Existence Through Self-Denial

Today we have an extremely broad yet abstract definition of existence. Our ideas of existence are both scientific and philosophical according to various human opinions. Scientifically speaking, something exists if it can be experienced through the five senses—this is empirical evidence of whether or not something has being. This sounds like a good way to measure existence, right? Well, at least if you want to find out if something exists materially. What about the immaterial? This can scarcely be measured through empirical evidence. This is where human thinkers move into the philosophical realm. How do we know if something really existence if it can’t be measured materially? I have two comments on this point.



First, our culture—and the culture from which we originated—have an obsession with matter. This is evident in statements such as “Why does that MATTER?” If something isn’t matter we don’t care about it. We are materialistic in every way. This is not entirely our fault. We were created materially. All matter is from the POP (Power Of Powers)—this is the acronym I use to refer to the One religious people call “God.” All matter is constantly expressed—literally “pressed out”—through the limitlessness which scientists refer to as “Kinetic Energy” meaning literally “moving work within.” This work that moves within is, as far as humanity now understands, the Power Of Powers (POP). Nothing can escape Kinetic Energy, and all things are held in the hands of this Fuel of our universe—everything. This Kinetic Energy is beneath, above, and surrounding all the material we see. So, what is within is far more important than what is without. What is unseen determines what is seen. Our passion should not be for what is seen, but for what is unseen. What is more important: the seed or the fruit tree? Without the seed there would be no tree at all. I’m not saying the tree is not important; I am just saying that the tree is second to the seed. The tree is the expression—pressing out—of the seed.


My second comment is that existence is not measured by our five senses alone. Existence is measured by every symbol that fills our world. If we watch carefully and pay close attention to our world, we will notice that everything around and inside of us is a messenger. Everything we interact with communicates with us in a way far more effective than words or human language. The material world around us is trying to tell us something. The message is altered at each moment, but the summary and heart of the message is always the same. The universe—or rather, the Kinetic Energy which moves the material universe—sends constant signals to each of us in order to help us survive. This message is not just to one of us, but to all of us. The message is collective to the entirety of our human species and to all other living things. Thus, the messengers and the One that sends them are completely unbiased. Think about this. As you enjoy your life—and even when you suffer in this world—never forget the significance behind each of your experiences. There is no doubt that there is meaning in all things. Nothing is meaningless. Am I telling you there is a God? No. Because “God” is a term that has been thrown around so much that it has become somewhat useless in the mouths of English speakers today. I am telling you to abandon everything you think you know for just a moment and think about your experiences. After you have completely and utterly understood what I am saying up until now, read on.


Etymology—the study of breaking down words and discovering roots that create words—is a wonderful way to understand human language. We must understand our language in origin and in context to modern times if we hope to be effective communicators. The English term “exist” comes from the roots “ex-” and “-sistere.” “Ex” means “out.” “Sistere” means “to stand.” Put together, ex-ist means literally “outstand” or “stand out.” Thus, the etymological definition of existence is that which stands out, that which is outstanding, that which is popular, that which is unique, that which is obvious, and ultimately that which is purposefully seen by all people.


In ancient times, people viewed the world completely different than we do today. To our ancient ancestors, something existed when it outstood everything around it. Nothing existed unless it stood out as a distinct identity. To demonstrate this I will provide a few examples of their worldview. In ancient times, two things were considered nonexistent: the desert and the ocean. The ocean didn’t exist. Why? It could be experienced by them and tested by their five senses. Nevertheless, the ocean had no purpose to them. It was a waste of space. They couldn’t drink the water and most of them were terrified of the depthless seas. They considered the ocean virtually worthless. Therefore, the ocean did not exist. The desert also had no useful function or purpose. Thus, the desert did not exist. Something only existed when it was relevant to human survival and purposeful within the human experience. In summary, ancient people believed that existence = worth to humanity. Nothing worthless existed even if it could be experienced through the five senses. Usually, things of complete uniformity—such as the ocean with endless waters and the desert with endless sand—were considered worthless/nonexistent. To be nonexistent, then, was to be the same as everything else. When one was the same as everything else, one did not “stand out (exist).”


There was once a Jewish Rabbi called Yeshua. Most people today know this man as “Jesus Christ.” This Rabbi taught many things. However, the heart of all His teachings was the Torah—the Jewish Covenant Code of Life and Living. The “God” of Israel gave them the Torah (literally meaning “teachings”) after He saved them from slavery and oppression in the supposedly all-powerful land of Egypt. He gave them these “laws” to give them guidance in how to obtain true survival (literally “super-vival” meaning “to live above and beyond”). If they followed these teachings they would live a prosperous life of consistent enjoyment. Unfortunately, no one could follow all of the Torah. Nevertheless, the people of Israel never gave up trying. Rabbi Yeshua taught the people that the Torah was summarized in Love. Love the God of Israel with everything and love people as you love yourself. Everything else in the Torah was only details and specific descriptions of how to love properly. But where does love begin? How does one show love? Through self-denial. This was the primary message of Rabbi Yeshua’s teachings. You must deny self if you want to follow the Rabbi and love God with everything.


