In a number of posts here, I have spoken of the cycles of growth. Typically I refer to balance, disintegration, growth, integration, and repeat.

In a talk recently, we discussed Teilhard de Chardin’s view of evolution. He spoke of 3 phases:
1 – divergence (diversity)
2 – convergence, consolidation
3 – emergence, a step to a higher level

The first can be seen as the stages of disintegration and growth. The second integration, and the third, the new balance. The ideas are similar, but it offers another perspective. One that encourages the conception of a spiral or rising growth pattern. This does not occur in a circle.

He describes what emerges as increasing levels of complexity that result in consciousness rising. (emergence) From my perspective, I would suggest it’s more that complexity (diversity) can reflect or reveal more of the underlying process. Consciousness does not arise from complexity, rather it drives diversity to reflect itself more fully. This error is a common modern concept, similar to the idea that consciousness arises from the increased complexity of the brain – that it’s a side effect of something physical. This completely misses it’s causative and inherent nature.

He suggested evolution works through stages: geosphere > biosphere > hominization (humans) > planetization > noosphere (collective mind) > Christogenesis (divinity)  > Omega point, the goal.

As he was a Jesuit priest, his works were published posthumously.
Davidya

In prior posts, I’ve spoken about The Four Agreements, an excellent book by DON Miguel Ruiz. Released in 1997, The Four Agreements taught: to be impeccable with your word, don’t take anything personally, don’t make assumptions, and always do your best.

In a later post, I outlined the agreements with video clips of the author and his son DON Jose speaking about them. They touch on the principle that leads us straight to the Fifth Agreement, their new book.

“Don’t believe yourself, and don’t believe anyone else.”

More succinctly, the Fifth Agreement is: “Be Skeptical”

They discuss this in an interview.

“That’s what the fifth agreement is — to be skeptical of our own lies and be in truth at all times. Then we can begin to listen with the heart — the heart and common sense. It’s a big opportunity for one to become both his own teacher and his own apprentice.”

“The result of practicing the fifth agreement is the complete acceptance of yourself just the way you are, and the complete acceptance of everybody else just the way they are. The reward is your eternal happiness. The fifth agreement is made with words, of course, but its meaning and intent is beyond the words. The fifth agreement is ultimately about seeing your whole reality with the eyes of truth, without words.”

This was notable.

“Many years ago, I began teaching the more advanced concepts in this book to my apprentices, but I stopped because they didn’t seem to understand what I was trying to teach them. Though I had shared the fifth agreement with my apprentices, I discovered that nobody was ready to learn about the underlying teachings of this agreement. Years later, my son, DON Jose, started to share the same teachings with a group of students, and he succeeded where I had failed.”

This points more to the change in time than DON Miguel’s ability. People are becoming more willing to see the story. And see through it into what is. As he says, the reward is eternal happiness. And a much smoother life.
Davidya

The artist, Wendy Francisco

Recently, in a discussion over on Takuin’s blog, I was reminded of an issue to be alert to on the journey. It is not uncommon to go through a nada phase, a place where much of what we once held true stands empty. Where the world has a sense of nothingness, an apparent illusion arising in the mind.

This can take the form of meaninglessness or the deeper form of no thing – no mind, no self, neti neti. We may be inclined to become reclusive, forgetting what once  brought us meaning.

It’s important to see this as part of a process. While it may certainly be true, it is not THE truth. There are some things with great value that arise much more deeply than illusion. It’s good not to discount everything just because it appears to originate in illusion.

Deeper than the nothingness of mind is the fullness of reality. The deeper origin, beyond illusion. The divinity that infuses everything. What we once reject will soon bring us back into wholeness again. We will again find value in community and discover there is no solo journey. We’re in this together.

The emptiness is found to be a fullness of such astonishing richness that we will be amazed this could possibly hidden, right in front of our nose.

We simply need to step out of the box of small seeing before we can look up.
Davidya

Solid may seem to be an odd word to describe anything “spiritual”. Spirit seems ephemeral, a cloud through which we may sometimes peak. Yet as we deepen into our fundamental reality, we discover some of it’s qualities. Infinite. Always present. Peaceful. Unchanging.

