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Our Evolutionary Crisis
I certainly want to continue with our discussion and I want to explore the profound ideas of Charles Sanders Peirce further, but first I wanted to say a few words in general that I have been thinking about. As some of you may know I have been a student of a spiritual teacher named Andrew Cohen and his teaching of Evolutionary Enlightenment for the past 16 years. During that time I have become very close to Andrew and have become in a sense a teacher myself. I am not writing this blog to attract people to Evolutionary Enlightenment (although I am happy if they find it.) I am writing this blog because I feel that life on this planet is in the midst of an evolutionary crisis. This blog is my attempt to explain what I think I have learned about our evolutionary crisis and the way to get beyond it.
The evolutionary crisis that we face stems from the fact that the circumstance of the world we live in are changing faster than we are. The pace of evolution is increasing beyond the current ability of human beings to change in response. As a result, we find ourselves unable to effectively meet global and even personal challenges. I know I often feel like I am still working on yesterday’s problems only to realize that today’s are already upon me. We simply find ourselves unable to adapt quickly enough to changing circumstances.
I believe that the solution to this is a shift in consciousness and by that I mean a fundamental change in how we understand ourselves and the universe we are a part of. That shift, as I understand it, has two stages – that don’t necessarily come in a particular order. The first is a shift that is characterized by unity. This is a shift from seeing a universe made of separate objects of which we are one, to seeing a universe that is one whole which includes separate parts; more like an organic system. The embrace of a higher unity that includes the separate parts has long been explored in different ways by most of the great spiritual traditions and the worlds philosophies and the sciences.
The second stage of the shift involves the evolutionary awakening to the fact that we and the universe we live in are not static. We are changing and evolving constantly. The evolving nature of who we are has not been explored by humanity as deeply or for as long as the exploration of our fundamental unity. In fact it has only been over the past few hundred years that this investigation has really taken shape in the west. And it is only since the acceptance of Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection that we can really say that the modern investigation of evolution has begun. I personally feel that this investigation of what it means to shift from a mainly separate and static relationship to life, to an essentially whole and evolving one is the key to the future. That is why I am writing this blog and why I appreciate so much those of you that join me either by reading or, even better, by contributing your own thoughts and insights. I appreciate having the opportunity to be challenged and to learn from you as I hope you do from me.
When I discovered a few years ago how much American Philosophy revolved around the question of, “How do we adapt to the new truth of evolution?” I nearly fell over. I couldn’t believe that well over a century of deep thinking had already gone into this investigation, just within the relatively limited circle of American Philosophy. As I have tried to study this philosophy it has become clear to me that there is a great deal more to learn. But in the end I think that learning is only as valuable as it helps us think clearly for ourselves. I am not a scholar, as most of you have undoubtedly already realized, but I am a firm believer in the power of philosophy and the human spirit. I don’t believe that we can change our world without changing the way we think, but I do believe that we can change our world if, in the midst of our Evolutionary Crisis, we find it within ourselves to change the way we think.
Thank you for participating in this journey with me.
I think you’ve laid out our (evolutionary) predicament really well. I want to emphasize the importance of awakening to presence – our own presence, and see that presence in all. In this way, all, everything, is appreciated as ONE process, not just my process, your process, and so on. If we only awaken our own individual self without the taking on the responsibility of our (genuine) perception and its implications then we will be lost in a nihilist, narcissistic world-view – one which is very hard to challenge unless there is the humility and sense of surrender that transcending ego demands. Yes, we are all the center of a universe, individually, but we are also a part of a greater center, one that transcends individuality.
Wow, Jeff, this is really something. Thanks for your concise and simple explanation of why this inquiry is so important. And for the reminder that all these questions and conversations are FOR something — to push us forward as one contiguous, constantly-evolving whole.
hear hear!!!
Isn’t it interesting that only 39% of people in the U.S. believe in evolution, according to surveys. How do we help people adapt to something that they do not even believe? How do we help people understand and see the truth of evolution — in species, in culture, and in their own development?
Thanks, Jeff. Great Post!
