4.1. Becoming God's object partner
What inner process must we go through to attain inner unity with God?
Sun Myung Moon describes in his mystical teaching a state he calls the zero-point standard.
This is the state of our mind in which we can become perfect object partners of God – a state of complete purity and openness, in which God can dwell within us.
In the following, we will analyze one of Sun Myung Moon's most significant speeches on the topic in order to better understand the zero-point state and grasp its deeper meaning.
Although we may be in a position to worship God who is the center of our faith, our position is unclear. Then where should we start looking for that position?
Although our subject partner is established, we cannot feel it. We cannot conclusively distinguish such a spiritual thing as clearly as we perceive things with our five physical senses. When we consider from where we should begin approaching this problem, we understand that we cannot start by looking into the subject partner. We could not possibly start by looking into God Himself. We should, to that end, begin looking into ourselves first.
This quote provides us with a crucial clue for the mystical path to becoming one with God.
The path does not begin externally, but within ourselves.
It does not bypass our inner being, but calls us to dive into the depths of our own self.
The mystical path is an inner process in which we seek God within our own heart and mind.
This inward journey is the first step toward discovering and deepening our connection with the Divine.
Each individual has a mind and body. Although we have both mind and body we cannot, however, begin to seek within ourselves for this position centering on our body.
The term "mind" in this context does not refer to the conventional human psyche, but to the spirit-mind, the inner aspect of the spiritual self.
Therefore, the true search for God is not solely in the psychological processes of the body, but in the spirit-mind, which represents a higher aspect of our self.
The search for God thus means the search for this deeper, spiritual aspect of our being - the spirit-mind.
This serves as our bridge to the world of the spirit and to God.
It is about detaching from the superficial aspects of the psyche and finding access to the spiritual mind, which is understood as the true gateway to God and inner unity with Him.
When we observe fallen people today, whether a thousand or even ten thousand, do we see that their minds are the same? Although the root may be the same, the minds differ depending on the nature of their environments. Not all are the same. Why? Our faces are different, our habits are different, and the emotions we feel are different.
In this quote, the "mind" refers to the ordinary mind, meaning the human psyche.
It is pointed out here that although all humans have the same basic nature, their individual experiences and environments lead to different expressions of their minds.
Our experiences, especially in the family and social environment, shape our thinking, feeling, and habits, which is why our minds differ from each other. These differences are expressions of our unique personal development and the way we, as individuals, respond to our environment.
In the same way, our horizontal line and the perpendicular line with which we can form an angle is different. We must have the angle set correctly.
When you look at a horizontal line, it looks like a plane but when it stands perpendicular, the standard for that perpendicular line will be different. How do you adjust to the zero point?
Aspects of this metaphor:
- In this metaphor, the horizontal line is understood as the varying human mind, the psyche, which is shaped by different life experiences.
- The vertical line, on the other hand, represents the spirit-mind, which, according to the Divine Principle, is inseparably connected with God.
- The angle formed by these lines must be correctly set to come into harmony with God.
An angle of 90 degrees symbolizes the state of mind in which we can connect with God - the zero-point standard.
The "zero-point standard" describes the state in which the human mind is optimally aligned to directly connect with God.
This state is the prerequisite for experiencing full unity with God.
4.2. What Condition Governs the Mind in the Zero-Point State?
What kind of standard is this? It is something that exists, yet does not exist, or something that does not exist and yet is present. Such a place exists.
Anyone familiar with Buddhism immediately understands what is meant here.
It is the “nothingness,” in Japanese, Mu. This is the most well-known Rinzai Zen koan, which represents a Buddhist contemplation on “nothingness.” Sun Myung Moon once said that the “nothingness” in Buddhism is God.
Behind every content of the mind—that is, intellect, emotion, and will—lies a realm within the human being that we call spirit.
The mind always contains something. To penetrate from the mind into the spiritual realm, we must let go of all content.
This is the zero-point of the mind.
This resembles the mystical process in the practice of Zen Buddhists, who, in their contemplation on the koan “What is spirit?”, immerse themselves in the spiritual realm.
The answer to the question is: “No spirit!”
The term mind is still a form of content and keeps us trapped within the mind, yet spirit lies beyond the mind and is therefore free from all content.
The nature of mind and spirit are different
For people without mystical experiences, it may sound very strange that spirit has no content.
However, it is the experience of mystics of all religions that one must go through the zero point of the mind to experience the presence of God more directly.
This does not mean that God does not give concrete messages that have content.
As soon as something from God's spirit touches our mind, it appears again as content understandable to us.
Then we can formulate and communicate God's message as a sentence.
