Category Archives: Truth

The Power of Mindfulness Pt1 – Creating the Meditation Mind State

Mindfulness means being present right here, right now. To enact positive changes and direction in our life we need to start where we are. We need to be present. A mind that is “playing” the part of being undisciplined will think of the past, fantasize about the future and perpetuate emotional patterns. This is a kind of game that if we allow it to continue, will continue indefinitely. By realizing a mind that is disciplined and directing that mind to being mindful we give ourselves the opportunity to re-program our entire blueprint.

The simplest way to become mindful of the here and now is to begin to observe the sensations and feelings of the body. This is also an effective method to integrating a basic level of mindfulness meditation in everyday life. We can observe our posture, the weight of our body, the feeling of our muscles and facial expression, lungs breathing, the sensation of the air and so on. As we develop this skill we will notice how different experiences trigger different sensations in our body. We notice the cause and effect of external reality and our inner reality. The thing is because we are observing there is a part of our consciousness already that has ceased with the knee jerk reaction that it is accustomed to. Instead of reacting instantaneously there is a part that is simply observing and listening. A certain degree of peace is created simply from this action of this objective observation alone and there is also the opportunity to bring this essence to a deeper level and realize a deep sense of healing and release.

There are two basic methods for mindfulness practice. The seated meditation approach is used in Vipassana develops this principle to a very deep level and in most schools focuses on very little else. Mindfulness is also used in many esoteric schools from Hermetic, Gnosticism and Taoism to modern day methods such as NLP and Transpersonal Counseling. The difference between a deep level of mindfulness and a more gross or obvious level of mindfulness is the degree to which our mind actually experiences the dissolution of our perceptions and illusions. Deep mindfulness allows the practitioner to penetrate their mind into itself and their bodies and observe the very matter that makes us who we think we are. We experience the gap between pain and suffering and pleasure and craving. We observe all the seemingly solidness of our bodies dissolve into a free flow of atoms. The more solid or gross level of mindfulness allows us to observe what we are doing, how we are feeling and thinking, but it has not developed the degree of penetration to show us why and how on an atomic and energetic level we are creating our inner experiences.

To practice deep mindfulness generally requires that we sit in a position that we will be able to stay in for anything from 5 minutes or more. People on Vipassana retreats usually practice for at least 13 hours a day. The practice itself is simple, doing it can be quite a challenge.

This is the structure of basic mindfulness meditation:

Minimize all distractions.

Closed or half closed eyes.

Try not to move during the duration of the meditation.

Beginning at the top of the head or the tips of the toes systematically observe any sensations whatever they may be and slowly make your way through the body. Repeat and repeat again – and again.

If there are any areas where we feel and perceive nothing or seemingly “blank” areas, we simply keep our mind there for a minute or so then continue. There is feeling there it is just that our minds have not realized the necessary degree of sensitivity yet. With practice we give the mind the opportunity to see through this illusion too.

In due time the body or should I say the mind will begin to complain and manifest a perception of suffering in the form of pain, frustration and so on. Thoughts such as “this is ridiculous” and “what am I doing?” are quite common. Keep in mind though that the deeper and louder complaints usually come up the longer you sit. The manifestation of these complaints or aversions gives the practitioner the opportunity to make peace with them. By continually observing these sensations neutrally we begin to stop perpetuating our reaction to them. In time we stop reacting totally. At this stage we experience the sensation for what it is – free from reaction. Many people report that this is the first time that they have ever experienced pain as a separate entity from suffering. It is a powerful experience to realize that we can experience a sensation that we usually associate with aversion and suffering and yet at no level of mind or body do we experience suffering. This is a totally different experience from simply tolerating pain. There is no pretense here.

