Enlightenment

"Wisdom begins when we know that we know nothing."  

~Socrates~

May, 2000     

"As I sit down to write the following pages I ask myself "who am I to attempt such works?"  Yet after half a lifetime of daily spiritual practices, studying volumes and volumes of esoteric texts, participation in huge global meditations around the world, the gift of a developing awareness of The Whole, and the constant requests from students and friends wanting me to put my spiritual knowledge and experiences on paper, I am now doing it.  It is rare for a seeker of Truth to come by this knowledge because it is reserved for only a few.  It is rarer still for a teacher to provide this information openly.  The following writings on consciousness are my own, and from my life experiences as the spiritual aspirant, the teacher, and finally the recluse.  It is very little in the whole scheme of things, but if it is some help to someone, then I will feel my attempt has been worthwhile."  

Gail 

Enlightenment is an Actual State of consciousness.  

It has nothing to do with intelligence.  Nor does it have to do with 'seeing the light' in a problem.  It is a specific state of being--in mind, body, emotion, and spirit-- that is available to all, but achieved by few.  One might say that enlightenment is stabilized balance and unwavering inner peace.  To achieve enlightenment one must know how to contact that silence within.  

Our individual lives can be compared to waves on the surface of the ocean.  Each  wave appears to be separate from the other, but upon closer inspection, one realizes that all the waves are connected by the deeper levels of the ocean, which is common to all.  The surface is buffeted about by the currents of life and the winds of fate.  But at the same time the depths of the ocean remain calm, steady and unaffected.

If a wave is only aware of the surface aspect of it’s identity, then it will think that life as a wave is a very rough life indeed   If somehow the wave could become aware of the wholeness of it’s true nature-- the fact that it is also a part of the still, calm depths of the ocean, which are undisturbed by the ups and downs of the surface, and that these depths are a much greater part of it’s identity than the small surface area-- then the wave would realize “ I am the ocean”.  And from that point on the life of the wave would never be the same.  Nor would it want to be.

Enlightenment is a subject which has many facets, and which has been written about throughout the ages.  What makes this version somewhat unique is that this text comes from my personal experience.  This material is not mere theory.  All of what you read here is based on my own 33-year spiritual path.  I cannot claim direct experience of the top most level of consciousness referred to later.  However all that I have experienced and understood to this point has provided a solid foundation, and absolute faith in the reality of other levels.  

Evolution of the soul continues forever, until one is completely united with God.  That is not a metaphor; rather it is a statement of actual merging.  Just as individual drops of water may combine to become a vessel of water, or a river, or the ocean, so the human soul can and will eventually become One with God.  In the initial stages of evolution--as we are here on Earth--the evolutionary process occurs within a vehicle:  the physical body.  But after sufficient lifetimes of purifying the baser instincts, one no longer requires a physical form such as this.  From that point the 'form' one takes is more and more refined.  It is made of Light and has individual properties, but is not dense like the gross physical body.

All people have different beliefs, views of life, religions, and sense of purpose.  Yet all people share one common purpose: to evolve.  Evolution comes in many packages.  Spontaneous evolution results simply from living--and hopefully learning some lessons along the way.  It is a slow process, and a soul requires many thousands of lifetimes to achieve enlightenment in this manner.  Yes, 'lifetimes'.  Reincarnation is what makes it all possible, and understanding the 'whys and wherefores' will be explained later.

Conscious evolution is a very different matter from spontaneous evolution.  This is where the person has a certain readiness in their soul and knows there is something more to life.  Something more than merely achieving fame, fortune, or worldly success.  This person has spent many lifetimes just getting to this point where conscious evolution is even possible.  Now, with their spiritual eyes slightly open, they may make conscious choices to grow faster.  This 'growth' means eliminating issues, baggage, emotional hang-ups, tunnel-vision, desire for 'more', and so on.  It means cleaning up one's act.  Completely.  Easier said than done?  Yes!  But there are ways to accomplish this. 

Conscious evolution greatly speeds up the purification process of the soul.  In a sense it speeds up one's life--on an inner level.  The techniques one uses to accomplish this process, forces one to examine their motives, their morality, their values, sense of righteousness, concepts of kindness and virtue.  The process is ongoing, day and night, for weeks, months, and years.  Just when one thinks they have their act together, or that they are a pretty good person, the universe zaps them with another humbling lesson.  These are the tests and we must learn the lessons.  When one finally comes to terms with the concept that they are on the Earth to learn--in 'school' in a sense--then their world-view changes dramatically.  This person will no longer resort to 'blame' as a means to escape painful lessons.  He develops a positive approach to everything that life has to offer.  This is part of the process of coming to enlightenment.

According to Yvonne Kason, MD, there are certain changes that happen in a healthy spiritual transformation.  Some of these are:

• One is less dogmatic or fundamentalist in their beliefs and develops a more all-encompassing humanistic type of spirituality.

• One becomes less materialistic and less ambitious in one's career.

• There is more focus on humanitarian and service-type objectives.

• One is more committed to truth, ethics, and the development of moral fiber.

• One becomes more dedicated to becoming a loving person:  more loving towards oneself, others, and above all, more loving towards the divine.

Here are some of the very specific signs of the Self-realized (first) level of enlightenment and these provide an indication of how we measure up as we walk the path.  

Inability to sustain anger

Loss of desire for worldly things

Spontaneous right action

Constant 'witnessing'

Expanded awareness

A feeling of lightness in the body

Support of Nature

Increased synchronicity 

All worldly karma is gone

On the next page I will explain in greater detail what these signs mean.

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