One day while talking to my dear friend, Ben, I came up with an incredible
idea for a new chapter for this book. The concept of the chapter would be an
outline of the fifteen major tests every Light worker must pass to attain
Self-realization. They are the crux of the negative ego's stranglehold over
the personality. If you master these fifteen the core of your battle with the
"Dweller on the Threshold" will be mastered. The fifteen major tests
are:
1. Power
9. False Pride
2. Fame
10. Anger
3. Money
11. Greed
4. Sexuality
12. Jealousy
5. Desire
13. Vanity
6. Attachment
14. Transcending Duality
7. Transcending Fear
15. Egotism
8. Selfishness
Power
The first major spiritual test for every Light worker is the issue of
power. The lesson here is either not owning it enough, or when you get it,
letting it go to your head. Personal power is the fundamental first key to
psychological health and spiritual growth. The ideal is to own it all the time
in a considerate manner never wavering. It is through owning your personal
power that Self-mastery over your energies takes place. You either own your
power or give it to other people and/or your subconscious mind, negative ego,
inner child, thoughts, emotions, desires and physical body.
On the other side of the coin one must have power but not to the repression of
the yin aspect of one's self. There must be the proper balance between the
masculine and feminine sides. They must work together as in a beautiful dance.
The real test of power comes when a person moves into leadership. Do they use
their power in service totally of the Christ Consciousness and love, or does
it become a manipulated power by the negative ego to control others. In
essence does the power over others in the leadership they have go to their
head. It is how many spiritual teachers, gurus, channels and psychics fail
this first most fundamental test. One of the tests is to see if you treat
people exactly the same as you did before you got the power you now hold.
Money
The next great test of the spiritual path is that of dealing with money.
Each of these tests is like a false god and idol, in a metaphysical sense. The
key question is whether Light workers will put the true presence of GOD always
first, and put these other lessor gods on the altar of sacrifice. This is the
true test of a Self-realized being. How attached are you to money? I am amazed
to see Light workers who are very much of the Christ Consciousness, except if
you cross them over money. The Christ Consciousness goes right out of the
window. It is like they are of the Christ Consciousness as long as you are
paying them a client fee. This is not true spirituality.
What happens to you when someone rips you off over money? How do you respond?
I am not saying that money is not important, for it is. It is not however more
important than GOD and the Christ Consciousness. If all your money and
material possessions were stripped away, how would you respond? Would you
retain your faith and righteousness in GOD? Many of these fifteen tests
dovetail together. When a Light worker or even non-Light worker moves into the
position of having a lot of money, the key question is does your personality
change? Do you still treat people in the same loving manner? How do you look
at people who do not have any money? Do you judge them or love them as you
would GOD and the Ascended Masters? If you don't then the negative ego's
interpretation of money has a hold on you.
GOD wants every person to have an abundant amount of money. It is not good
to be poor. Being poor is a product of negative ego poverty consciousness
programming. There is no judgment in being poor, but GOD would like everyone
to be millionaires. The reason why is so all His millionaires can give their
money and lives to help those in need. What does having a lot of money do to
your personality? How does this dovetail with the issue of power? You will
pass or fail on the spiritual path with such issues.
I would like to share a personal story that really brought this home to me.
I went through a lesson recently where I was potentially being ripped off for
an extremely large amount of money. This came as a total shock to me. I had
worked incredibly hard to develop this certain project and I was looking at
losing everything that could ultimately be as much as hundreds of thousands of
dollars. After recovering from a state of shock, I went through all the
possible reactions. It took me a little while but I got myself to a rather
divine indifferent attitude about the whole situation. I let go of my
attachment and discussed the matter extensively with the Masters. If I had to
sue this person I would. Ultimately, however, I really just surrendered the
situation into GOD's and the Master's hands and put my service work and the
Divine Plan first, over the money. My feeling was as long as GOD takes care of
me, even though I may get ripped off in one place, GOD will make it up to me
in another. I was actually surprised at my level of detachment over such a big
lesson.
