WHAT DO YOU SEE AS YOUR PRIMARY MISSION?

Those who reach a certain stage of spiritual transformation may find my teaching and that which resonates within me to be of great benefit in releasing certain attachments, dissolving certain obstacles, developing new understandings and transcending to higher levels of consciousness.  It is my primary mission to be of benefit to those who are at this stage on their journey.  The benefits to be gained may take place over the course of many meetings or perhaps in just one brief meeting. It may come from a private meeting, a public meeting, or from reading a few lines that I have written or perhaps from listening to an audio or video that I have made.

Not everyone will find my teaching or my presence attractive or enjoyable.  Some people, even if they are in very close proximity to me, may find themselves far more strongly attracted to some other teacher whose teaching and resonance is a better match for theirs, at this point on their spiritual path.  If you do not find me to be what uplifts you at this point in time, then it is probably better to seek your uplift elsewhere.  Perhaps we will meet again at a future time and be a perfect match. 

There may be points in one’s spiritual progress where for a period of time one has to work some things out for one’s self.  There are other points where being around a teacher or even the concept of someone else living life at a higher level of consciousness than one’s own level of consciousness will be very challenging and uncomfortable to the ego and will generate a sensation of friction, tension or negativity.  It is helpful to realize that this will pass.  That which is challenging tends to be an opportunity for growth. As one focuses on gentleness, patience, kindness and compassion for one’s self and for others, transformation will begin to take place and negativity will disappear.

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ARE THERE ANY DOWNSIDES OR DISCOMFORTS TO BE EXPERIENCED WHEN SEEKERS OF HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESS SEEK YOU OUT FOR TEACHING OR MENTORING?

As erroneous concepts and identities are relinquished, resulting in the dismantling of that which is known as the ego, the rate of the dismantling tends to accelerate.  When one seeks out and resides in the presence of a REALIZED teacher, with the intention of dismantling the ego, the pace at which this takes place can become very rapid.   Things will arise in consciousness and situations will manifest in one’s life, which if let go, will result in going to higher levels of understanding and consciousness. 

The teacher of higher consciousness does not plan what is arising in your life.  However, when you come into a teacher’s field with the intention of dismantling the ego, everything in your life will unfold in a manner that will help to accomplish this intention.  Some of what arises may appear quite challenging.

At certain stages of growth, the same patterns will tend to repeat over and over, until finally released.  It is as if one has the opportunity to keep doing third grade math over and over, until one finally gets it and passes on to fourth grade.  One gets as much time as one needs and the universe patiently presents the basic material to be learned over and over, until one gets it.

I recommend that anyone who becomes interested in being served by me sit in on some of the free sessions or become acquainted with some of my writings. 

In seeking to connect with me, some people may come away disappointed.  They appear to assume that I am a person with a personality built upon the same foundations of commonly held assumptions, beliefs, values, understandings and concerns as most other people, whereas many of these have significantly dissolved, collapsed or disappeared.  

From time to time, people will say they want to get together with me for the purpose of getting to know me.  From my perspective there is no one here to get to know.  There is simply the LOVING PRESENCE.  The semblance of a personality is drawn upon, from memories, for the purpose of communicating with you and expressing LOVE in the form that is most beneficial to you in that moment.  But it is fleeting and ephemeral and nothing to believe in or to which to be attached.  Information about the events of my life, provided in my speaking or my writings, is for the purpose of teaching; not to perpetuate an ego identity.  I am not here to nurture a story about you and me.  There is not sufficient remaining personality here to have any interest in wanting to hear a story or to tell a story.  However, LOVE is here.  It is the deep and underlying LOVE, beyond personality, that you seek.  LOVE will listen to the stories that are brought to it, when such listening will help you to release them and be free.

Any response that you receive from me is dependent on some inner light or guidance that arises.  If nothing lights up, it probably is not a good match at this point in time and if that is the case, I might be perceived as not being very responsive.  When a meeting is sought for the purpose of one personality meeting and interacting with another and sharing stories about themselves, nothing seems to light up within me.  It is like putting a plug in the socket, but finding no electricity flowing.  For lighting up to take place and electricity to flow, the interest must be in connecting with the electricity and not for the purpose of getting to know the plug.

