The Kingdom of the Blind: A Discourse in Spiritual Awakening and the Cause of Suffering
()
About this ebook
"The Kingdom of the Blind" is a profound exploration into the depths of spiritual awakening and the transformative journey toward enlightenment. Presented as a compelling Discourse, this non-fiction book serves as an essential guide for those embarking on the sacred path of inner discovery. The author delves into the intricate process of spiritual transformation, shedding light on the inevitable suffering that accompanies the shedding of the ego and the embrace of a higher state of consciousness.
As humanity enters the new astrological Age of Aquarius since 2012, the veil over ancient, secret wisdom is being lifted, making what was once accessible to only a select few, available to all. This book is a beacon for initiates, offering them a gateway to the teachings of spiritual masters and the hidden mysteries that underpin the true essence of life. Readers are invited to journey beyond the limitations of ego-based thought systems, toward the realm of superconsciousness—a state of being that promises a profound connection with the universe and an unparalleled understanding of existence.
Throughout this Discourse the reader is offered the tools to navigate the path to enlightenment, armed with the knowledge to understand the cause of their suffering and the means to transcend it. This book is not merely a guide; it is a companion for anyone seeking to elevate their consciousness and discover the spiritual significance of their journey through life. Whether you are a seasoned seeker or new to the path, this book holds the potential to illuminate your way toward spiritual fulfillment and the realization of your highest self.
Related to The Kingdom of the Blind
Related ebooks
A Road to Self Knowledge and the Threshold of the Spiritual World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Redwoods of Gaia: A Metaphysical Primer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSuperconsciousness through Meditation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Redwoods of Gaia: A New Age Mirror of the Soul Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRise of the Metahuman: The New Earth Golden Age Timeline, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Art of Living & Dying Well: How to Extract the Nectar from Both Faces Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Mysteries of Clear Light 2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFor Love of the Real: A Story of Life's Mystical Secret Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBroody Blue: A Handbook of Ruthless Gentleness for the Natural Human Mystic Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Cosmic Spirituality Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSuperconciencia y Meditación Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPerformance and Purpose in Dying and Death Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSupernal Light: A Compendium of Esoteric Thought Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAwakening Consciousness Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBook 8. «The art of dying». Part 1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Virgin and The Harlot Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Incredible Reality of You: A Spiritual Guide to the Awakening of Consciousness Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMah-Avatar the Christ/ Buddha/Krishna Consciousness Manifest in Man Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDevi's Tantra Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings21st Century Mage: Bring the Divine Down to Earth Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Flirtation with Destiny Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMysticism in English Literature Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Rationality Illusion Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBeyond the Horizon Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWith Highest Esteem A Celebration of Physical Existence: with Study Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSelf-Knowledge: The Journey to Wisdom. Higher Knowledge, the Guardian of the Threshold and the Power of Christ Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUnity Field Healing – Volume 1: Foundations of Energy Medicine and Quantum Healing Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Wondrous Journey: Into the Depth of Our Being Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Eckhart Tolle and Idiocracy Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Doorway to the Soul: How to Have a Profound Spiritual Experience Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
New Age & Spirituality For You
Don't Believe Everything You Think: Why Your Thinking Is The Beginning & End Of Suffering Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Secret History of the World Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Four Loves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Mastery of Self: A Toltec Guide to Personal Freedom Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Screwtape Letters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Calendar of Wisdom: Daily Thoughts to Nourish the Soul, Written and Se Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Alchemist: A Graphic Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mere Christianity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Journey of Souls: Case Studies of Life Between Lives Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Grief Observed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Conversations With God, Book 3: Embracing the Love of the Universe Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Abolition of Man Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5You Were Born for This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Element Encyclopedia of 20,000 Dreams: The Ultimate A–Z to Interpret the Secrets of Your Dreams Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Gospel of Mary Magdalene Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Reflections on the Psalms Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5As A Man Thinketh: Three Perspectives Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of Living: Peace and Freedom in the Here and Now Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Celebration of Discipline, Special Anniversary Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dream Dictionary from A to Z [Revised edition]: The Ultimate A–Z to Interpret the Secrets of Your Dreams Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Three Questions: How to Discover and Master the Power Within You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for The Kingdom of the Blind
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
The Kingdom of the Blind - D. L. Lamperd
Copyright © 2024 D.L. Lamperd
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher and copyright holder; except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. The right of D.L. Lamperd to be identified as the author of the work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Contents
The Kingdom of the Blind
Copyright © 2024 D.L. Lamperd
INTRODUCTION
DISCOURSE ONE: THE EGO PERSONALITY:
DISCOURSE TWO: YOU CREATE YOUR REALITY: The Manifestation of Thought
DISCOURSE THREE PART 1: THE GREAT WORK: MAGNUS OPUS: The Journey of Return
DISCOURSE THREE PART 2: THE GREAT WORK: MAGNUS OPUS: The Biology of Ascension
DISCOURSE FOUR: THE UNDERWORLD: The Integration of Polarities
DISCOURSE FIVE: THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP: The Game of Separation
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
INTRODUCTION
The search for reality is the most dangerous of all undertakings for it will destroy the world in which you live. But if your motive is love of truth and life, you need not be afraid.
