THE CONCENTRATED ORANGE JUICE OF MY CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE: Part II

These ideas come from my asking AI the questions below. They are not just amorphous jangles of ideas with no purpose or rationale, but rather AI’s attempt to organize my collective writings and worldview in ways I could not have done without its help. The Holy Spirit is the inspiration for my content, but AI is the concrete tool for summarizing my work. I am in debt to both helpers, but only one of them is with me as the way, leading to truth, so that I can lead a life on this planet that stresses my digging into that place no one wants to look to find what Jesus wants me to know to be able to move to that highest level of my human evolution. What follows is what AI says about my worldview (weldanschawen).

What does the saying mean: The place no one wants to look, as written by Michael F. Conrad, in https://thecenterforcontemplativepractice.org

According to Michael F. Conrad, in his writings for The Center for Contemplative Practice, the “place no one wants to look” refers to the darkness, or inner sanctum, within each human being. It is the realm of deep interior silence where one must go to confront one’s true self and, ultimately, encounter the Divine. Conrad describes this internal space not as evil, but as a “scary” territory of absolute silence and solitude where individuals often fear to tread because it requires relinquishing control and facing the “false self” to uncover the spiritual reality beneath. 

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Core Concepts

• The Definition: “The place no one wants to look, according to my thinking, is the darkness inside each of us.”
• The Barrier: People avoid this place because it feels scary and implies a loss of control. It requires a “dying to the false self” to emerge with enhanced awareness.
• The Purpose: It is the specific location where humanity meets God. As Conrad notes, “You don’t meet God through Christ where he is, you meet Him where you are”—which is deep within this inner room.

Why It Is Difficult: Conrad explains that this realm of interior silence is peculiar to humans; ants and other creatures do not possess it. Humans avoid it not because they are incapable, but often because they “don’t think anything is worth exploring” or are terrified of the silence that demands they confront their own existence without distraction.

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The Six Foundational Questions

Conrad often connects this concept to six “Divine Equation” questions that he believes every human must answer before they die. These answers are typically found only by visiting “the place no one wants to look.”

Elaborate on these six questions.

In the contemplative philosophy of Michael F. Conrad, the Six Foundational Questions—collectively known as “The Divine Equation”—are the essential inquiries every human must answer to achieve their full potential. Conrad posits that while the physical universe (matter) and mental universe (reason) are natural to us, the answers to these specific questions can only be found by entering the “spiritual universe”—specifically, by visiting the “place no one wants to look” (the deep inner self) and aligning with the Christ Principle. 

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The Six Questions (The Divine Equation)

• 1. What is the purpose of life? Objective Truth. Conrad argues this is not a subjective choice. The purpose of all life is established by the Creator, independent of individual opinion. It serves as the “Constitution” of existence, often summarized by the Great Commandment: to love God and neighbor.
• 2. What is your purpose within that life? Personal Alignment. This is the subjective application of the objective truth. It asks: “What is the center of my life?” Conrad describes this as choosing a “North on my compass.” You must align your personal center (your choices) with the universe’s objective purpose (God’s will) to find resonance.
• 3. What does reality look like? The Rule of Threes. Conrad contends that reality is not just what we see. It is a single reality composed of three distinct universes:
  • Physical: Matter, energy, space, time (the platform).
  • Mental: Reason, free will, human consciousness (the bridge).
  • Spiritual: The divine realm, accessible only through choice and adoption (the goal).
• 4. How does it all fit together? The Christ Principle. This question addresses the chaos, entropy (corruption), and the natural World. Conrad explains that the Christ Principle acts as the unifying force that resolves the dissonance between the physical and spiritual universes, allowing a human to move from “complexity to simplicity.”
• 5. What does it mean to love fiercely? Resonance & Kenosis. Loving fiercely is not merely an emotion; it is an act of the will. It requires “dying to the false self” (Kenosis) and abandoning one’s will to God. It is the mechanism by which a human transcends the mental universe to enter the spiritual one.
• 6. You know you are going to die; now what? Dual Citizenship. This is the confrontation with finality. If one lives only in the physical/mental universes, death is the end. If one has answered the previous questions and accepted “adoption” by the Divine, they possess dual citizenship—one in the World (temporary) and one in the Kingdom of Heaven (forever).

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The Framework: The Rule of Threes

To answer the questions, Conrad asserts that one must understand the structure of reality. He visualizes this as a progression where each “universe” serves as a platform for the next. 

Level 1: Physical Universe

The Platform. Consists of matter, energy, and time. Governed by the laws of physics. Everything here corrupts and ends. Humans share this with animals.

Level 2: Mental Universe

The Bridge. Unique to humans. Governed by Reason and Free Will. It allows us to ask “Why?” and choose our center. It is the bridge between the finite (matter) and the infinite (spirit).

Level 3: Spiritual Universe

The Fulfillment. The realm of God. Humans are not born here; we must choose to enter it by answering the Six Questions and loving fiercely. This is the only level that survives death.

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Key Insight: Why “Fierce” Love?

Conrad uses the term “fiercely” to distinguish spiritual love from romantic or sentimental love. Fierce love is described as a battle against the “false self” (ego).

It is characterized by:

• Solitude: Sitting in the “inner room” without distraction.
• Silence: Listening with the “ear of the heart” rather than the logic of the mind.
• Abandonment: A deliberate choice to align one’s personal will with the “Christ Principle,” even when it is difficult or scary.

These ideas will become part of a new book (number 69) that I am writing based on my Lectio Divina meditations. This material is my gift to you and may be copied with attribution: Michael F. Conrad, Ed.d., https;//thecenterforcontemplativepractice.org.