In most instances, the problems and suffering that people encounter are due to their stories, assumptions, and beliefs.  I often encourage people to be brief in telling their stories.  Go right to the essence.  See if you can describe it in a few concise sentences.   People tend to breathe life and credibility into their stories, just like blowing air into a balloon, making it larger and larger in the telling of it.  Most people have told their stories to themselves and others so many times that the stories seem very real, fully validated, absolutely true, and tightly locked in place.  When one is willing to minimize one’s story, it becomes easier to free one’s self from it. If in the course of meeting together, it seems appropriate to go into someone’s story in more detail, we will take the time to do that.  Those who are willing to release their stories are very close to being free.

It is not clear to me (the terms “I” and “me” are used figuratively) that there is an “I’ or a “me”.  There is an aspect of consciousness that observes and experiences what is perceived to be unfolding in this consensus consciousness time/space reality (“reality” with a small “r” ), but without being totally locked into the concept that there is a distinct and clearly definable “I” or “me” who is doing anything.  Sometimes silence is experienced.  Sometimes teaching happens.  Other times conversation and dialogue unfold.   Other times playfulness may manifest.  These simply arise as aspects of the broader reality of fields emanating within fields.  If you think you see a person, personality, or patterns that tend to repeat, fine, and if not, fine.  If you think that there is someone at home in the body or attached to the body, with whom you can form a personal connection or relationship, fine, and if not, fine. 

There is love and compassion.  They flow in relation to an inner sense of harmony.  Sometimes the inner sense is to remain silent and observe.  Sometimes action springs forth spontaneously.  Sometimes the inner sense is to walk away.  There is love and compassion in the silent observing and also in the spontaneous action, as well as in the walking away. 

When being personal is appropriate to the overall harmony, DIVINITY becomes personal to you through me.  When this happens, the sense of being alive, whole, expanded, and immersed in LOVE, within and without, can be very intense.   Some might think that they love me, but you are really falling in love with the PRESENCE that shines within you (and is your TRUE SELF), to which you awaken when you perceive it shining in me.

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WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE NEGATIVITY THAT SOME PEOPLE EXPRESS AS THEY STRIVE FOR HIGHER LEVELS OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND WHY DO SOME PEOPLE GET UPSET OR UPTIGHT AT THE PROSPECT OF THOSE AROUND THEM EXPERIENCING HIGHER STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS?

You may see some grumpiness and negativity arise from time to time in those who are moving higher on the spiritual path.  When it does, it should be viewed with compassion.  In most cases, it is just the normal functioning of the human ego, doing what it does so well; making comparisons, over analyzing and experiencing the associated negative emotions that arise in relation to the thoughts.  As transformation takes place there will be less negativity.

It is important to understand that as one moves higher, things come into consciousness to be released.  Insecurities of various types may come up as the ego self is gradually dismantled. Some of what arises may be intensely uncomfortable and may result in temporary negative emotional states being experienced until a full release takes place.   So, it is good for those on a spiritual path to be patient with each other.

A few spiritual seekers may become very intense in their pursuit of spiritual attainment.  At a certain point in their spiritual unfolding their minds go into overdrive churning out comparisons, measuring, and analyzing.  They may become very judgmental of themselves and others.  They may go on an emotional roller coaster ride.  They may oscillate between projecting harsh and unkind judgments upon themselves and upon others.  For a period of time, they may lose their equanimity, sense of proportion, balance, gentleness, patience, LOVE and kindness.  They may become depressed and may experience a very dark night of the soul.  Some personality types have a tendency for this to play out.  Again, it is an opportunity of understanding and compassion

A few may envision themselves as spiritual warriors. They may begin to express righteous indignation about various things and make attempts to correct this or that, not perceiving that their flailing about (usually verbal in nature) may cause far more turmoil than whatever they are trying to fix.

