Supreme Worth"-the reality of truth,
beauty, perfection, goodness, peace, and love.
Ancient Africans said the "ether" permeates and perfuses the entire
universe. This means that a "piece of ether" on any plane of existence contains
a piece of the heavens and portions of its powers-similar to the way a drop of
ocean water is made up of all that is in the ocean. To be in contact with the
source of the Sublime ether is to be energized and inspired and with aroused
sentiments of awe and reverence from its vastness and power. These beliefs
spurred Ancient Africans to mathematically study the stars for purposes of
learning God's (and nature's) laws.
Put another way, located between where the material cosmic
mountaintop touches the sky, the Sublime embraces the core of the best of all
there is in human awareness. The higher one ascends up the earthly cosmic mountain
the more concentrated the "ether" power in which a human being can bathe in
order to become "Enlightened". By stretching above cosmic space, above great
distances, and above time, Sublime power outreaches human comprehension. It has no boundaries among any of its
components (e.g. truth, beauty, goodness) and those components dynamically
overlap like the constantly changing color patterns one sees by rotating the
tube portion of a kaleidoscope. In both situations the overall effect is a
harmonious unification of the Sublime components. While accessible to the human
mind, the Sublime is above being understood, analyzed, or talked about with
definiteness. Instead, it can only be experienced as a two-pronged
happening-the happening of it being "out there and in here" at the same time.
Being about magnitudes exceeding life, the entrance fee into the Sublime is
that ones self-identity must dissolve into a unity with everything real in the
cosmos, while yet retaining individuality.
Human beings can reach the Sublime through transcending
(i.e. by over-reaching human mental limitations). But one must locate its
presence in the atmosphere of Beauty and step into its flow by way of
contemplation. Such occurs in the Sublimity featured in a small pond, a creek,
walking through a pleasant meadow, standing in a trickling stream, or other
communions with nature. Means of transcendence include meditation (formal and
informal); the creation of and living in lofty thoughts and ideals; and the
giving of selfless service to benefit humanity and/or nature. One's duration of
stay in the Sublime could be temporary or relatively permanent. To approach
permanency requires Ma'at living with a "pure heart". From a "pure heart" ones
Spiritual Feelings are connected to the Ultimate Power of Love by the "Silver
Cord".
Joseph A. Bailey, II, M.D.
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