Finding a New Paradigm of Reality

[Guest guest]

James Bean spiritualawakeningatonelist

 

 

The spiritual journey is a journey of receptivity, having ears to

hear new things, stepping into the paradigm of the Great Masters and Mystics

of the Spirit, no longer being limited by earthbound cultural hand-me-down

concepts.

 

" Our soul has many layers covering it. These layers are the

impressions accumulated throughout our life. These impressions are

imprinted on us from all out thoughts, words, and deeds. If our actions are

negative, it is as if we add dark spots on a clear complexion. These dark

spots must be removed before we can experience the luminous soul. The

blemishes can be caused by thoughts, words, and deeds arising from anger,

lust, greed, attachment, and ego, keeping us from experiencing the pure

energy and power of the soul. We need to remove the coverings that block

the luminosity of our soul. " ( " Empowering Your Soul Through Meditation "

Rajinder Singh, Element Books)

 

The great Schools of Spirituality and Mysticism have stated that

finding a teacher is a very helpful way to bust out of the limited thinking

of one's paradigm, culture, religious notions, etc. The Schools of

Spirituality in the east and west (Kabbalist, Sufi, Gnostic, Mount Athos,

Eastern paths) communicate ancient methods of spiritual practice that lead

to the direct experience of the luminous soul. These systems have living

teachers. Having a teacher implies a willingness, an openness to learn new

things. I came across a great quote on this by Rumi, the Sufi Master and

Poet-Mystic.

 

It is necessary to have a guide for the spiritual journey.

Choose a master, for without one this journey is full of

trials, fears, and dangers. With no escort, you would be

lost on a road you have already taken. Do not travel

alone on the path.

 

Rumi also said, " Spiritual window-shoppers, for God sakes buy

something! "

 

Masters are spiritual scientists as well as teachers, and these

spiritual scientists advocate that we, " Learn the meditation practice, then

do the meditation practice. "

 

If a scientist claims to be getting a fusion reaction -- a burst of

energy by combining certain ingredients together, other scientists will want

to REPEAT this experiment to see if they get the same results. If they're

making a sincere effort, they will learn every detail of what happened, and

will faithfully duplicate every single step that took place during the

original experiment. They will not say for instance, " We didn't have any

hydrogen so we used helium instead. "

 

So too, in spiritual science we ought to make a sincere effort to

duplicate the experiments of masters with accuracy in every detail. This is

where Westerners usually get into trouble. When it comes to, let's say,

learning about biology or chemistry, most of us recognize the need for a

teacher. But, coming from a very anti-traditional culture, we approach

spirituality with a do-it-yourself attitude, saying to the ancient spiritual

schools, " Why do I need a teacher? " " Why do I need to chant these

particular names? " " I have this old book published in 1939, isn't that good

enough? " " Can't I get everything I need to know off the internet? " " Why do

I need to meditate anyway? " But some feel that, like the old growth forests

and rain forests, the ancient wisdom shouldn't be cut down and paved over

with concrete. I see a twenty-first century where the Path of the Masters

and Mystics -- the ancient Wisdom, is alive and well. I agree with those

who say that, in order to make real progress, we must tap into the ancient,

tried-and-true Wisdom of a living spiritual tradition, faithfully duplicate

the experiment of contemplative meditation being communicated, and then

analyze our results. Being able to communicate to spiritual students these

" repeatable experiments " -- methods of spiritual practice, is the main

function of these Schools of Spirituality -- that's what they've been doing

on this planet for thousands of years now. May it always be so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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