The separation of reaction from our sensations is not being separate from our experience. We are actually far closer to our experience. We are right next to it because we are without the filter of our perception. The effect on our emotional patterns is also profound. Where we once tolerated or controlled certain emotions we begin to find that we no longer have an aversion or craving for those emotional sensations. We may feel them, yet we do not react to them. Again this is experienced at a level where we do not simply tolerate or control unwanted emotions. There is no pretense. Continuing to observe we begin to experience a subtler level of our sensations. We realize that even the most solid and sustaining pain has a flow within it. We realize that even the most seemingly eternal of emotions is being created, dying and recreated. Going deeper we observe that the matter that we are is all a mass of atoms. We actually observe these atoms buzzing. In the process we have realized a mind that is capable of penetrating to this depth. The truth is that this mind has always existed but we had simply believed that it did not so we never used it or experienced it.

At this most basic level of energy we have the opportunity and the ability to literally let go of patterns at the root level. Working with issues at the intellectual level works to an extent but because the cells of our body still holds the belief or blueprint the issue simply grows anew. Penetrating to the deepest level we let go of the issue and transform at the root level. It is full resolution.

*Part 2 will discuss the second method of mindfulness.

.

Manifesting God – Awakening the Consciousness of the Universal Creator

Most of my life has been one of independent spirituality. I have believed in divine entities, I have believed in dimensions other than this one, but I have always had a deep belief that God was within me – that true power was within me. Through years of practicing realization and manifestation I began to experience a different, seemingly contradictory yet perfect perspective on this.

My consciousness determines the type of God if any that I experience.

I’ve always been a “prove it” kind of guy which has amused many of my teachers, especially in my younger years who knew that time, practice and experience and nothing else would bear me the answers that I demanded. I’m still that same person, I’m still as stubborn as an ox, yet experiences have humbled and changed me in ways that I could never have imagined.

Although I still count myself as an apprentice on the path of self-discovery, when I look back I realize that in many ways I have worked through a lot. I remember once remarking to a teacher that no matter how far I proceeded that I still felt like I was at the bottom of the “mountain”. His answer to me? “At least you’ve found your mountain!” The realization of this was profound for me. Not only did I feel a natural sense of gratitude for the journey that I’d had the opportunity to walk up until then. I also felt a deep sense of accomplishment that all the years of confusion, trial and error and questions had led to – well, more confusion, trial and error and questions! But the gist of what I’m saying is that I realized the context – a bigger picture into which all of this fits in. From this point on, I skipped along for many more years, confident in the fact that even when things seemed chaotic I had the principles and fundamentals to surf those waves and generally minimize my “wipe-outs.” Well the universe certainly has ways of showing us. Just when we think we’ve seen it all it goes: ” Yeah? You think that’s something? Take a look at this!” But I’m getting ahead of myself. A little bit more on how I came to this juncture.

I’ve gained a lot from a wide variety of spiritual, esoteric and personal development methods and I’ve always felt intuitively that all the esoteric schools and teachings shared core principles. I could just feel it in my bones. There is a particular energy through which is congruent. I’ve never had a problem with belief in connecting to spiritual guides, entities through shamanic healing, meditation and the like. It’s just that I’d always done so on my own terms. I would take what I needed and direct the energy and knowledge myself rather than trust the consciousness of any particular spiritual entity.

During my practice in manifestation and in particular realization concepts I was getting very strong messages from my intuition to connect to a particular energy. I put it off for about a year. The message I was sending back to my intuition was basically: “Life’s good, you’ve given me what I need, I don’t need to go no further!” My intuition’s retort to this was: “If you’re so right then why are you asking so many questions?”

One day I decided to just go up and explore.

In my quest for meditation, manifestation and empowerment I had reached a point where I was seeing profound results yet I wanted to make the process effortless. I knew that it could be easy. My intuition chose to throw me the curve ball at this moment: “What if there is a power that can do all this for you? Effortlessly and easily? This consciousness and power will exist if you realize it. If you let yourself see it. If not then continue doing what you’ve been doing, but stop bothering me with your questions already!”

It was that gap in my belief system that allowed me to experience something that I’d never let myself experience before.

I call it God, because it feels more directed and conscious then the universe at large which is chaotic in it’s order. There is a definite consciousness of unconditional love and deep empowerment that exists within this God Force. The trick is: God exists in the realization of God. Without realization our end of the “phone-line” is turned off. We need to engage our senses and imagine them connecting to God.

