by Matthew Webb
Human evolution is a natural process
with infinite potentials. We are not yet a finished product! In fact,
there is no limit to the levels of evolution we can achieve, both as
individuals and as a world society. We have within our capacity the
ability to guide our own development as consciousness beings, and many of
us are doing exactly that. Humanity as a sum total however, seems to be
limited by its own concepts of life and right living. The only real
limitations upon our continued growth as a species, are those concepts we
continue to impose upon each succeeding generation.
It would seem that our ideas about
progress, prosperity, and successful living are getting in the way of our
own true development. In fact, our lives are largely molded by how we
define the words "progress" and "prosperity". In the
modern world we find that "progress" is often defined in terms
of building bigger supermarkets, shopping malls, and schools, as well as
the inventing of "higher" technologies, trade agreements,
industries and social institutions. "Greater prosperity" is
viewed as the making of more dollars per fiscal year, or the raising of
the so-called "standard of living" of communities and nations.
But are these things really an authentic measure of progress and
prosperity? Do they really contribute to a more successful standard of
living? To answer these questions we must look beyond current social
views, and consult with the spiritual center, (soul) of our being. By
silently observing our innermost selves, we find the vast and largely
untapped potentials of the noble human spirit. When we meditate and pray,
there arises a completely different perception of life, which has nothing
to do with stock portfolios, resumes, club memberships, formal education
or the adherence to "consumer spending" trends. Upon deep
reflection we find that the meaning of life and of truth is far deeper
than the corporate status quo would have us believe.
The inherent condition of the human mind
is genius. Our natural intuitiveness, insight and flexibility are easily
observed in any child, who has been allowed to freely use their minds
without cultural inhibitions. Our natural wisdom is found reflected in the
Native peoples of the world, one that comes with a knowledge of plants,
animals, herbal medicines, practical spirituality and a deep perception
into the purpose of life. It is the natural reaction of the child to
express love and friendship to the stranger, as an automatic form of
spiritual expression. But in all of the above examples, the word
"natural" is the key to understanding true human progress.
Through natural laws, (which are also spiritual laws) we learn the reality
of the Cosmos of which we are a part. True human progress is not defined
by the physical structures or institutions we can build, it is found in
the natural, spiritual advancement of every human being. It is not our
creations which need to be fundamentally improved, it is the creator
within which must be elevated according to Cosmic Designs. True prosperity
is not found through money or the material things it can buy, it is found
through the exquisite joy, profound clarity and deep wisdom of self
realization. Self realization also becomes the realization of the
brotherhood and sisterhood of all people in unity, and within the context
of That which is called God. Self realization also demonstrates that
Nature, like humanity, is governed by universal constants to which the
human species must apply itself, or suffer the penalty of every failed
experiment of evolution….extinction..
Our task in this modern age is to return
to nature and natural ways, as a very authentic form of spiritual
practice. In so doing we apply ourselves to the Cosmic principles of
living, which recognize no international boundaries, ethnic differences,
religious dogmas or political parties. By following the laws already
established by nature, we supersede the petty distinctions of courts,
popes, emperors, kings and presidents, in favor of the sweet fruits of
universal Truth. But how can we accomplish this glorious task, this real
purpose of life and enlightenment, while materialism is still the foremost
world religion? How can we find God, our own souls and real prosperity, so
long as the Almighty Dollar is worshipped as Divine? We cannot. We cannot
simultaneously worship money, the official corporate religion of Western
society, and still devote our lives to universal Truth. For what use is
money and material possessions, when we are destroying each other and the
Earth to gain them? For what use is an empire of material wealth, when our
minds are in an artificially induced confusion, our bodies stressed to the
limit by unnatural goals, and our lives lived in a social environment
dominated by fear and lackingness? Clearly, we must culturally redefine
what prosperity and progress really mean, not in the context of a profit
oriented media, but in the context of a vast, intelligent and creative
universe of which we are a reflection.