About three days later I had a dream where I was walking on this path kind
of like in a fairy tale when I came to a metal platform where there was a deep
cavern below me. I became aware in the dream that this cavern was an oracle as
in the Oracle of Delphi. All of a sudden I heard a voice that said, "This
is the anointed one the world has been waiting for." In the dream I was
really taken aback by such an amazing statement. I was then guided to step off
the platform and before me was a table where I was guided. I had to pick one
item, kind of like the child who was the Dalai Lama had to pick to make sure
they were the true Dalai Lama. In my dream at the time I wasn't aware that
this was a spiritual test I was going through.
It turned out that the object I picked was the right one. I then found
myself walking with this very lovely woman and I was aware that I had chosen
GOD over money and material concerns. This dream had a very profound effect on
me. When I woke up I immediately had an association to this real life
situation where I had let go of my attachment to money. I know for a fact that
the dream was reflecting this on some level.
At the time of going through this real life lesson, I was not consciously
thinking about it as a spiritual test, but it was. As I was moving into major
planetary leadership I was being watched to see how I would respond to such
lessons. It is easy to forget at times that everything that happens in life
for everybody is a spiritual test.
I would much rather have GOD than attachment to money. This dream and
lesson has really imprinted this lesson on the core of my being and I feel
much more ready now for all such future lessons. These fifteen tests I speak
of in this chapter remind me in many ways of the lessons that initiates went
through in the Great Pyramid of Giza to become a Ptah or seventh level
Melchizedek. These are archetypal lessons we all must go through.
Fame
The next great test of the spiritual path is the issue of fame. The three
great tests of power, money and fame are all very interconnected. The question
here is what happens to the personality when fame and worldly recognition is
achieved? How does this change the personality? Does one start treating others
differently? Does one start treating others like lower class citizens? Does
the fame go to one's head and just inflate one's ego? How does one use the
fame - for self-glory, or as an opportunity to be of greater service? Does the
fame allow for an opening for the negative ego?
The problem with Earth life is most people who move into fame and worldly
recognition are not equipped psychologically to deal with it. This applies to
both Earthly personages and a great many of the spiritual leaders. They often
are highly developed spiritually or psychically but not as developed
psychologically in terms of having control over the negative ego, inner child,
desire body, emotional body and the likes. The key with all these tests is to
remain exactly the same as you were before power, money, and fame were
achieved. These blessings by GOD should be used for His purposes. Know that
they are on loan and if they are misused they will be taken away.
Attachment
To achieve Self-realization, happiness, inner peace, success, happy
relationships, and GOD-realization all attachments and addictions must be let
go of. As Buddha said, "All suffering comes from attachment." It is
amazing all the things we get attached to. All negative emotions can be traced
to attachment. All failed relationships can be traced to attachment. To pass
the fourth initiation, in its fullest sense of the term one must become a
"renunciate", which means living in this world but not of this
world. One must learn to have super-strong preferences in life but not
attachments. The nature of preference is that you go after them with all your
heart and soul and mind and might but if you don't get them you are still
happy.
In matters of love, that which you share and then let go of will come back if
it is meant to be. If it doesn't come back it is not GOD's will. This is the
law of life. That which you try and hold onto you lose. This is one of the key
principles in understanding the laws of manifestation.
Whatever you are attached or addicted to in life no matter what it is, be
it people, material things, future events, sex, money, ad infinitum, change
these things to preferences. Some go too far in the other direction and become
totally detached with no preferences. This is not good either for they are not
involved in life. It is important to have a total passion for life and for all
your goals, preferences and priorities, but the key is to be happy and have
inner peace regardless of what happens, instead of fighting life. This whole
lesson is truly the fourth great spiritual test of the spiritual path.
Sexuality
The fifth great test deals with the issue of sexuality. Are you the master
of your sexuality or is it the master of you? Does the flow of your sexuality
serve the lower self or the Higher Self? Who comes first GOD or sexuality? Are
you moderate in your sexual practices? Does your sexuality serve love and
intimacy or just materialistic animal pleasure? Does your sexuality serve just
a selfish purpose, or a selfless purpose? Is your sexuality being used also
for the raising of your kundalini and brain illumination or just for a second
chakra release?
