Dicken’s A Christmas Carol is the story of all our lives. We are all Scrooge. We are all Tiny Tim. All of us are all selfish and lame in some areas. We are all victims like Bob Cratchit, and we are all as indignantly moralistic as Mrs. Cratchit refusing to toast Scrooge. The Ghost of Christmas Past haunts all our lives; the Spirit of Christmas to Come beckons us all on to make the choices that will both enhance both our own existence and that of others.
Category: Thoughts & quotes from Sir David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D. & Susan Hawkins
Hello, we want to share thoughts and quotes from Dr. David R. Hawkins and his wife, Susan Hawkins. We will keep you informed of upcoming events, as well. For available books, CDs, DVDs, and the Map of Consciousness, visit the Dr. David R. Hawkins product page. Find a Dr. Hawkins Study Group in your area.
The Soul
Throughout eons, consciousness has evolved as the ‘soul’. It reincarnates in a successive series of lifetimes, physical or otherwise, which are recorded in the awareness level of consciousness as karma. The interaction of the karmic patterns with the totality of the universe is expressed as the details of an identified lifetime. … As the consciousness of the soul evolves, it eventually seeks to identify and reunite with its true source.
… Although the ego identifies with the linearity of form and time, its source of life stems from the nonlinear. This is intuited as an ephemeral, intangible, indefinable reality or ultimate Source.
… the fallacious beliefs easily held sway over the majority of mankind. The god of wrath and destruction seemed believable. Throughout these centuries, only a few enlightened mystics were able to fully comprehend the real nature of God.”
The Light of the Self
Q: By nonpositionality, the sense of self moves out of the ‘movie’ of content and withdraws from its identification with it. It still recognizes form because of the awareness of the observer. How, then, does one transcend identification with the observer?
A: The ascent of the sense of self progresses through the layers of perception to awareness to the realization that consciousness itself is the screen upon which everything is reflected. It is the innate primordial substrate that illuminates the faculty of awareness/witnessing/
Like the surface of the pond, it reflects but is unaffected by that which is reflected. The surface of the pond makes no selection. When the intrusion of thoughts, positionalities, and opinions stops disturbing the surface, it reflects impartially. The surface does not act nor does it have purposes or goals. It exhibits no favoritism or oppositions. The reflecting surface does not edit or distort but is always silent and peaceful. It cannot suffer loss or profit from gain. It is the reflecting Light of the Self.”
Treat it Like a Pet
Q: Is the purpose of becoming familiar with the ego to disarm it and open the way to acceptance?
A: We see that trying to ‘overcome’ the ego without really understanding it brings up guilt, self-condemnation, and other negative feelings, which is one of the main reasons why many people are reluctant to become involved in spiritual work. Because of this, people are afraid to be honest with themselves and tend to project the downside of the ego onto others or even onto God. Jealousy, retaliation, vengeance, partiality, etc., are all attributes of the ego and not of God.
From a greater, context, we can view that the ego is not ‘evil’ but is primarily a self-interested animal. Unless the ‘animal self’ is understood and accepted, its influence cannot be diminished. Like a pet, the inner animal can be comical and entertaining, and we can enjoy it without guilt and look forward to getting it trained and properly house broken. This training is what is meant by the word “civilization’.
A Way of Being in the World
Inner satisfaction becomes more important than worldly gain or the desire to control or influence others. Attraction replaces promotion. Eventually, resistances are no longer related to worldly life and its perceived values. Instead, the inner intention is one of purity and selflessness. Thus, evolution becomes the consequence of the process itself rather than as a consequence of seekingness or acquisition.
With spiritual evolution, nurturance is no longer sought from the narcissistic ego but instead from the Self. Fulfillment of potential is rewarding in and of itself and is not needful of recognition or gain. Pleasure at gain is replaced by gratitude for the unfolding of the inner process itself. The need for externals disappears spontaneously. The evolutionary process requires less and less effort as it becomes a way of being in the world.”
From Discovery of the Presence of God: Devotional Nonduality, p. 100-101