Deeper still, that unchanging quality is seen ever more reliable and present. We come to a place where we find it so permanent and changeless that it surpasses any perception. Much more real than the world.

This may first come when the world is seen as an illusion. What was solid becomes ephemeral, what was ephemeral becomes solid. But later, we find the world is none other than That. Even the ephemeral world is none other than solid. Indeed, it may feel more solid than granite.

The wind on your face, the rush of happiness, the soothing peace. All carry with them a quality of unchanging solidity. While the appearance and sensation may change, they are none other than the changeless. Solid beyond belief. (laughs)
Davidya

As we approach awakening, we may notice fear there, an apparent fear of awakening. Considering the promise we may have heard of what awaits, this may seem a curious response. But it’s important to recognize it is not awakening we fear. It is loss.

The ego fears its own winding down. Some describe “ego death” or the end of the ego with awakening and that is indeed often the experience. But actually, it’s root (what I call the person) does go on for some time yet. The only real loss is of identification with that. What we once saw ourselves to be, we now see as a companion, a vehicle.

There is also typically a lot of letting go. Of concepts. Of long-held beliefs. Of pain. Of our story about life. Of expectations. Of needs and shoulds. The list goes on and on but comes down to our coping mechanism for the illusion. Lots of things to lose.

But none of these bring us joy. Peace. Or freedom. What we’re really letting go of is our burden. But it is a familiar burden. Thus, we may fear that loss of familiarity. But as we gradually trust the process more and more deeply, the benefits become clear and the letting go comes more easily.

At some point, we simply allow it to be as it is. We surrender. Even just for a moment. And the fear is over. The light begins to shine in earnest. We are coming home.
Davidya

http://muttscomics.com/
This comic Full Size

See also Guardians of Being

I am the Silence
I am the ever awakeness
I am the lively stirring flow
I am the heart of God, becoming
I am creation, God’s dream
I am the seed of the universe
I am all that is, was, and will be.

This is one of those things that arose when I woke up a few mornings ago. The primary levels of being (although the top 3 are pre-being) reflected in all of our experience. For example, the 7 chakras are these 7 levels mirrored on the seed level.

We are poetry in motion.
Davidya

In the past I’ve spoken of the objective vs subjective perspective, the impersonal vs personal. How the world can be perceived as the play of laws of nature or the play of energetic beings, the doers that get everything done.

The objective method has the advantage of simplifying interactions to the core principles. The subjective has the advantage of understanding the causative nature of what is. Much as science would like to explain the universe, if you leave out the subject, you are left with a hollow shell that has no origin.

Science has found many of the formulas and constants that can be used to describe how the world works. But it doesn’t answer the question of why.

One of the key details a systematic study of subjective reality reveals is that because laws are performed, there are performers who grow and change, evolve. They will shift over time. Constants are not fundamentally constant. Long term, but not absolute.

Also, because laws of nature are founded in consciousness rather than materiality, when consciousness makes a major shift, how some of those laws of nature will express will also change. What was impossible becomes possible when what is supported shifts. Rather like you express differently than when you were 5 years old.

Time for laws of nature (Devas) moves ‘more slowly’ than at human scale, about 360 times slower. We could say a law lives for about 36,000 human years per the Vedas. Of course, some jobs are carried forward.

While many like Lennon have suggested we “Imagine”, we cannot gauge what a ‘golden age’ would look like based on our understanding of the world as it is now. All we can do is relax and enjoy the ride. Yee-hah!
Davidya

A few discussions lately have raised this process. People talk of the shift to the observer, but it goes far deeper than this.

- no sense of separate observer – I am the body and/or mind and feelings
- lucid dreams – vivid dreams we remember, an alertness in sleep
- the witness or independent observer in waking, non-involvement
- the witness in dreams and deep sleep, awake in sleep
- the witness is always present, I am That
- awareness of awareness, seeing the observer
- awareness of awareness of awareness, see the dynamic of self-awareness in action and the full process of becoming
- the collapse of perception into awakeness, total non-duality

Of course, this can be explored several different ways. But it is interesting to consider how deeply the perception of “observation” can progress. And of course, as the observer is none other than Self, the perception of who one is. Although words certainly fail. “Is” becomes meaningless beyond being and so on.

All lively awake silence. Whatever else could one want? (laughs)
Davidya