These are all key questions Light workers need to ask themselves with
devastating honesty. There is no judgment if it is being slightly misused. As
you become aware of this just make the appropriate adjustment and spiritual
vow to correct the imbalance. Life is nothing more than making continual
adjustments and attitudinal and physical corrections to bring oneself
constantly back to inner peace and the appropriate Tao. Mistakes are not bad,
only uncorrected conscious mistakes become a problem. The idea is to learn by
grace instead of karma. To learn the easy way instead of by the school of hard
knocks.
Sexuality is a wonderful thing and was created by GOD to be enjoyed as a
communication device in service of love. Sexuality is not bad. It becomes
negative however when it is used by the lower self, or carnal self, or
negative ego. Use it in service of the Higher Self, and love, and it becomes a
most sacred consecration.
One of the great tests of the spiritual path in regards to sexuality also
comes when one achieves power, money, fame. How does one deal with their
sexuality then? A great many spiritual teachers have fallen when confronted
with this lesson. They use their position of power to have sex with their
students and/or devotees. We have also seen several Fundamentalist ministers
fall in this way. This lesson applies to Eastern and Western Masters alike. We
have all heard stories of well-known New Age and Eastern masters who have
degraded their standing in this regard. Let this be a lesson to us all!!!
Desire
The next great test of the spiritual path is the transcendence of desire.
This is the main precept of all Eastern teachings and the main precept of
Buddhism as well. This is a confusing point for many Light workers. What is
meant by this is that one must transcend lower self desire, for it is the
mother of all negative ego qualities. All lower self desire should be
transformed to Higher Self desire. Many Light workers being confused on this
point try to block all desire which is not appropriate or good. It is good to
have a desire to ascend, or a desire to achieve liberation, or to be of
service. Even Melchizedek and all the inner plane Ascended Masters continue to
strive for greater and greater levels of spiritual growth. Transform lower
self desire into desire for GOD-realization. This is the ticket to Paradise!!!
Anger
The definition of anger is that it is "A lack of control and attempt
to regain it." If you think about it this is really true. The misuse of
anger deals with the misuse of power. The late, great Edgar Cayce in his
source channelings spoke of positive anger versus negative anger. Everyone
needs what might be called positive anger. This is like being the spiritual
warrior in life or manifesting tough love with self or others when needed.
Anger in essence is ego and this is a fact. Instead of getting rid of anger,
it should be channeled properly, for there is enormous power in anger. This is
what is meant by positive anger. It is anger channeled in Christ Consciousness
directions.
Anger when not used in a completely unconditionally loving manner is an attack
and for that reason it is wrong. It is never appropriate or right to attack a
brother or sister. To hurt another is to hurt GOD and in truth oneself. People
who are angry all the time are demonstrating lack of true personal power and
consistent Self-mastery. Anger creates separation. The purpose of life is to
retain oneness at all times, not separation. Cultivate personal power, a
spiritual warrior attitude, and toughness in life but not anger. Chronic anger
will debilitate your liver function, among other things. Anger stems from
attachment and not looking at things as lessons in life. It also stems from an
inability to transcend duality.
When things bother you in your relationships most definitely share them,
but do it in a loving and respectful manner. Anger without unconditional love
is negative anger and should be controlled at all costs. There is no such
thing as righteous anger. Righteous anger is a delusion of the negative ego.
Anger is such a critical lesson in life for it comes up every time life
doesn't go the way we want it to go. We all know how often this occurs. The
anger is developing as Buddha said from, "Wrong points of view." It
is not in life, it is in our attitude towards life. Someone who is angry all
the time is angry because they are fighting life instead of working with life
and learning from life. Anger is caused by faulty thinking as all negative
emotions are.
When one moves into positions of power, fame, and money the proper control
of this energy is even more important, for a great many people are in your
spiritual care. When anger arises channel it into cleaning your house,
exercising, transformative journal writing, meditating. Use the enormous power
in anger as an alchemical process to create GOD-realization. Do not judge self
when anger arises but take responsibility that you are creating it. Do not
take it out on others or self, or "karma" will be incurred!!!
Transcending Fear
This lesson should have been first on the list. If there had to be one word
that describes negative ego more than any other it is fear. If there is one
word that describes the Christ Consciousness more than any other it is love.
There are in truth only two emotions in life: love and fear. All other
positive and negative emotions at their core have these as their basis. To
understand fear is to see that it is projected attack. When we attack others
we live in fear by the Law of Karma operating in your own mind. This is why A
Course In Miracles says to give up all your attack thoughts.