Some will intensely lock into a set of spiritual teachings, formulas for success, or into specific teachers to the extent that they begin to think that all other paths, practices or understandings are inferior or wrong.  They may sometimes appear critical and judgmental of others.  The fact is that the experience of higher states occurs in many different ways and circumstances and to those from many different different paths and traditions.   Be patient with them and they will eventually move past whatever narrow point of view is hindering them.

Some may want to be instantly zapped into enlightenment, when they are not yet ripe for such an unfolding, and may become upset when they do not attain what they seek.  Their lack of peaceful equanimity and gentleness is obvious to those around them.  Such people are on a difficult, challenging and often painful path.  They tend to spiral through the same lessons over and over until they eventually gain equanimity, patience and gentleness with themselves and others.  They will eventually reach their destination, even if the journey is rough. 

Group dynamics in spiritual communities are quite interesting and sometimes quite challenging.  Usually, a spiritual group is comprised of people of many different levels of consciousness, life experiences and points of view.  There is a natural ongoing tension within all of this diversity.  A natural center of gravity tends to form as energy patterns push and pull on each other and eventually begin to resonate together, resulting in a natural equilibrium or status quo, which becomes sufficiently comfortable that there is a natural inclination to maintain it and keep it in balance. 

When any in the group experiences a major shift of consciousness, everyone feels the change in the equilibrium of the group energy field as the shift ripples out, influencing all of the individual energy fields that influence the group energy field.  The energy field of the whole group may shift upward.  There may be a pull toward a new slightly higher middle ground equilibrium, if most people’s consciousness is in the middle.  Or, there may be a pull in the opposite direction, to counterbalance and keep things as they are.  In some cases, the group will hang together and in others a pushing or pulling apart will take place.

There are some types of personalities for whom the mere suggestion that another person in their close social proximity is experiencing a higher state of consciousness is quite challenging and may bring up deep conscious and unconscious insecurity.  Deep inside, they are wrangling with all sorts of questions and issues regarding self esteem, acceptance, guilt and shame pertaining to their own level of consciousness.  They experience frustration that they are not where they ideally want to be and may feel deep discomfort and negative emotions when they perceive others to be achieving that to which they themselves aspire.  They may feel like the equilibrium of the group is being altered.  On the positive side, they might see it as an opportunity to move to a higher level and do just that.  On the other hand, they might try to maintain the status quo in any number of ways, perhaps even expressing negativity, rejection, or competitiveness toward whatever they perceive as challenging.

It is easy to assume that grumpiness and negativity will tend to predominate in those who do not appear to be seeking higher levels of consciousness.  However, there is also significant potential for various forms of negativity to manifest in the individuals or subgroups that are experiencing the greatest upward shifts of consciousness.  We have just looked at some of them.  One of the major forms of negativity is spiritual pride, which we will now address.

Those who begin to perceive life from a higher vantage point naturally want to share that new vantage point with those around them.   They see new opportunities and want to move ahead rapidly.  It can be quite frustrating when that which they see so clearly is not eagerly grasped by those with whom they share it.  There is a tendency to see others as slow, narrow, set in their ways, stubborn and/or egotistical.  If others don’t move ahead in a timely manner or if they push away from what is offered it may appear that they are making a spiritual choice to not go higher.  At this point, one is tempted to make them out to be wrong or bad.  It may appear that those who will not drop old mindsets must be able to see “how wrong they are”, and their refusal to see how wrong they are makes them appear even worse.  It may seem that they will be stuck where they are forever and never change, transform or climb higher.   At this point, there is a tendency for separation to occur.

What the person with the higher vantage point often does not understand, is that others do not have the capacity to see things from the same vantage point as themselves.   One cannot see from a higher level until one gets to a higher level.  The person who is 50 feet higher on the mountain will naturally have a different perspective than the person who 50 feet below.  The person who has the higher vantage point will tend to be increasingly impatient.  They will eventually think that they are justified in seeing those who have a different vantage point in a very negative manner.  This is what is known as spiritual pride.   

