SPIRITUAL MATURITY

It is a sign of spiritual maturity when the individual experiences for him- or herself a powerful urgency to evolve. As you begin to transcend the ego and awaken to the authentic self, which is the first cause or creative impulse becoming conscious of itself in the human heart and mind, you will have the often shocking recognition that there is literally no time to waste—not because some external authority has told you so but because the internal God-principle awakening within you makes it apparent as an intuitive recognition or absolute knowing. In that recognition, you become aware of the absolute dimension of life and death, and you also realize the precariousness of your presence on this planet as a vulnerable biological organism supported by a delicate balance of countless factors.
So a sign of maturity, in a spiritual context, is knowing how precious every moment actually is—on one hand because of your human frailty, and on the other hand because you appreciate the miraculous nature of the self-reflective capacity that has taken billions of years to emerge in this evolving organism and recognize its profound implications for our particular moment in history. You begin to see that this extraordinary human form that is you makes all things possible, and at the same time you become painfully aware of its inherent limitations. This dual recognition creates a sense of urgency, purpose, and meaning that is overwhelming. And the degree to which you awaken to this is the degree to which you will feel compelled to drop your identification with the endless fears and desires of the ego. Why? Because there is no time to waste. In light of the overwhelming significance and precariousness of our presence here, the ego's concerns become absolutely irrelevant. You will find the willingness to nobly struggle in whatever way is needed, so your own ego will never be an obstacle to the evolution of consciousness itself. Indeed, if you are authentically engaged with the evolution of consciousness, there is literally no difference between your own effort and intention to participate in the process and the actual development of that process itself. What could be more exciting than that? Then God's thrill becomes your thrill, and the ecstatic urgency of the evolutionary impulse becomes your very own reason to be.


Andrew Cohen
January 29, 2006