Probably the greatest test of the spiritual path is to learn to release all
core fear and to replace it with core love. When you have released all fear
you have released and transcended negative ego consciousness. The releasing of
fear is also tied to having faith in GOD and Self. This is why Edgar Cayce
said, "Why worry when you can pray."
A Course In Miracles says there are no neutral thoughts. All thoughts are
either fear based or love based. This is why it is of the utmost importance to
deny all thoughts not of GOD to enter your mind. It is also why it is so
important to affirm and visualize only thoughts of GOD and the Christ
Consciousness to enter your mind.
One of the great dispensations of the 20th century given to us by the
Ascended Masters has been the "Core Fear Matrix Removal Program". I
spoke of this in my book Beyond Ascension. With the Ascended Masters help this
advanced technology can remove all the core fear programs from this life and
all your past lives in a matter of months if you will work with this tool on a
regular basis. No lesson in life or the spiritual path is more important than
transcending negative ego consciousness and replacing it with the Christ
Consciousness!!! The transcending of fear is the great spiritual work of the
spiritual path!!!
Selfishness
The next great test of the spiritual path is the transcending of
selfishness and self-centeredness. This is truly the scourge of the Earth. It
is amazing to me sometimes to see how some of the major spiritual teachers and
very high level initiates still see life through the lens of selfishness. This
stems from their high level development in spiritual things, but weak
development on the psychological level. They often have not learned to parent
their inner child properly. When one allows themselves to be run by the inner
child they are going to be very selfish as all children are by definition.
This also stems from also just not ever being trained in the difference
between negative ego thinking and Christ thinking. In my experience I have
found most Light workers being extremely weak in this area. This is not a
judgment just a clarion call I am putting out to my readers to develop this as
high as possible within Self and then train others to do the same. We don't
have enough spiritual counselors doing this kind of work.
We all must learn to let go of our own selfish lens, and see the bigger
picture. We must learn to wear the moccasins of our brothers and sisters. We
must learn to embrace the opposite of selfishness which is selflessness and
helping others. The quality of total and complete selflessness is the sign of
the true spiritual Master. This doesn't mean that at times the true spiritual
Master isn't spiritually selfish. The key principle here is that they are
spiritually selfish, not negative egotistically selfish. This may come into
play in terms of having proper boundaries, or the need to be impersonally
loving at times, or just taking care of the physical body so one doesn't burn
oneself out in doing service work. The true spiritual Master's consciousness
sees everything out of the group body and not out of the lens of just the
inner child, negative ego and physical body.
False Pride
The lesson here can be summed up in the biblical statement, "After
pride cometh the fall." This is one of the great tests that comes with
power, fame, and money. Will the ego become inflated? Will the personality
fill itself with self aggrandizement and self-glorification? It is in my
opinion the number one cause of all fallen Light workers. It is a danger no
matter what your level of initiation, and whether you have achieved your
ascension or not. It is something every Light worker on planet Earth must be
constantly vigilant against. What we are dealing with here is really the
superiority and inferiority complex. Fritz Pearls coined this "The
Topdog-Underdog
Complex".
The other side of false pride is what I call negative humility. It is just as
bad as false pride. More Light workers are caught up in the bottom side of the
negative ego than the top side. This is inferiority complex, low self-esteem,
lack of self worth, poor self concept, feeling undeserving and the likes. It
is as much an illusion as false pride is. The key to inner peace is to
transcend duality in this regard. Both the superiority and inferiority must be
transcended to release oneself from the negative ego's grasp. As Fritz Pearls
said, "Laugh them off the stage." To be stuck in either one is to
stay stuck in both of them.
The issue of transcending duality is one of the least understood concepts
of the spiritual path.There is another way of thinking beyond the duality of
ego which is called Christ Consciousness. It is so unfortunate to see on this
Earth incredible spiritual teachers, seventh degree initiates, and fantastic
channels, be taken over by this self-aggrandizement and self-glorification. No
matter how great these teachings, channelings or books, it completely poisons
the work and creates a push-pull dynamic among the students. These great
spiritual teachers who are bringing through some incredible energies and
information, become synonymous with ego instead of the glory of GOD and it is
tragic. It is something we all need to learn from and we all need to
constantly be on guard for. The negative ego is incredibly tricky and
seductive and can enter in the slightest moment any one of us goes on
automatic pilot.