This is where our perception and beliefs of God begin to come in. I for one choose not to connect to a God that punishes and chastises me. I’ve chosen to realize a God that fills my body with healing light, clarity, empowerment and knowledge – and so that’s what I get. In a sense there is a similarity in the concept of connecting to God and in realizing the God within ourselves. The difference and this is a pretty big advantage, is that most of us have so many doubts in our own worthiness of love that we do not give ourselves love. On the other hand it seems easier in this world to give our power out to other people, gurus, teachers, masters and Gods. Yes it is interesting that we are less likely to forgive and love ourselves unconditionally as we are to believe that there is a God that will love us regardless of our “flaws.” Just as interesting is that in my work I’ve found that it is often easier to clear beliefs about God than it is to clear deep emotional blocks within ourselves. This little quirk gives us a great opportunity to create an autonomous healing, loving, empowerment “machine.” For those of us who have come from a less religious path, myself included it will be an interesting journey – there is no doubt about that. It took me several weeks to raise and clear several perceptions that I had about God – namely that God was an old man with a beard, realizing that I hated God, ridiculing God and established religion in general and of course that God did not exist. Pretty amazing stuff considering I’d been aware for some time about the effect these types of emotions and beliefs had on the psyche and consciousness in general. Interestingly I had not been consciously aware of my perceptions towards this subject at all until I actively interacted with it.

When I look at the progression of this journey I am beginning to see the trick that I am playing on myself. Namely that I am God – we all are, and yet in the consciousness and personas that we usually play we also are not God. The infinite nature of consciousness encompasses the reality of all dimensions. Being God and not being God. Realizing God and not realizing God. God existing and God not existing. If we believe in God or a God force then we will have access to the power we perceive this force to have. If not, we don’t.

.

The Quickening – The Acceleration of Spiritual Evolution and Consciousness on Planet Earth

The Quickening is a phenomena being used particularly in spiritual circles to describe a building of energy toward a particular destination. This build up of energy could be compared to the build up of an audience before a rock concert or the gathering of energy as an athlete or groups of athletes prepare for an event. In this case the Quickening refers to the direction of the planet’s group consciousness as a whole. This is not to say that it is everyone’s destiny. It is more to say that this is where the biggest “waves” are happening at this part of the galaxy.

The Quickening or for that matter any acceleration of energy is about pressure. It is simply a build of momentum and direction. Spirit refers to a subtler energy and because it is subtler it is able to penetrate into more substances. For example if we were to look at a stone: it’s energy is quite dense it’s structure is unable to mix with dirt very well. Spiritual energy refers to an energy that is finer than air – it is able to mix with and infuse with dirt, stones, humans, this planet and the kitchen sink. For this reason spiritual energy is said to be everywhere and in everything. This is also congruent with the practice of raising our vibration. What we are actually doing is making our density finer. The finer or subtler we are capable of becoming the more options we have to move our consciousness around the place. We also gain the opportunity to shift into a different dimension which is essentially what the Quickening is about.

Alchemy describes everything as being on the path to the original Source – give or take a couple of scenic routes and rest stops. Being true to ourselves seems to minimize the rests stops, decrease time spent in areas that aren’t congruent with the our truth and generally accelerate our journey toward the Source. This is expressed on this planet as more people wanting to realize life purpose, have meaningful relationships and generally waste less time experiencing things that have little meaning to us. This would also be the reason why interest in personal development, spiritual growth and so on is becoming more popular. When people are unsatisfied they either put up with it or look for answers. The growing trend in interest towards personal and spiritual development means that there are more people looking for answers. The really interesting thing is that people are finding them. There was a time where the personal and spiritual development field was looking a little flaky. There was a lot that seemed like pure fantasy and other stuff that people just found too difficult to integrate into their daily lives. The desire for methods which were effective and applicable for everyone, began to manifest the resources that we have available today. In truth the door to the higher self, spiritual realization, emotional mastery and effortless manifestation has always been there for everyone. It is just that understanding how to open that door is becoming easier and simpler. This too is something that is becoming more obvious as we seek to be true to ourselves.