I am That,
Nisargadatta Maharaj
There is a deep, aching pain that haunts humanity. It bears all of the symptoms of a broken heart. A pilgrim wandering aimlessly in a foreign desert of despair and sorrow. At times it so overcomes us, arising from deep within and seeping out to seek physical expression as despair, torment, depression and anxiety. The best we can do at times is find relief in our addictions and distractions. Avoidance is our chief weapon against it. The world obliges our deception by providing adequate and plentiful means to suppress and displace our torment; rather than let it surface to engulf and consume us in an abyss of pain and suffering.
The First Noble Truth of Buddhism confirms our human experience that life is suffering.
The Sanskrit term "Dukkha is the Buddhist term used to elicit this deeper understanding. In Hinduism a similar sentiment of suffering is found in the term
Kleshas, from
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras," where humanity is inflicted with 5 poisons
, or hinderances
of the mind which are the causes of life’s inherent tendency to suffering. The philosophies of the Eastern spiritual teachings contained within such notable scripts as the "Bhagavad Gita and
The Tao", have traversed the annals of time to still be highly relevant to this day. Such scripts were written as spiritual revelations to enlighten the weary traveller on life’s journey as to the causes of human suffering and the wisdom and spiritual practices which could remedy the darkness within.
It is not necessary to delve deeply into such texts to affirm the truth of their declarations; as your own independent experience will testify to their validity. To be a self-conscious human being with an awareness of your own mortality carries within it the inherent propensity for tragedy, suffering and despair. This seems to be the human condition which we all actively strive to ignore, suppress or run from. The question then remains; is there a point to life? Is there a valid reason and meaning that lies behind your existence? Is there something you are missing? The answer to each of these questions is YES.
Your experience of suffering is the force that has propelled such questions into existence; and in doing so, it has served the highest purpose of existence itself – to reveal the Truth. Suffering is the effect and a symptom of the state of "not knowing." To be capable of uttering such questions as to the meaning and point of life is the turning point where the human experience begins the journey home, back to its origins of remembrance and knowingness of your true identity as a spiritual being.
Suffering has a significant attribute in that it will induce within you an urge to seek relief. Depression itself causes an inner retreat, a withdrawal from the outer world to protect oneself from a relentless influx of emotional pain and mental anguish. Suffering causes you to turn within
in search of relief and remedy; the seeking of inner peace becomes the new primary focus in one’s life.
Inscribed upon the ancient Greek temple of Apollo, known as the Oracle of Delphi, are the words:
"In you is hidden the treasure of treasures. Know thyself and you will know the Universe and the Gods"
The wisdom hidden in these words has been repeated throughout the centuries by philosophers, religious icons and scholars alike;
"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom" Aristotle
"Know Thyself" Socrates
"The body is the house of God. Man, know thyself, and thou shalt know the gods." Ancient Egyptian Proverb
"Knowing others is intelligence; Knowing yourself is true wisdom" Tao Te Ching
"But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty" Gospel of St Thomas
"The goal of the curriculum, regardless of the teacher you choose, is know thyself. There is nothing else to learn" A Course in Miracles
Life holds within it a great mystery; a secret so profound that it has been hidden deep within allegory, myth and symbolism. The Ancient Mystery schools and philosophical societies carried the only torch of remembrance with the motto of the Alchemist being: "To Know, To Dare, To Will, To Keep Silent." Knowledge as to your real identity as a spiritual being was purposefully kept secret and hidden. Revelation was granted only to those select few who were chosen to be students and neophytes of what was known as "The Great Work." The rest of humanity were kept in ignorance and veiled from knowing the light of Truth. When such a veil is in place that keeps you unaware as to the underlying spiritual purpose of life; the result is a world of darkness that blinds you to a false reality and false personal identification with the ego. This is the source of your suffering.
Spiritual revelation and transformation remove the veil of forgetfulness.
The seeker is directed and lead within the axiom of those words, "Know Thyself;" as the Truth lies within you. Evolution is not one of the human being, but one of consciousness. In spiritual terminology this transformation and restoration of the knowledge of your true identity is known by various names such as enlightenment, awakening, salvation, at-one-ment, transcendence and self-actualisation.
