The Center of Light

Incarnate in human form, we live in the manifest world, which is filled with dualism, illusion, and confusion. This is the world of which we are advised to be in the world, not of it. As eternal Consciousness, we enter into this manifest form to gain strength and experience, and to express the Will and Love of the eternal Oneness. It is indeed challenging to connect to, maintain, and live from that eternal truth in the outer material world.

The ancient wisdom tells us that this world of duality and illusion is a divine gift, given to us as a mechanism through which we may return to unity and clarity. We are advised by the sages of the western pathways to use the dualistic world wisely to bring ourselves into the truth of unity. Too often, the outer world pulls us away from this unity, and we find ourselves caught in the drama and confusion of the unreal world. We begin to believe that the illusion is reality, and we live from a place of separation, within ourselves and in our relations with others.

As a part of duality, many people perceive a multitude of stories, ideas and concepts that seek to explain spiritual truth. The potential error of story lies in its necessary entrenchment in the concept of separation. Stories include paths, traditions, ideas, and concepts about spiritual attainment, the disciplines required for that attainment, and all things related to actions - mental or physical. Story can be a useful tool. It can educate and inspire us, and encourage us to expand our consciousness. This is the proper use of story. When it is used consciously and well, it provides much motive power for un-limiting mind, emotion, and body.

When we become invested in the story, however, we lose track of its true and higher purpose. Many people begin to worship, follow, and serve the story, rather than the eternal Spirit. Taking the story as the reality, we are drawn further into the illusion of separation and the duality of the outer world. Many years of contemplative effort are needed to keep freeing oneself from attachment to the various stories that are meant to serve as pathways in the awakening of the soul to the essential truth of Oneness.

One example of modern spiritual story is found in interactions with Ascended Masters. Many sincere spiritual seekers interact with these beings of consciousness, and then convey many messages received from this source. These messages then become the story of the Ascended Masters, covering everything from what they believe to how they advise us to live our lives.  In truth, Consciousness is all that is, was, or ever will be. This Consciousness is wholly unified. All hints of separation are only markers on the path to eternal awareness. This Consciousness contains everything within it, and it is the source of all stories. Yet, it is beyond story. Ideas and concepts about Ascended Beings who speak to us are necessarily stories because they depend upon our belief in the Masters as separate from ourselves. As story, they must be used wisely to take us into greater unity. This is only one example of story with great potential for confusion, limit, and error as well as for growth and expansion.

Being is far different from doing. Although we may be called upon to take action many, many times in our incarnate lives, that action is part of the illusion of separation. We must be on guard never to invest in or attach ourselves to any actions, even when the actions seem to be of a highly spiritual nature. Action is part of the story of the manifest world. Again, it can be a useful tool to expand the human into higher levels of spiritual consciousness. Yet, we must always be mindful that the only reality is Consciousness itself, not the action or the story.

The true reality is found inside of our being, not in the outside world of illusion and stories. Deep within lies the remembrance of Eternal Consciousness. All stories must serve this truth or they are of no use to the True Self. Stories, dramas, traditions, and actions that ask us to invest in outer form or in the material world appear in our sphere of life as challenges and opportunities to attach more firmly to the eternal Consciousness within. We do this by dissolving all forms, all images, all stories, and all actions. Following this dissolution, we find ourselves immersed more fully in the essences and energies of Consciousness, of Being, and of Bliss.

The process of using story to expose limits, expand consciousness, and dissolve form is ongoing. We are challenged by this process to return over and over to our center, to the True Light. This is the highest use of story, action, and tradition. And, even this process is part of the story! As the wise sages of all time have said, You are already Divine Consciousness. You only need to realize it! Stories can be exceedingly helpful to the process of realization. When that realization is attained, all stories fade away. Then we no longer need any mechanisms of duality, separation, of illusion. From this expanded Consciousness, we may witness the ongoing stories of the dualistic world without involvement, investment, or action. From that Center of Light, we merge with the radiance of Truth, Love, and Peace eternally.

By remaining mindful of these eternal truths, and free from all outer attachment, Consciousness completes all stories in divine timing, and we come to rest in the abode of eternal peace and bliss.