Enlightenment: An Initial Discussion By Stewart Bitkoff (2 of 3)

Increased Capacity

Within some spiritual traditions, it is understood and taught that enlightenment, or increased spiritual capacity, occurs within the ordinary balanced personality. Further, enlightenment is a possibility for everyone and may be reached through a course of guided study.  Remember, enlightenment does not free us from being human; it helps us by adding another level of capacity, which at times, helps us transcend ordinary thought or consciousness.  For every one, life is a series of ups and downs and to be human means we react physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually to every day events.

Further, individual spiritual paths teach, far below the surface of our every day personality there is awareness, consciousness and a guiding presence which is our lasting, true spiritual nature. Daily, as we are shown through directed learning how to dip into this ocean of awareness, we connect with another level of our consciousness and reality; this aspect is always in tune with the Life Force and emerging design of life around us and within the universe.

Enlightenment is higher spiritual awareness which comes and goes- depending upon the situation. This capacity is individual and varies within each person. In order to have this capacity come forward, routinely, there must be a balance within the personality, a period of extended training and what is termed latent ‘sincerity.’  Basically, what is meant by ‘sincerity’ is that higher abilities and learning are not sought for personal gain. This higher connection is sought because the traveler loves and wishes to complete self by merging with the Divine.

Generally, what is meant by a balanced personality, is one that is ‘normal’ within the society in which the traveler finds self, and for the most part is free of psychological pathology or excessive need and unbalanced desire. It is generally understood, that in reaching for enlightenment, something additional, and which has previously been asleep, in the traveler, must be added.  This is done through a gradual quieting of ordinary needs and awakening what has been asleep to slowly come forward. What slowly awakens and emerges is our own latent higher consciousness; this inner awareness is not static, and in the average person comes and goes, depending upon the needs of the situation.

Within many spiritual traditions, travelers have a profession, participate in the every day affairs of the world, and within their own culture for the most part are viewed as ordinary citizens. Added higher capacity is used in everyday life to enrich, elevate, and serve the emerging design.

Powers, healing capacity, reading minds, higher awareness, intuition, dreams, and visions as genuine- are by products of a higher state of consciousness.  These events/capacities come forward to add a nutrient or provide another dimension to every day life. These higher capacities, to know and act, are organic extensions of an emerging pattern, have multi-level usefulness, and generally are not to be viewed outside their own specific context.

Most travelers when they wonder what it is like to have higher consciousness, or to be enlightened, have a fanciful, dramatic, over stimulated view of this awareness. As frame of reference, television shows and accounts of extraordinary people, present exciting phenomena like reading people’s minds, performing miracles and seeing into the future. Yet, it is precisely this excitement and over simplification which stands in the way of the emergence of these abilities. 

Also, within many religious and spiritual traditions, rarely, is there a straight forward discussion about this varied potential and phenomena. The major reason for this is the one cited above and in ages past this awareness or spiritual capacity was often misunderstood and banned.  Further, it is extremely difficult to accurately capture in written or verbal expression, these phenomena; they originate from another dimension, have multiple variation, levels of meaning, and by necessity take on a presentation that is organic to the specific situation.  Also, they do not translate well to differing circumstance. Finally, these capacities cannot be taught, only developed.

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 Also by Dr. Bitkoff, A Commuter’s Guide to Enlightenment (Llewellyn, 2008) and Journey of Light: Trilogy (Authorhouse, 2004); these books are available on Amazon.com or from the publisher. To contact author go to www.stewartbitkoff.com.

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