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THE
NATURE
OF SPIRIT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL
(top)
On Spirituality
Spirituality is in its
essence an awakening to the inner reality of our being, to a
spirit, self, soul ... an inner aspiration to enter into
contact with the greater Reality ... a turning, converting,
a transformation of our whole being ... into a new self, a
new nature. (Sri Aurobindo)
On Spirituality
Spirituality is the unfolding
of this Divinity (or the Spirit) within us. (MSS)
Signs You are on the Spiritual Path
You know you are well on your way on the spiritual path-
·
when you sense that you are being Guided each step of the
way by a Higher Power.
·
when time and space are constantly your friend, not an
obstacle.
·
when you sense keenly when to move to action, and how, and
when not to move.
·
when you are deeply interested in another's concerns at the
expense of your own.
·
when the experience of the Divine moves from the head to the
heart.
·
when you are constantly surrendering to the Higher Power.
·
when you feel a connection with your True Self, your
evolving Soul within.
·
when peace spontaneously descends on you, envelops you.
·
when the mind ordinarily falls silent.
·
when all you believe to be true comes about.
·
when your knowledge about matters is complete, integral, and
true.
·
when intuitions of truth constantly provide you with
understanding and knowledge.
·
when all of your queues come from Above and from the deepest
poise Within.
·
when you remain still and don't react when there is
intensity that is problematic.
·
when you feel a constant optimism and always present a sunny
disposition.
·
when you feel a deep connection with the Transcendent
Divine.
·
when you experience within a continuous rich Presence of the
Spirit, of the Divine Mother.
Spontaneous Right Actions of the Spirit-oriented Individual
When you are a follower of the Spirit and continually open
to It, you tend to take spontaneous actions that turn out to
be absolutely the right ones, which indicates that you are
being guided by the Divine Power that you have consistently
opened up to. It is Super Grace in action.
Infinite Emerging from the Finite
From the smallest, tiniest circumstance can emerge vast
change, showing that the Infinite can emerge from the
finite. Thus, if you shift your consciousness to the
positive on the smallest of occasions, you will attract
marvelous conditions demonstrating this dynamic.
On Liberation in Consciousness
All liberations is in consciousness, not space and time. In
fact, Moksha is liberation beyond space and time. Sri
Aurobindo asks us to have the timeless and spaceless
experience in time. Life response incidents, i.e.
spontaneous instances of sudden good fortune precipitated by
our higher consciousness, is one example of that.
Nature's Four Ways to the Inner Life
The course
of Nature has followed four ways to open up our inner lives
-- through religion, occultism, spiritual thought, and inner
spiritual realization. Only the last is decisive.
(Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo)
Stages of Knowing Spirit
It is one thing to
have knowledge of spirit. It is another to feel spirit as
experienced perceptive knowledge. It is yet another to feel
it as sensations, in our nerves. We know it truly when we
embody it in the physical, in our bodies, fulfilling a key
objective of spirit's evolutionary emergence through matter.
Spirit and Man
The Spirit has moved from its
high pedestal and has journeyed to the door of man,
stationing Itself there. Will man turn his attention to It?
Will he find the Spirit as attractive as the Spirit finds
man attractive? (MSS)
The Spiritual Individual
The Spiritual
Individual lives IN the world, guided by the Psychic Being,
which gives inner strength, power, inspiration, and
guidance, depending not on the social influence, nor
withdrawing from that society to be alone in spirit. Life
will oblige him at every step along the way.
Nature and Purpose of Spirit
In the deepest
recesses of your being within you find spirit.
Sri Aurobindo, the Indian sage and seer says that
spirituality is an awakening to the inner reality of our
being, to a spirit, to the true self, to the soul within, in
order that we may be able to enter into contact with the
greater Spiritual Reality.
Connecting to the Spiritual Reality, the Being is
accomplished by establishing a connection within yourself to
your deepest parts, to your soul parts. By connecting
within, finding the spirit there, the Being within you,
enables not only the experience of one's own soul space but
readily connects you with the greater ocean of spirit
contained in the Divine reality.
The Divine created this universe in the first place, to
extend his powers in life so that these spiritual attributes
and powers can be utilized by all of the inhabitants of the
globe; including Peace, Power, Strength, Delight, Love,
Beauty, Knowledge, Truth, and others.
Discovering the Spirit Within
In this
interview Roy Posner, President of Growth Online, discusses
how we can find the spirit within us to enable infinite
delight as well as infinite accomplishment and success in
life.
To see the interview, click
here.
