Spiritual Evolution and Surrender

"Spiritual evolution is the automatic consequence of watching the mind and its proclivities as an 'it' from the general viewpoint of the paradigm of context rather than content.  Instead of trying to force change, it is merely necessary to allow Divinity to do so by deeply surrendering all control, resistance, and illusions of gain or loss,  It is not necessary to destroy or attack illusions but merely to allow them to fall away.  It is not necessary or fruitful to use force by such mechanisms as guilt nor is it necessary to try to pursue or propel spiritual evolution because it automatically evolves of its own accord when the obstacles and resistance of illusions are surrendered."  (Transcending Levels of Consciousness, p. 356)

I have been especially focused on letting go of illusions of gain or loss.  This idea of loss or gain for the personal self seems to be tied to everything.  It is as if every idea must be processed through the ego's filter (i.e., will this be a good thing or a bad thing for me?) before I come to some kind of conclusion or judgment. Unless one is aware of this propensity, preserving the limited, egoic self seems to be of primary concern.  Truly an addiction.

The 12-Step program comes to mind with regard to letting go of the illusions of gain or loss, especially the first 3 steps:

1. I am powerless over my personal self, my life has become unmanageable
2. I became willing to accept that there is a power greater than me that can restore me to sanity.
3.  I became willing to turn my will and my life over to this power.

There is great relief in this kind of surrender, and at the same time there can be discomfort...the discomfort of feeling uncertain about the future (if I am not controlling things then who will?), doubt, fear of loss...

Trusting God to be there as one let's go is what the 12-Step program, as well as the mystical and metaphysical paths are all about.

Most of us have had personal experiences where we have connected with the Divine.  We have developed Faith in this 'Power which is greater than us' and we can use this Trust and Faith to    
set ourselves free to an even greater extent.  Each time the illusion of loss or gain arises let it go and watch as Divinity takes over.

Make one's life a living prayer

David Hawkins lists 10 tools for living, one of which is: "Make one's life a living prayer by intention, alignment, humility, and surrender.  True spiritual reality is actually a way of being in the world."  (Transcending Levels of Consciousness, p. 336)

When I am experiencing a challenge, reminding myself of my spiritual intention helps me to stay centered and gives me the resolve to respond from my highest Self.  Aligning with Truth and surrendering to God's Will in every situation brings forth a much better outcome than if I were to rely on the thinking mind...the consciousness which created a problem can not be expected to fix the problem.  And finally, having the humility to know that "It is not I but the Father within me that doeth the work" keeps me from attaching to my egoic self.

I love this idea of making my life a living prayer.  In each and every moment I have the opportunity to open myself to a higher consciousness and this shift in my energy has a positive effect on the consciousness of our world.  Thank you God.

David Hawkin's quotes and last call for Friday's group

"The progression of the evolution of consciousness is accelerated by the combination of intention plus attention...As demonstrated by the Map of Consciousness (see last weeks post), the calibrated power (of each state) increases logarithmically; thus, spiritual evolution is progressively facilitated by the higher levels of spiritual advancement as compared to the consciousness of the scientific observer...  The influence of spiritual intention can therefore be over one thousand times stronger than ordinary intellectual effort." (Transcending Levels of Consciousness, p. 311)

I am looking to add a couple of more people to the Friday group.  This quote speaks to the purpose of the group which is to set one's spiritual intention, not in some future capacity but instead to identify the deepest spiritual intention to bring to each moment.  We will then focus on ways to bring this intention to the forefront on one's attention throughout the week.  I will provide teachings from a Spiritual Master each week (e.g., Adyashanti, David Hawkins, Richard Rohr, Michael Singer etc.) and we will engage in conversation and spiritual practices to support the unfolding of one's spiritual intention.

David Hawkins so beautifully lays out several "techniques" for evolving one's consciousness which will be woven into the group experience:

"Surrender every moment to God, including all attractions, aversions, or desires for control or gain.
Choose to be unconditionally compassionate and forgiving to all of life in all its expressions.
Choose to see the beauty, perfection, and sacredness of all life." (Transcending Levels of Consciousness, p. 323)

If this speaks to you, please let me know as soon as possible that you are interested in joining the group.

the Void

David Hawkins has a map of consciousness that consists of lower "egoic" states of consciousness (e.g., shame, fear, desire, anger, pride...) and higher states of consciousness (e.g., courage, acceptance, reason, love, unconditional love, peace, Self-Realization...)

