Themes :
Water

A common spiritual metaphor describes each individual as a drop of water within the Ocean of God. In deep bliss, however, this becomes a perceptual reality. The mystical state reveals a shining golden-whiteness, radiating from a central point. It seems to flow outward, like water. There is an almost physical sensation of floating; you are immersed in that living Ocean. This Ocean is warm, embracing, vitalizing, made of pure love. You immediately recognize these boundless waters as your true home.

Sometimes the awareness of this water rushes upon you intensely, rising up, like a fountain. Sometimes it pours gently over you like a warm summer rain. Sometimes, though this water ceaselessly flows, it is also as still as a mountain lake. And sometimes it glistens and then seemingly vanishes like morning dew before the sun.

You witness this water flowing everywhere, permeating everything in the universe, including yourself. It is the flow of this water that animates us and gives us life. What we think of as the individual self moves and acts only because it is moved and acted upon by this divine stream.

The riverways flow, causing creation to dance while slowly drawing all awareness back to the Golden Ocean.

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In some Eastern poetry, particularly Zen poetry, water sometimes has an alternate meaning.

Water can also be understood as the world of manifest reality. It reflects the light of enlightenment. In fact, that is the purpose of manifestation. But while that reflection appears to be real, it is found to be fleeting, changing, ultimately intangible -- like water.