Connecting to Spirit as Householder, Aspirant, or In
Between
It is true that we are slowly evolving from
mental to spiritual beings. In fact, as mental beings, we
can now consciously make the decision and effort to connect
with spirit in any area of our lives. By connecting with
Spirit, we experience a continuous silence and Presence
within; we tend to move from selfishness to selflessness and
self-givingness; and we tend to have the wherewithal to see
the true truths unfolding around us to make the right
decisions and take to the right actions that lead to
powerful positive results. We also experience an ongoing joy
and delight of being.
Can all of us simply take to this spiritual-oriented way
of life without any distinctions in our approach? It would
seem that it would be best to have a variety of approaches
to accommodate differences in people. Therefore, let's
consider two approaches toward the spirit; one from the
perspective of the 'householder'; and the other from the
perspective of the 'spiritual aspirant'. The former tries to
bring spirit into life in order to create success, harmony,
and well-being in family life; the latter directs his life
to his own physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual growth
and evolution. One can also live a life of spirit at levels
in between.
The householder takes to the spirit by opening to the
spiritual Force in order to create a happy and prosperous
family existence. As a result, life continually comes under
one's control. That individual opens to the Force before
major activities, such as an important business meeting; or
in order to resolve a problem, such as issues of money,
health of a family member, a child's education, an upcoming
social event, and the long-term security and harmony of the
family. By opening to the spiritual Force, vast material
results come in an extraordinary short period of time. We
experience a constant stream of miraculous-like events in
which new opportunities suddenly arise, serious problems are
suddenly overcome, difficult challenges are easily met -- as
the Force brings life around us under control. I call this
phenomenon "life response."
The spiritual Aspirant on the other hand seeks the change
and transformation of his very nature. This individual seeks
to discover move from the surface of life to the depths
within, to come out of the essential Ignorance of man, and
to infuse all parts of his being -- physical, vital, and
mental -- with the spirit. He seeks to come in contact with
his Soul within and with the Force around him, eventually
surrendering all of his works his very life to the
Divine Will. Through this effort, his nature changes, the
world around him is changed, and he becomes an instrument
for the spiritualization of society, culminating in a Divine
life on earth. He is living an adventurous life of
consciousness and joy. He (or she of course) becomes a
pioneer in the spiritual evolution of humanity.
If we are serious about connecting with spirit in life,
we can do so as a Householder or the Spiritual Aspirant, or
any point in between. Each person who feels an inner call is
ready to move one or several steps beyond his current
condition. He can determine what his life status is -- as
husband/wife, father/mother, worker, etc -- and determine
his approach to the spirit. Whatever level we choose, life
will consist of a never-ending succession of miraculous-like
experiences in which we feel an ever-increasingly intense
joy and delight of being.
How Spirit Expresses
The Spirit expresses as
Oneness, Peace, Integral Knowledge, Truth, Power, Delight,
Love, Beauty, Infinite (expression, non-Time bound
expression, amongst others.
-When we move to our higher
consciousness, we enable these expressions of spirit to
enter into the details of our lives life.
-When we move
within to the depths of our being, away from the surface,
when we connect to the transcendent Force, these are
spiritual ways of enabling higher consciousness. Just below
these are the life ways, through goodness, self-givingness,
humility, compassion, openness, and a hundred other high
values of life.
Signs of the Spirit Acting in One's Life
Here
are 12 indicators that the spirit is actively working in
your life.
If what is considered impossible in ordinary life becomes
possible in one's life.
If what you must go out and seek comes unasked towards
you; and if those who are socially superior to you in status
come to meet you instead of asking you to come and meet them
If the time required to get work done gets abridged and
if what requires a long time gets done in a short time
If work that requires money and influence gets done
without using money or influence
If your income witnesses increase by many times over a
short duration
If in spite of doing foolish things you are not harmed
and your work does not get spoiled or you do not
suffer from monetary loss
If a little token effort gets you disproportionately big
results
If you as a single individual can achieve what requires
the combined effort of many people or whole organizations
If people change their decisions and attitudes in
response to your prayer or requests
If the weather obeys your Will and behaves as you wish
If whatever beneficial work you do starts expanding in
volume and output
If whether you pray or not your requirements are
fulfilled and your problems are solved
If anyone of these signs are there in your life then know
for sure that The Spirit is active in your life and that
Grace is with you. If all twelve signs are there you may be
one of the lucky ones destined to meet God face to face and
be in his Divine presence (by MSS, slightly modified)
Click
Here For Entries on the Nature of Consciousness
TO BE CATEGORIZED
Connecting with the Divine, Spirit
Gaining Access of the Real Inside
that Garners the Infinite Power
When we discover inside the Essence and Real, we tap into
the same Real that created the universe, and thus gain
access to that Infinite Power in our own lives. (2009-2011
Q1)
The Divine Knows
The Divine knows the best direction for the progress
of your life; for what your evolving Soul aspires for, while
giving you the Power to make it occur. (2009-2011
Q1)
On Liberation in Consciousness
All liberations is in consciousness, not space and time. In
fact, Moksha is liberation beyond space and time. Sri
Aurobindo asks us to have the timeless and spaceless
experience in time. Life response incidents, i.e.