At the moment of birth, any remembrance as to your true spiritual identity is extinguished, as the Soul entombs itself in an earthly envelope, limiting its lofty wisdom, but seeded within the desire and journey of return. The earthly envelope
is the ego; a synthetic entity which resides in a world of duality. Its role is to perpetuate the lie that you are an individuated, autonomous and separate identity that experiences a subjective reality. This is the version of self that is self-serving and carries the labels of I,
me
and mine.
The Higher Self, your spiritual identity, is the awareness of Being that is impersonal, immortal, infinite and in harmony with the unity of the universe. This essence is formless and beyond the ego constructs of time and space; it is the symbol of heaven and Christ consciousness that expresses and serves in the highest ideal as "thy will be done."
In 2012 a significant turning point in the evolutionary journey of human consciousness began and was called the Great Cycle
. This change was prophesised within the Mayan calendar and foretold of the passing of the Piscean Age into the Aquarian Age. Consciousness was evolving into a new level of Being; a change from the Piscean energy dominated by authority and beliefs, to a new paradigm of the Aquarian Age where direct knowledge as intuition and individual understanding are evolved and expressed. Availability of information that was previously suppressed and kept hidden is now being made available to assist in this transition and elevation of consciousness. This book is made available as one of the ways this revelation is being provided to all. For your spiritual essence it is a time of liberation. For your ego, it will be experienced as a time of great turmoil with loss of many of the expressions that represented your false identity.
In her book, "The Human Journey: Quest for Self-Transformation," by Spiritual author, Joy Mills, the spiritual awakening is described with clarity:
Ultimately, we must take the human journey for ourselves. And here in the
underworld of dense, physical matter, we must find the box of beauty—the box that contains the life-giving ointment of the Spirit. Here in physical incarnation lies buried the supreme secret that must be uncovered in order that the soul may be transformed into a new life of Love, Beauty, and Truth. The soul has fallen into a slumber and needs to be awakened into that new existence in which all egoity has disappeared and one knows oneself as truly one with all life. The human soul is to be transformed into the spiritual soul. Âtman and physical are known as one. This is the profound mystical experience. Love, Beauty, and Truth are here in this very world of illusion. Unless they are found here and revealed here through our lives, they will not be found anywhere. In the final metempsychosis, the self or soul that was must die if the Immortal Self is to be born.
Curiosity will be your greatest asset on your own human journey,
for Truth lies beyond belief. Much of what you have learnt and have been indoctrinated to believe will need to be laid aside and suspended for a while to allow for new possibilities to enter your personal reality. For Truth, in the spiritual sense, is directly opposite to what the ego’s version of reality proclaims to be. The ego carries a heavy veil of perceptual filters that blinds
it to the Truth and distorts reality into darkness and limitations. Spiritual awakening brings the Light of Truth and lifts the veil of ignorance to align you with the Universal Intelligence and your highest potential seeded within you at birth. It is a bold journey into liberty and ascension; transformation from ego body- mind consciousness to Christ consciousness, from limited to unlimited, from force to power, from ignorance to knowledge, from chaos to order, from darkness to light, from mortal to immortal.
This book is written to assist in providing insight and understanding into the spiritual journey of transformation. It is written by a fellow human traveller who has experienced the trials and tribulations of that journey and found enormous comfort in the knowledge and wisdom that was shared in the spiritual literature by other authors. If this book provides the reader with even the smallest amount of comfort and relief through more knowledge and understanding of the path home, then my own deep suffering will have served the highest purpose.
As philosopher and scholar of the 15th Century, Desiderius Erasmus wrote: "in regione caecorum rex est luscus –
in the Kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is King".
Let the journey begin.
DISCOURSE ONE: THE EGO PERSONALITY:
The One Who Miscreates
Know Thyself
As you begin your journey through the Discourses that follow, the wisdom of the axiom Know Thyself
will provide the light of guidance that will direct your understanding. This journey will take you back to the pearls of wisdom that are contained within you; as yet hidden and unknown, but ready to be returned to their rightful Kingdom.
There are two significant criteria required in the journey of spiritual transformation; that of psychological knowledge accompanied by traditional spiritual knowledge. One without the other will leave you deficient in understanding and lacking the necessary skills and knowledge to cultivate the resilience called upon for this arduous journey of return home.
This Discourse into the ego personality is therefore a necessary pre-requisite to be able to expand your knowledge of the ego as a psychological mechanism responsible for creating your personal experience of reality. However, prior to doing so there are two extremely important Principles of Natural Law that require integration and acceptance in order for the psychological awareness to have any impact. The knowledge of these two Principles of Natural Law (traditional spiritual knowledge) align within this field of dependency as declared.