However, communication in the spirit is of a different nature than the content of our understanding.
A person who is one with God nevertheless remains an individual with personal characteristics. However, they unite the spirit of God with the mind and body of a single human being.
We remember the statements of Meister Eckhart.
The more you let go, the closer you are to God… God is where man stops.
In the zero-point state of the mind, we are free from personal thinking, feeling, and willing, and completely open to God.
God can enter us and dwell within.
Our “self” is then no longer the human ego, but God, who is present in our heart - the center of the spirit-mind.
This may sound like a contradiction to the previous statement. Is the human being still an individual after becoming one with God?
Yes and no - both are true.
In the zero-point state, we become completely open to God. God enters into us. In our innermost being, we are in resonance with God and true love.
God works within us on the level of spirit, but it is through the level of the mind that His working takes on the form and expression of an individual.
4.3. How Do We Find the Path to the Zero State?
Those who practice Zen meditation use the term ecstasy to refer to a state of mind (zero-point state) similar to that. You should be able to approach a spiritual level of that kind.
Through Zen meditation, one achieves a state similar to the zero-point state.
Conversely, one could say that we need to practice something similar to Zen meditation in order to reach the zero-point state.
But What Exactly is this State?
The word “ecstasy” might be misleading. The original Sanskrit word for this state is Samadhi, which in Japanese is Sanmai (三昧), and it is usually translated as “meditative absorption.”
Samadhi is a state that can be achieved in deep meditation.
4.4. Exploring the Experience of Samadhi
Let Us take a closer look at the state of Samadhi through experiential descriptions.
Characteristics of Samadhi as described in Buddhist literature:
- One-pointedness of mind (ekaggatā): The mind becomes focused and free from distractions, leading to clarity and stability.
- Deep calm and serenity (samatha): Physical and mental restlessness are overcome, resulting in a state of stillness.
- Joy and bliss (pīti and sukha): In deeper states of Samadhi, feelings of joy and well-being often arise.
- Transcendence of thought: The state goes beyond ordinary discursive thinking and allows for direct, intuitive insight.
Description of Deeper Meditation States Based on My Experiences:
- Automatic thoughts have come to an end. Peace and silence have settled in.
- This also creates an inner peace, serenity, and relief.
- One dwells in pure being. Being is a very beautiful and powerful state.
- The heart is open and moved. One feels the spiritual heart and within it love and joy. One is aware of the presence of God. God is in the space around you and at the same time in your own heart.
Moreover, one is open to the spiritual realm, which allows access to intuition and inspiration.
The spiritual world feels very close, without hearing or seeing spirits. Nevertheless, it feels as if one is equally present in both the spiritual and physical worlds.
Sometimes, it feels as if the entire space is filled with a message or the presence of a person, such as the true Mother or a Saint.
When one thinks a thought in this state, it has great impact. Since one is in a state of natural reverence, one does not simply think anything, but only if it truly has great meaning and is in harmony with the heart.
In deep meditation, not all aspects are always present simultaneously.
There are different states in which certain experiences come to the forefront. These states can last for varying lengths of time.
Sometimes, I experience them for a few minutes at the end of meditation. Rarely does such a state arise at the beginning. Often, it starts with only a few seconds, followed by recurring thoughts, before I gradually dive deeper and can eventually remain in it.
In any case, spiritual support is crucial. Such states cannot be achieved by one's own efforts - they are always an act of grace.
One is, so to speak, lifted into this state by God with love.
This experience is often preceded by a phase where one struggles with oneself and meditation for weeks or even months.
Then, suddenly, one receives grace.
4.5. The Zero-Point State and Samadhi Experiences
So we have heard that the zero-point state, as mentioned by Sun Myung Moon, is similar to the state of Samadhi that can be reached through Zen meditation.
Additionally, we have examined the actual experiences in this state more closely.
Note on the focus of the spiritual path
It should be noted here that the main goal of the path is not mystical experiences in meditation, but rather to carry the love of God within oneself and to realize it in the actions of life.
Let us consider another point from Sun Myung Moon's speech about the zero-point state.
Once you reach this standard, you will find something that will certainly allow your horizontal standard to reciprocate.
In this state, something decisive happens: we will find something that allows our human mind, our psyche, to respond to God.
Areas of our mind resonate with God.
At this point, God acts upon us and causes a profound inner change.
In Christian mysticism, it is also emphasized that remaining in the pure contemplation of God brings about a profound transformation within us.
4.6. The Path to Transformation into the Object of God
In the following excerpt from a speech, Sun Myung Moon connects some important aspects that help us approach the concept.