spontaneous instances of sudden good fortune precipitated by
our higher consciousness, is one example of that. (2009-2011
Q1)
SPIRIT-BASED
EXISTENCE
(top)
Perceptions of the
Spiritual Life1
We think of spiritual life
as something strange, exotic, interfering with our happiness; in other
words, to be kept at bay. But it's really the same as the regular life,
except there is a continuous inner joy bordering on bliss, and besides,
everything works out perfectly in the world around you. It's just
regular life with a wonderful twist; not unlike a heart-felt
relationship vs. one of convenience.
Perceptions of the
Spiritual Life2
Have you ever though that
spiritual life is in one sense simply higher levels of workings of our
minds, i.e. spiritual mind, enabling knowledge to come without thinking.
Untitled
We cannot rely on other
people's descriptions of the Divine, God, the Absolute. We must have our
own experience. (Paraphrase of MSS)
Adventures in
Conscious Living
-When we live a life of
adventure, when we break
out of old habits, when
we embrace the new, we
release powerful
energies, and life tends
to respond positively.
-The
more we brave to go
beyond the ordinary and
routine; the more we
embrace the
possibilities that life
presents us; the more we
aspire for the heights
-- the more energy we
release that tends to
attract very positive
results fortune from our
surroundings.
-Life lived in its
fullest is then the
seeking and experiencing
of Adventure. Through
that dynamic, we not
only attract the
miraculous, but are
energized and delighted
to no end.
-It
is through such
Adventures in Living
that we experience not
only the thrill of the
journey, but the
ecstatic fulfillment and
enjoyment of the reward.
-To
go against the falsehood
that lies in the family,
to stand aloof from the
falsehood inherent in
society, and to overcome
the falsehood that is
surely there in
ourselves, is the
adventure of the seeking
of Truth, i.e. of Spirit
in life.
-Seek out adventure and
challenges in life
instead of security and
safety. Be worthy of the
nobility of your soul.
An adventurous spirit
aligns you with Mother's
majestic movements.
-To
seek out the wonders of
the Within instead of
the Ego is the great
Inner Adventure.
-To
open at every moment to
the Force instead of
living the ordinary
existence is to seek the
Mother's, the
Supramental Adventure.
-To
try to apply every
principle of life to
every condition and
field of existence is to
take to the great Mental
Adventure of Integral
Discovery.
-To
relate everything that
is occurring in a fresh
way, instead of being
overwhelmed by the
dullness of the physical
that wants to repeat is
the great Spontaneous
Adventure.
-To
see each new person that
comes in a fresh new
way, and to honor them
in your interaction is
to engage in the
Adventure of
Relationships.
-To
see each detail of your
life in its own context,
rather in terms of what
has come before is to
experience the Adventure
of the Infinitesimal.
-To
see the utility of and
embrace each new thing
that comes, and see it
in context of the whole
is the Brahmic Adventure
that perceives and
embraces the All.
-To
see your whole life as a
growing out of the old
nature into a new one is
the Adventure of Growth
in Consciousness.
-To
accept the truths of
others beyond one’s own
understanding is to take
the Mental Adventure
towards the Integral
Truth of Things.
-To
see each problem as an
opportunity is to
partake in the Adventure
of the fresh and new,
rather than be downcast
and give up.
-To
listen to others instead
of thinking and speaking
is to open to the
Adventure of New Truths
and Possibilities.
-To
see each day as unique,
with infinite
possibilities, with so
many ways to grow and
learn and succeed is to
live the Practical
Adventure of Daily
Existence.
-To
see how you can change
the world from within is
the Life Response
Adventure.
-To
take the journey within
into the Psychic Being
is to experience fresh
new adventure of oneness
with others and life, to
feel divine love and
delight; to experience
constant, spontaneous
inner Guidance.
-To
aspire for a divine life
to appear on earth; for
the integral Truth to
take hold and reign in
the world is to engage
in an Adventure of
Spiritual Aspiration.
-To
see the truth of the
principles you know in
the smallest detail of
life is to engage in the
Adventure of the Micro.
-To
see where your life is
going, its deepest
purpose, the arc of
improvements, and the
way forward is to engage
in the Adventure of
One’s Macro Existence.