Spiritual Truth can always be discerned from man-made declarations of what is true by its primary nature to be simplistic, self-evident and unchanging. No matter where it is placed within mankind’s experience of chronological time and space the Truth remains immutable. Unlike man made laws which can change and morph depending on what century or country they are declared within; spiritual Truth does no such thing. Truth is absolute and impersonal; it is simply, "That which is." Your personal belief and ideology are irrelevant and disbelief does not impact principles of Truth at all. The ignorance of such Truth and her Natural Laws, likewise, does not excuse you from its operation.
The full 7 Principles of Natural Law will be discussed in much more depth in the Discourse: You Create Your Reality, which follows; but for now it is relevant to introduce two of them:
1. Principle of Mentalism: "The All is Mind; the universe is mental."
The universe as defined within Natural Law is declared a mental or mind phenomenon. Contrary to Western scientific declarations, the physical or material appearance of what is deemed reality, is not the Primal Reality; but instead, a manifestation or mental creation emanating from the mind of "All That Is." Within this principle, thought creates as it is an attribute of the mind.
2. Principle of Vibration: "Nothing rests, everything moves, everything vibrates."
The universe is energy. Light, heat, magnetism and electricity are only varying forms of waves of vibrational energy emanating from the aether or void. Within this principle, thoughts are energy and therefore have a vibrational reality. All mental states are accompanied by vibrations.
With these two Principles of Natural Law now in your awareness, you will come to understand that the ego personality is constructed to think
in a very particular way. This expresses as a particular level of consciousness; one which can now be referred to as ego body-mind consciousness.
The ego is a conditioned pattern of thought.
Throughout this Discourse and the others that follow the etymology dictionary is frequently referred to define significant words that are used to understand this knowledge. Etymology reveals the original meaning of words and is representative of what is therefore held in your unconscious mind. Modern day dictionary definitions and usage have often changed the original meaning and therefore have added a layer of confusion as opposed to clarity. Hence, clearly understanding words as etymological definitions is of paramount importance.
Two Thought Systems
The Eastern philosophers and gurus were guided through the process of spiritual enlightenment by the disciplined study of sacred scripts such as "The Upanishads, the
Bhagavad Gita and
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra. For Western based students on the spiritual path the teachings contained within
A Course in Miracles" have also provided the same degree of profound insight and guidance. It is to this text that we shall frequently turn to further enhance your understanding of the purpose and meaning behind suffering as experienced during spiritual awakening.
In alignment with the Principle of Natural Law as stated previously, whereby the "All is Mind, the universe is mental,
A Course in Miracles" states:
This is a course in mind training. All learning involves attention and study at some level.
T-1.VII.4
The Buddhist philosophy contained within "The Noble Eightfold Path, which acts as a guide to liberation from the causes of suffering as declared within
The Four Noble Truths," also acknowledges the same concept of mental discipline as a primary attribute to be cultivated by the student. Right thought (Samma sankappa) and Right mindfulness (Samma sati) are two of the disciplines instructed on the Eightfold Path.
The practices and disciplines of yoga and meditation as instructed by "Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra" are also focused on disciplines of the mind. The very first instruction contained within the Sutra states:
"1. Now concentration is explained.
2. Yoga is restraining the mind-stuff (Chitta) from taking various forms (Vrttis)"
p.9, Chapter 1, Patanjali Yoga Sutras, commentary by Swami Vivekananda
If spiritual Truth reveals that Primal Reality is a mental phenomenon and "All is Mind, then this
Mind of Infinite Intelligence must also be capable of
thought. This stream of thought emanating from the mind of Infinite Intelligence or
All that Is can be referred to as Christ consciousness. Now you can clearly understand that the ego body-mind consciousness is a
thought system that is NOT the same as Christ consciousness, but the opposite. The mental disciplines found within the Buddhist instructions, the Yoga Sutras and the workbook attached to
A Course in Miracles is for the purposes of healing the human condition of the
split mind" (duality) which contains the ego thought patterns inducing mental states of suffering. In the Course’s terminology this correction is called At-One-Ment, in Buddhist philosophy it is considered Right Mindedness, for the Eastern philosophies, it is Samadhi or enlightenment.
"A Course in Miracles" acknowledges this concept of two opposing thought systems that are at play in the human experience which make inner peace impossible:
Either God or the ego is insane. If you will examine the evidence on both sides fairly, you will realize this must be true. Neither God nor the ego proposes a partial thought system. Each is internally consistent, but they are diametrically opposed in all respects so that partial allegiance is impossible. Remember, too, that their results are as different as their foundations, and their fundamentally irreconcilable natures cannot be reconciled by vacillations between them.
T-11.in.1.
To "identify is to make one, or regard as the same. The ego thought system of identification as an individual, autonomous, separate entity is in complete opposition to the Christ consciousness thought stream that declares
I am One. As you think, so will you act. Hence, your internal answer to that question:
Who am I? will be dependent upon
who you think you are."