The drama of spiritual pride can take place at many points in life.  When one has climbed the first 50 feet things look different than before.  When one climbs the next 50 feet things look different again, and so on, all the way up the mountain. The tension and the drama of perceiving one’s self as being right and others as being wrong may play out many times as one goes higher and higher.

Finally one reaches a vantage point from which one can see how this has happened over and over again.  One sees it in one’s own experiences and one sees it in what others are experiencing.  From this new vantage point, those who are 50 feet or 100 feet below do not look wrong any more.  It becomes evident that they are just seeing and doing things, based on how things look from where they are at.  One realizes that when one was at that point on the mountain, one saw things exactly the way that others are now seeing them. From this vantage point, an understanding emerges that it is appropriate to be PATIENT and COMPASSIONATE instead of becoming negative.  One realizes that eventually others will climb higher and that when they do they will see things differently.   At this point on the journey, the old sense of pride and impatience from having a higher vantage point than others is greatly diminished or perhaps even ceases to arise.  One’s current vantage point is perceived to be just another point along the way, from which things tend to look a certain way.  

One of the greatest gifts you can give to those around you is to be patient with them and hold them in LOVE and COMPASSION, allowing them to be as they are. They may not shift immediately.  It may take a few weeks, months or years.  Be patient.  The resonance of your FIELD OF COMPASSION will gradually be felt and they will be uplifted and transformed.

When you come across the types of situations discussed in this section, attempt to view them with COMPASSIONATE UNDERSTANDING.   Try to remember that in each instance, the person or persons are doing the best they can, based on their current life circumstances, beliefs, and level of consciousness.  They will continue to be given opportunities for growth and transformation.  Be patient.  Allow them to be where they are.  Where else can they be, other than where they are?  In every moment they are embraced and held perfectly within ALL THAT IS.  Hold them in LOVE and COMPASSION.  Eventually, transformation and transcendence will unfold.

To avoid negativity, attempt to avoid harsh judgments and righteous indignation, which result in hasty actions and lack of gentleness.  If you realize that you are acting in a negative manner, then offer yourself the same COMPASSION that you would offer to others and that you would hope that others would offer to you.   Do not be fearful of others, even if you are challenged or uncomfortable with them if they seem to be experiencing higher states than you are, or if they appear to be focused on maintaining the status quo, or if someone seems negative, impatient, grumpy or unkind.  Give them some time and space to unfold. 

All events of life are opportunities for LOVE.   See all circumstances as opportunities for LOVE.   Ask within, “How may I be LOVE and COMPASSION in this situation?” or “What is the opportunity for me to go higher?” and then go with what lights up.  If you aspire to advance spiritually, do a KINDNESS check on your thoughts and behavior from time to time.  Let your spirituality be expressed in LOVE, COMPASSION, KINDNESS, GENTLENESS, HUMILITY and PATIENCE.  If you have reached enlightenment or aspire to attain it, let these attributes shine forth from within you in ABUNDANCE.  

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IT MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN YOU SPEAK OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. WHY AREN’T YOU MORE CLEAR AND ABSOLUTE IN WHAT YOU TEACH?

One idiosyncrasy of my teaching style is that I often use such terms as “it tends to be,”  “it seems,”   “it appears,” or “I perceive it to be this way from this perspective”.  I honor the fact that what may look one way from one perspective may look quite different from another perspective. 

Some people prefer a more absolute approach.  They want to know the correct perspective for viewing things, so as to see them clearly and be right.  I prefer to allow people to explore and look at things from different perspectives so that they may understand, based on their own depth and breadth of experience.  I provide helpful pointers and general guidance, based on what they appear to be seeking.  There may be times when DIVINITY provides some very specific insight or guidance for a certain person, time or place.  To acknowledge the depth and breadth of what exists and the fact that things do look different from different perspectives seems to me to be both wise and truthful. It leaves room for discovering more, if there is more to be discovered, rather than simply locking one’s self in a corner by claiming to have the absolute correct understanding about everything.  Some people will prefer something more absolute and for that they should look elsewhere.