-To
see that your psychic
being is engaged in an
adventure greater than
yourself, and sense
precisely what that is
the Psychic Adventure.
-To
make the effort to shed
our Ignorance for the
Integral Knowledge of
anything is the Truth
Adventure.
-To
move from sense mind to
rational mind and beyond
to spiritual mind of
silence, intuition, and
supramental perception
is the great
Understanding Adventure
of what is truly
occurring in life.
-To
perceive the movements
of society and to
partake in it to elevate
it is to engage in the
Adventure of Social
Consciousness and
Development.
-To
bring out the Infinite
in every finite moment
is to live the Adventure
of Ultimate
Possibilities.
-To
cross over the chasm
that divides us and make
the connection with
others is the Adventure
of Love.
-To
engage in all of these
is to engage in the
ultimate Adventure of
Infinite Delight.
Signs of the Spirit
Acting in
One's
Life
Here are 12 indicators that the spirit is actively working in your
life.
-
If
what is considered impossible in ordinary life becomes possible in
one's life
-
If
what you must go out and seek comes unasked towards you;
and if those who are socially superior to you in status come to meet
you instead of asking you to come and meet them
-
If the
time required to get work done gets abridged,
and if what requires a long time gets done in a short time
-
If
work that requires money and influence gets done without using money
or influence
-
If
your income witnesses increase by many times over a short duration
-
If in
spite of doing foolish things you are not harmed and your work does
not get spoiled or you do not
suffer from monetary loss
-
If a
little token effort gets you disproportionately big results
-
If you
as a single individual can achieve what
requires the combined effort of many people or whole organizations
-
If
people change their decisions and attitudes in response to your
prayer or requests
-
If the
weather obeys your Will and behaves as you wish
-
If whatever beneficial work you do starts
expanding in volume and output
-
If whether you pray or not your requirements
are fulfilled and your problems are solved
If anyone
of these signs are there in your life then know for sure that The Spirit
is active in your life and that Grace is with you. If all twelve signs
are there you may be one of the lucky ones destined to meet God face to
face and
be in his Divine presence (MSS, slightly modified)
Untitled
How to become this
evolutionary spiritual being? To change into the supramental
evolutionary being, who is utterly different from our current human
functioning, we will need to first change the orientation of our basic
nature, and then begin to shift our center of consciousness from our
current vital and mental based center to a higher spiritual based
center, above mind, in spiritual mind, and above that to the supramental
realms of truth consciousness; and then open to the supramental Force in
all aspect of our being to transform them into the supramental
evolutionary being. At that pointy all of the limitations of the current
human functioning would disappear. Sri Aurobindo calls this process the
triple transformation.
Untitled
The notion of time and
space, subjectivity and objectivity, whether things are concrete or not,
are of the old species. Then Mother says that these are all breaking
down as she is becoming the new species. These aspects were necessary as
part of the mental perception, which is no longer needed.
(Paraphrase of The Mother)
Changing Our Nature
Requires Changing Our Awareness
We
see who we are, and we know we can be more than what we have been. Yet,
how to make ourselves different from the foolishness of our past? The
truth be told is that we cannot change anything truly until we learn
about our deepest nature, the highest spiritual truths, and then
implement our existence from that new found awareness. A wise man has
said: "Trying to change what you get from life without first changing
what you know about life is like putting on dry clothes over wet ones
and then wondering why you keep shivering."
Reversing One's Folly through Spirit
Life tells a man
that it is difficult if not impossible to reverse the current plight he
finds himself in because of his earlier folly. In Spirit, acts of
earlier folly can be reversed through recognition of past error, and a
deeply felt emotion of that recognition. The Spirit tells him,
"If you genuinely regret in your emotions the
folly of an earlier act, or reverse your past attitudes that led to that
folly now in your understanding and feelings, the results of your folly
-- such as huge debt, lack of work, failed marriage, etc -- will fully,
quickly, and irreversibly dissolve, liberating you forever."
Spirit corrects physical FACTS by the reversal of TRUE feelings deeply
realized.
(Paraphrase of MSS)
Nature vs. Spirit's Way to Overcome Problems, Knots of the Past
Unless one consciously digs them up and holds them up to the descending
Light, the problems and knots of the past have to undo themselves by the
negative impact of life events. This is Nature's way. The first, the
spiritually conscious approach, is preferable, in terms of greater
speed, joy, and great results, undoing the burdens of the past ways.
(Paraphrase of MSS)
Family, Friends, and the Divine
For some the Spirit beckons at our door as a response to our call,
awaiting our answer to It in return. However, we love the Divine only
from a distance; and though our love is true, we love our families and
friends more. It is there we hide ourselves when our call is answered.