"A Course in Miracles" makes this clear:
"This is because everyone identifies himself with his thought system, and every thought system centers on what you believe you are. If the center of the thought system is true, only truth extends from it. But if a lie is at its center, only deception proceeds from it." T- 6:71
The ego body-mind consciousness does NOT KNOW who it is in Truth. It is a misidentification or in error as to its true identity. The ego consciousness is designed to veil or hide the Truth and instead be the opposite and inverted experience of the Christ consciousness Mind. This forgetfulness as to your true identity is commonly referred to in spiritual literature as the veil of ignorance
or veil of forgetfulness
.
The ancient occult symbol of the pentagram can be used effectively to visually represent this declaration:
When the top of the star is pointed upwards it symbolises the unity of man with spirit; which is the state of all knowingness and knowledge (wisdom). When this is inverted there are now two points facing upwards, which symbolises man as binary or in duality; a state of "not knowing. The binary or split mind of the ego consciousness that is ignorant of Truth is now a divided entity that includes experiences of labels such as
good" and evil.
Hence, this symbol of the inverted pentagram has been associated with concepts such as Satan, Devil worship and black magic.
Man, with knowledge, or integrated with their spiritual essence or soul, in Western spiritual terminology is termed a Christ or the Son of God; the inverted dual being is anti-Christ, as this state of Being includes a shadow complex of evil tendencies which encompasses darkness. Light is knowledge. Darkness is ignorance or not knowing.
The symbolism of an anti-Christ is also used in "A Course of Miracles" as forms that oppose the Christ consciousness mind:
All forms of anti-Christ oppose the Christ. And fall before His face like a dark veil that seems to shut you off from Him, alone in darkness. Yet the light is there. A cloud does not put out the sun. No more a veil can banish what it seems to separate, nor darken by one whit the light itself.
T-29.VIII.3.5
Acknowledgement of shadow complexes or evil tendencies which are suppressed within the unconscious is a crucial aspect of the spiritual journey. Much of the spiritual literature in Western culture fails to acknowledge this understanding as it can be confronting and disturbing. The integral works of 20th Century psychologist, Carl Jung, who researched and documented the buried Archetypes of the human psyche, which included shadow complexes, has been a leader in this endeavour towards understanding.
The Shadow is a moral problem that challenges the whole ego-personality, for no one can become conscious of the shadow without considerable moral effort. To become conscious of it involves recognizing the dark aspects of the personality as present and real. This act is the essential condition for any kind of self-knowledge, and it therefore, as a rule, meets with considerable resistance. Indeed, self-knowledge as a psychotherapeutic measure frequently requires much painstaking work extending over a long period of time.
Aion: Researches into the Phenomenology of the Self, C.G. Jung, p.14
Psychological work as well as spiritual knowledge, as stated earlier, are both necessary in the spiritual transformation that is inherent in the process of self-actualisation. The suppressed dual aspects of the ego thought system are exposed and unified in this process of integration; hence, initiating a return to wholeness and right mindedness.
Symbology of The Garden of Eden
The story relating to the "Garden of Eden as stated within the Book of Genesis (2:4-3:24) is an allegory and symbol as to the emergence of the ego dualistic thought system. The
Tree of Life" is symbolic of Truth as a unified, whole and complete Christ conscious Mind of Pure Being. Nothing is lacking, abundance is the natural state. Life is in order and balanced. This is paradise and symbolic of Heaven.
"A Course in Miracles refers to this origin of beginnings prior to the ego duality as the
pre-separation condition:
The Garden of Eden, or the pre-separation condition, was a state of mind in which nothing was needed. When Adam listened to the lies of the serpent
, all he heard was untruth." T-2.I.3.
The "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is represented as the symbol of duality and the origin of the ego body-mind consciousness. Polarity is born as the Light of unity is divided into two aspects that are electricity and magnetism expressing as electromagnetism. The gender of Adam as male and Eve as female are polarities of electromagnetism which seek and crave to reunite through the Law of Attraction and Repulsion. This is the origin of the body with a Central Nervous System that houses the ego’s propensity for judgement. Experiences can now be judged as
good or bad,
right or wrong and all of the relative labels that the ego defines and divides reality. The serpent is symbolic of the Kundalini energy that traverses the Central Nervous System and channels the Life Force to the body as a symbol of separation. This is the birth of
desire" in the human entity. Magnetism moves through the nerve paths and hence the body is an expression of a vibrational frequency.
