Even experiencing terrible things can be part of that path: They provoke us to make changes. The changes are in our belief systems, our life style and our choice of friends and even families.
Mindfulness, meditation, yoga, psychotherapy, soul retrieval, wilderness experiences: all of these and many others can be paths to becoming fully conscious.
"Presence," becoming fully present, standing in one's own center and not being set off by anyone or anything in terms of that state of consciousness is a primary attribute of obtaining Nirvana.
For most of us the attainment is not instantaneous or occurring at birth. For most of us it is a gradual process in which we are working towards "Full Presence," "Enlightenment" or however we may see it. We do so by many means.
One of the most frequently used and under utilized paths is via our significant relationships. Most certainly with our chosen life mate and/or children.
For those of you who have been following this blog you will know my belief system and the process I profess for utilizing the path of working relationships to evolve to higher consciousness (See entry 4/15/10).
We are tremendously gifted at this time in history, especially those of us living in certain areas in the US.
We have role models, teachers, comforts, challenges and movements to keep us headed in the right direction.
Buddha, Christ, the various world religions and their precepts taught all point us in the right direction. Esther Hicks
(The Vortex: Where the Law of Attraction Assembles All Cooperative Relationships
) and the Abraham Law, Echart Tolle
and his works, Seth Speaks
, Ruth Montgomery
, Burke (Cosmic Consciousness (A Study in the Evolution of the Human Mind)
, Zen The Three Pillars of Zen: Teaching, Practice, and Enlightenment
, Sufi (The Sufis
), Taoism Tao Te Ching: A New English Version (Perennial Classics)
,Ken Keyes (Handbook to Higher Consciousness (Keyes, Jr, Ken)
and many many others all point out the way. These few are among my readings and studies following a life long interest in spirituality, healing and enlightenment.What becomes very clear after considering these various approaches is that the paths are many; and, there is not one "right" path but many.
These various paths and which one works best for you are determined by many variables.
Of real importance is ones clear intention. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, in my field, psychotherapy what seems to work is not diagnosis or medication but: 1. The clients determination to heal, 2. The therapists belief in themselves; and 3. The clients belief in the therapist.
It is my belief that the same findings can be applied to the decision to obtain higher consciousness.
What works for you? What speaks to you?
What comes across your path after you make the decision to heal or to become a higher conscious being, a more loving or helpful and productive prosperous soul?
Don Juan in Carlos Castenada's work (I believe it was in Journey to Ixtlan, Journey to Ixtlan: The Lessons of Don Juan
) talks about omens and confirmation from the Universe. After we make some clear decision and start on a path we will be given omens. When we note those omens as omens yet have some questions about whether or not they are such; we will be given confirmation from the universe.According the shamanic wisdom, our power animals or familiars will appear in one form or another, in a book, in real life, in our dreams or wherever. Attending to what we have been thinking, believing and realizing puts it all together for us. It strengthens our belief and motivation to continue to move in the direction in which we have been going.
The obverse of this is that when we are not committed or decisive then we are often besieged by contradictory omens and confirmations. When we are clear, the Universe responds to us with decisive clarity! This provokes us to become more decisive and change. Shades of The Law of Attraction!
challenges us to live by this African folklore: "Knowledge is in the head, Wisdom in the body; and, when the two meet in the heart, Truth is know!"