Hi Dale,

This is a really insightful and powerful sharing from your current point on the path. I encourage all who are intrigued by the nature of Enlightenment to read, and then consider my responses below...

(by the way, the 'x' in 'reaxched' found its way synhcronistically into the title - the Universe is blowing you a kiss!)

Let me ask you this question: why were you drawn here to Openhand to express and share? Clearly, you're looking for something - are you aware what it is?

If I may humbly say... Your writing gives away clues. They are actually littered through what you're saying. I observe it's always the case that our soul speaks to us in the words we, ourselves, write - which, is why it's so invaluable to share here.

I'd say you are indeed on the point of "Absolution" - dissolving into the Source (which, I believe, is what you're referring to as "God"). However, I humbly say to you, there are the last vestiges of identity getting in the way. In this case, the subtle 'spiritual identity' that you're built up during your 'training'.

Allow me to offer some pointers. But as you read them, please be clear, they're not offered to inspire 'debate'. They're offered as a gift, should you choose to receive them, for your further inquiry...

* Zen doesn't need defending. It's a great practice. But like all great practices, religions or approaches, they will ALL fail as one comes to the Absolute. Why? Because you're approaching the singularity, where everything dissolves into one. And each soul coming there is unique, and therefore has a unique way, a unique path to that final part. No one can tell you what that is - only your soul knows (by 'soul', I mean the unique stream of consciousness that is yours). Although, you may gain reflections from other souls what their final tilt into absolution was. I recall, for example, the simple word, "openness" was a great key that enabled all the fragmented lucid moments to join up into one.

* You're constantly quoting what 'such and such' said, 'what particular master did', 'how a particular practice does something', what 'so and so believes', like the Buddha, for example. But the Buddha is not here! The teachings are static. Beliefs will not get you into Absolution. Instead, tell me what Dale feels, considers, and experiences.

* Don't tell me you believe in past lives or not because of what the 'Buddha said'. Tell me if you experience them or not, yourself. Then it's real, or not, for you. Also, in abandoning what 'so and so said', it leaves your consciousness open to explore. Otherwise, the belief (in this case, someone else's) shuts you down. Your consciousness can't even explore. Perhaps past lives will come to you in ways you couldn't previously express.

* You often refer to your 'training'. Presence, and absolution into it, requires NO training at all! It requires the opposite - de-training, de-learning, de-programming. Presence is as natural as the cows coming home. It is only the human mind that wraps itself up in knots, or takes itself into illusory bubble states. To come to absolution, requires that we give up all programming, all conditioning, all training, all teaching, and just rest in the silent witness of oneself.

* Finally, you say this: "I am weak now, driven down by the vestiges of long-held beliefs, attachments and emotional turmoil and fear, and this seems to be the perfect time to give myself into God’s hands – to cut the root, ignore the branches, as the Buddha said – the root being the mistaken notion of a self."

Who is going to 'cut the root' and 'ignore the branches'? Only an identity, only an intention - a spiritual identity, that's still quoting other people's experiences, but not your own. What are these "God's hands" that you've 'giving yourself' over to? It risks just another self-deception. No one is coming to save you or to rescue you. That's already inside you when you give up the final self-deceptions and diversions. Just rest in awareness, soften through the web of training, conditioning, programming - let it all go.

I say to you, it's time to go deep into the self, simply by self-witnessing. It seems to me you are on the point of Absolution - into the 'God source', which is you, inside of you - the real you.

It's a great, but challenging place to be. It's where all practice, approaches, religions, beliefs, and other people's ideas need to be let go of - the final crutch, that keeps the spiritual ego still upright.

Let go, into your tiredness. Surrender into it - and the fears, and the turmoil. Accept it all completely. But don't expect to find anyone there - no God, no Zen Master, no Christ. Or else what you've likely found is just another bubble.

Surrender into yourself as the silent witness. Rest in awareness. Let all experience move through you. Soften through the programming, teaching, and conditioning. Look for that silent key, your own, and yours only, that unlocks the door to the absolute.

This is absolution. And to be truly enlightened, we must all pass through it.

Well wishes to you at this key precipice.

Namaste
<<< Open 💎

PS: for all reading, the Openhand Book "Absolution" (the remastered Resurrection) is due out in March 2026.