Essential unity of being (Christianity)

According to John Ruusbroec, this meeting and unity which the spirit attains in God takes place in the essential ground of being. It is a mystery to the understanding unless apprehended essentially in utter simplicity. The spirit rests in the unity which is above all gifts and yet the source of all gifts. There is nothing but God and the spirit united with God. The person is received by the Holy Spirit and receives the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit undivided. Inclined to blissful enjoyment, the spirit seeks rest in God.

When a person turns from sin he is received by God in the essential unity of his being. This unity in rest is possessed by all good people, but they remain unaware of it when not interiorly fervent and empty of all creatures. Through charity and practice of virtue they receive grace and a likeness to God; unity in rest cannot be lost except through mortal sin. Sinners and damned spirits lack God's grace to enlighten, instruct and lead them to this blissful unity. Sin is such a barrier that the spirit cannot attain union in its own being which, if it were not for sin, would be the proper place for its eternal rest.