In the following quote David is talking about transcending "higher" levels of consciousness although I think this can be applied to transcending all levels of consciousness:

"The surrender of identification with each state releases it, including letting go of any attachment to its familiarity."  Transcending the Levels of Consciousness, p. 293

At times I am thrilled to surrender identification with the egoic states of consciousness.  Letting go of this very familiar albeit flawed self allows me to experience a sense of Joy, Love and freedom without limits.  Alternatively, there are times when I cling to this illusory self that I have created like someone who is drowning clings to a life preserver.  Letting go can seem like falling into a void of nothingness.  And in a sense this seems to be what happens...as it has been said by those who have moved into the higher states of consciousness "I am nothing and I am everything."

As a serious student of spiritual transformation I think it is important to stay attuned to my process and to always choose to surrender.  Even when the fear of 'what will come next if I let go of the familiar?' arises, I choose to let go.  The alternative is to stay small.  This would be like never leaving your hometown because of the fear of what is beyond it.  I trust God and I trust the process of life to carry me as I let go of my limiting thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and perceptions, including the desire to have it all figured out.  I do not know what lies ahead beyond the confines of this self...it is a mystery and I choose to dive into this void.      

Spiritual Transformation Group - updated

I have added another meeting with a different day and location.  See below.

Spiritual Transformation Group

Set your spiritual intention for the year

Discover the blocks to achieving your goals

Engage in spiritual practices that open you to higher states of consciousness

Support one another in this process

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Each weekly session will include a short meditation, presentation of information, sharing by group members, and a soul-to-soul connection exercise

Two different groups are being offered.  One group is on Tuesdays at 10:00AM in Mission Viejo starting January 13^th.  A second group is on Fridays at 4:30PM in Laguna Hills beginning on January 16^th.

The cost is $35 per week

Please contact Donna McCullough, PhD for further information or to register for the group (949) 246-7724 or donnamccullough@cox.net

Spiritual Transformation Group

Here is information about a group that I am starting in Orange County:

Spiritual Transformation Group

Set your spiritual intention for the year

Discover the blocks to achieving your goals

Engage in spiritual practices that open you to higher states of consciousness

Support one another in this process

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Each weekly session will include a short meditation, presentation of information, sharing by group members, and a soul-to-soul connection exercise

The group will meet on Tuesdays at 10:00AM for 6 weeks in Mission Viejo starting January 13th

The cost is $35 per week

Please contact Donna McCullough, PhD for further information or to register for the group (949) 246-7724

Happy New You!

While doing a spiritual practice called "Mutual Awakening" recently with a friend, I experienced a sense of Joy that comes when we let go of the egoic identity.  I experienced a taste of what it is like to live life without being attached to the egoic mind.  As attachment to the mind fell away, there was a lightness which felt free and Joyful.

My New Year's resolution is to continue this process of letting go of the heaviness of the psyche/ego and move into a greater sense of Joy.

Here is what David Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D. has to say about Joy:

"As Love becomes increasingly unconditional, it begins to be experienced as inner Joy.  This is not the sudden joy of a pleasurable turn of events but instead is a constant accompaniment to all activities.  Joy arises from within each moment of existence rather than from any outer source."  Transcending The Levels of Consciousness, p. 257.

Love and Joy are our natural states and as we let go of the identity that we have created we experience these Higher states.

We can facilitate the letting go by setting the intention to let go.  I also find it helpful to stay grounded in the body as I am doing this process.  We hold onto emotional energy in our bodies and by relaxing our physical bodies it is easier to let go of the emotions.  I heard a Minister (Rev. Carolyne at Unity of Tustin) say that we can prepare ourselves to let go, and then Spirit does the rest. We prepare ourselves with the intention to let go and by relaxing, and, Spirit does the rest.

My experience during the Mutual Awakening practice showed me how much freer and Joyful life is without the constant attachment to Ego.

During this time of new beginnings join me in stepping into a New You...a You that allows the Joy and Love to well up from within...a You that does not rely on what is happening in your life to feed your sense of well being... a You that already knows and feels that all is well.  I truly believe that God intended for each of us to live a life filled with Joy and Love. Join me in saying "Yes" to a life filled with Love and Joy in this New Year.

P.S., For those of you who live in Orange County, I am going to be starting a "Transformation Group" in the next two weeks.  I will be posting more details on the blog and will be sending out an email to those of you on my email list.