Jeff, I would to ask the same question as Carl, but in a slightly different way. How practically, can we trigger this revolution that is coming ? fro me it was always very simple; when one succeeds to transmit radical enlightenment, then humanity will have really something . Short of this, I must confess that I feel short of seeing how this revolution will take place. The problem at the moment is that we have a few ( more than we know, actually) radically enlightened human beings, which lead the spiritual Evolution. But first they seem completely incapable to work together, at a point which is scary for any scientist since with all our huge Ego we do better in matters in terms of working together. And second, those radical enlightened guys have proven that it is incredibly difficult to transmit radical Enlightenement. To transmit what makes them so special. Gurdjieff succeeded so so to enlighten Ouspensky. Vimila Takhar apparently was the only huge success that we know, who got enlightened at the contact of Krishnamurti. As far as Andrew is concerned, I believe in those 20 years nobody got radically enlightened ( yet) . It is not a critique, since Andrew is one of the very few to really trying hard and work with us, and since Eckart Tolle or the other teachers, less known but still giants, like Steve Jourdain didn’t do better.
Let’s do a bit of counting here; as human being we don’t really know how to transmit this new capacity: Radical Enlightenment.
I believe when we human beings will know how to transmit Radical Enlightenment, even to a few people first, but when the phenomenon of transmission is understood, then there will be no problem to convince millions of people to go for this. All those questions about only 36% of people being interested by Evolution, will become completely irrelevant. Millions of people will try like a rush to get radically enlightened. Our genes call for it, our Evolution too. It is our future as a species and deep down many of us know it. When people see the results, see that radically enlightened people can work together and transmit their Enlightenment, then the world will have changed. Short of this, for me we are loosing our time. We really have to think that big…
Jeff, I would love to have your comment on this, as a senior student of Andrew.
Thanks for running this very inspiring blog !
Catherine,
What an interesting observation! If I understand correctly, you are suggesting that the demonstration and transmission of personal enlightenment (to use Andrew’s terminology) will establish an attraction that will make whether or not people “believe” in evolution somewhat irrelevant. Maybe this is obvious, or should be, to me. But the way you have said it makes something about our own personal responsibility even more apparent than I have understood in the past. It is not so much about spreading the word about evolutionary enlightenment as it is working tirelessly toward and demonstrating personal enlightenment as a vehicle for evolutionary enlightenment. Or something like that.
Do you think that the process of transmitting radical enlightenment is open to scientific study? That is, could we more carefully apply scientific method to understand that process, make it more replicable, and actually create a “technology” of it? That is clearly what dedicated teachers such as Andrew have tried to do. But I wonder if a more fine-grained application of the methods of scientific discovery could accelerate the effort.
Carl, yes indeed it is my belief that there is a possibility of transmitting radical enlightenment. I am not saying it will be easy, or it will just spread out like the Crickets on Pharao’s lands, but transmission is the key. If we understand how transmission works, even starting with one or two people, then humanity will have made a considerable step forward, just because
those newly enlightened guys or girls will be able to take the lead and enlighten others. Said crudely when Andrew or Eckart or other “solitary ” radically enlightened masters die, then others will take the lead exactly where they have left it. It will be the first time for humanity that such a continuity can happen.
Transmission was always the key. It was the key for the release of nuclear energy. When Enrico Fermi built the first nuclear reactor, many scientists of the time said it would be impossible. I was reflecting with one of my colleagues today that it was maybe one of a very few times in history when scientists of the highest caliber worked together (under the supervision of Fermi, but his equals worked with him actively and in good spirits of harmony) . The result is what everyone knows; the breakthrough was almost too big for us humans to take, since we have not yet developed the maturity to deal with the moral implications of nuclear power.
So I believe it is possible to release radical enlightenment, as it has been done for the atoms. If it is possible , it must be done, really. We have no much choice there. The analogy is striking ; each human soul has a quantum of nuclear freedom; it is our duty to do anything that we can so that we learn how to release it, to match what happened with nuclear energy. It is almost a question of parity, of symmetry between the spiritual realm and the material realm. If we succeed, all those questions of finding people interested with it Evolution will be passé. Evolution will be marching on, and people will naturally follow the move, one generation after another. The step forward will have been made.
To tell you the truth, since this idea came to me (at the retreat with Andrew Cohen this summer) I almost cannot sleep. It relentlessly comes back and back. I am ready to die for learning how to transmit radical enlightenment, and strangely it has become more important than my own enlightenment (say, if I get enlightened and still don’t know how to transmit it, for me nothing is accomplish; but if I never get enlightened, but somehow this knowledge is released, then everything is OK).