Can we shed our reservation and let the Spirit emerge in our lives?
(Paraphrase of MSS)
Replacing Vital and
Mental Energy with Spiritual Energy; and Techniques for Its Deployment
Spiritual energy is superior to vital or mental energy. In a work
replace mental energy with spiritual energy and the result will be
greater, just as replacing the oil lamp by the electric lantern.
Spiritual atmosphere accomplishes more by its silent presence than
mental atmosphere.
Imagine the CEO present at the dispatch of a shipment, instead of the
floor supervisor. A lot more gets done. [He brings a greater power for
effectivity.] While you are reading, if you can, you can give up the
mental intelligence in favour of spiritual intelligence. Then you read
faster, understand better and are able to reproduce it with greater
effectivity.
For every skill, capacity, ability, talent, energy, faculty, tool or
instrument, there is a corresponding spiritual one. Using the spiritual
counterpart, one ends up with far greater results.
In each instance
you can evoke a corresponding method spiritual faculty and employ it,
such as the method of concentration in the depths down to the evolving
soul, or consecration, i.e. offering of the event to a Higher
Power, or even (e.g.) sending the Spirit to the destination, such as
imagining the Spirit being there at the meeting before one arrives there
one's self. (MSS, somewhat modified)
CENTRAL
METHODS OF CONNECTING TO SPIRIT
(top)
Central
Stages and Methods
The road to transformation can begin with a movement from the surface of
life to the depths. That movement from the outer to the inner is a
focused concentration within. Such inner concentrated status enables us
to experience the world in its myriad of possibility, and integrality.
We are also better able to perceive the Divine Force in the atmosphere.
When we invoke that Force in the events and circumstances of our lives
we begin the process of consecration which enables subtle and causal
life response. At some point the inner focus deepens and we can
eventually touch the personal evolving soul, the Psychic Being, where we
discover the Bliss of existence. At that point we are ready to move to
the next stage of Surrender, where all of our life is a continual
self-giving to the Divine Purpose and Will. So the central methods and
stages are concentration, consecration, a deeper concentration to the
psychic, and surrender.
Formula for Living Life
If you continually move your focus from the surface of life to a
concentration within in the depths of your being, and you consistently
open to the Force before acts or events, your life will be one of
endless wonder, miracle, perfection, results, and delight of being. It
is the simplest formula for life that we can suggest.
Choosing Inner Methods
Concentration within to enable a powerful result is easier when there is
time to gather one's self. If there is little time one can offer, i.e.
consecrate the event to the Divine and leave the result as what may. If
one's very life is
consecrated and surrendered to the Spirit, then one can easily
shift to the right method as needed as the fundamental nature is already
shifted to the Divine overall.
Concentration,
Consecration, Surrender; and the Personal Evolving Soul
Concentration is a movement away from living on the surface of life,
where the senses dominate, to a focus within. Consecration is to defer
all action in life to a higher consciousness [i.e. the Force] rather
than our self of ego. Surrender is the willed decision to move one's
entire life in a whole different direction; that direction being a
never-ending life of self-giving and surrender to the Divine Will.
The psychic [the
personal evolving soul] is engaged when there is consecration. It begins
to flower when surrender begins, and its is in full bloom as surrender
unfolds.
Concentration,
Consecration, and Surrender to Move the Outer Life
What are the inner methods
that can move the outer life? In concentration there is a movement from
an idea inside to a created reality outside. In consecration there is an
opening to the higher power and force to perfect an event or overcome a
difficulty, enabling that Force to effect the event, situation, or
problem in the outer world. In surrender there is a general giving of
one's self to the spirit so that it effects the outer whenever and
however it sees fit.
Consciousness & Being
-
Consciousness is
the conscious experience of Being.
-
Being is the Self
of Existence. (MSS)
Process of Creation + Consecration + Inner Life is Unfailing
The vision of what you want to achieve, the decision to
carry it out, the right attitudes, and the right actions
through consecrated acts will be unfailingly successful,
enabling rapid results. (Also in the depths one will
perceive the subtleties of right aspiration, decision,
attitudes, actions, etc.)
Consecration Enables
Depths & Heights
It is too difficult for an individual to go directly deep
into the depths to the subliminal and the soul, or burst
through mind directly to spirit above. Consecration which
gives us access to spirit, so that we can apply it to life
to enable instantaneous miraculousness, causal abundance,
spiritual qualities, et al. also clears the way further into
the depths, which in turn enables us to rise in the heights.
