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.