Salvation: Awakening to Oneness with the Divine
By Fanus du Plooy | Stillness of Being Blog
For centuries, the word salvation has sparked countless debates, inspired movements, and fueled both unity and division within spiritual traditions. In its most traditional Christian sense, salvation is often viewed as a rescue operation—a divine intervention saving humanity from eternal damnation and securing a ticket to heaven. Yet, beneath the surface of this interpretation lies a far deeper, richer, and more transformative understanding: salvation as the awakening to Oneness with the Divine.
In this exploration, we’ll peel back the layers of salvation, tracing its historical roots, mystical interpretations, and metaphysical dimensions. Ultimately, we’ll uncover how salvation is less about escaping hell and more about realizing the stillness, presence, and divinity that already exists within us.
Salvation in Historical Context
The Jewish Foundation: A Collective Hope
To understand salvation, we need to journey back to the time of Jesus, where it was deeply rooted in the Jewish collective consciousness. For the Jewish people, salvation was primarily a tangible, this-worldly hope for liberation. Living under the oppressive rule of the Roman Empire, salvation meant freedom from political tyranny, the restoration of the Davidic kingdom, and the fulfillment of God’s covenantal promises. It was about justice, peace, and a return to divine favor—not an abstract spiritual destination.
Jesus’ Transformative Vision
Jesus of Nazareth redefined salvation, emphasizing not just collective liberation but also inner transformation. His teachings centered on the Kingdom of God—a reality that is both present and future, both within us and around us. “The Kingdom of God is within you,” he declared (Luke 17:21). This was a radical shift. Salvation, in Jesus’ vision, wasn’t just about overthrowing external oppressors; it was about dissolving the internal barriers that separate us from God, from each other, and from our true selves.
The Church’s Shift: Salvation as Escape
As Christianity spread beyond its Jewish roots into the Greco-Roman world, its understanding of salvation evolved. Influenced by Greek philosophy, the early Church began to see salvation as the liberation of the soul from the corrupt, physical world. Heaven became the ultimate goal, and hell—the consequence of sin—became the looming threat. This dualistic framework, while powerful, created a vision of salvation that was external and future-focused.
Fast forward to the Middle Ages, and salvation became tightly linked to the sacraments, penance, and the institutional Church. To be “saved” often meant following prescribed rituals to avoid punishment and gain entry into an otherworldly paradise. While this interpretation provided comfort for many, it often obscured the mystical and transformative heart of salvation: union with God.
A Mystical and Metaphysical Perspective on Salvation
Salvation as Awakening
From a mystical and metaphysical perspective, salvation is not about being saved from something but about awakening to something. It is the realization that we are not separate from God, from each other, or from the cosmos. Salvation, in this sense, is not a one-time event but an ongoing process of awakening to the divine reality that permeates all existence.
Consider the words of the 13th-century Christian mystic Meister Eckhart:
"God is at home; it is we who have gone out for a walk."
Eckhart captures the essence of this mystical understanding. Salvation is not about reaching a distant heaven; it’s about coming home to the divine presence within us. It’s about awakening to the truth that, in God, “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).
The Illusion of Separation
At the heart of this awakening lies the dissolution of the illusion of separation. Many spiritual traditions, including Vedanta, Kabbalah, and Christian mysticism, teach that the greatest human suffering comes from the belief that we are separate from God. This illusion fuels fear, greed, and the egoic drive for control.
Jesus’ teachings, viewed through a metaphysical lens, consistently call us to transcend this illusion. When he says, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30), he’s not claiming an exclusive divinity but revealing the ultimate truth of all beings. We, too, are one with the Father, one with the Source, one with the Ground of Being. Salvation is the process of remembering this truth.
Metaphors for Salvation
The Journey Home
Imagine a river flowing toward the ocean. Along the way, the river may encounter obstacles—rocks, dams, or diversions. Yet, no matter how winding its path, the river is always destined to return to the ocean. In the same way, we are like rivers returning to the vast ocean of the Divine. Salvation is the realization that we were never truly separate from the ocean; the flow was always leading us home.
Awakening from a Dream
Another powerful metaphor is awakening from a dream. When we are dreaming, we might feel fear, joy, or confusion, believing the dream to be real. But when we wake up, we see the dream for what it was—an illusion. Similarly, salvation is the awakening from the dream of separation into the reality of Oneness.
Practices for Awakening to Salvation
If salvation is awakening to our Oneness with the Divine, how do we cultivate this awareness? Here are some practices to support the journey:
1. Stillness and Contemplation
In the busyness of modern life, it’s easy to forget our connection to the Divine. Practices like meditation, centering prayer, or simply sitting in silence allow us to reconnect with the stillness within. In that stillness, we glimpse the eternal presence of God.
As the Psalmist writes, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). In stillness, we remember who we truly are.
2. Self-Inquiry
Self-inquiry, a practice found in both Christian mysticism and Advaita Vedanta, involves asking questions like:
- Who am I beyond my thoughts, emotions, and roles?
- What is the source of my being?
These questions lead us beyond the egoic self to the realization of our divine essence.
3. Loving-Kindness
Salvation is not just an inner journey; it manifests in how we relate to others. Practices of loving-kindness (as found in Buddhism and the teachings of Jesus) help us dissolve the illusion of separation by recognizing the divine spark in everyone.
4. Embracing the Present Moment
Eternal life, as Jesus describes it, is not something that begins after death. It is available now. By fully embracing the present moment, we enter into the timeless reality of God’s Kingdom.
The Fruits of Awakening
When we awaken to salvation as Oneness, our lives begin to change in profound ways. We experience:
- Peace: The deep peace that comes from knowing we are held by a loving Source.
- Joy: The joy of living in alignment with the divine flow.
- Compassion: A newfound compassion for ourselves and others, arising from the awareness that we are all interconnected.
- Freedom: Freedom from fear, guilt, and the need to control, as we trust in the unfolding of divine grace.
A Story of Awakening
Let me share a simple story to illustrate this journey. There was once a traveler who set out in search of a hidden treasure. He journeyed far and wide, braving deserts, crossing mountains, and enduring countless trials. After years of searching, he returned home, weary and defeated. One day, as he was tending his garden, he dug up a small box buried beneath a tree. Inside was the treasure he had sought all along.
This story reminds us that salvation is not something we find “out there.” It is the treasure buried within us—the presence of the Divine, waiting to be uncovered.
A Call to Awaken
Salvation, when viewed through a mystical and metaphysical lens, invites us to let go of fear-based narratives and embrace a deeper, more expansive truth. It is not about avoiding hell or earning heaven. It is about awakening to the divine reality that is always present, always accessible, and always inviting us home.
As you continue your journey, may you find the stillness within, and in that stillness, may you awaken to the profound truth of your Oneness with the Divine.
Blessings on your path,
Fanus
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