When you see how big this is , how big is what is at stake, you feel humbled. It absolutely doesn’t matter for humanity whether it is Andrew Cohen, or Echart Tolle, or Tartampion which releases this knowledge. The only thing that counts is that it is done one way or another.
So I would love if all those already enlightened guys would work together to understand how to operate the transmission. Meanwhile, why don’t we try together ? for me each radically enlightened human has his specific genius, and the one of Andrew Cohen ( as I see it) is the one of a Teacher. Andrew is the most incredible spiritual Teacher that I have met. His power of transmission, which is visible to anyone who has already done a retreat with him, is unparalleled. So I would say that Andrew has the natural gift to lead this important step. Andrew should take the lead and we should all give everything we have in our souls (accumulate from past lifetimes ,supposedly ?) to get and understand how to transmit radical enlightenment.
I believe if we all want it enough together, this will happen.
Catherine,
I couldn’t agree more. I like to think that somehow the natural science of behavior could be part of the solution. Not sure, but maybe.
Spreading of enlightenment is not hard.
There are many peace experiments going on right now, and that have taken place all the way back to the 1970’s.
In these experiments, a large collective group (100- 15,000) meditates together to feel peace within their own bodies, and then send that peace out to war torn areas in the world. This only takes about 20 minutes to complete. 20 MINUTES! to change a group of terror minded people who are thinking of destroying each other, and stopping them long enough to critically think about what war really means and do the right thing.
Statistics have proven in every experiment that violent crime rates drop, emergency room visit drop, crimes against each other drops, and bombings stop. Great, right!
What’s the problem? Most of these experiments involve people with higher education, and are unable to register in their minds that this is good for humanity, and who see it as just another experiment. Even the American government has been involved in these experiments and concluded they work to decrease crime and war, and decided to not pursue it any further. What’s up with that?
If you have ever used prayer for someone you cared about to help them through a situation, and witness a change of character in them according to the prayer you prayed, you should know by that example what prayer could do if many people come together to pray for a change in the world.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. Just self-awareness.
When I was teaching meditation, I noticed a similarity in people gaining self-awareness. 1. They never realized that their life was better until about 3 months into their meditation practice, even though I would point out the good things happening to them weekly through our conversations. 2. They were afraid of this new self-awareness. 3. They did not like finding out through self-awareness that they were the cause of most of their problems, and they could stop them if they wanted. 4. Finally, they were afraid of this self-awareness showing them exactly how they were living their lives.
There is a solution to bring self-awareness to the masses? Collective prayer of peace. When you pray for someone, a thin layer of darkness is lifted from them, and they can then see the right solution to their problem. This same thing happens to those who are affected by large collective prayer of peace. Layers of darkness are lifted enough for them to see the “right” solution to their problems. They do not even need to know what happen to them to start doing better. It is good for all involved.
I believe the solution is so simple that those who are in charge of running this world cannot see it, or see it, but are afraid of loosing control of the people and choose not to pursue it. Those people who are of higher education will not get involved, because they will not receive recognition for their work, and perhapes it just is not complicated enough for them to understand.
Moreover, those who know about it are not accepted as knowledgeable enough to be counted in doing what is right for the masses. Even though it does not cause harm to anyone involved.
There is a solution to bring enlightenment to the masses.
This is a fascinating discussion. In thinking about some of what is said particularly from Catherine about the transmition of enlightenment, I have thought about the collective aspect of this. I wonder if the age of transmiting awakening from one person to another has given way to an age of exploring how this awakening can be held in groups of people.
Jeff, as a scientist, my intuition goes to first stabilize radical enlightenment in a few people who would then ( or at the same time they get enlightened) learn how to transmit it to others. Those few people could get enlightened through a group or directly from one master, it doesn’t matter; but the clue is that, after those few people are radically enlightened they can transmit their enlightenment to others ( by radically enlightened, I mean a state of enlightenment which is permanent and doesn’t depend on the presence of a group or on any practise) .
Simply stated; the transmission itself can require the presence of a group, and the energy of a group, but once the transmission is performed, enlightenment would have to be radical enough not to depend on the group which gave rise to it.
