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#3659 - Friday, September 18, 2009 - Editor: Jerry Katz
The Nonduality Highlights - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NDhighlights
Becoming Our Own Wise One
By
Dr. Stewart Bitkoff
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There are as many ways to God as there are created souls.
Muhammad
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In our culture, who assumes the role of
holy or wise one? In more traditional cultures the
holy, wise one is a central figure. Often, they advise the
king/queen, sit at the right hand of the chief, understand human
behavior and prescribe medicine, help pass along the oral history
of the tribe, and have an inner connection with universal wisdom
and Truth. When a difficult societal issue arises, this
individual is central in helping decide direction or outcome.
Daily, they are consulted on a variety of issues.
Today, this diverse role and function has
been spread across a team of specialists. For guidance, we go to
a priest, counselor, doctor, psychologist, historian, politician
or lawyer. Because of the complexity of some issues, this
specialist may not even live in our own community, and to consult
them we make an appointment, months in advance, travel to get the
advice/treatment and pay a fee.
This specialist model has plus and
minuses. Specialists because of training have information
and expertise not available to others. In some endeavors,
these people are essential and our culture cannot be without
them. However, by separating out problems and going to others for
solutions, we loose sight for the most part it is possible to
manage our own concerns. Within the wise one model, a majority of
issues can be solved by one person, who is readily accessible,
knows us and is part of our tribe/family.
In both models, the holy/wise one and
specialist model, there is reliance upon others. While, it is
important in today’s technological world to have the option
to work/consult with a specialist, generally, we have forgotten
our own individual potential and multi-level capacities. With
training, we can become our own source of wisdom and through
inner perception manage a wide range of daily issues, consulting
with specialists as indicated.
Gradually, we are returning to a model of self-reliance and individual responsibility. We are shifting away from dependence upon others and searching for our own inner wisdom to manage our life. Tomorrow each person will be their own wise one, consulting with specialists far less frequently and only when required. This is the next stage in the evolutionary process.
Building Self-Reliance
How will this shift in personal
awareness occur? We are in the beginning stages of it. Look
around and notice the increasing interest in different religious
philosophies that maximize individual human potential and how so
many are returning to spiritual based living. See the general
discontent in the way government is being run and the growing
awareness republicans or democrats cannot save us. From the
outside, our way of life is being attacked by terrorists who want
to return to a more traditional and religious based social system
(as defined by them). It is generally recognized, greed in the
market place is destroying our middle class. The family
fabric is being strained with couples having to work three jobs.
Soon we will be a society of rich and poor.
Many are beginning to wonder, what went
wrong? Also, many are searching for real, lasting answers.
We are living in an age when people are
turning away from authority based to individual based action.
Over time, many realized we have given up too much responsibility
to authority, government and institutions; gradually people are
taking back control of their lives and working locally to solve
their own problems.
The shift has occurred and will continue.
Remember- a better world is created one person at a time.
Missing Ingredient
In order to create better, more complete
people, we have to add the missing spiritual ingredient. This
enriching element balances individual greed and helps the
individual realize- because of our complex world; often our best
interest is served helping our neighbor. For example, we may have
to spend money to upgrade the air filtering capacity of our car
engine; so, we have clean air to breathe. This may cost
personally, but in the long run our air quality is healthier.
According to the mystic, the missing
ingredient and balancing factor, is higher consciousness. This
consciousness, because of its alignment with Truth, enables the
individual to work toward collective interest. This
potential is latent in everyone, and its individual development
and operation will help save us; and we can continue with our own
evolution.
Personal spiritual development is a new
frontier and area of inquiry. How can each traveler
develop inner wisdom and reach higher consciousness? How
can each become a wise man/woman and achieve excellence in their
daily life?
There is a way to do this, but we have
forgotten where and how to look. The next phase will see
its full reemergence.
How do I go about finding the missing
ingredient? Turn back to the religion of your birth; become a
better Christian, Jew or Moslem. Seek the inner core of
religious experience; do not be satisfied with the outer shell of
religious teaching and fossilized rules created by others. Find
your own, inner, vibrant Truth, and become a spiritual traveler.
Each of the great religions provides a structure or framework
from which to begin the inner journey of exploration of self and
higher consciousness.
And if for some reason, your journey is
restricted by the religion of your birth, seek Truth and higher
consciousness in another spiritual path. Pray and ask for a
different way to open to you. Pray for a guide and teacher
who will show you your own inner potential and teach awareness of
your own growing spirituality. Find a teacher that is
aligned with Truth and will give you tools to uncover your own
strength, and teach you how to proceed on your own.
In this endeavor, three factors must be
aligned: the student, the teacher and the grace (Baraka) of the
path.
It is tradition that the teacher calls to
the student’s sincerity or purity of heart; this is the
factor that enables the student to be successful.
How do you grow sincere in your
efforts? Seek Truth or wisdom for its own sake not for
what it will give you. Seek Truth because you love and must
know it. Then, as The Light or God Wills, the golden or inner
path will open to you.
This is the balancing factor, the missing
ingredient. One day this awareness will be as common as the
growing realization that there is an underlying or connecting
energy in the universe.
Balanced Living
Until I achieve this inner
understanding, what am I to do? Try to live a good, balanced
life. Achieve excellence in something. Seek to help
others and develop the many aspects of yourself. Make time
to listen to your inner song. Stay away from that which is
destructive. Do things in moderation and try not to hurt
someone. Be kind to yourself and others. Be a good
loving person that is an asset to their family, community, and
world.
If you do these things, in time, the inner
missing ingredient will develop. As it develops, it will help you
fully utilize all of your skills and abilities. Added spiritual
capacity is a balancing and enabling element; helping travelers
reach human excellence and completion.
And when this occurs, you will be a
king/queen in this world and the next; having your own inner wise
one to consult.
(Originally posted at www.llewellynjournal.com, copyright 2009, all rights reserved.)
Listen to Dr. Bitkoff’s weekly show
on internet radio: Practical Wisdom, Tuesday
Also by Dr. Bitkoff, A Commuter’s
Guide to Enlightenment, Llewellyn, 2008 and Journey of
Light: Trilogy, Authorhouse, 2004.
To contact author go to: www.stewartbitkoff.com.