Understanding "kingdom of God is within"

I'm curious how folks of whatever persuassion understand the Kingdom of God and what it means to be within a person. What is it? What does within mean i.e. where is it within, and who or what is this "you" that it is within?I think this could indicate an experience of awakening to consciousness as the divine ground, but what do you make of it?lfen

Thread moved here from the Proposed New Topics forum.

I believe as do many religions that "it is all God" The reason there is something rather than nothing is....there is no reason. The universe exist because it does and all the physical laws that dictate how reality plays out along with the energy and matter that makes up the universe somehow managed to assemble into a sentient conscious being. A being that reflects and questions It's existance. We are god/ God/ insert your preference/. Thats what I believe Jesus meant by that. And when we die as with all things we are recycled. The iron in your redblood cells was forged in the stars. This is simply my own opinion based on nothing but my personal beliefs so dont expect any evidence you skeptics.. you know who you are lol.

---

"One is punished most for ones virtues" Fredrick Neitzche

You have found one of the verses that was likely based off of 'Q' and the gnostic meaning was overlooked. Gnostics (sort of) believe in salvation through knowledge, thus internalizing knowledge saves you, or, the kingdom of god is within. At least that's what I've heard.
Brad

One hypothesis I am interested in exploring is that Jesus was a Jew who experienced an awakening to nonduality such as the Buddha experienced. His teachings were not really understood and somehow he died, was killed, or was crucified before being able to really develope his ideas and the religion that was founded in his name reverted to an external priestly authority religion with heaven being external in time and place rather than within. The idea that the kingdom is something within consciousness is very suggestive but seems to be ignored by Christians. Still I would like to hear how Christians understand this passage as well as non Christians.This view of Jesus as awakened places his teachings of being one with God in line with the Hindu notions of realization and incarnations of divinity. But those ideas appear to be very difficult for western minds to understand.lfen

Sort of what the Gnostics believe, except they don't believe that Jesus ever actually existed. He is a myth to teach about how we have to let our lower selves die. They believed Jesus was based on previous "mystery" god-men, such as Mithras, Dionysus, and even Osiris. There is lots of research on this and it's readily available, if interested I can make a thread explaining my understanding, or you can look it up.
Brad

also in thomas:

quote:

---

3 Jesus said, "If your leaders say to you, 'Look, the (Father's) kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the kingdom is within you and it is outside you.

---

I've read Doherty's Jesus Puzzle web site.
I think the mythicist position is plausible but they've not really been able to nail it down.I think Paul has some reference to an actual teacher but it's hard to know what that relationship was. As it is I don't see how the evidence can fully support a historical Jesus, or a mythical one.But if you want to start a thread I'll follow it. I don't think I've anything new to contribute though.lfen

That sounds like a teaching that could support the thesis that Jesus had awakened to nonduality. Thanks,lfen