Invoking the Spirit
When you want to invoke the Spirit, sit down, close your eyes -- it may
not be necessary -- stop moving the body, don't talk, DON'T THINK. A
stillness descends on the mind. The stillness grows into a QUIET, a
calm, and finally becomes SILENCE. Silence is an aspect of the Spirit.
As Silence is one aspect of the Spirit, Peace, Unity, Truth, Knowledge,
Power, Beauty, Love, Joy, Infinity and Eternity are also aspects of
Spirit. As soon as Silence descends, a great power develops. You feel
like getting up and running. When Peace enters you, you see it is full
of energy. Light entering the mind answers unresolved questions. Beauty
makes you lose yourself. Joy thrills. Love fills the heart. In practice
ONLY one aspect enters you.
Most people cannot keep quiet. They jump up and act. That is the end of
it.
Once some aspect of Spirit descends, one has to be extraordinarily
PATIENT till many other aspects also descend on him. At a certain
moment, the inner strength becomes sufficient to raise a voice. That
voice is the inner human voice, calling the Spirit or the Mother who is
the Mother of Spirit. That call releases a spiritual peace, unattainable
even in death. It enters the nerves, fills the cells of the body, i.e.
the very Being. After such a call is saturated, the inner Spirit itself
begins to call the outer Spirit. It is Jivatma calling Paramatma. It is
the Individual becoming the Eternal. Man, at that moment, ceases to be a
MAN. He becomes the Divine. (MSS, modified slightly & abridged)
Milestones on the Road to our Ultimate Evolutionary
Possibility
The roadmap to our evolutionary destiny passes through these milestones.
We begin by offering acts and activities and problems of life to the
Divine Force; which in turn enables us to make a link our inner being
within, which guides us to our truer nature and behavior, opens us to
the descents of intuition and revelation, and connects us to universal
force and powers; which leads us deeper within to our True Self, our
personal evolving soul; which leads to a realization that we should now
live our lives completely dedicated to the Divine Will and Purpose,
which is a life of surrender; which opens the portals to infinite
possibilities in life, and establishes the foundation for the ultimate
transformations to our supra-human functioning.
Supports for One's Inner
Method
Prayer, consecration and surrender are central methods. Once one is
adopted, there are many things that can be done to augment the result.
Implementing values like physical cleanliness, vital calmness, social
harmony, psychological goodwill, absolute truthfulness, purity of
motive, etc. all create conditions for the Force to descend in greater
measure when you call. (MSS)
Untitled
Consecration, though not
easy is for the beginner devotee; while surrender is for those whose
very lives are committed to progress and spiritual evolution.
Untitled
What
consecration begins, surrender completes and consummates. (MSS)
Methods that Enable the Practicality of the Infinite
We can
move life outside us in a great way if we
learn to concentrate on spirit. When we are involved in an act or a
situation or a possibility, such as a client or we are applying for a
bank loan, we can find spirit deep within in our soul space and up above
by opening to the Force. When the concentration reaches a calm that
grows to a deep profound richness, then life moves
on the outside beyond our wildest dreams. We have come to the point that
enables the infinite to emerge from the finite. Learning to tend the
Within and the opening to the Force above are the instruments of this
"practicality of the infinite."
Replacing Vital and
Mental Energy with Spiritual Energy; and Techniques for Its Deployment
Spiritual energy is superior to vital or mental energy. In a work
replace mental energy with spiritual energy and the result will be
greater, just as replacing the oil lamp by the electric lantern.
Spiritual atmosphere accomplishes more by its silent presence than
mental atmosphere.
Imagine the CEO present at the dispatch of a shipment, instead of the
floor supervisor. A lot more gets done. [He brings a greater power for
effectivity.] While you are reading, if you can, you can give up the
mental intelligence in favour of spiritual intelligence. Then you read
faster, understand better and are able to reproduce it with greater
effectivity.
For every skill, capacity, ability, talent, energy, faculty, tool or
instrument, there is a corresponding spiritual one. Using the spiritual
counterpart, one ends up with far greater results.
In each instance
you can evoke a corresponding method spiritual faculty and employ it,
such as the method of concentration in the depths down to the evolving
soul, or consecration, i.e. offering of the event to a Higher
Power, or even (e.g.) sending the Spirit to the destination, such as
imagining the Spirit being there at the meeting before one arrives there
one's self. (MSS, somewhat modified)
Concentration, Consecration, Psychic, Surrender, Total
Result
-The sequence of progress of the methods along the spiritual
path are: concentration, consecration, discovery of soul,
i.e. the psychic, and Total result.
-One moves to the
inner Self through concentration.
-One further finds the personal evolving soul as a result of
action of consecration
-For higher consecration one needs higher concentration.
