Spiritual Evolution

         The student of the material world pores over his textbooks night and day, working, working, always working... using almost every last brain cell to assimilate this material knowledge that someone else has already discovered and confirmed—this knowledge that hundreds of thousands in the world are already aware of.  If he would only take a year away from textbooks, a year spent in quiet study of the world around him—wherever he may be—he would realize what precious bounties of knowledge naturally occur.  He would perhaps make a myriad new discoveries of his own, just by living his life in contemplation—discoveries very few people have consciously assimilated.  And it would take so much less effort than what he did at his college.  Assimilation of the natural discoveries is as smooth and effortless as a gently flowing stream, whereas memorization of facts and accumulation of learning from books requires constant diversions of that stream.  The surface is absolutely disturbed with ripples and waves as it flows quickly through an ever-changing terrain filled with boulders, tree trunks, and other obstacles.  And what will come of all of this book-knowledge?  He will be able to speak “intelligently” with others in his “club of the book-learned,” but he is so exhausted from his work that the fire of his heart has been reduced to a few hot coals.  He does not attract the hearts of those whom he admires; he is sought out by prideful persons who engage in despicable behaviors.  After all this time of “learning,” he knows not how to achieve what his heart most desires to achieve.  He can surely make money in this world—he has little doubt about that—but what will he do with it?  Further, he craves silence and stillness and peace, yet is also afraid to look back on his past, which he knows the stillness will lead him to.  Truly, he is afraid of so much.  His book-learning has not really served to allay any fears.  It has made him confident only in conversations concerning this knowledge; and sadly, he finds himself somewhat tired of discussing these topics.  In his heart of hearts he recognizes that only discussion of a more spiritual nature will truly serve him now.  And he desperately longs for it.  Yet with all the distractions around him, he cannot vocalize what it is that he wants.  It is not a part of his consciousness.

         He is groping in the dark, bumping his shins on the furniture, and has no idea how he might turn a light on.  He knows not where the switch is located, or even if a switch exists.  Other people comfortably walk through the room but only give him the subtlest hints as to how he might find his own way.  He mistakenly moves around quickly, frantically sometimes—even desperately—and only hurts himself.  Truly, people are somewhat repelled by him.  He must learn to relax, to listen to the inner voice of truth which he has shut out for so very long.  He must learn to take one tentative step after another, always contemplating his progress.  He must ask the right questions to the people he encounters; but even more, he must learn to ask them in a way that is deeply respectful, in an attitude which contains no insistence on receiving an answer.  Once he has achieved all of this, he will realize that the light that he so dearly needs can be produced within himself.  It is the fire of his heart, and it shows him the way around the furniture just as a lamp would.  And it is more constant.  If he was shown how to turn a lamp on in that room, or where the switch was, he would be satisfied for a time; but he would hesitate to go into any other room, much less out into nature.  He wouldn't know where the switch was located in that other room; he would feel quite dependent on his present situation.  He would lack courage. 

         He has not been shown how to turn on the lamp of the dark room.  Little by little, with the help of those around him, he has built up his own spiritual fire, his own inner light.  Now he may go anywhere, knowing he will find his way.  He is not reliant on material things, nor the people around him.  He is thoroughly able to function, peacefully and with courage, in any situation.  He receives knowledge directly from the Source of all knowledge, every day.  It is knowledge that pertains perfectly to his present situation in life.  He gathers it not from books, but from the inner voice which he has now grown accustomed to listening to.  Moments of silent contemplation are now ordinary to him, and he no longer forces his brain cells to move in any particular way.  In fact, sometimes he even feels that he is not using his brain at all. 

         This spiritual aspirant is now finding himself able to attract the people to him whom he wishes to attract.  He is also achieving some of his deepest heart-wishes.  He feels a sense of fulfillment in his life, a sense that he is doing significant things; where before, he was doing so much and yet feeling that it was all meaningless.  He has grand dreams about where he might go and what he might do.  His imagination and aspirations are limitless. 

         This person feels little desire to return to his life the way it was before the start of this “spiritual evolution.”  His stream flows so smoothly now; his life is full of meaning.  He looks back on his book-learning days as if remembering a nightmare.  He shudders and looks around him at all the beauty everywhere, so relieved that he has woken up.  He only misses the people he has left behind.  In his life-journey, he was required to break ties with some.  Many had broken ties with him, previously, in their own spiritual evolutions.  When he finally awoke out of his nightmare, he found himself surrounded by people he recognized deeply, in a way he couldn't quite understand; but in the worldly sense, they were strangers.  Rebuilding the ties from his past was not a feasible option.  At times he even found himself considering a life of materialism, in the desperation of regaining those friends.  But eventually he knew it was not to be.  How could he give up the beauty, the light, the fulfillment, the glory of his life?  No, he must plod along and let life take him where it would.  He would remain unattached to outcomes, and accept—always accept—his present situation. 

         What would come of this man?  What shape would his life finally take?  He would forge ahead—way ahead—in his true field of interest, whether it be science, art, mathematics, human relations, agriculture, or basket-weaving.  He would perceive deep, important truths concerning that field, truths that might be taught to students someday.  He would never give up his life of peace and satisfaction.  Surely, there would be times when he would struggle, when he would despair, when he would be afraid.  But he would always come out of those times, regain his footing, allow his heart's fire to be rekindled, and once again forge on to more new discoveries.  He would always end up living in a manner that resonates with the deepest wishes of his heart, thus advancing the world of humanity and civilization to the greatest possible extent.  What more could anyone ever hope for?