The concept of electromagnetism is fundamental to understanding the journey of spiritual awakening as it lies as the basis for polarising thought as a judgement. Thoughts polarise and carry an electromagnetic charge which are deemed temptations. Hence, the ego body-mind consciousness judges or polarises thought which animates its experiences into manifestations that may appear and be labelled as good or evil.
Ego consciousness is seeded with judgement and polarised thoughts that express as relative thinking and a limit to its experience. Life becomes this
or that
as opposed to this
and that.
Christ consciousness is balanced and just; as the concept of forgiveness releases the polarised versions or temptations of the ego. Balance is restored with justice and integrity through the practices of concentration and focus of the mind as instructed by the spiritual texts mentioned; this becomes a Being of Christ consciousness or right mindedness.
This accepted spiritual philosophy that there is a "right way of thinking" is a Truth that appears repeatedly in multiple Spiritual texts and throughout the centuries; including the teachings of Jesus:
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33, King James Bible
The ego body-mind consciousness thought stream is dualistic and polarised. It is a thought of separation and in error; the false misidentification of its true Being as a separate and autonomous identity. This is the thought that miscreates and is then experienced as suffering.
"A Course in Miracles" offers further insight:
I cannot let you leave your mind unguarded, or you will not be able to help me. Miracle working entails a full realization of the power of thought in order to avoid miscreation.
T-2.VII.2.
The fearful must miscreate, because they misperceive creation. When you miscreate you are in pain.
T-2.VII.3.8
The fundamental conflict in this world, then, is between creation and miscreation. All fear is implicit in the second, and all love in the first. The conflict is therefore one between love and fear.
T-2.VII.3.13
As the symbolism of the Garden of Eden story continues there is the significant event where Adam and Eve eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which was forbidden. This event is considered the "original sin or
fall" in religious theosophy.
"Sin (as a verb), is defined in the etymology dictionary, as meaning:
to commit sin, transgress, err. It means to be in error.
Sin (as a noun), is defined as: moral wrongdoing, guilt, crime, offense against God.
Therefore, the capacity for humanity to experience the condition of guilt
is seeded within the allegory of this event.
As the story progresses, the Lord God returns to the garden in search of man:
"Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
But the Lord God called to the man, Where are you?
He answered, I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.
Genesis 2:4-3:24
The division of man into two aspects as the male and female gender symbolise the beginning of the ego as a split mind
with the capacity for self-awareness. The ego becomes a symbol of separation as the divided mind, where unwanted feelings and emotions, such as guilt and shame, can be hidden outside of conscious awareness. Now what is "not known (consciously)" becomes fearful and suppressed; and what is suppressed must be projected out. This is how the ego creates its own limited version of personal reality – by projection.
"A Course in Miracles" again provides insight into this understanding:
If the ego is the symbol of the separation, it is also the symbol of guilt.
T-5.V.2.8
"If you identify with the ego, you must perceive yourself as guilty. Whenever you respond to your ego you will experience guilt, and you will fear punishment. The ego is quite literally a fearful thought. However ridiculous the idea of attacking God may be to the sane mind, never forget that the ego is not sane. It represents a delusional system, and speaks for it. Listening to the ego's voice means that you believe it is possible to attack God, and that a part of Him has been torn away by you. Fear of retaliation from without follows, because the severity of the guilt is so acute that it must be projected." T-5. V.3.5
This concept of projection is so crucial in the psychological understanding of spiritual awakening that "A Course in Miracles," which contains the teachings of Jesus, was channelled and scribed by Helen Schucman in the 1960’s who was a Professor of Medical Psychology at Columbia University. She was assisted in this process by another Columbia University colleague, William Thetford, who was also a Professor of Medical Psychology. Even the most significant and well-known teacher of ACIM, Dr Ken Wapnick Ph.D. was a Psychologist. Hence, we shall return to more discussions on this important concept of projection further on in this Discourse.
Transcendence: From Ego Consciousness to Christ Consciousness
Now that it has been established that there are two thought streams, one being the ego body-mind consciousness and the other Christ consciousness, then it can be helpful to be able to clearly identify the concepts and definitions that each voice speaks of. One voice speaks of Truth or Primal Reality and the other is the error, or delusional reality.
Ego Body Mind Consciousness Delusional thought of separation
• Fear
• Chaos
• Perception
• Darkness
• Ignorance
• Separate
• Conflict
• Unbalanced
• Unknowing
• Limited
• Mortal
• Finite
• Form/body
Christ Consciousness Knowledge of Truth
• Love
• Order
• Knowledge
• Light
• Truth
• Whole
• Peace
• Balance
• Knowing
• Limitless
• Immortal
• Infinite
• Formless
As stated in the introduction, evolution is not one of the human being, but one of consciousness. The transcendence of the limited ego body-mind consciousness is seeded with the journey of return to full awareness and awakening to its true identity as an unlimited spiritual being. This Pure Being, known as Christ consciousness, is in resonance with Infinite Intelligence and shares the attributes of the mind of "All that Is." This is At-One-Ment.
