I’ve seriously contemplated for many months whether I should “come out” about my awakening. I considered quietly carrying on without anybody knowing, as many do. Until now, I feel that I’ve done this, and it’s been wonderful and interesting. But an internal knowing (as well as a dear friend’s counsel) keeps gnawing at me, pushing me to take the next step in my journey – to share my findings with others.
When my awakening first occurred, I did share some experiences with a few trusted family members and friends and unsurprisingly received mixed responses. I don’t expect anything different by disclosing this here, nor do I mind whatever response may come. I understand that awakening is an altogether strange deal.
A new possibility
I offer my testament because I want people to know the truth about awakening. Having been on both sides of the aisle, I understand how difficult it is to conceive of another way to live, and I want you to know that it’s possible. Even if you already do, there is so much in our environment that works against any pursuit of Truth; it’s like the tale of Sisyphus who had to roll a giant boulder up a hill only to have it roll down again. It’s not surprising that many of us give up before reaching the top.
However, I believe it’s clear to anybody who stays minimally informed about current events that our world is in disarray and apparently getting worse, and no one seems to have the answers for solving our deeply-entrenched systemic imbalances. At the very least, it looks like the necessary actions are not yet taking place on a large scale.
Speaking plainly, I have no intention of wading into dogmatic or political waters, or setting myself up as someone who has all the answers. I simply care enough to add my vision to a growing body of voices who share a similar vantage point. From my perspective, it is obvious why humanity is currently in the state that it’s in: on a global scale we are operating from an ego-centric consciousness.
An awakened world
Frankly, as I grapple with the implications of my own awakening, it’s impossible not to imagine how things could be if the majority of humans on the planet were awake, especially those in leadership positions. Barring some sort of miracle, it’s highly unlikely I will see such a reality in my lifetime, but I do want to reiterate that on an individual scale, egoless consciousness is available for all peoples, regardless of age, race, gender, class, religion, or any other such distinction. Awakening does not discriminate; it is what we already are.
A mass awakening wouldn’t necessarily mean that everybody would like each other. People would still disagree on any number of personal, social, political, and spiritual issues just as they do now. Our individual differences and preferences would remain as varied as the number of people on Earth. In this kind of world, however, people would care for one another because they would sense their shared beingness. We would likely see no war and experience a significant reduction in destructive selfishness. Laws and moral codes would be much less relevant since each person would abide by their internal compassionate guidance system – their conscience and intuition – which would be informed by the recognition that everything is One. It would be inconceivable to intentionally harm another living being without feeling as if you were harming your own self. A more conscious world would demonstrate higher levels of love, trust, and respect, and create spaces for traditional and innovative ideas alike to flourish.
In a sufficiently evolved civilization, systems that don’t work would be replaced with relatively little resistance (certainly with no bloodshed) by ones that do work, because the collective consciousness would naturally foment it. There may still be dissent, but it wouldn’t be for personal reasons such as greed or power, but for the highest good of all. Resources would be abundant as they already are, but they would be distributed more cooperatively and equitably, since approximately 80% of the world’s resources would not be consumed by 20% of the population, as they are now. If an individual or nation were lacking in resources, others would come to their aid without fear of loss. When one is in touch with their own divinity, one sees it everywhere; all of life becomes sacred and valued by virtue of its existence. Each of us would consider the whole planet as our home and the entire human race as our extended family.
A global shift in consciousness would have ripple effects on every level. The world we currently see is a reflection of where we are operating from, both individually and collectively. If we want things to resemble the vision above, then the solution is to increase our level of awareness. The more we progress individually, the more the totality is improved. In my view, it’s incumbent upon each of us to prioritize our evolution and do the best we can in the time allotted to us, for our own sake and for the benefit of our loved ones, communities, the planet, and future generations, which ultimately is our own Self.
A way to serve
In this spirit, I feel called to assist those who desire to awaken and wish to help them understand what they are seeking so they don’t get lost in the weeds. I also know that there are people currently awakening who may need some support stabilizing in and/or integrating their newfound place in consciousness. It is one thing to realize your true nature, and it is another thing to embody it.
Awakening can also sometimes bring unresolved psychological issues to the surface. For those who have been immersed in a spiritual path for a long time but have never given much attention to their mental or emotional nature, this may be the case. I know that there are people out there looking to understand and align their psychospiritual makeup; this is one aspect of how I serve.
That being said, it’s helpful to acknowledge that the pursuit of awakening is not for everyone. In some cases, it may demand a level of commitment and resilience that just doesn’t work for people. In other cases, it might require a certain measure of guidance and responsibility so that unforeseen issues don’t arise. Maybe you enjoy life the way it is, or you have no interest in discovering the unity of your being, or you don’t even believe it’s possible. I respect that. We are all on unique journeys, and our diverse paths and perspectives make life beautiful.
For those of you who are interested, I want to encourage you. I want you to know that you can realize your true nature if you so desire, that you can partake in a life without suffering and build toward a better world, that you can achieve your potential and create your own fate. And I want you to know that, no matter what, you can be happy and free.