Greed
Greed is truly a vile quality. Instead of being satisfied with our puzzle
piece that GOD has for us, the negative ego quality of greed would have us try
to acquire other people's pieces in GOD's Plan. This can be in relationship to
money, but in truth goes far beyond just money or material things. It can be
greed for power, fame, spiritual things, even greed for spiritual growth.
There was a book by Trungpa that was called Spiritual Materialism that spoke
of such things. The negative ego and the spoiled inner child always wants. It
is a product of being run by the negative ego or astral body.
Instead of focusing on what one can give the negative ego focuses on what it
can get. It can apply to spiritual information, trying to greedily save it for
self and not share it with others. It usually connects with competition,
jealousy and envy. In truth that which we greedily hold onto we will
ultimately lose. In truth we retain only that which we give away. This is the
law of life!!!
Transcending Duality
Transcending duality goes far beyond just transcending the topdog-underdog
complex. It applies to all aspects of life. As I have already stated, in my
opinion it is the least understood concept on the entire spiritual path for
Light workers. The key here is to see that third and fourth dimensional
consciousness focuses on duality and polarity. When one moves into fully
realized fifth dimensional consciousness and beyond, it is seen that there is
a way of thinking called the Christ Consciousness or Buddha Consciousness,
that can transcend dualistic thinking while still being fully involved with
life. Negative ego always has two sides to it. This can be seen and most
clearly understood in the Eastern teachings of such Masters as Sai Baba,
Parmahansa Yogananda, and Lord Krishna. In the Bhagavad Gita Krishna states
that when you have profit or loss, pleasure or pain, sickness or heath,
victory or defeat, success or failure, remain the same.
Sai Baba calls this equal mindedness. Krishna calls it evenmindedness and
equanimity. In learning to transcend duality we don't have to be tossed around
on a continual roller coaster of emotional highs and lows. There is a way of
thinking called the Christ Consciousness that allows one to be unceasingly the
same, always in your power, always loving, always happy, always evenminded,
always equanimous, always in joy, in inner peace, forgiving, and unchanging
regardless of the fluctuation of the dualities of life. This is the
consciousness of the GOD Self. This allows you to remain the same whether
people praise you or vilify you.
This is possible because the negative ego does not become engaged. The
storms and fluctuations of outer life do not effect the stability and
evenmindedness of your thinking process. It is not what is going on outside of
life which should be your concern but rather our attitude towards what is
going on inside of life. One person can lose a million dollars and jump out
the window of a building. This is the power of one simple thought. Are you
optimistic or pessimistic? Do you see the donut or the hole?
Everything in life is perception, interpretation and your belief system.
The whole purpose of this book is nothing more than a course in attitudinal
healing, to create a pole shift or shift in your thinking from fear based
thought and emotions, to love based thoughts and emotions. Your salvation is
up to you, not up to GOD. GOD has given you everything from the beginning. The
question is will you give yourself salvation by releasing your negative ego
completely and fully 100% embracing the Christ Consciousness!!!
Jealousy
Jealousy stems from insecurity and attachment and hence the need to compete
with others instead of to cooperate. Jealousy is totally of the negative ego
and should be released at all cost for it is not of GOD. It is connected also
with the negative ego quality of envy. We have all heard the term "green
with envy". It is very much connected with greed and selfishness. The
main point here is to again be connected to group consciousness and one's
identity with all creation. One's true identity is the Eternal Self, not the
physical body and personality. This connects one with all creation, and all
creation with oneself. In realizing this truth every happiness and benefit
another achieves is your happiness. Every suffering of another is your
suffering and vice versa. One's identity is GOD rather than self. This is a
great lesson of the spiritual path.
The spiritual path is really quite easy to understand. If you want to be with
GOD in heaven then act like Him. Would GOD be jealous if another had more
leadership, power, fame, or money? I think you can see the absurdity of such a
thought and the absurdity of such emotions. Would GOD compete with another
over a relationship? As I said earlier, you state your preferences in life and
then let go. If it is meant to be it will come back, and if it isn't meant to
be, then so much the better. Be happy for another person's joy. The key to
life is to recognize your puzzle piece, for GOD created each person
differently and for a different function!!!
