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Mudrashram Institute of Spiritual Studies |
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The
Role of Transformational Methods |
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By George A. Boyd © 2004 Transformational techniques of meditation can yield a variety of types of spiritual development. It is important for the seeker to identify what a spiritual group is offering. Some do not offer transformational methods at all. Some groups offer only mindfulness training or breath-watching methods, which have no transformational effect. Some groups emphasize awakening the kundalini, which except in rare instances, does not effect transformationbut can lead to problems if mismanaged. [See the articles Kundalini Emergencies and Reflections on Kundalini]. Some groups offer prayers, reading scriptures, moral training, and contemplation of ideas from their scriptures or lectures, which do not unfold the potentials of the ensouling entity. Some groups offer sacred dances, martial arts or hatha yoga, with breathing and centering mantras. These also have no effect on the spiritual evolution of the Soul. Some groups offer channeling guidance from sundry spiritual guides. In these groups, much advice is shared on how to change limiting beliefs, how to become wealthy and attract a "soul mate", and how to perceive the world from the perspective of the Higher Self, but no guidance is given as to how to accelerate spiritual evolution. Some offer "new birth" and communion with a "Savior" or "Master". These teach to keep the attention fixed at an inner center or nucleus of identity. The leader of this group (who may or may not be identified as the Savior or Master) may invoke the Holy Spirit in a variety of ways. It may be invoked as Revelator of the meaning of scriptures (mental octave), Comforter (emotional octave), Healer (etheric octave), or the granting of spiritual gifts (physical octave) such as speaking in an unknown tongue. While this is a joyful and ecstatic experience, it does not transform the ensouling entity. Some groups offer methods of ritual invocation and manifestation through magical rites, hypnotic spells, affirmations, or decrees. When these rites are done with concentration and one-pointed attention, they do sometimes manifest what is desired. Creation, however, does not produce transformation. Other groups do offer transformation, but in many cases, it is not on the spiritual cutting edge, so these methods produce imbalance. [See the article, Avoiding Imbalance]. Examples of this include: Using chanting or silent repetition of transformational mantras linked with specific Supracosmic Paths. Opening the channels of the Nada in Transcendental Paths. Repeating of bija mantras that open the chakras and clear the obstructions from the path of the kundalini. Receiving Light Immersion that unfolds a specific nucleus of identity or an ensouling entity that is not on the cutting edge of spirituality Utilizing bija mantras to clear a path to a particular god or goddess, so boons and blessings from this being can be bestowed, or specific spiritual powers (siddhis) can be gained Directing the kundalini fire to burn away the obstructions from a segment of the path in Cosmic or Supracosmic bands of the Great Continuum of Consciousness Practicing a breath technique that unfolds a nucleus of identity out of alignment with its overshadowing ensouling entity It is important for the seeker to understand what is the effect of a particular technique, and when it is appropriate to use it. Without these guidelines, seekers may
To avoid these pitfalls, seekers need to know what is their spiritual cutting edge, what is their mission and the ultimate purpose of developing themselves spiritually along a particular track. The Spiritual Cutting EdgeYour spiritual cutting edge is the ensouling entity that is animated by the Alaya. The Alaya is the highest octave of the Divine Will that gives life to the Soul. [See the article The Personal Octave of the Divine Will for more information about the different octaves of the Divine Will]. Swami Prem Dayal has said, "The Alaya is like the finger of the Divine, telling you to [do your spiritual] work here." You when into problems when
The cutting edge of each individual is clearly mirrored in the Jewel of Alaya center on the Transcendental portion of the Bridge Path. If you don't have access to that center, there are still several ways you can find out. You can have someone identify it for you. For example,
You can try to identify this for your self. This will require you to meditate and listen deeply with your intuition. One method, Atmic Polling, is sometimes effective. In this method you progressively move your attention to each ensouling entity in turn, and feel if the Divine Force is anchored in that entity. You start with the Soul Spark, as is shown in the chart below:
As you rest your attention upon each ensouling entity, you may feel a force coming down from above, anchored in one ensouling entity as opposed to the others. There should be one, clear distinct signal at that ensouling entity that differentiates it from others. One drawback with this method is that sometimes, if you have been initiated by a spiritual Teacher in one octave of Being, you may mistake the anchored Light from that Initiate for the Ray of Alaya. In this case, you may have two very strong signals, and it may not be clear to you which of these are your genuine cutting edge. Another method would be take the Mudrashram® Advanced Course in Meditation, where you learn to contemplate the Jewel of Alaya directly. Alternately, you may try focusing your attention on the Bridge Path and travel upwards until you find this center for your self. The Soul's MissionThere is a range of potential missions of the Soul, which can be divided into those that are karmicly driven, and those that are driven by a spiritual calling or election. These are summarized in the chart below.