A global revolution of social values is
now poised to emerge, like a butterfly from its cocoon. The transformation
of Old World material ideals, to the New World of spiritual lifestyle has
the greatest chance for success, now in this present age. At no other time
in history has the human race been more ready for a change. The people of
the world are realizing that must find the real meaning of life and right
living beyond cultural norms and expectations. They are realizing for
instance, that they are not humans having spiritual experiences, but
spirits having human experiences. Nature, like the human body, is being
remembered as a sacred temple for spiritual growth, rather than as a
"resource" for material exploitation. People are being viewed
not in terms of their "credentials" or resumes, but as centers
of consciousness who are capable of performing what has been considered
miraculous. Society is finally being recognized not as a collection of
warring states, but as parts of a global organism which is inseparably
united. In this realization the meditator finds that the sufferings and
loves of their fellow human beings, are theirs to experience every moment
of every day.
Above all else, the highest priority in
life must remain Truth itself. The spiritually responsible person does not
ask, "What is it that I want to hear?", or "What is it that
makes me feel comfortable?" Instead, the truly spiritual person asks,
"What is true and what is not?" The truth of our world society
is that it is in serious trouble, and it simply does not matter who likes
this fact or not. What matters now is what we as individuals and groups do
about this world crisis. The immediate remedy to crisis is a change of
lifestyle. In the modern world we find that the stress of unnatural living
is our greatest foe. Why is it unnatural? Because it is based upon the
worship of money and material things, far and above real need. We suffer
because we seek material goals instead of spiritual ones. One of our first
tasks as spiritually minded persons, is therefore to reject this
materialistic world society in which we live, in favor of the precepts of
natural law. We must reject materialism as the state religion, in order to
dedicate our lives to the greater evolution of self, and the human species
as a whole. Materialism is an ideological disease, and until we are cured
of it there can be no realistic hope of genuine progress or prosperity. We
may invent higher and higher technologies and new political methods, but
these will never actually improve the quality of living so long as their
implementation remains unenlightened. Any system of management remains
only as effective as the persons who participate in it. Our best
opportunity for personal and social improvement is therefore one of inner
transformation. Outer revolution rests squarely upon the advance of inner
evolution.
Inner evolution involves the expansion
of consciousness. Every single thing we do and the manner in which we do
it, is dependent upon our state of consciousness at that moment. This is
why meditation is so important, because it is the premium tool for self
change. In meditation we realize that we are not the thoughts, images or
feelings which run through our being. Our true identity is that which
creates those thoughts, feelings and images to start with. That creator
within is none other than consciousness itself. Not surprisingly, all of
nature is also composed of consciousness, and in meditation the
realization I AM THAT spontaneously arises at a critical point in
spiritual practice. When this happens we realize that the consciousness
within, is the same in essence as the consciousness in all persons, all
life, and in fact, all existence. Our reality is that we are not only in
contact with God, but that WE ARE A PART OF GOD, just as cells are a part
of our body. We also begin to realize that consciousness is a shared
"substance", one that makes it possible for people to "tune
in" to each other all the time. We feel the emotions of others, and
very often experience their thoughts as well.. The ocean of
electromagnetic impulses in which we live carries thoughts, feelings and
intentions just as readily as radio and television waves. In recognizing
this truth, we are given a hint as to how we may transform the World Mind
of humanity in which we live.
Through meditation we are afforded an
opportunity to SELF EVOLVE or in other words, expand our consciousness. In
the group setting this potential is made even more pronounced via the
group mind principle. In short, the group mind principle of Nature states
that; the resulting force generated from the combining of like minds,
is geometrically greater than the sum of its parts. In other words,
minds which are focused together upon a common theme, create a mutual
force which is not merely additive, but vastly more powerful than any one
individual. Through this force of combined, spiritually oriented
consciousness, we may reshape the landscape of social events. As we
combine out mutual, inner force with a change of lifestyle, (from
materialism to spiritual growth) there is literally nothing that the human
species cannot accomplish.
You can e-mail the author
Matthew
Webb or visit the website of The
World Mind Society