There is a period of adapting where the body and mind in general is “stretching” and getting used to accommodating the expansion of consciousness. The body is learning to be open to the finer and faster frequencies of energy. This energy has always been available to us – the ears and eyes of our body and mind are just learning to see and hear it. It’s part of our truth and so as we seek our truth it is revealed. Energy is a communication – a cause and effect. Whether dense or subtle all energy interacts. Our body and mind is simply learning to interact at another level. We are adding another dimension to our consciousness. We are not necessarily detracting or diminishing the denser realities – we are simply adding more. Hence the term expanded consciousness.

Having issues within relationships, workplaces and so on is not always directly the issue with being true to ourselves – more to the point it is the perception that we are unable to experience certain truths while in those relationships or workplaces. Sometimes we may need to close those doors in order to open up others. Sometimes we may need to work with what and where we are in order to gain the wisdom which is inherent in all experiences. This enables us to experience a part of ourselves that perhaps had been hidden. The external world of experience leads us to the internal world of cause and effect.

Work with this exercise for adaptation to the Quickening:

Observe yourself. Notice your posture, breathing, thoughts and emotions.

Let the thoughts, feelings and emotions come at you as fast as they need.

Grasp nothing. Allow all that comes to ebb flow.

Invite it to come faster. Seek to comprehend nothing. Let comprehension come and go.

Let thought and feeling, sight and sound to move through you at the speed of light.

Intellectualize nothing. Let ideas, thoughts and inspiration come and go.

Let go of letting go.

Allow yourself to be open to the full acceleration of consciousness.

This method is seemingly the opposite of the detailed investigation which occurs in deep observation. In actual practice they are the same. Acceleration and deceleration of energy is happening simultaneously in our consciousness. By specifically following the path of acceleration we are simply directing the mind to one specific stream of what exists in the consciousness. When we come back to our “normal” consciousness we find that our range of motion has lengthened and expanded. It’s all about stretching the mind. With each stretch we explore new knowledge and ground, moving closer and closer to inner freedom. This is what the Quickening is truly about.

.

*Those of us who are experiencing tumultuous times may notice that this exercise helps to create a feeling and aura of inner peace – in spite of the chaos. In essence this is because the practice tunes us into the frequency of the Quickening. We are connecting and moving with the flow instead of resisting it.

Opening to Deep Spiritual Experiences and Insight

This world that we live in is accelerating at the level of intellectual information. We seek to understand and many of us believe that intellectual understanding is the highest level of understanding. The truth is that intellectual understanding is a very shallow level of understanding. It only requires the understanding of some concepts and ideas and then it is finished. No further action is required. On the other hand physical understanding is very deep. It requires action at the physical and cellular level of the body.

The reason that spiritual development has received such bad publicity over the years in mainstream circles is because it has a reputation for existing only at the intellectual level of understanding. In short, without seeing any tangible benefits people have been quick to dismiss it as lacking practicality in the ‘real world.’ This is simply a result of only receiving a small piece of the picture.

Spirit is part of the consciousness, just as the physical and the mind is part of the consciousness. If any of these elements is left out of the practice, then the practice is incomplete and therefore on any of the respective planes of existence it will lack “practicality.”

What this means is that spirit must have a real practical connection to the physical world, the mind must have a real and logical understanding and connection to the spirit and the mind must have a real and practical connection to the body. This is how we can use our complete consciousness.

Scientists have speculated for some time that human beings only use 10% or less of their brains and the reason for this is the separation of these mind, body and spirit connections. When they are in place then access to the remaining 90% becomes readily available. This expansion opens up the dormant faculties of human mind, but it is in truth only the beginning of a vast journey of consciousness evolution.

.

The Adepts of Fiola

The Adepts of Fiola are a specialist guild of sorts which deals with their own brand of Astral sorcery. They are secretive to the extent that they will not allow admission to anyone that cannot prove a certain degree of ability in energetic manipulation. Fiola has since moved beyond the plane of the Astral where the tower, resides yet the adepts regularly channel his consciousness through the use of dimensional portals.

