MIRANDA REFLECTS, explorations of Nonduality Today’s quote: THE STORY OF THE ABSOLUTE reflections from Sander Schevers: Once the idea of an underlying essence appears, it often becomes refined into something more subtle. Instead of saying that everything is made of matter or energy, some teachings say that everything is the absolute. Other words may be used. Consciousness. Being. The Self. The One. The divine. Each of these words attempts to describe the ultimate nature of reality. The claim may sound profound. Everything is the absolute appearing as the world. Everything is consciousness appearing as form. Everything is the Self manifesting as experience. Such statements often bring a sense of unity or comfort. They suggest that behind the complexity of life there is a single, sacred source. But again it is worth noticing what is actually appearing. A sound occurs. A sensation arises. Movement unfolds. None of these events present themselves as the absolute. A bird chirping...