[stone]

We found the Great Reality deep down within us. In the last analysis it is only there that He may be found.

This is the one part of Chapter 4 that resonated with me, like it was a truth I knew that I was being reminded of, as is often the way with spiritual truths, in my experience.

This idea of God being inside us, that our very soul is (part of) God sounds like Christian Mysticism to me, especially the teachings of Meister Eckhart.
"The eye with which I see God is the same with which God sees me. My eye and God's eye is one eye, and one sight, and one knowledge, and one love."

It also sounds like the Hindu notion of Atman or Brahman.
"This is the truth As from a fire aflame thousands of sparks come forth, even so from the Creator an infinity of beings have life and to him return again. -- Maitri Upanishads"

So this is not the creator and the created, it is "part of", the same.

I have always been put off by what I saw as the Christian overtones of the Big Book so I find it interesting that my favourite phrase in Chapter 4 is not an orthodox Christian view.

Although really I think all religions are pointing at the same thing. That thing is un-knowable which makes it hard to define or talk about.


Another Meister Eckhart quote.

"And thou shouldest know that to be empty of all creature's love is to be full of God, and to be full of creature-love is to be empty of God."

(to be full of ego leaves no room for God? The purpose of the steps?)

BB Quotes, 1st Edition