Spiritual Enlightenment: Awakening with Faith and Works

Descriptions of enlightenment:

Thich Nhat Hanh described it as touching the miracle of being alive.

Deepak Chopra says, “You have an almost simultaneous awareness of your individual self and the connection between that and everything else.”

Pema Chodron described it as climbing a mountain to transcend all pain by moving toward the turbulence and doubt. We discover our true nature during the journey, the healing water of compassion, and we discover that love will not die.

I believe spiritual enlightenment is beautiful and forever continuous because there is always something new to learn.

So, enlightenment can be sudden; but can also be a process. Living honestly, committed to higher levels of wisdom and love, enlightenment can be a continual and evolving experience. Purifying your heart and mind leading to new levels of conscious thought is one of the first steps. Living in this illuminating state, seeing everything as one, and retaining this state with continued meditations, you stay in touch with your higher self. Non-judgment is a big part of this and is more difficult for some, especially people who do the process through the mind rather than the heart. True love is the key. Being one with God. Knowing God is within you. God is love.

First, let’s discuss non-judgment, then move on to karma, and lastly how works and faith, like two streams flowing into one ongoing river, can merge into an awareness.

Non-judgment.

“But, people who do harmful things to others should pay for their crimes.” Yes. I'm not saying they shouldn’t. There are always consequences to our actions. To let evil live freely and not do what you can about it is bad. God is with us and moves through us with love. If we must fight, we must fight. We should do so, however, for justice, not revenge, balancing the feelings and the fight with faith rather than ignorance, and thanking God for all He has done.

The term my truth has become a popular one. Unfortunately, some of us use this as an excuse for our judgment, opinion, or behavior when it should be thought of as living honestly with yourself and others. For more about this, please see my blog, titled, The Mind of God.

Karma.

When it comes to karma, there are many opinions. Many Christians do not believe in karma. That is because they do not believe “an eye for an eye.” When you’re saved by grace through faith, you are forgiven. Karma isn’t an eye for an eye. It is more closely based on your thought energy. What you put out there can come back to you. So, if your thoughts need a new perspective, take another look. If you need to learn something, be open to that. Negative judgments against others or yourself will only hold you back.

For more information check out Karma by Annie Besant.

Works.

Blame and shame have a lot to do with negative actions and experiences. Jesus can help, especially when it comes to shame. And, it may take time, but you CAN move past blaming others for your problems.

Keep in mind, if someone is blaming or shaming YOU for mostly everything and not taking on any of the blame themselves, there is usually something wrong within them and they could use some more awareness/spiritual development themselves. However, we can never force this on someone, we can only pray for them and continue to press forward and work on ourselves. I feel bad for people who have no forgiveness in their hearts. Or people who just go indifferent—which causes an artificial peace. Sometimes they stay that way, other times it takes them years to forgive. It could seem like something small to one person but has an extreme effect on another. I pray every single person learns and grows as God wills.

Some healers frown upon yoga, calling it lovey-dovey hippy crap. First of all, this is rude and not full of love. Second, they have a reason—if you don’t face your shadows and heal first then your ability to evolve spiritually may be limited. Even confessing your sins and giving your life to God is a way of facing your shadows. Abuse victims may face their shadows by going to a retreat somewhere. Some people spiritually awaken by spending time in seclusion doing YouTube meditations, others learn more by reading. Crying is shadow work. Journaling is shadow work. Creativity, such as painting or writing poetry can be shadow work. Confession is shadow work. I do not frown upon anyone’s journey. The point is to get to the root of your emotions and transform.

When you think you are doing everything right, you might realize years later that you should have handled things differently. You find yourself being treated the way you treated another, and you realize you had to learn those lessons then and these lessons now. Or, you see a pattern in your life and you have to dig even deeper to resolve it so you don’t have the same problems over and over again.

