Spiritual Development as an Evolutionary Imperative
Posted by George Shears | Filed under Evolutionary Spirituality
Much of the essence of Mahayana Buddhism is summed up in the noble “Bodhisattva Ideal” of achieving enlightenment for the welfare of all sentient beings. Those who have followed this noble path down through the centuries have been centrally motivated by bodhicitta–i.e., the wish to become a Buddha for the benefit of all beings.
The following short essay, which I received as an email message from Craig Hamilton, offers a clear and inspiring modern rendering of this ancient Great Wisdom. I strongly share Craig’s conviction that this spiritual “Right View” is essential for successful personal transformation and for transforming the world. Accordingly, I invite you to partake mindfully in reading what Craig has to say on this topic:
“Why is it that so few of us get the results our spiritual practices are designed to deliver?
“As a spiritual teacher, I meet a lot of people on the path. And one of the most common refrains I hear from spiritual seekers these days goes something like this:
“‘I’ve been on the spiritual path for years. I’ve meditated, gone to therapy, and attended dozens of workshops, seminars, satsangs, and retreats. But, I’m still not fundamentally different from when I started on the path. Sure, I’m more centered, present and calm, but I’m still challenged by many of the same emotional patterns. I still don’t feel like I’m living on purpose. I’m still not deeply fulfilled.’
“How is it that after decades of earnest spiritual seeking, most of us ultimately settle for a transformation far less profound or dramatic than the one we were aiming for when we started on the path?
“Is it, as some ancient eastern traditions tell us, that enlightenment is such a lofty goal that we should not expect to experience any radical transformation in one lifetime, but should instead see our current incarnation as but one of millions of baby steps toward that supreme goal?
“Or is it, as many contemporary teachers are fond of saying, that the attempt to change ourselves in any way is in fact misguided, that we should simply “accept what is,” “call off the search,” and realize that ordinary life, in all of its neurotic frailty, is enough?
“With all due respect to those of differing opinion, I would like to propose another possibility.
“I would like to suggest that the supreme and lofty goal of profound, life transforming spiritual liberation is not only possible in this lifetime, but is in fact well within reach of anyone of reasonably sound mind and stable character.
“And that the reason it is not happening for the vast majority of those who are seeking it is that, for most of us, the context for our spiritual path is just too small. In a word, it’s still about us–our own fulfillment, our own happiness, even our own enlightenment.
“It’s not that we’re selfish people. Indeed, most spiritual seekers are among the most selfless people on the planet.
“The problem is that we’ve all been steeped in a contemporary spiritual subculture that tells us that the very reason we should follow a spiritual path is so that we can live happier, more fulfilled, more peaceful lives.
“And, as long as our own happiness is all we’re seeking, we’ll never awaken the depth of spiritual passion and conviction required to propel us into genuine transformation.
“That conviction can only arise when we realize that the spiritual path is not about us–but about participating in something far greater than ourselves.
“To paraphrase Andrew Cohen, imagine for a moment that the fate of the entire human race rested on your shoulders alone. That humanity’s evolution out of brute self-interest depended entirely on your willingness to transform your consciousness, to rise above your smallness, to evolve beyond your negative conditioning, and become an exemplar of humanity’s highest potential for the world.
“Imagine, in other words, that for you, evolving beyond ego became an evolutionary imperative.
“Would you approach your path any differently? Would the energy you brought to your spiritual practice intensify? Would the quality of awareness and care with which you approached your interactions with others become more profound?
“Would you find yourself reaching with inner muscles you didn’t even know you had to be awake to the depth you’ve tasted in your most profound spiritual moments?
“If you knew it all rested on you, would you have any choice but to change?
“The Indian sage Ramana Maharshi once said that the spiritual aspirant must want liberation like a drowning man wants air. But the painful truth is that even when we recognize that we are drowning spiritually, most of us don’t care enough to struggle to keep our head above water.
“The challenges of authentic spiritual transformation are so great that most of us will choose to continue suffering in our smallness over feeling the pain of allowing that smallness to die forever.
“But how many of us would do the same if we realized that it wasn’t only our own suffering we were perpetuating, but the suffering of the entire human race?
“Now, you may be thinking to yourself, ‘That’s a nice thought experiment. Sure, it makes me realize I could be more earnest on my path, but what does it really have to do with me? I’m no megalomaniac. I know that my transformation alone isn’t enough to
liberate the human race.’