That’s what I mean by transmission. What worries me a bit with the collective enlightenment as it is envisioned in various groups I have met, is that the presence of the group seems to be necessary for enlightenment to happen and get stabilized to a certain extend. This cannot be enough. Transmission of radical enlightenment requires the emergence of free souls; independent and apt to work together. But the quality or presence of the enlightenment cannot depend on the group which gave rise to it.
This discussion leads me back to the question that Andrew asked a long time ago, “What is Enlightenment?” The question arose, at least in part, because individuals who were demonstrably highly realized people — had God realization types of experiences, consistently communicated and even transmitted such awareness and energy — were morally corrupt, or at least seemed to lack integrity with respect to things such as sex and power and money. There have been some great transmitters of enlightened experience who seem ultimately to have been even selfish. What does that mean, and particularly what does it mean for the transmission of enlightenment? I wonder if collective consciousness is important as a form of transmission if only because it to some extent, by definition, takes more into account than the happiness or experience of the individual?
Catherine, I can understand the collective group that is enlightened not wanting to leave the group and strike out on their own. I was part of a group just like that were I received my enlightenment. It is fear that causes people not to leave the group, even though they want to.
The reason I conclude of this behavior is simply when you are in deep meditation while listening to your guru’s talks, those talks go deep into your subconscious mind planting new beliefs that you live your life from. Kind of like hypnosis, but without knowing you are in a hypnotic state of mind taking in the suggestions of your guru.
The same thing happens in a church. I grew up in a southern Baptist church that love to sing at least 8 songs before the preacher gave his talk. After the 8th song finishes, you are in a deep meditated state of mind. Everything that preacher says on stage becomes your beliefs you live your life from. I believe this is the reason so many Christians are frighten to leave their church and/or faith in search of enlightenment elsewhere. Once you belong to a group, and meditate or sing together, it is easy to get in a meditated state just by being in that groups presents or thinking about them.
With that said: The large collectives that are gathering now are doing so online. Therefore, their affiliation with a religious group does not affect those they are meditating with. These groups have proven results of the outcome of their collective meditations towards their intended targets.
You may know Lynn McTaggert of the Intention Experiment. She has had excellent results with her peace experiment. There again, it is just an experiment.
What is needed is for well-known people to start holding collective online meditations on a regular basis. I say this because humans have a need to follow those who are known in the public more so than someone off the street. It feels comfortable and safe for people to follow a public figure and do as they do. I believe this is the fastest way to bring enlightenment to the masses.
Within every collective are people who are willing to separate from their group to work on peace projects. It is going on right now all over the world. What are needed are people who are willing to run these online collective meditations compassionately and professionally without any self-recognition on a long-term basis. Great results are surely to follow without anyone being the wiser.
If you build the online community, people will come.
This is a great discussion. What strikes me about the idea of enlightenment or awakening being held by groups of people, whether together or online, is the discovery of what is new, what breaks the mold, and ultimately puts a crack in our collective cynicism. I agree with the phenomenon that groups tend to want to stay tight and not go beyond their borders – this seems to be a natural evolutionary function across the board and has been part of what has enabled life to form in such wild, interesting and diverse ways. And so Lisa you are right that it takes courage and intention to break from this structure, whatever it is.
Recently I have met with a few women here in the Boston area, and I did not know most of them to start. But I was curious and interested to see what would happen if I went beyond my own known borders – and it was fascinating. It required a few choices, like to really listen beyond what I think I know, and also trust in a deeper intention. And even though we had multiple different paths and very varied histories, there was enough seriousness and interest in where we are going collectively together, that this collective enlightenment that Jeff was talking about emerged. I mean not everyone perceived it to the same degree, and with my experience with Andrew for so long, it was quickly apparent. But what was so fascinating was what broke through in my own consciousness, which was yet another layer of cynicism. Suddenly I saw diversity and richness in this context of what Jeff was saying in this blog, that we are in the midst of an evolutionary crisis, and that we are changing and evolving constantly. And along with seeing this edge of evolutionary crisis was also the discovery that much is possible, and in fact everything is possible!