When you look at light shining through a prism, there are some points where you see red and some where you see blue or yellow.  At this point it looks one way and at some other point it looks another way.  To me that seems obvious.  But some people seem to prefer to focus on just one aspect of consciousness as being more correct than the others and it is their privilege to do so.   If they wish to only see green or if they think that it is only appropriate to see all wavelengths blended together so that white is all that is ever seen, then let them perceive as they will and may they also allow others the freedom to see as they will.

Things look very different when viewed from different levels or aspects of consciousness.   The very same thing can look drastically different and will also be described very differently from different perspectives.  Beliefs, perceptions, interpretations feelings, thoughts and actions tend to be very different for one who is living in state of despair, guilt, fear, or anger than for one who is living in a state of JOY or PEACE or LOVE.  All that is around us appears to act and respond differently to different levels of consciousness.

Some teachers tend to speak and teach from one specific perspective.   Certain people will be attracted to them at certain stages of the unfolding of spiritual understanding.  There are other teachers who understand how things look at different levels of consciousness; who converse and teach freely across multiple levels and help people of very different perspectives move up the next level of consciousness that is appropriate for their unfolding.  These teachers can move quickly from level to level and from one perspective to another.  Some people find this freeing and expansive and some people find it disturbing. 

Those people who tend to think in very “either or” or “black and white” terms may have difficulty understanding such a teacher.  Some of the teacher’s teachings may appear paradoxical.  Persons looking for absolutes will tend to ask “How can you say it looks like this from this perspective, but looks like that from another perspective?  Which perspective is right? Aren’t we always obligated to look at things from just one perspective?”  They tend to find it disturbing that within consciousness there can be multiple perspectives. 

On the other hand, some people will seek out such a teacher because of the expansiveness and depth and breadth of understanding to be gained.  I am someone who can comfortably move across levels of consciousness, just as you might move your attention to different points on a number line.  This does not mean that I buy into each point of view or level of consciousness that is accessible, but that I can understand them relative to the others.  When you leave elementary school to go middle school or get your undergraduate degree and then move on to obtain your Ph.D. degree, you do not lose all capacity to teach or converse with those who are currently experiencing life in all of the other grade levels that you have experienced since nursery school.

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ARE YOU A GURU AND DOES ONE NEED A GURU TO REACH ENLIGHTENMENT?

If by asking if I am a “Guru“ you mean do I buy into the eastern religious culture and traditions pertaining to gurus and their followers then the answer is “no”.   I am a “guide” or “teacher” pointing those who come to them toward the realization of the higher aspects of themselves and to their own DIVINITY.

I do not see higher consciousness as being difficult to attain and I do not believe that one has to focus only on one specific spiritual teacher or guru to transcend to higher levels of consciousness.  It is a natural process.  I do not see a teacher or guru as being absolutely necessary to attaining higher consciousness, although in some sense we all stand on the shoulders of the teachers who have come before and those who are here now. 

When climbing a mountain or exploring a new terrain, it helps to have a guide.  Yes, you could attempt to do it all by yourself.  Even then, you would probably find yourself moving along paths created by others who had passed ahead of you.  The spiritual resonance of those who are Self Realized radiates in you and all about you.  You are lifted their resonance, even if you are not fully cognizant of it.  Since there is no separation, there is almost no probability of anyone ascending to higher levels entirely on their own.

With regard to transmissions of uplifting or transforming energy, grace, and so forth, such experiences may occur from time to time.  However, I make no claim to doing them.  They happen spontaneously.  Think of how lighting takes place when there is a charge differential of charge between the upper atmosphere and the ground. When certain circumstances have evolved to a certain point a shift takes place and lightning occurs.  You can’t really attribute what took place to the ground or the clouds or the atmosphere.  It just happens.