Your hard work for peace of mind can get disrupted. It might be while you’re still wrestling with some issues, or it might simply be life. It can slap you in the face at any time. It’s important not to give up. Doing a week (or however long it takes) of intense shadow work will give you a hard look at yourself and your experiences. It isn’t easy, but it will help. This, too, can be continual. It might not be as intense after your initial work, but whenever you feel a bad emotion or get triggered, allow yourself to feel it (without lashing out at someone), and ask yourself when was the first time you felt that way. This brings things to the surface of consciousness. It helps with your awareness of self. Communication with someone you trust is also beneficial.

It might start with an epiphany, but YOU have to do the spiritual work. You might get saved, but the Lord is a teacher guiding you to learn, this is an active thing. Faith and works.

On our life path, we can reawaken and purify whenever it’s needed if we’re open to it. Sometimes there are even awakenings within awakening. Life can be full of beautiful surprises as well.

Love and numbers are permanent. So are we. We are energy and will continue on after death. As for experiences, they stay with us only in so much as our memories recall them correctly. Accepting impermanence is one aspect of enlightenment. It is then easier to enjoy the pleasures of the world while they last—the acceptance replaces any fear of loss or anxiety about the future. I’m not saying have no regrets (to me that is ego talking). I’m saying accept the past, live in the present, and think positively toward the future. Having an inner non-resistance to events as they happen, as well as the wisdom of non-judgment gives you access to the dimension of inner space. This is discussed by Eckhart Tolle in his book A New Earth.

He instructs us to sense an alert inner stillness in the background while things happen in the foreground. This undercurrent of awareness is space consciousness, and it needs to be balanced with object consciousness. It represents not only freedom from ego but also from dependency on the things of this world. It’s the eternal in you. It’s the peace of God experienced while we’re in the world.

This too will pass brings you back to the timeless inner space of consciousness itself.

As Tolle explains, space consciousness has little to do with being “spaced out.” In the former, you rise above thought, in the latter, you fall below.

Say to yourself: “I Am” and add nothing to it. Be aware of the stillness that follows the I Am. Sense your presence, the naked, unveiled, unclothed beingness. It is untouched by young or old, rich or poor, good or bad, or any other attributes.

Be still. Look. Listen. Be present. Inner space consciousness and who you are in your essence are one and the same. From this space the joy of Being emanates.

When you appreciate something simple—a sound, a sight, a touch—when you see beauty, when you feel loving kindness toward another, sense the inner spaciousness that is the source and background to that experience.

—A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle

The kingdom of God is within you. What I have learned above all else is that living with true, unconditional, divine love in your heart is the way to true happiness, fulfillment and enlightenment. However, keep in mind that there is a divine guidance that comes with this. A wisdom of knowing when and how to set and accept boundaries. And a compassion given when we accept all that is without judgment. This doesn't mean there won’t be tough emotions—that’s life. And it doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences.

Spiritual enlightenment comes when you love and accept yourself for who you are and live truly. You are unique, and you are worthy.

It’s also okay to take breaks in spiritual development.

Join me in trying to bring more positive energy into the world. If anyone is interested in expanding their spiritual development you are on your way to awakening. My advice, go with the flow while paying attention to the guidance (signs, dreams, inner knowings, some advice, the Bible). If you feel you need a certain type of meditation or yoga routine then do that one. You can even go back and forth for what is needed at that time, following the flow. Everyone’s journey is different, and unique.

When I say going with the flow I am not using the popular idiom. I am talking about the flow of synchronicities. For more info, see my upcoming blog, titled, Creating Flow.

If you are new to this path I suggest looking into Deepak Chopra, Paulo Coelho, Eckhart Tolle, James Redfield, or Teal Swan (beware of her, though—she’s not for everyone and has been accused of being a cult leader [in my opinion she can be helpful but she still suffers from her own issues and may have NPD]). You could also read the New Testament. You could also speak to an experienced healer, a therapist who is spiritual, or your pastor or church group.

Take what you like and leave the rest.

Love,

Tracy

Suggested: Sermon

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