“And it is here that I would ask you to reconsider.
“Modern science has in recent decades been verifying what the ancient traditions intuited long ago: that, in both tangible and
mysterious ways, we are all interconnected, and any one of us can have a profound effect on the whole.
“And, if you accept the perennial mystical teaching that, at the level of consciousness, we are not only interconnected, but are actually one Self seeing through many eyes, then it should be clear that, like it or not, in the way we conduct our inner and outer lives, each of us is in fact always having an effect on the whole.
“Add to that the reality that we are evolving beings living in an evolving universe, that we are all part of a grand, cosmic evolutionary process, and the question of our obligation to the whole starts to cut close to the bone.
“To reframe my earlier question: What would you do if you realized that the entire human endeavor, the evolution of consciousness itself, depended on your willingness to evolve your own consciousness?
“How would it affect the choices you make every day if you knew that those choices were, in a very real sense, either contributing to the evolution of the whole or holding it back?
“At this time when it seems that our very future depends on our willingness to evolve as a species, would you have any choice but to act in alignment with the greatest evolutionary good?
“The point I’m trying to make is that when we take a closer look at what spiritual transformation is actually for, it quickly becomes clear that the path of awakening is not primarily about freeing ourselves from suffering and securing our own happiness.
“Sure, that’s a nice by-product. But, as long as that’s all we’re seeking, we probably won’t get very far.
“Where the spiritual path really begins to get interesting is when we recognize that transforming ourselves in the deepest possible way is in fact an evolutionary imperative with profound consequences far beyond ourselves.
“When we begin to embrace the fact that our lives really are not our own to do with as we please, that in everything we do, we are in fact accountable to the Whole, something truly miraculous begins to happen.
“Faced with the palpable responsibility to transform for a greater good, we find that we suddenly have access to a seemingly infinite source of energy, intention, passion and courage to confront whatever challenges present themselves on our path.
“What’s more, all of the personal issues and problems, all of the fears and doubts and resistances that once seemed so insurmountable begin to seem a lot less significant.
“Why? Because our attention is now captivated by something much bigger than ourselves.
- Ignited by a noble calling to participate in the grand adventure of conscious evolution, we find we no longer have time to worry about ourselves. And in this freedom from self-concern, before long we discover that the deep inner peace and joy we were seeking all along has become the very ground we are walking on.
“To get a taste of the liberating context I’m pointing to, try the following experiments:
1) Before you meditate or engage in any spiritual practice, take 10 minutes to reflect on the profound significance of your practice. Ask yourself:
-Why do I need to awaken for myself?
-Why do other people need me to awaken?
-Why does God/evolution/humanity (your choice) need me to awaken?
“Allow yourself to feel deeply into the most authentic answer you can find. Then, invite that deeper answer to come forward as a clear and present intention to engage your spiritual practice wholeheartedly, as if the universe depended on it. And engage your practice from this deeper intention.
“Notice how this exercise impacts the quality of your spiritual practice.
2) When you encounter a challenging and emotionally charged situation in your life, before you respond, take a few minutes to ask yourself:
-What is the most enlightened or evolved response I could have in this situation?
-Why is it important for my own evolution for me to respond in the most enlightened, evolved way I can?
-Why does God/evolution/humanity (your choice) need me to respond in the most enlightened, evolved way I can?
“Allow yourself to feel into the larger significance of your response to this challenging moment. Ground yourself in an intention to show up as an exemplar of humanity’s potential. And then respond from this deeper intention.
“Notice how your perspective on the situation and your ability to show up changes when you approach it in this way.
“If the possibility of participating in conscious evolution inspires you, I invite you to join me for a 9-week journey into an evolutionary relationship to life.
“Our 9-week Telecourse starts on Tuesday. You can learn more and register at the link below:
Integral Enlightenment: Awakening to an Evolutionary Relationship to Life
To our evolution,
Craig Hamilton
Founder, Integral Enlightenment“
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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
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- Jack Kornfield's View on Enlightenments
- Jeff Foster--Liberation in the Midst of a Very Ordinary Life
- Craig Hamilton--An Introduction to Integral Enlightenment
- Evolutionary Spirituality--Knowing the Whole World as Holy
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