"The Gnosis of Kala Yuga," written by Spiritual author, Aaron G. L. Adoni, provides succinct explanation that can assist in this understanding:
The ego is the
self, but this self is based upon something fundamentally harmful and violent to the rhythm and harmony to the universe as a whole. This is why the ego suffers, and, because the consciousness is trapped in the ego, we feel that suffering. The ego is an aberration, an error of the mind that perpetuates itself. It is like a cancer of the mind because it destroys its host. The liberated consciousness, with no ego, receives and transmits energy, thoughts, ideas, sentiments, will etc., but the ego takes that perfect harmony and disrupts it: it elaborates itself at the expense of the world around it. So, in this way we have to understand that the ego is what blocks the correct flow of energy.
p.71
The ego body-mind consciousness is a limitation of the Infinite Intelligence Mind or, "All That Is. It transduces the all-powerful omniscient Mind and minimises it into a limited, self-centered entity or
self, that
knows not," and hence miscreates and suffers.
Once again, "The Gnosis of Kala Yuga," expands on this understanding:
When man becomes a perfect transformer of the intelligence of God, then he has become an incarnation of that intelligence called God. That intelligence or energy that can be called God has no form itself, but it can incarnate within anyone who knows how to do it. However, the ego prevents the correct transformation and transmission of energy because the ego only uses that energy to edify itself. It is like a single wave thinking it is more than the ocean itself. Thus, the ego prevents the reception of God.
p.71
The ego body-mind consciousness can therefore be considered a distorted way of thinking
that blocks the ability to receive the impulses of Infinite Intelligence thought stream into conscious awareness. Much like electrical circuits can be limited by the insertion of resistors to reduce current flow from high voltage to low voltage, so too is the ego body-mind consciousness designed to limit the receivership of information emanating from the Divine Mind.
Clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, Dr Daniel Siegel, in his book, "The Developing Mind, provides an excellent definition of what
mind" may be conceptualised as:
"The mind is an embodied and rational process that regulates the flow of energy and information." p.2
Infinite Intelligence as "All That Is, is omniscient, meaning
all knowledge; so what you are able to receive and know consciously as information is dependent upon the state of mind that you are attuned to. To be
inspired (in-spirit)" by a new idea or thought is the domain of Infinite Intelligence, not the limited ego.
The idea that the ego body-mind consciousness is limited in its ability to process information or impulses from Infinite Intelligence can be further clarified by another passage from Siegal’s book:
"We inherit the genetically preprogramed capacity for information processing of a particular sort. This means that the brain cannot process all types of information: a given module of the mind is only able to handle certain kinds of information in specific kinds of ways." p.222
This sentiment of the ego personality being only able to process information in a limited way is also acknowledged in the Eastern Philosophical teachings. Indian guru, Sri Aurobindo (1870) who was one of India’s most acknowledged spiritual teachers wrote many books dealing with the diverse forces that influence our thoughts and impact the ability to receive vital energy from "The One":
It isn’t the forces that are limited. It is our receptivity. Each person has a different receptivity. No two receptivity’s are the same in quality and quantity.
p.96, "The Hidden Forces of Life"
Finally, we turn again to "A Course in Miracles" for further clarification:
A major source of the ego's off-balanced state is its lack of discrimination between the body and the Thoughts of God. Thoughts of God are unacceptable to the ego, because they clearly point to the nonexistence of the ego itself. The ego therefore either distorts them or refuses to accept them. It cannot, however, make them cease to be. It therefore tries to conceal not only
unacceptable body impulses, but also the Thoughts of God, because both are threatening to it.
T-4. V.2
The fundamental characteristic of the ego body-mind consciousness is that it is a limited expression of consciousness that is restricted in the capacity to receive higher level of consciousness impulses emanating from the higher Mind that is Infinite Intelligence. This base ego body-mind consciousness begins its journey from a descent into "not knowing, which expresses as fear, and ascends to the Mind of
knowing, which expresses as Truth and Love. As the Hindu philosophies taught:
In order to Know, one must first Not Know."
Psychiatrist and Consciousness researcher, Dr David R. Hawkins MD. Ph.D., wrote numerous books detailing the levels of consciousness that are transcended on the path of spiritual enlightenment. In specific, "Transcending Levels of Consciousness: The Stairway to Enlightenment" (p.32), he provides a road map as to the states of Being associated with each level:
• Enlightenment
• Peace
• Joy
• Unconditional Love
• Love
• Reason
• Acceptance
• Willingness
• Neutrality
• Courage
• Pride
• Anger
• Desire
• Fear
• Grief
• Apathy/hatred
• Guilt
• Shame
To use the analogy of computers; the human body can be considered the hardware of a computer that houses a brain which is the software or program running. The mind is the processing unit that interfaces between the two and projects onto the screen of life as what you perceive to be your personal reality. The quality of the output on the screen is therefore dependent on the quality of the software or program that is running: garbage in = garbage out.
