… The Spiritual Will is not like the ego’s understanding of will as ‘will power’, which means emotional force with clenched teeth of exertion and increased emotionality. The ego-driven will takes energy and is taxing. It could actually be understood as a form of aggression. In contrast, invoking the Spiritual Will is like opening floodgates and then standing back. The ego/will contextualizes events in terms of cause and effect in which the personal self-will claims credit or blame because it sees itself as a causal agent. In contrast, the Spiritual Will is not personal but is a quality of consciousness that changes context by surrender to an invitation to the power of the Self.
The Spiritual Will, invited by complete surrender, is thus capable of performing the seeming ‘miraculous’, whereas the personal will, paradoxically, often automatically triggers resistances, as anyone knows who has tried personal ‘willpower’ to overcome even minor habits.
… Surrender of the personal will to the Will (Wisdom) of God (or Providence, Higher Power) signifies relinquishment of control. One can expect the ego to resist doing so, and it invents excuses, counter arguments, and multiple fears in order to maintain illusory control. The ego’s positions are reinforced by pride as well as desire for specific results. Thus, to the ego, to step back and invite the intervention of Divinity seems like a loss, whereas, to the Spirit, it is definitely a win.
From Discovery of the Presence of God: Devotional Nonduality p. 65-66
Thanks! Perfect timing, as always. The example in the first paragraph exactly describes a surrendering I just went through.
Wonderful! Just what I needed to hear.
David Hawkins is revealing to me, aspects of other spiritual programs that I didn’t fully understand. His books have been a turning point in my life. I am deeply grateful for him..
Over and over again I marvel at Dr. Hawkins ability to get to the heart of things. It seems magical.
Thank you David R. Hawkins for sharing your knowledge and wisdom. Over the past sixteen years, I have learned from your writings that what the world needs is to learn how to transcend the paradigm of causality which is maxed out at Log 499, to enter the next paradigm which starts at Log 500, the level of Love, the level of manifestation, which is God’s Will for all of humanity.
Thanks. You’ve almost summarized Dr David Hawkins work for me.