Greetings:
There is a phenomenon that occurs within man which could be stated as 'the individual realizes oneness with God.' This is described sometimes as Enlightenment, or a mystical experience of union with God, illumination, or by other descriptive terms. With our modern day communication tools and availability of information, this is a breakthrough experience that seems to be of increasing interest and might be available to many today. I would like to suggest that the Discovery Channel examine this phenomenon in a positive light as the subject of one or more programs. Titles might be 'The Moment of Enlightenment' or 'Mystical Union with God.' The program(s) might examine the pathways to realization of the union, the actual breakthrough instant, and the impacts within the individual of the union. My proposal is for the program(s) to take the posture that the phenomenon exists and examine what it is and how it can be attained for the purpose of helping the individual 'discover' it for themselves.

Many think that all the religions of the world have a common core of enduring wisdom, and this commonality goes right to the heart of the religions - to their reason for being. At the heart, often hidden or requiring interpretation, is this message that each of us can attain our own individual breakthrough. In one set of terminology, this breakthrough might be described to be 'Enlightenment as the realization of our identity with the source of all being.' This is true whether it be Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Christianity or others; each having its own unique way of describing this union. A couple of books about the core commonality of religions are: "The Truth is One" by Henry James Forman and Roland Gammon; and "The Practices of Essential Spirituality" by Roger Walsh.

Much written fodder exists on this state of being one with God and the moment of realizing this state. The written material ranges from books on mysticism, to writings of early philosophical thinkers such as Plotinus who wrote 'the subject and object (the Supreme Being) become one,' to novelists such as Somerset Maugham who wrote in "The Razor's Edge" 'a moment one with the Absolute,' and to more recent philosophical theologians such as Paul Tillich who wrote 'the ground of being reunites with itself and fulfillment within universal fulfillment is realized.' The breakthrough instant often is a monumental moment for the individual and is associated with tremendous internal changes, including a change in self identity. We may be lucky because there seems to be an individual who has realized this union and who is living today. Eckhart Tolle has written about it in "The Power of Now," a best selling book that is identified on Oprah Winfrey's website as one of her favorites. Tolle writes about 'living in a state of Presence.' There undoubtedly are others living, worldwide, who have realized this union, who might teach it, and who can be interviewed.

A program by the Discovery Channel on such a subject could be both entertaining (especially when presenting the mystical aspect) and beneficial to mankind if done correctly.

Thanks for giving consideration to this idea.
autonomous1one1@aim.com

This is a great suggestion for the Discovery Channel. Friends that have reviewed this posting agree. One wrote in an email that 'People are thinking more on getting answers to spiritual questions. Even the scientists are looking beyond the current capabilities of existing sensors.' We hope the Discovery Channel will give it serious attention.

Eckhart Tolle and Elizabeth Gilbert may be two living sources of information on this topic.