Vanity
Djwhal Khul guided me to add the negative ego quality of having too much
vanity. There is nothing wrong in life with taking care of one's physical body
and wanting to look nice and attractive. The key lesson here is whether this
desire to present an attractive appearance is governed by the soul or the
negative ego. Truly examine your deepest motivations and intent in this
regard. It is important to have good grooming habits, and to be clean, and
present a nice appearance, and to wear appropriate clothes. Are you doing it
to stand out and be better than others? Are you doing it as a seduction of
some kind? Do you spend too much time looking in the mirror and too much time
in the bathroom over vain pursuits? Some people don't spend enough time on
these matters and others spend too much time. They are both mistakes of
omission and commission. Be moderate in this regard. Be clear on what you are
trying to present. Are you presenting Godliness in your appearance or
slovenliness or glamour in the extreme. Be honest with yourself in this regard
with no judgment and make appropriate adjustments where needed!!!
Egotism
The final major test of the spiritual path is that of egotism. Egotism goes
beyond even pride to really encompass all negative ego qualities and emotions.
There really is only one problem in life for all incarnated and non-incarnated
souls and that is egotism. There is only one answer to all the problems of
humanity and that is the Christ/Buddha Consciousness. This is why Sai Baba
states that the definition of GOD is, "GOD equals man minus ego"!!!
If you want to realize GOD you must transcend your negative ego with all its
negative attributes, qualities and emotions.
Your ego is the source of all the spiritual tests I have mentioned, and the
source of all lower self desire. It is the source of all separation, fear and
selfishness. It is the source of all disease. It is the premiere lesson every
soul must learn. The key to inner peace is to deny every thought that is not
of GOD or is of the negative ego to enter your mind. Affirm and place your
attention on every thought and emotion that is of GOD and is of the
Christ/Buddha Consciousness. It is through this practice of attitudinal
healing that your subconscious mind and conscious thinking will be
reprogrammed and form a new habit. Your subconscious mind is as happy to be
programmed with the Christ/Buddha Consciousness as it is the negative ego
consciousness. It doesn't care because it has no reasoning. It is your job as
the conscious mind to reprogram your subconscious mind in this manner.
Many Light workers spend too much time focusing on the Ascended Masters and
do not spend enough time cleansing their mind and emotions of the
psychological or negative ego thoughts, emotions and attributes. The Ascended
Masters and angels will not get rid of your negative ego. That is your job. It
is done very simply by not giving your attention to it. You don't need to get
mad at it for in truth it doesn't really exist. It is not really there. You
just think it is. It is nothing more than a bad dream. It manifests on the
mental plane as illusion. Its manifest on the astral plane as glamour and on
the etheric plane as maya.
It has been called many things In some schools of thought it is called the
lower self. In other schools of thought it is called the "dweller on the
threshold". In still other schools of thought, the personality and in
others just "ego", as opposed to "negative ego". In my
personal opinion I think the best term to call it is the negative ego. If
there is just one quality that describes it most succinctly it is
"separation consciousness". A Course In Miracles states that there
is only one problem in life and that is separation from GOD. In truth we have
never been or will ever be separate. This is illusion. The law of the mind
however is that whatever we think is the reality we live in. The world is
living in a mass negative hypnosis of separation that does not exist in
reality. As A Course In Miracles says, "The fall never happened, we just
think it did." This is the great law of life. In this moment wakeup from
the bad dream and nightmare you have lived for many lifetimes and realize the
truth that passeth all understanding.
"Nothing real can be threatened, nothing unreal exists.
Herein lies the peace of GOD."
(Introduction to A Course In Miracles)
For a free information packet on Dr. Stone’s books, tapes, workshops and
the Melchizedek Synthesis Light Academy services, please call or write Dr.
Stone at the following phone numbers and address:
Dr. Joshua David Stone
The Melchizedek Synthesis Light Academy
28951 Malibu Rancho Rd.
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
Ph: (818) 706-8458 Fax: (818) 706-8540
Please visit his website at: http://www.drjoshuadavidstone.com
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