To have spiritual experiences, one must first pray. You need to focus your mind. If you can, you should descend to the zero point.
What is the fastest way to achieve this? The fastest way to the zero point is to humble yourself.
That is why people who practice Zen meditation focus on the question: "What is the spirt?" The answer is very simple. Since God is the eternal, ideal subject of good, the mind can at any time take the position of an unchanging object partner before this subject. This is referred to in the Unification Church as the Spirit-Mind. If you immerse yourself in a mystical state in prayer and enter into a reciprocal relationship with God, then transcendental power appears in you. It is as when Gautama Buddha attained Nirvana and remarked: "In heaven and on earth, only I am the Venerable One."
In the following, I will examine the various statements individually in detail.
To have spiritual experiences, one must first pray. You need to focus your mind. If you can, you should descend to the zero point.
The excerpt begins with the question of how we can have spiritual experiences.
What kind of experience is meant and for what purpose only becomes clear in the further course. The way there is prayer – focusing the mind.
We should, as far as possible, strive for the zero-point state.
What is the fastest way to achieve this? The fastest way to zero is to humble yourself.
The fastest way is to humble ourselves.
In this context, "humbling oneself" could refer to adopting an attitude of humility and devotion in order to overcome one's own egoism or personal notions.
It is about freeing oneself from one's thoughts, desires, and cravings to achieve a state of openness and receptivity.
This humility could represent a form of mental "emptiness," in which one frees oneself from the notion of knowing or controlling everything in order to experience a deeper state of truth and awareness.
The significance of humility on the spiritual path and how we become humble through inner purification on the path of prayer is described in detail in Part 2.
It should be briefly mentioned here that the zero-point state is a state of complete emptiness and openness to God – here all personal thinking, feeling, and willing have come to rest, and we can experience God's grace, which brings about a deep transformation within us.
That's why people who practice Zen meditation focus on the question: "What is the mind?"
In this sense, to 'humble' oneself, people in Zen meditation practice contemplation on the question: "What is mind?"
The answer is very simple. Since God is the eternal, ideal subject of good, the mind can at any time take the position of an unchanging object partner before this subject. This is referred to in the Unification Church as the spirit-mind.
This is not about an intellectual answer, but about an experience to which this contemplation leads us.
We will experience our spirit-mind, which allows us to enter into a direct relationship with God, who is pure spirit.
If you immerse yourself in a mystical state in prayer and enter into a reciprocal relationship with God, transcendental power appears within you.
In this state, a transcendental force is at work – in Christian terms, we receive a transformative grace that elevates us to God's object.
It is, as Gautama Buddha reached Nirvana and noted: "In heaven and on earth, I alone am the venerable one."
At this point, the bridge to Buddha's experience is once again built, when he reached the state of mind-body unity.
Summary
The zero-point state is an inner state through which we can become the object of God.
In other words:
It is the state we must prepare within ourselves in order to experience God directly within us.
To experience God within us, we must pray and turn inward. In deep meditation, we reach this state, which resembles Samadhi - the state to which Zen meditation leads us.
The zero-point state is a state of complete emptiness and openness to God - here, all personal thinking, feeling, and willing have come to rest.
With this, we have created the prerequisite to receive God's grace.
This causes a profound inner transformation, through which we become God's object.
4.7. The Mind’s Gate
Afterwards, Sun Myung Moon talks about the gate of the mind.
The term "mind," as used in this section, refers to the spirit-mind.
There is a gate in your mind and it is called the mind’s gate. It does not open in just one direction. Since your mind rotates, the gate moves as well. Without going through such a gate, you as a minus cannot establish a relationship with the plus. Everyone has that kind of mind’s gate. When you pray, you get a different feeling depending on the time of your prayer...
When the gate of God and the gate of your mind become perfectly one and revolve around a certain standard, you will find the path to fully experience what God is feeling...
What should you do to reach this state? You need to cultivate your mind.
Therefore, in your life of faith, always be alert to those times when the gate of your mind opens and how to tune it to the gate of God’s mind. Then try to adjust it to the place where the gate of heaven is located. This is the most precious thing to do in your life of faith...
You will experience a new, three-dimensional feeling that you have never felt before. Somehow, you will come to experience this unknown feeling.
Summary of the gate of the mind
Once you reach the zero-point state, you will discover the gate of the spirit-mind.
The gate of the spirit-mind turns and is more or less open to God at certain times.
By aligning the gate of your spirit-mind towards God, you will feel what God feels.
I have experienced phases in which I felt a deep inner desire at different times of the day to turn to God in prayer. I assume this is related to the activity of the spirit-mind. In these moments, one could sense when it was possible to approach God inwardly.