The path of Fiola is one of pure dedication to the art of sorcery. They place the understanding of energy above and beyond all other concerns even enlightenment. Interestingly however, their dedication to their path brings them closer and closer to full awakening. It has been observed that where many disciplines of the Fiola became dedicated because of a lack of ability to feel emotion, their exceptionally high level of development brings in expanded opportunities to access the emotional planes.

Considering the politics that exists within the Astral the services of the Fiola would be in high demand if they would have anything to do with anyone. The pure dedication of their path however is such that nothing can buy them. Their energy bodies are so strong that they survive directly from the astral plane in which they live and their ability to create and support Astral structures is amongst the highest in their particular plane.

.

Defining Spirituality – Clarity and Insight

It is important to define spirituality for ourselves in order to define a direction of consciousness. It is all very well to say that spirituality can be different things for different people and is not any one thing, but if we integrate this philosophy directly into our lives then we will limit our own perceptions and understanding of it.

Getting deep into anything requires commitment. What this actually means is putting off other things, at least for a while to focus on what is important. In this case we are focusing on spirituality and the “other things” are what we are not included within our spiritual practice.

Developing spiritual understanding requires a very closed mind. We must be closed to all that would stop us from progressing, at the very least until we have developed the strength and ability to overcome them at will. If we are too open, then we go nowhere. Being closed to all except those things which are of value to us is what commitment really is. It is dedication. If we are so open that we cannot even focus on one thing then we are not committed, or perhaps we are committed to being non-committed.

The problem with philosophies that are basically just one line slogans such as “be in the moment,” “go with the flow” or “just let go,” are that they often don’t come along with a biography of why they are of use.

What will I get out of “letting go,” “being in the moment” or “going with the flow?” It is the reason that is most important and it is the reason that defines direction, commitment and deep understanding.

This is the very reason why defining spirituality requires a closed mind.

It is only through this closed mind that the definition can be deepened. It is this commitment and dedication that brings the experience of understanding and it is this understanding that defines spirit. When spirit is actually experienced clearly then the belief that the closed mind is required can and will be transformed because at this point that mind has already changed. It has changed because spirit has been defined. It has been defined through experience.

Attempting to hold multiple definitions before achieving the experiences necessary to facilitate understanding will only limit and hinder development.

It is like deciding to take disciplined daily walks, but also holding to a belief that one should not have schedules or plans. The two will conflict and perhaps neither will evolve very far.

Spiritual defining requires critical and honest evaluations of what is and what is not included. As long as these ideas are implemented into practice they will not become dogma, because experience will crumble those that don’t stand the test and strengthen those that do. Interestingly there is far more blind dogma in believing that we should be open to everything and everyone, but never really testing if this is true, than to have committed directions that we test and test in the reality of real life practice and experience.

Experience brings beliefs, experience breaks beliefs. Real open mindedness comes as a result of having our beliefs broken. False open mindedness is to pretend that we are open and never test our true feelings, desires and ideas. One brings truth, the other maintains illusion. In truth, beliefs, ideas and concepts are broken from moment to moment.

One day we think “letting go” is all the rage. The next day we fall in love and couldn’t think of anything worse than letting go of this person. One moment we talk about “being in the moment” the next moment someone cuts us off in our car and we can’t let go of the past for the next 4 hours. These incongruent states show up a lot when we cling to beliefs. If on the other hand we “let go” of our clinging of beliefs then they are able to be tested in the light of reality. Here we gain real wisdom. We look at our skill level and realize that our ability to “let go” of these emotional attachments are on a scale of 1 to 10 at about a 2 – and that what is required is about a 7. Then we realize that to “let go” perhaps we need to accept that we can’t let go and so let go of needing to let go – and then perhaps just let ourselves hold on like jackals.