(Paraphrase of MSS)
Accomplishing Infinitely
by Acting on the Universe Contained Inside Ourselves
For 10,000 years we lived our lives based on our perception of physical
space and measured time, which the Internet now threatens to abridge to
a considerable degree. And yet the deeper inner consciousness of an
individual can contain the entire universe within himself at any moment,
negating space and time altogether. E.g. he can take actions from those
depths, using that Force, enabling life to instantly respond up to an
infinite degree from anywhere on earth within seconds. Even the Internet
is a scratch of the surface compared to the accomplishment and joy that
can emanate from this timeless, spaceless, infinite existence that we
can contain from within.
Inner Leadership that Enables Spiritual Life
In one
sense it seems relatively easy to live the spiritual life because the
path has been laid out; e.g. moving to the depths, opening to the Force,
etc. The reality however is that most everything in the being opposes
it. That is why there needs to be a welling up of aspiration, a
dedication to the Spiritual Quest, and the tending of conscious inner
leadership, which organizes the quest,
facilitating the necessary transitions.
On Concentration
Concentration
is the means by which the individual soul identifies itself with and
enters any form, state or psychological self-manifestation of the Self.
(Sri Aurobindo)
Concentration
The method
to establish a permanent connection with the depths within is through a
focused, all inclusive concentration.
Self-Limitation
(Concentration) & Self-Absorption as Powers of Consciousness
-We know from our own experience that when we concentrate our attention
on a particular object - be it a thought, a feeling, sensation, external
object or event - our attention is simultaneously drawn away from other
fields of perception so that we may not display the normal awareness of
what is going on around us and we may not respond to external stimuli as
we do in a normal waking state. We know that this apparent lack of
awareness and responsiveness are the result of a conscious
self-limitation or concentration of our attention on a particular field.
Concentration or self-limitation is an inherent power of
consciousness.
-Self-absorption
of consciousness-force so that it is not at all manifest in surface
behaviour is also an inherent power of consciousness. [E.g.
Consciousness exists in Matter, but it is self-absorbed there, and thus
not-detectable in the surface.] (MSS)
Surrender
Instead of
us doing the work and relying on our own talents, if we allow the Divine
to bring out our talents in that work, the end result is seen in the
beginning itself. This is surrender. [MSS, slightly modified.]
MSS
Article on Surrender
Untitled
We fail to
see the truth and oneness of Brahman because we live on the surface of
life. Not living in the depth we live in our minds which only sees the
part and not the whole. When we move deep within, away from the surface,
and rise above mind to spiritual mind and supermind, we will know
Brahman in its Oneness; i.e. see the Becoming in terms of the Being, the
Many in terms of the One, the Universe in terms of the pre-universe of
Existence, Conscious-Force, Delight, Time in terms of Timelessness,
three dimension of time (past, present, and future) as one, and the
resolution or even the non-existence of the contradictions of Nature.
Discovering a
Permanent Station Within
In order
to go within, learn to concentrate and be still; i.e. shift your
consciousness from the surface of what is around you until you find a
point within yourself where you have established an inner poise. Remain
there, and try to keep that center in all of your actions. At a further
point in your life realize that this inner status is a spiritual
status. Feel the silence and spirit within. Continually center yourself
there until it is your fundamental poise of existence. One step
further is from that inner center continually open to the Force that is
there in the Atmosphere before undertaking any act. Life will now
respond positively each time to the invocation of that Power. If you are
so lucky you may also discover further along this path your "personal
evolving soul" in the deepest depths of your being. Now you have begun
to find the deepest meaning to your existence, your soul purpose in
life.
Two Ways to Spirit
We can know spirit by bursting through mind, through knowledge born of
silence, light, illumination, intuition, and revelation. One can also
open directly to the spirit by opening to the spiritual Force that is
around us everywhere. By opening to the Force consistently in life, we
can make all of life a dynamic field of its infinite power and grace, as
it descends into our lives, enabling infinite possibilities around us to
emerge. Open to the Force, and everything in your daily life works out
perfectly, even miraculously.
Untitled
We can
learn to live in the depths or stand in the light of the spirit above so
that we can experience -
-the timelessness
of the eternal beyond the changes of time
-the oneness and continuity of the past and future as it relates to the
present (i.e. the experience of the present not in isolation but in
oneness with its precedent past and its unfolding future.)
-the unfolding of moments of eternal timelessness in the ever-present.