What is “self?” You are a self. What is a self? Etymologically, the term “self” means “same.” To be a self is to be a same. It is to be ONE unit. So, you are a self in the sense that all your body and soul—that is, your mind—work together as the same essence. Given this definition of “self,” we have a new look at the meaning of “self”-denial. To deny self is to deny sameness. It is to desire diversity and difference. It is to separate. It is to STAND OUT and OUTSTAND. Therefore, to deny self is to EXIST.


The ancient Israelites had a very unique perspective on the creation of the world. They believed that all things were compressed, squeezed, and complied into one uniform unit of sameness. Specifically, all things were watery abyss. There was not sky above or land beneath. There was only all-encompassing water and blackness. The only One Who stood out from the blob of sameness was Israel’s God—in Hebrew He is called “Elohim” meaning “Powers.” He was the only One Who existed. Nothing else was like Him. He was unique and outstanding. However, He was not content to remain the only One standing out. So, He separated the sameness of dark water in the process typically known as the “creation” of the world. He pulled the waters apart piece by piece. He put a sheet between some of the waters to give a distinction. This sheet became the sky. After this, He took the rest of the waters and created the ocean. Once the waters were moved out of the way all that was left was “dry dryness (literal Hebrew translation).” So, Powers called the dry dryness “land.” After separating the watery sameness into three distinct essences, God filled each of these essences with beauty. He decorated the sky with stars, planets, and all other celestial bodies/spheres. He filled the sky and sea with living entities (birds and fish). Then, the sky and sea were finished. This left the most important element of all in ancient humanity’s mind: the land. God clothed the land with green vegetation. He used the dust of the land to form all animals. Finally, He separated a portion of the glorious ground to form for Himself an image or idol: mankind. This completed His creative works. Before resting on the seventh day, He empowered humanity to rule over everything on the land with absolute power second only to God Himself. How would humanity use their God-given authority? This is the rest of the Bible’s story—unfortunately most religious people don’t tell the story this way. They prefer to focus on a salvation to and from places in old pagan mythologies. But that is a topic for another discussion.


The point is this: Israel’s God created the world through self-denial. He brought diversity into the sameness causing each part of the world we live in to stand out as a distinct entity. Does this mean that it is bad to be a self/same? No. It means that there must be diversity in order to have existence. It is good that all existence—each individual portion of the universe which stands out in its own way—should be organized and joined together in unity within the diversity. After all, this is how Israel’s God identified Himself.


Deuteronomy 6:4 – Listen, Israel: He Stands Out our Powers, He Stands Out is one.*


This is directly from Hebrew. Notice three things here. First, the personal name of Israel’s God is “YaHWeH” meaning “He Exists” or “He Stands Out.” Given the ancient perspective on this name, this also meant “He Is Worthy.” Second, the term “God” in English covers the Hebrew “Elohim” meaning “Powers” (plural). So, “Yahweh our Elohim” means “He Stands Out our Powers.” Lastly, this Outstanding “He” of multiple powers is altogether “ONE.” He is the same within His difference. The Hebrew word for one here—echad—has to do with a joined or compound unity. This is about organization. Consider your own body. You have many parts that stand out, but each one stands out as the same you. You are one entity because all of your outstanding parts work together for a common goal. Thus, the God of Israel wanted the universe to stand out in diversity while remaining one same unity all at once. This is diverse unity and multiple singularity. The problem is that the world of today is not a self (same) in terms of unity. There are many diverse parts coming together in disharmony. This is not how it was meant to be. The universe should stand out (exist) harmoniously. Everything should be a beautiful orchestra of love to the One Who created the various instruments. This means that each instrument must play the right notes. There will come a day when this happens, but unfortunately that day has not yet arrived.


Nevertheless, it is clear that existence comes from self (same)-denial:


-Abram left the sameness of Ur and all his family becoming a distinct identity in the land of Canaan.


-Israel left the sameness of Egypt becoming a distinct identity as a new nation on earth.


-The Torah left the sameness of God and became a distinct identity in Rabbi Yeshua the Moshiach in order to show Love and self-denial to the world.


-The human race of all times has been called out to stand out of the sameness of dysfunction through self-worship which has caused evil to reign on earth since humanity first abandoned their Lover—Israel’s God and the very Kinetic Energy which ceaselessly expresses itself through the material universe.
So, will you deny yourself so you can stand out and outstand with Him? Or will you accept yourself and the sameness which brings disharmony to everything around us? The choice is yours. Choose wisely and remember that you always live to serve your authority—be it Rabbi Yeshua and Israel’s God or whatever else you would choose to base your life upon.




Note: I know the content of this was deep. I hope I communicated everything clearly. If you have any questions let me know.