It is experiencing these incongruent states and misalignments that allow us to understand the different faces of a concept, theory or idea. Without experiencing these we become very rigid all the while thinking that we are being open. Practice, action, experience and critical observation allow us to see that even in rigidity we may be learning to flow, that even when not “in the moment” we may be learning to “be” and that even when holding on like there is no tomorrow, we may be learning to “let go.” All does not need to be as it appears on the surface. It is the reason beneath it all, the reason why we are doing what we do that makes our action and practice valuable and powerful.

.

Where Spirit Exists

What is the purpose of spirituality? What are the reasons for it? Why have we created it? Why do we seek spirit? Why is it important to some and irrelevant to others? What has it done for us lately?

Spirituality like anything, only holds power because of the value and meaning that we perceive in it.

This is the reason why real ability and skill is important. Without the ability to perceive and connect with spirit, spirituality is simply a set of blind beliefs. These beliefs remain blind until the ability to see is developed. As long as we are blind or partially blind to spirituality we will not understand the opportunities or benefits available to us. So in a very literal sense, the purpose and reasons for us seeking it will continue to elude us. We may hear stories of spiritual knowledge and power and think “Gee that sounds alright!”, but these will just be thoughts and words without actual experience.

Defining spirituality from experience is important because it separates and distills what holds meaning and value for us from what does not. We need to be clear on what it is that we are seeking and this requires blunt and direct honesty. If we rely on theory and concept over actual experience then we are compromising real understanding. Theories no matter how good are simply ideas. Real understanding comes from taking these ideas and integrating them into a course of action. For example we may have an idea that expressing our emotions is of some use. We may gather all the evidence to support this idea and in our mind it may seem like God’s have gifted us with their wisdom. However without putting this idea into action, without actually expressing our emotions, we will never know the truth of this wisdom.

Spirituality is a big word. It essentially means to connect with spirit, but this in itself holds many unknowns, one of which is “where is this spirit thing?” Interesting then that many aspects of spiritual society choose to hold onto the known and shy from the unknown. Spiritual logic or logic of any kind would suggest that if spirit has unknown qualities, that delving into the unknown would then be a valuable course of action. This is where faith comes into it once more. Faith is a concept and as a concept it becomes refined when it is tested. There are so many untouchable qualities about “spirituality.” Keep pushing and digging in our consciousness and we find a point that wants to cling to dogma, faith and concept. Dig a little deeper and we find fear. It is essentially the good old God fearing persona, the one that does not want to question or investigate its betters for fear of punishment. It is no wonder that with this type of fear that mastery, enlightenment and real power elude us. Again, these fears and beliefs are simply concepts that require testing.

The battlefield where all our beliefs, ideas and concepts are tested is within our own practice. It is through aligning our inner values into our actions. Things can get sticky at times. Sometimes our most cherished ideas get trampled on mercilessly by experiences that reject them. We may for instance have the idea that “spirituality is everywhere and in all things”. It is experience that will either reflect this – or not. Our findings here give us something tangible to work with. If this idea holds under the steady and rigorous criticism of actual experience, not just intellectual argument, then it contains true value. If it does not hold this does not necessarily mean that the idea is invalid, it may simply require that our abilities and skills require further development. Of course sometimes we need to admit that what once seemed like a novel idea just doesn’t cut it in the real world.

This is how we evolve our spiritual understanding and as our understanding evolves, so too does our understanding of where spirit exits. This is essentially what is happening – we are understanding connection, but connection can only be understood by experiencing where the object of connection exists. Spiritual connection or existence then is a process of looking and finding, as well as looking and not finding. The places where spirit exists then provide a connection – places with which to develop paths to our consciousness. The places which do not connect are not discarded, but rather we refine the method of connection within ourselves.

An interesting thing happens when we test our ideas, concepts and beliefs. The destruction of these makes the mind more fluid. Through this flexible flow, we regain the ability to connect where once we could not. Once again our understanding changes, as the places that we knew with+ certainty that spirit was not, open up and show us that it is in fact there. This opening does not occur through wishful thinking, holding onto ideas, concepts or beliefs. It occurs through practice, critical thinking, developing ability and understanding.

.