Moving from the
Surface to the Inner Being to Reorient One's Life to the Spirit
Man lives mostly in his surface mind, life and body, but there is an
inner being within him with greater possibilities to which he has to
awake - for it is only a very restricted influence from it that he
receives now and that pushes him to a constant pursuit of a greater
beauty, harmony, power and knowledge. The first process of Yoga is
therefore to open the ranges of this inner being and to live from there
outward, governing his outward life by an inner light and force. In
doing so he discovers in himself his true soul which is not this outer
mixture of mental, vital and physical elements but something of the
Reality behind them, a spark from the one Divine Fire. He has to learn
to live in his soul and purify and orientate by its drive towards the
Truth the rest of the nature. There can follow afterwards an opening
upward and descent of a higher principle of the Being. (Sri Aurobindo)
Into the
Subliminal Mind to Enable Consciousness Over Force & the Evolution of
Man
A further opportunity has moved to Man to move into the subliminal [the
inner] mind. It is not Nature's slow movement we witness here. It is not
a world made of Force. This is a world of consciousness. We can say it
is a world of Being. Karma is not a factor here. Speed of life is not
speed of Time. Its speed is greater than light. (MSS, slightly modified)
[Out of the Spirit Being came Consciousness and Force.
Force is lower, Consciousness is higher. In Force we are limited to ego,
pain, duality, time, finite. In Consciousness there can be end of ego,
universality, unity, instantaneous time, and the infinite. By going
within to the inner mind and beyond to the personal evolving soul we can
enable Consciousness and all its attributes. We back closer to Being,
the source of all. This movement is the key to the evolution of Man.]
Formula of
Discovering the Spirit Within
Concentrate your focus
away from the surface of life and move to the depths within. A new inner
poise, as well as a calm and peace will gradually get established. Once
it is established, consistently consecrate act, events, and situation by
opening to the Force, which will enable abundant life response around
you, leading to accelerated results, achievement, and success.
This will amaze you, and greatly energize you. It will also have the
effect of opening the pathways to the deepest parts, the Inner Being,
the True Self, the evolving soul. Then if you are lucky, you will
actually move through this wider opening within and really experience
the Inner Being, the personal evolving soul on a more continuous basis,
which is, in essence, the first great opening and stage for an
individual on the road to one's ultimate evolutionary possibility.
Discovering the
Spirit Within
In this
interview Roy Posner, President of Growth Online, discusses how we can find
the spirit within us to enable infinite delight as well as infinite
accomplishment and success in life.
To see the interview go to:
http://www.gurusoftware.com/GuruNet/Interviews/Spirit.htm
The Psychic Being
as Opening to Spiritual Supramental Transformation
Supermind is come upon through the psychic opening, which then enables
the spiritual and then the supramental transformation. Consecrated
living enables the psychic opening in the first place.
For Detailed Thoughts on Consecration
(opening to the spiritual Force), click
here.
Other Points
Shifting to Within
Enables Life to Suddenly Respond Positively in Kind
All around you are tensions, and the wrong movements of life. You catch
yourself and realize that you have been living these last moments in
your ego sense of separateness, which is synchronous to these outcomes.
You shift to the depths within, open to others' suggestions, and notice
that everything begins to work out around you, as if in a perfect
symphony of harmony and right result. It is a wonder to behold. An equal
wonder is that we do not choose to live this way all of the time.
Untitled
Bringing
out the timeless in time brings out its spirit. Evoking the infinite
from the infinite does the same. Going into the depths and gathering the
Force above are the decisive instruments for these movements, which
express for us through spiritual skills; i.e. personal values in life
Process of Attaining
Higher Life
For those committed
to the Higher Life the process of its attainment is aspiration (for the
Greater), rejection (of the lower), and surrender (to the Divine Will).
Transforming a Defect into Its Opposite
A defect hurts. When recognized and removed, it may become rectified.
When consecrated and surrendered, it is transformed into infinite
heights, as when cruelty turns into generosity. (Paraphrase MSS)
Learn from a Discussion
Our goal should not be to win a debate, bit to learn from the
discussion. Inner Silence, silent Will, and taking the other person's
point of view are spiritual techniques that will certainly go a long way
to achieving this goal.
From Organization to Material Results
Greater organization of the
person enables greater consciousness towards the gathered force, hence
its greater concentration moving towards material results. I.e. higher
organization is higher consciousness is higher concentration of force is
greater likelihood of material result.
Opening to the
Superconscient Transforms the Subconscient
As we rise in consciousness through our inner experiences and connect
with the superconscient forces and powers, we bring in those powers and
forces through our subliminal being that overcome the limiting
influences of the subconscient on us. Since the subliminal sits on the
surface of the subconscient, by opening to the superconscient it can
help the subconscient evolve. When the subconscient evolves all of its
negative influences on us can weaken.
Also See:
The Emerging
Spirituality in Society
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