And so I have been reflecting on this a lot and finding that this “new enlightenment” is really what is needed now. Because in the trust that we can come together across borders, whatever they are, and find new dimensions within ourselves and in each other, we can really begin to change the world together. Together is the key, which Andrew has been saying from the very early days. Of course this is only going to happen starting with intention of the individuals, or at least quorum of individuals. But there seem to be lots of us out here with a genuine interest in changing this world, for this to start to manifest in new and unpredictable ways.
Collective enlightenment is like a new muscle that is just emerging in the newborn, something that is just being flexed, little tiny twitches leading to faltering steps, hopefully leading eventually to confident transport — unless, of course, the collective destroys itself first. It is very real, literally a “new being” as it has been called, the next stage of human evolution and of consciousness on this planet. Kind of like little neuro-muscular tendrils growing together into a still-fragile and vulnerable network, with enormous potential for entirely new levels of creativity and evolution one the network becomes stronger and more resilient.
Imagine what potential this new being has to address the seemingly overwhelming problems that we face as a species, as earth-dwellers — problems that we have created as a collective and that we will have to address as a collective.
If individuals with some degree of realization, including those with sufficient realization that they can transmit and share it, are able to come together, become greater than the sum of the individuals, I think we have a chance. But we’d better act quickly, eh?
As with any exploration of thought, on the individual or group it plays out in the world as actions. Concrete sometimes as institutions are created to further study are build with real stone and mortar. Less obvious but still effecting are the mind sets that be come set in or daily actions.
How do we give everyone tools for change? Give them the freedom to change. Charles Erwins’ book American Freedom is a book about change. http://www.americanfreedombooks.com http://www.americanfreedombooks.com
Will we listen and learn only time will tell.
J Michael
As with any exploration of thought, on the individual or group it plays out in the world as actions. Concrete sometimes as institutions are created to further study are build with real stone and mortar. Less obvious but still effecting are the mind sets that be come set in or daily actions.
How do we give everyone tools for change? Give them the freedom to change. Charles Erwins’ book American Freedom is a book about change. http://www.americanfreedombooks.com http://www.americanfreedombooks.com
Will we listen and learn only time will tell.
I heard an interview on TV last week that the Federal Government has given a grant to the Noetic Science Institute to research long distance prayer.
It is common knowledge that the American government has the lead on many of the newest technologies before its citizens. It is also common knowledge that they keep this information from the public for decades until all the kinks have been worked out of it. The kinks are those things that they could use it for to gain advantages over other countries and their on population.
Today is the time for people to take a stand for what they know is right. Prayer, meditation, and intention can and does bring peace to individuals and communities. It is imperative that large groups of people come together to pray, meditate, and intend peace in this world before the governments in this world find ways to prevent this through their own intentions.
For the interview between Matt Lauer and Dan Brown go to: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33280724/ns/dateline_nbc-newsmakers/
It seems to me that even after 150 years of evolutionary theory, very few people – including the majority of scientists – really see the human race as a species of animal. (A Pew poll last year had about 50% of scientists believing in a god or spiritual force).
Seeing trees, seeing forests.
We see the trees – we are people, individuals, conscious beings, moral souls, lovers, haters, peacemakers, warmongers, scientists, mystics and so on ad infinitum – but so far we miss the forest of our animalhood.
All these characteristics are characteristics of animals. Humans are a species of symbol-using social animal who become fully human only through human relationships. And we are all “suboptimal” in every way conceivable: body, brain, mind, intelligence, imagination, emotion, ethically, morally, “spiritually”. Everything about each of us could be better, and none of it can ever be perfect. None of us is responsible for how this situation arose, but we are all individually responsible for what we choose to do with it.
Nearly all humans are blinded by our presumed “specialness” which leads to concepts such as “made in God’s image”. When we presume that our inner experience of spiritual “truth” is actually true and not a poorly-understood phenomena produced by our brain, we presume too much.
I heard President Obama quoting Justice Stevens who has said there should be Understanding before Disagreeing. This wisdom is something that should be more widely practiced in these times where everyone is ready to spout and shout out opinions without giving much thought to what they say.
Buddha’s first precept I believe is Right Thought, then Right Action, which includes speaking.
Before someone will believe anything, it has to pass through their filter successfully and be accepted as TRUTH.
