The religious understanding of the division of the One Being between “I” and God is reduced to the idea that the divine essence is invariably one, yet simultaneously manifests in a multitude of forms and relationships in order to bestow life upon all that exists, including man.

Unity and Multiplicity: Unveiling the Divine Paradox

The religious understanding of the division of the One Being between “I” and God is reduced to the idea that the divine essence is invariably one, yet simultaneously manifests in a multitude of forms and relationships in order to bestow life upon all that exists, including man. At the same time, this division does not diminish the primary, indivisible nature of the One; rather, it expresses its ability to present itself externally, radiating all aspects of goodness without losing its integrity. Thus, religion interprets this dynamic as a mysterious multiplication and effusion, where the One Being remains unified as the source of all existence while, by transforming, finding expression in the human essence.

As stated in one of the sources, “That which is bestowed upon all that exists and supra-effusively imparts participation in all goods is united, divided, multiplied singly, and increased manifold, without ever departing from unity. Since God is the Essential in a supersubstantial sense, granting existence to that which exists and producing all beings, it is said that this One Being increases manifold due to the emergence of much that exists from It, while It in no way diminishes and remains one in the multitude; united as It manifests outwardly; and, in dividing, remains complete…” (source: link txt). This explanation emphasizes that the process by which God effuses Himself into multiplicity (division into different manifestations and relationships) in no way disrupts the original, indivisible nature of His Oneness.

An additional understanding of the nature of the “I” in this context is reflected in the considerations about the union of man and God. For instance, one of the cited sources notes: “Therefore, God is both man and the perfect unity of God and man. From the uniqueness and fullness inherent in Himself, from His own perfection, God diminishes Himself to Self-annihilation, to an absolute non-being, so that man may exist and be perfected in God. With His self-annihilation, God makes man’s existence possible, and by His diminishing, renders his perfection and the fullness of his divinization.” (source: link txt). Here, it is expressed that the divine sacrifice, or humility, aimed at allowing man to participate in the Divine fullness, is an integral part of the process of spiritual formation. This division does not imply a rupture or subordination of one side; rather, it highlights mutual penetration, where within man there exists both the aspiration toward the Divine and already a part of the Divine power itself.

The nature of spirituality, according to religious interpretation, is that the spirit (as the fundamental distinction of man) cannot be fully defined by rational parameters, for it is itself a manifestation of this unity and division. One source notes: “Spirituality is a property of the very nature of man; it is that unique, exceptional, most important aspect that distinguishes man from other highly developed living beings, … The spirit is both thought and consciousness, and the human will; it is the entire continuum, complex yet at the same time a unified, integral flow that constitutes the peculiarity of man.” (source: link txt). This characterization underscores that the spirituality of man is a reflection of the Divine, embodied through the process of division and unification, where each part, though distinct, remains inseparable from the center – from God.

Thus, the religious view on the division of the One Being between “I” and God asserts that God, while remaining in His primordial, indivisible unity, effuses Himself into a multitude of external manifestations, among which the human essence is included. By granting man the opportunity to participate in this divine effusion, man becomes not merely a creation but an active participant in the union with God, which in its essence defines the profound character of spirituality.