October 19: Reflections from ‘Along the Path to Enlightenment’
All forms of loss are a confrontation to the ego and its survival mechanisms. All aspects of human life are transient, so to cling to any aspect eventually brings grief and loss. Each incident, however, is an opportunity to search within for the source of life, which is ever present, unchanging, and not subject to loss or the ravages of time.
From: “Transcending the Levels of Consciousness: The Stairway to Enlightenment” (2006), Chapter 4: Grief — Spiritual Orientation, pp. 95–96
With Additional Context:
There is anger and resentment, as well as fear at loss of control when loss is involuntary and unexpected. Disruption of life by the unexpected also creates anxiety at the forced readjustment, which may require major decision-making. It is well to know that spiritual research indicates that all suffering and emotional pain result from resistance. Its cure is via surrender and acceptance, which relieve the pain.
During the process, it will be noticed that the emotional pain of loss is not steady or continuous but comes in waves that can be diminished by consistent nonresistance and surrendering continuously to God. While the illusion that one is surrendering the loss of a seemingly essential person, object, desire, goal, or quality, one is actually processing the pain of disruption of the attachment; the ‘what’ one is surrendering is actually just the attachment itself. A basic truth to be realized in the process is that there is no possible, actual source of happiness outside one’s self. Loss really brings long-standing illusions to the surface, along with opportunities to lessen its dominance in the psyche. The ego has a multitude of attachments to beliefs, slogans, objects, people, titles, money, conveniences, entertainment, furnishings, sentimental tokens, and memories of all the above. The ego/mind cherishes that which is temporary and transitory because it is valued as ‘special’ and therefore sees it as a ‘source’ of happiness.
Paradoxically, loss is simultaneously freedom and the opening of new options. Loss services inner adaptations and qualities that represent opportunities for growth. Simultaneously, the mind regrets and would like to undo change and return to the comfort of former circumstances, but evolutionary developmental growth is insistent. Therefore, the resentment is in having to change. Change may be a source of anticipatory pleasure if it is chosen and a source of resentment if it is resisted. Attachments are to the present and the anticipated future, as well as a clinging to the past. All these positions are illusory for there is never a time other than the present moment, and no one experiences either the past or the future, except in their imaginings and memories. The only source of happiness that is realistically based is in the present, and that which is in the present is not subject to loss.
All forms of loss are a confrontation to the ego and its survival mechanisms. All aspects of human life are transient; therefore, to cling to any aspect eventually brings grief and loss. Each incident, however, is an opportunity to search within for the source of life, which is ever present, unchanging, and not subject to loss or the ravages of time.
Grief or loss, like any stressful situation in life, can be seen as a valuable growth opportunity and a time for reassessment of values and goals. If this is followed, eventually it is possible to let go of all attachments, including belief systems, and experience the source of happiness that emanates from within.
From: “Transcending the Levels of Consciousness: The Stairway to Enlightenment” (2006), Chapter 4: Grief — Spiritual Orientation, pp. 94–96
Related Teachings:
From “Healing and Recovery” (2009) Chapter 8: Handling Major Crisis, pp. 258–259:
The person who is involved in spiritual work is always looking at what is occurring in life, seeing it as the teacher, as the grist for the mill. What is happening represents that which is being worked on, so an acute catastrophe would just be a continuation of the process that is going on anyway. As a result, the person who is intensely involved in spiritual work would then see it as a golden opportunity, painful and regretful perhaps, but one of great benefit. The essential nature of spiritual work is to remain focused on what arises from instant to instant and become aware of ‘what’ is experiencing and where it is being experienced.
There is a meditative and contemplative technique that can be used to bring about the same result. It is the process of constantly letting go of wanting to control the experiencing as well as experiencing itself. There then occurs the sudden realization that awareness is being handled by some infinite aspect of consciousness (the Self); this may have been suspected previously but not actually realized. After this realization, the awareness of the Presence occurs more frequently.
Out of this experience comes an ever greater willingness to rely on that inner Presence, with less and less reliance on the small self. Less frequently, then, does the person look to the small self to handle life’s problems, as there is a progressive willingness to surrender to one’s higher Self. The progressive loss of identification with the small self and the increasing identification with the Presence, along with the willingness to surrender life and all of its aspects to the will of God, become the very core of the person’s spiritual exercise and experience.
The acute catastrophic experience is a key learning opportunity that teaches us to go to the very core, to the very essence of the experience, to see what it is and handle it at the level of experiencing within the energy field of consciousness itself. There is the willingness to surrender and to let go of wanting to change what happened ‘out there’. There is the letting go of wanting to control by thinking about it and trying to handle it with the intellect and the emotions. There is the willingness to surrender to the essence of the experience without calling it anything, or labeling it, or putting names on it. There is the willingness to handle the energy field of it and go directly to the inner experience. The surrender to the inner experience is the open doorway to the experience of something greater than the small personal self.
‘Along the Path Daily Reflections’ are based on the book “Along the Path to Enlightenment” by David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D. Additional content is compiled from Dr. Hawkins’ works as cited. Dr. Hawkins’ publications are available from Veritas Publishing, and also through Amazon.com and Hay House.com.
‘Along the Path Daily Reflections’ are presented by a group of students of the teachings of Dr. Hawkins. This group is not affiliated with Dr. Hawkins or Veritas Publishing.
The photographs attached herein are sourced from the public domain and do not appear in the book. An archive of these reflections is available at Along the Path to Enlightenment Daily Reflections.
Special thanks goes to
Jay T. Slovick, M.Ed.
Cathy Bauers
Chris Buck, Graphics