Sometimes I have an awareness that a shift is about to take place.  Sometimes I sense the energy.  Sometimes it flows in harmony with some words or actions that are taking place, so that someone might mistakenly perceive me as the effectual cause.  The point is that what takes place is not personal.  It is a confluence of influences and circumstances of which I and someone else may be aspects, but, what takes place is actually arising and unfolding within the whole as cohesive harmonious aspects of the WHOLE.

Such occurrences are not just experienced by teachers.  DIVINITY utilizes all of us to bring blessings to each other.  You never know where lightning will strike.  It frequently occurs in certain circumstances, but sometimes it will surprise you.  I experienced DIVINITY working through me on many occasions in the years when I was journeying toward higher consciousness.  I assume this to be the experience of many others.

When an apple reaches a certain weight the stem is no longer strong enough to hold it to the tree and it drops to the ground. We say it is ripe.  Was it the gravity of the apple or the gravity of the Earth that brought the apple and the Earth together?  One might say that it was the active principle of gravity at work, both in and upon the Earth and in and upon the apple that resulted in the two coming together.

Many seekers tend to focus so intently on the teacher that they greatly underestimate and downplay the influence of their own intentions and ripeness as aspects of any transformation or transcendence that is experienced.  Your intentions and your ripeness for transformation are not separate from ALL THAT IS.  You and your intentions are essential aspects of the WHOLE, interacting in harmony with all other aspects of the WHOLE.   Your intentions are not separate from the unfolding that brings you to a teacher or a teacher to you.  If you ever think that anything that you have ever thought or felt is separate from ALL THAT IS, smile and then start to chuckle and then have a good long laugh.  You may have inaccurate perceptions about any number of things, but although they may be inaccurate, they still exist within the FIELD OF ALL THAT IS.

There is such a thing as resonance.  There is knowingness.  There are levels of consciousness.  There is the experiencing of levels of consciousness.  There is DIVINE PRESENCE.  There is AWARENESS OF DIVINE PRESENCE.   There is CONTINUUM.  THERE IS ONENESS.   There is ALLNESS.

Within the FIELD, there appear to be emanating field effects, which one might call sub-fields or fields within fields and ripples within ripples.  There appears to be a holographic quality within the continuum of the FIELD and the sub-fields so that all aspects are held or reflected to some degree in every other aspect. 

In traditional eastern spiritual culture, much emphasis is placed upon the Guru.  However, the ripeness of the spiritual seeker is a major element in any transformation that takes place.  No one aspect; not the field or level of consciousness of the Teacher or the ripeness of the Seeker, nor any other aspect, can take full credit or full blame for what unfolds within the ONENESS.

In fact, to see a Teacher or a Seeker as being separate entities is merely to choose to see from a certain narrow perspective.  Be aware that there are other perspectives.  From the higher vantage points, one might perceive an aspect of the whole, which could arbitrarily be called a TEACHERSEEKER event.  In other words, the focus of attention might just as well be on a TEACHERSEEKERFIELD in which the phenomena of the unfolding teacher and seeker events are unfolding, with teacher and seeker viewed as two sides of the same coin, a cohesive seamless whole, with no distinct separation.  This applies not just to TEACHERSEEKER events and relationships, but to all types of relationships experienced on this Earth plane.

On the Earth plane, a narrow range of sensory perception, along with rigidly defined conventional belief systems have unfolded so that there is a very keen capacity for believing in separation and for misperceiving and misinterpreting, based on the underlying assumption of separation.  However, the senses and mental concepts that filter and shape your perceptions at this level and in this way are not your only available capacities for perceiving and knowing.  They only provide a very distorted and narrow sliver of what is there to be known and a very narrow sliver of the full range of awareness that is available for observing and knowing.  There is a capacity within each of us to be aware of energy, to be aware of consciousness being aware of itself, to be aware of fields of energy, and how they merge and exist and reflect within the WHOLE, to be aware of a wide range of subtle higher qualities, and to be aware of the underlying ONENESS.  As consciousness expands it perceives more and more and there is a growing realization of how much can be perceived and how differently life is experienced as consciousness expands.