Logical Spirituality – Practical and Effective Spiritual Practice

Faith becomes truly strong when it is tested. Untested faith makes way for corruption, deceit and illusion. Blind faith is the kind that fears criticism because the bearer lacks real understanding or perception. Ironically, what will bring understanding is to shake that faith to its core and see what comes out.

Real inner strength comes from absorbing what remains after illusion has been broken. This is the reason why protecting illusions is so detrimental to real personal development. We need to let go of what is essentially useless, not hold on to it like there is no tomorrow. All it requires is that one moment of being critical and then to observe the outcome. What do we feel when we are critical of faith? Do we feel lost? Do we feel despair? Anguish? Hurt? There needs to be a little rejoicing also, because all these emotions are signs that we have found flaws in our faith. Here in lies the opportunity to discard what is useless and refine what is true.

Testing faith like this may seem like a very unstable course of existence, but in truth it is the most stable way of being possible. Not only does testing faith develop inner strength and fortitude, it also creates the perception that allows us to become increasingly sensitive to what is of value and what is not. This cultivation moves our being in the direction of understanding real strength, mastery, meaning and purpose.

Spirituality is all about action. This statement was never meant as a metaphor. It is a reality. If we do not integrate what is important into our actions then they never really become important. It is ludicrous to then complain why spirituality does not make sense, and why life purpose is not more clear. Confusion, lack of purpose and meaning will always exist as long as we do not make our actions congruent with our values. It means being critical, it means looking deeply at what we are doing, how we are acting, thinking and feeling. Then we must bring our actions, thoughts and feeling into alignment. This is what mind, body and spirit as one means -again, not a metaphor, but the reality of action.

Spirituality becomes extremely logical when we observe ourselves critically. Sure, there may be areas that haven’t been accounted for yet, but on the whole, it will be clear that the vast majority of our consciousness, mind and body is simply not aligned with what holds meaning and value. This awareness clears up a lot of confusion. Instead of lamenting: “What is going on?” we will be able to state clearly: “All this is happening because these actions and thoughts aren’t in the appropriate places.” There is a massive difference between these two ways of perceiving. The first way takes the role of the denying knowledge and understanding, but saves the ego from needing to acknowledge weakness. The second way embraces and receives the knowledge and understanding and allows the ego to feel whatever it believes it needs to feel.

Logical spirituality just comes down to being open to knowledge and awareness. We must guard this principle from being blind dogma or a New Age slogan. “Being open” does not mean just welcoming in the light and love and pretending that nothing else exists. “Being open” means seeing reality as it is, whatever this awareness may bring. This is the most tangible and concrete way of ensuring that spiritual development and growth is real.

.

Destroying Dogma – Freedom of the Mind

Dogma is belief that is not subject to self-criticism. It is for this reason that dogma must be continually tested and bombarded. Dogma would have us believe that it stands above criticism, that the very thought of criticism is blasphemy or blasphemy’s modern day cousin, politically incorrect. This is the nature of what occurs when we allow power to corrupt us. We seek to keep this power safe, and the safest place is a place that is untouchable.

When we create untouchables we create objects within our minds that are exempt from criticism or observation. These untouchables become so perfect that we skew our own intuition in order to justify what we see. We literally and willingly pull the wool over our eyes. The solution is to actively and consciously test everything.

Real power comes from making our deepest values completely congruent with our actions. Simple in principle, but rapidly degenerates in practice when we actively deny and ignore our growing awareness and perception. This is what happens when we hold on to dogma. It is an active process and the solution must also be active. It is through being alert and critical that dogma is destroyed. We ignore nothing, we let nothing get away. What ability is trained here? The ability of sensitive and aware perception. This is the tool that is required for self-mastery. Many speak of it and yet when it comes to using and developing it they shy away because of what it truly means.

It takes inner strength and courage to realize that illusion and dogma exists everywhere. Each time awareness destroys a piece of it, it feels like part of our dream has perished. In truth, what is really occurring is that we are creating evolution and development that is aligned to our own realization of truth and empowerment.