Karmic Retribution, Character Reformation and Service missions are predominately karmic-driven. Neophyte, Aspirant, Disciple and Initiate missions are ultimately founded upon inner awakening to respond to a deeply intuited spiritual calling. Those that resonate to this inner election actively utilize transformational methods to actualize that calling; karmic driven missions do not. To understand your Soul's mission, it is first important to understand what it is not. Mission is different than vocation, which is a sense of calling to a particular career, though sometimes the Soul's mission may influence the choice of career as an avenue of service or expression of the Soul's abilities. Mission is also different than avocation, which are interests and pastimes freely chosen for leisure time entertainment or hobby. People do become obsessed with their hobbies, become avid collectors or zealous fans; but the sense of obsession that accompanies a true mission is deeper, more profoundit moves you from your very core. Mission is not revealed in the hallucinations and voices of the madman, in the ravings of the would-be prophet possessed by alleged Divine-inspiration, or in the delirium of the intoxicated inebriate. It comes as a clear knowing while you are rational, sober and awake, arising from the touchstone of your deepest sense of truth. When you discover your missionwhen your Soul reveals this to youyou will have a clear knowing about what you are here to do. This knowing abides with you, day and night. It guides you, and whispers to you about what you need to do next. When you discover your mission, you also discover your Soul. The Purpose of Spiritual DevelopmentPurpose is different than mission. Purpose is the intuition of your spiritual goal; mission is what you live as you move towards this goal. Purpose is the image of your completion. It is the holy seed at the end of your journey that lets you know you have accomplished all that the Divine has sent your ensouling entity here to do. Those that are under a karmic-driven mission usually only experience the expressed purpose of the Soul. This is the aspect of the Soul's abilities and virtue that express through the personality. For example, the gifted musician, the entrepreneurial business leader, and the creative inventor may each be inspired by the Soul's expressed purpose. Those that resonate to an inner spiritual callingaspirants, disciples and Initiatesexperience the intrinsic purpose of the Soul. The intrinsic purpose is a calling to actualize a specific spiritual attainment, or to complete a spiritual work. For aspirants and disciples, this is called the Path to Liberation. This appears as three tracks. Service Track – In this track, you unfold your ensouling entity to a discrete nodal point on the path in which you are empowered to minister, heal or teach. Here your ensouling entity becomes fixed at a specific nodal point. However, you are able to use your transformational method to clear karma on the path beyond that nodal point all the way to liberation, but your ensouling entity does not ascend until it has accomplished a specific expressed purpose. Ministerial Track – In this track, you can purify the path all the way to liberation, but along the way you gain specific powers or abilities. You may, for example, empower an inner form, establish a spiritual throne, or minister through a star or wheel-like structure to assist others. When you liberate this ensouling entity and you move into a new octave of Being, you may continue to use these gifts to serve others. Liberation Track – In this track, you simply purify the path al the way to liberation, but do not gain powers, empower inner forms, etc. For Initiates, who have already gained mastery of one or more octaves of Being, their purpose is fulfilled in serving and assisting others make progress on the path. This is called the Bodhisattva Path. It likewise appears as three tracks: Avataric Track – In this track, an Initiate takes on the karma of others and does spiritual work to remove this karma. As a result the Initiate gains new abilities and extends ministerial capacities into new zones of the Great Continuum of Consciousness. In the Mudrashram® lineage, this type of spiritual work is referred to as Bodhisattva projects. World Teacher Track – In this track, an Initiate assumes the mantle of power in an established lineage and performs public ministry, often teaching and initiating multitudes. Silent Ministry Track – In this track, an Initiate works silently from the higher Planes to uplift humanity and minister to them. They remain anonymous and unknown to the mass of humanity, but may work confidentially with select individuals to prepare them for a specific spiritual mission. Masters of the Hierarchy of Light and teachers in the Mudrashram® lineage commonly adopt this form of spiritual work. It is my hope that you now have a better understanding of the role that transformational methods play in actualizing your Soul's purpose and what is right use of these methods. Knowing this, you can focus your search for a path that targets your cutting edge and gives you an effective method to make progress at that level. Working in this way, you will avoid producing imbalances, steer clear of cultic ensnarements, and accelerate the unfolding of your spiritual evolutionary potentialsoptimally using the limited time available to you to maximize your spiritual results.
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