The set of beliefs that helped to form the filter are almost set in stone in early childhood and is therefore a blueprint for the existence of the individual in the world it was born into. A filter is a set of inner tests that is formed based on what has already been accepted as truth by the mind of the individual. Any new information must pass these inner tests in order to be believed as truth. If you want someone to support your cause you have to present it to them in a way that it can pass through their filter unhindered and be accepted as good and true. The best way to make sure that everybody supports your cause, is to make sure they form their filter based on what you want them to believe and in doing that you can create a society of drones who never see the need to question anything you tell them. On earth this strategy has been called indoctrination through Religion and (the lack of real) Education for the last few millennia.
So now I ask the question again…what is truth? Does it exist? How would you recognise it? That is what Einstein meant when he said…you cannot solve a problem with the same mind that created it. In order to solve a problem you need to first recognise that there is a problem and then you have to change your blueprint, your filter, to address the problem and the act of changing your blueprint is called evolution.
The acceptance of a collective blueprint by any species instantly forms a closed system. The survival of the individual within the closed system requires adaptation and conformity. The closed system blueprint lays down new behavioural patterns which should secure the survival of the species and in order to do so it has to be accepted and readily adhered to by each individual within the group. In nature it has been witnessed that a species sometimes splits off from the main species and evolve along a different path into something different to the original. Dolphins and whales still have remnants of hind limbs in their skeletal structure, they also have no gills and they still suckle their young unlike other aquatic creatures.
At the last evolutionary crisis faced by humanity a new blueprint (closed system) was formed and in order to make absolutely sure that it was adhered to without question the system simply decided to kill all those who did not agree with the new order leaving humanity with a single (single-minded) strand for survival of the species at the next evolutionary junction which we are at now.
An evolutionary crisis is faced by a species when the closed system does not provide adequate proof and security of its ability to meet the desired needs of all its individuals in the face of rapid planetary as well as global consciousness changes. The survival of any species (embodiment of spirit) is directly linked to its ability to change its blueprint, its filter, it’s a collective consciousness. The evolutionary crisis that humanity is facing right now stems from the fact that the circumstances of the world we live in are changing faster than what our closed system blueprint for our collective consciousness is allowing the individual to change.
You can’t save your world without changing the way you think. We need to start believing that we can save our world only if, in the midst of our Evolutionary Crisis, we can find it within ourselves to free ourselves from the closed system blueprint and change the way we think as individuals. And one of the first beliefs that desperately needs changing is that we cannot continue punting the old system that states we have to kill anyone who thinks differently to ourselves and we don’t have to fear for their survival if we don’t. The time of the old system has come to an end. Indoctrination techniques cannot and will not save anyone anymore. There need be no fear. All roads lead to Rome…even the detours and humanity as ONE (a collective consciousness) has the right to allow some of its parts to ‘go home’ or ‘go astray’ along a detour for further exploration. The job of the individual is to make up their own mind where they are at and where they are heading and no system or societal blueprint has the right to dictate to the individual when a species is faced with an evolutionary crisis or junction. Ultimately it is your steadfast belief of that which is true for you in your heart of hearts (who am I) that will take you where you want to go. It is time to find your Kingdom within. At the evolutionary junction all concepts and structures relating to the prevailing blueprint of a time and times gone by seizes to exist, freeing each individual to make a new choice, go extinct as an individual or with your group soul inhabiting planet earth as part of the universal consciousness playing the game of life OR evolve into something new with your group soul as part of the rest of the universal consciousness in order to continue along a different path together with other group souls of the universal consciousness embodied on this planet. You my friend, have complete freedom of choice right now as do I.
The survival of the species called humanity therefore depends on how quickly YOU my friend are going to be able to challenge and change your personal blueprint in order to realise that you are free to choose if you are willing to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances or not, as well as your ability to allow others to do the same without resorting to indoctrination techniques or killing anyone.
How are you going to evolve today and how loving and kind can you be to your fellow man in the face of rapidly changing circumstances….?
When you start asking the right questions the answers come quickly. Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going?
As for me…
Who am I?
I am a (fallen) Angel.
Why am I here?
I fell by choice (volunteered) in 1966 and I came to assist humanity on the eve of the time of great change by injecting personal freedom through the practice of unconditional love into your clinical system based on authority through violence, greed, envy and hatred.
Where am I going?
I am going home soon. (I hope)
Thanks for everything earthlings…its been real.