Destruction is a necessary part of evolution and growth. It transforms what is not useful and expands what is. Dogma when freed from its prison of our perceptions becomes alive and useful information. It then has the ability to adapt, to grow and to fit our own purpose and meaning. Instead of a separation between our own value and that of the untouchable, the untouchable simply becomes touchable and we recognize unity.

The only reason that dogma exists is to protect the investment of power. This itself is a lie also, because what it is really protecting is an illusion of power. Any power that needs protection is just an affirmation of an inner weakness and so is not true power at all. This is dogma, made untouchable because to touch it would make it crumble. Tearing away this perception brings us to the true cause of fear. Facing this fear, not running, hiding or pretending that its flaw does not exist allows us to create the strength, peace and wisdom that becomes in itself true power.

.

Real Mastery – What is Self Mastery and How to Achieve It

Mastery needs to be recognized for what it is if it is to be reached. Many terms and concepts such as empowerment, enlightenment and mastery are bandied about these days and it seems almost popular not to define them at all, but to simply use them as romantic concepts. This is fine if we are to remain passive listeners to stories of spirituality. If on the other hand we wish to develop and experience spiritual understanding for ourselves, then we need to exercise our brains and refine and analyze exactly what these goals mean.

Real Mastery is about skill and ability. This statement encompasses the necessity that strength and discipline are also part of the skill set. Part of the romance of the later parts of the last century were that mastery has nothing to do with skill, but has more to do with being alright with being where we are. This mindset implies that whether we are growing or not, “it’s all good.” This is not real mastery. This is just passive acceptance and a reluctance to engage with perceptions of struggle, work and fear.

Real mastery is about control of the self. It is through skill and ability that we gain the opportunities to control the self. Without skill and ability we have no choice. We are like puppets. It is like a car with a broken steering wheel hurtling along the highway. The passengers have no choice, they must go where the car goes. Ability and skill, is development of choices. It is directly linked to control. When we have control we can move and act as we will. Control in itself is a subject in itself, but suffice to say for now, that what many of us mistake for control, is not control at all. Control is not repression or “keeping a stiff upper lip” this is just a reflection of inability or lack of skill. Control is not rehashing the same emotional patterns or personality traits over and over again. Control is choice. It is the ability and skill to choose this action or that action. With control, the higher consciousness actually gets a choice. Without control there is only the choice that seeks to avoid or repress fear.

It has been said that all babies are masters, but while this is certainly a romantic notion, it holds no logic in universal law. Babies for sure have an ability to learn and adapt at a fast rate, but they do not have control over their environment or survival. If they were left alone for a few days without food or water they would almost certainly die. If they were left without physical contact for too long then they fall apart emotionally. Babies are not masters, if they were we would not need to be so protective of them. If anything, babies are masters in the making. They are developing the abilities and skills necessary to have choices and control.

The path of mastery ends when we decide that what we have is “good enough”. This is the reason why many people do not fully develop their abilities and skills. They simply believe that they are “good enough.” Mastery requires the cultivation of an extremely critical mind. This is not a mind that simply denigrates everything, rather, it is a mind that tests all things and searches for flaws. It does not stop here however, simply seeking flaws without also seeking solutions is what a pessimist really is. The true critical mind seeks flaws in order to seek solutions. It destroys in order to create something better. It is transformation with purpose and meaning. This is how ability and skill progresses, by seeing what is lacking or could be improved and making it better.

The mindset of mastery does not fit with the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” mentality. The mindset of mastery fits more with the “let’s see if it breaks when I do this…and if it does, lets see if we can make it stronger.” Painful? More for the ego, than anything else, but it needs be understood that having regular scuffles with the ego keeps it in check. The ego needs to become accustomed to pain and bruising if it is to join the journey to mastery. The development of ability, skill and control will always be a thorn in the side of the ego, because it is only through being critical that conscious growth will take place. Denial makes many friends, truth is only interested in one. Luckily at the end of the day, this is the one friend that we will be able to count on to get the job done: our self. This is what mastery is about. It is about getting the “self” under control.

.