Experience is a special topic. Our experience intimately touches our very existence. The authenticity of other people's experience is unimportant. It is our own experience that can be examined and delved into. This is not an area for logic and debate; it calls for appreciation and consensus.

The realm of human experience is a mother lode. The possibilities are endless; they range from the most painful and constrained, to the most limitless and expansive. In the center of this gamut is the simplicity of living consciousness. Golden is this core. Our life itself, unadorned and unembellished, is the closest experience we can have. All other experiences revolve around the energy of life itself.

It strikes me that I am just a hunk of matter, just a few elements glued together. I am an assortment of materials, an almost random collection of substances. I must admit, there isn't a big difference between me and a floor sweeping.

But, oh, vive l'difference! Somehow this floor sweeping is alive. I am Frankenstein, with a life of my own. I can move. I can perform action. I can have purpose. I am conscious, and I talk and do things. I am certainly no floor sweeping. I can sweep the floor!

So, what's the big deal about the subject of experience? I do not enter this topic of discussion as if I am starting one more conversation, just another subject, like organic chemistry or comparative religions. The realm of experience includes inner experience, that is, the deep experience of self. In this realm, I feel a center. There's an essential core to it I can know. I could use words like simplicity, excitement, beauty, or profoundness -- but these are mere metaphors, and these words have opposites. In the arena of the center there are no opposites, just awareness that is pure and without object.

The essence of experience is a pristine core of consciousness. It's not something that needs to be believed or known second-hand, like listening to someone's story. It can't be proved or debated. Then what is it? Is it true that we can experience life itself, or can we only see the movement and changes with life brings?

There are the worlds out there and the world in here. People have observed and examined the outside world through the disciplines of science. But there remains yet another world. Here is a quick list of items within the inner
realm. We could easily add hundreds.

Perceptions
Impressions
Intelligence
Logic
Deductions
Why am I here?
Emotions
Feelings
Beliefs
Depth
What's the purpose of it all, anyway?
Realizations
Insight
Inspiration
Religious Experience
Gratitude
Who's in charge around here?
Prayer
Spiritual Experience
Epiphany
Pure Consciousness
Center
Godhead
Inner peace

Many are the facets of the inner world. They range from our thoughts about the world around us to our experience of our depth. There are gems in that list; it must not be overlooked.

The order is not important; you may see these terms differently. Important is that this realm is rarely explored and it calls to be examined. It can only be perceived by individuals, looking within themselves.

This realm is the area that is examined by the Online Noetic Network. You can learn more about ONN and our focus on noetic topics from our website, http://www.wisdomtalk.org I invite your writings and suggestions for speakers and writers. If these areas are your interest, I encourage you to join ONN and receive both of our email publications, ONN-Wisdom and ONN-News.

Copyright 1999 -- Online Noetic Network, Inc.