If there is an error or incorrect information being inputted and processed by the mind, then this may be experienced on your screen of personal reality as painful events in your life which cause mental suffering.
The ego level of consciousness acts like a computer virus which distorts the source code of Primal Reality (Love) and instead inserts perceptions of false data that appear real and become fearful. When knowledge is absent in the software program then perceptions replace it. Fear overrides Love.
Darkness is lack of light as sin is lack of love
T-1.IV.3
If a mind perceives without love, it perceives an empty shell and is unaware of the spirit within. But the Atonement restores spirit to its proper place. The mind that serves spirit is invulnerable.
T-1.IV.2.
In reference to the above chart mapping the levels of consciousness, the distinction between the fear-based thoughts of the ego which are lacking in Truth, and the higher impulsed Christ conscious thoughts of Love become more obvious. The higher one ascends the ladder of consciousness the more one comes into balance and harmony with the Mind of Infinite Intelligence and fear is transformed into its original Pure Being, which is Love. This journey of ascension or transcendence has often been referred to a "Jacob’s Ladder and
Stairway to Heaven. The ego body-mind consciousness is symbolic of states of Being that are
Hell and the Christ consciousness is Pure Being that is
Heaven."
As the ego is created to be the opposite or inverted consciousness of the Christ conscious Mind it enables Truth to be revealed by knowing and experiencing what is NOT Truth:
Christ Consciousness
• Love
• Knowing
• Aware (conscious)
• True
• Forgiveness
• Certain
• Satisfied (Fulfilled)
• Connected
• Just
• Peace
• Real
Ego Body-Mind Consciousness
• UN-loved
• UN-knowing
• UN-aware (unconscious)
• UN- true
• UN-forgiving
• UN-certain
• UN-satisfied (unfulfilled)
• UN-connected
• UN-just
• UN-peaceful
• UN-real
The Divine Paradox: The One Is All and the All Is One
In Primal Reality where "All That Is is known as Truth, then the Ego is created as the paradoxical opposite where Truth is
veiled or
ignored." The Law of Unity (Light) interacts with the Law of Division and Separation (Darkness); this is the paradox of the creative universe. Diversity contained within Unity.
"For this world is the opposite of Heaven, being made to be its opposite, and everything here takes a direction exactly opposite of what is true. In Heaven, where the meaning of love is known, love is the same as union. Here, where the illusion of love is accepted in love's place, love is perceived as separation and exclusion." T-16. V.3.6
Your Christ Consciousness carries the remembrance of your True identity and essential nature as a spiritual Being or Awareness. This is your natural, organic state of Being. The ego body-mind consciousness is a synthetic or artificial construct that is created as an idea
that it is possible to be separate and apart from the One, Absolute, Omniscient and Omnipotent Mind of God.
English Philosopher, Rupert Spira, provides an enlightened perspective in one of his lectures, "The True Goal of Life":
The purpose of Life is to find happiness. God is just a religious name for happiness. Happiness is the knowingness of our own Being as it is. When we overlook the knowingness of our own Being, we obscure the true nature of
I." That is why the separate self is always UN-happy, always seeking happiness, because the separate self is a limitation on our essential nature.
With this veiling of our consciousness the Truth of our true nature is lost – so there is this longing to return."
This concept that the ego body-mind consciousness is an "idea expressed in the mind of Infinite Intelligence, or
All That Is, is crucial to understanding the journey of enlightenment. If the ego is a synthetic or artificially created entity that is not your natural state of Being, then it must have been created to have an experience in opposition to Primal Reality. To experience separation, you must have a
thought that thinks
I am separate." This is the role that the ego body-mind consciousness thought stream serves. It pretends, like an actor, that it is someone else, or a character in a play, that is playing a role and experiencing something other than who it really is. The ego thought takes the impersonal Infinite Intelligence thought of the "All" and makes it personal. What is "All (whole-unified) now becomes
me" (separate-disunity).
A key passage in Chapter 27 of "A Course in Miracles" states:
Into eternity, where all is one, there crept a tiny, mad idea, at which the Son of God remembered not to laugh. In his forgetting did the thought become a serious idea, possible of both accomplishment and real effects.
T-27.VIII.6:2-3
The Etymology Dictionary defines "idea as:
archetype, concept of a thing