The point is that none of us are separate.  We are not as individual, distinct, or personal as we presume ourselves to be.  We are very much aspects of a larger WHOLE and we are very much aspects of each other.   We are overlapping fields of consciousness/energy, within broader fields of consciousness/energy.  We do not have clearly defined sharp edges.  We are consciousness/energy overlapping, blending, emerging, merging, and reflecting within the ONE.   Even the words “we are” are mere figures of speech, narrowly attempting to define various aspects of the WHOLE from a very narrow perspective.  The conventional perspective has its uses, but it is not the only perspective. It is very limited.  It does not convey the totality of our existence.

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HOW DO YOU INTEND TO MAINTAIN BALANCE, AVOIDING THE PROBLEMS, ABUSES, AND NEGATIVE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH MANY SPIRITUAL TEACHERS?

The problems that have occurred for many spiritual teachers tend to have certain common themes, several of which are addressed here.  To clearly recognize these problems and consciously take steps to avoid them can go a long way toward preventing them. 

The first problem is the notion of exclusivity - the notion that a particular teacher is the only or primary source of truth and perhaps even flawless and incapable of error or mistake.  People looking for truth, stability, structure and ready made guidelines tend to be attracted to the concept of a teacher who is so absolutely powerful and perfect that the student can simply follow their lead, without question.  In addition, certain personality types tend to get a great ego boost from having a teacher who is “right’ which in turn makes them “right’ by virtue of their closeness to the teacher or their expert knowledge of the teacher’s teachings.

The second problem is the dualistic perception that grace, power and Higher Consciousness reside in the Teacher and are conferred by the teacher upon the student.  The nature of this problem is that insufficient emphasis is given to the student already being an aspect of DIVINITY and to the ONENESS within which the student, the teacher and all else exist and manifest as aspects of the WHOLE.  

When the teacher and the student perceive the teacher to hold all power and authority for the attainment of Higher Consciousness, there is opportunity for a variety of unbalanced and abusive situations to occur.  Although such situations tend to be perceived as problematic, when viewed from a conventional mindset, they are not ultimately out of harmony with all that is unfolding and manifesting within the ONE.  Such occurrences are merely a fleeting aspect of the continuous flow, alignment, balance, and harmony within ALL THAT IS. 

Although they are fleeting and although they are allowed within the broader unity, there are still reasons (from many different levels and perspectives), for avoiding such situations, wherever possible.  For the highest good, it is beneficial to understand that the authority to convey Higher Consciousness, Awakening and Enlightenment does not belong exclusively to the teacher, but unfolds out of the ONENESS and that the teacher and the student are aspects of the ONENESS, and that within both are aspects of the other.

The teacher is a guide, pointer, reminder and amplifier, assisting the student to focus awareness on the DIVINITY within and upon the ALLNESS and ONENESS of which the student and teacher are aspects.  The student and the teacher exist in ONENESS and ALLNESS, such that the student is not separate from the teacher, or the teacher from the student, but are aspects of the ONE and of each other within the ONE.  The teacher perceives the same DIVINE SELF in both the teacher and the student.  As the teacher sees the DIVINITY of the student, the student begins to see what the teacher sees and beholds the PRESENCE OF DIVINITY shining within himself or herself. 

The role of the student is to perceive DIVINITY in all things, including in others, in the beauty of nature, in him or her self, and in the teacher.  For many students it tends to be easy to see DIVINITY in the teacher.   As the awareness of any aspect of DIVINITY increases the student becomes increasingly aware of DIVINITY within.

The third problem is a disproportionate or inappropriate veneration of the teacher.  There will always be a vast range of opinion as to where the line should be drawn between what is appropriate and inappropriate and proportionate and disproportionate.   People love to be in the field of someone who resonates at a high level of consciousness.  They are well aware of the uplift that they experience.  They are well aware of the magnitude of the spiritual gifts that they are receiving.  It is common for spiritual seekers to experience deep LOVE and many other aspects of the DIVINE while in the presence of a spiritual teacher.  They naturally feel a deep sense of LOVE and awareness of the PRESENCE OF DIVINITY when in the presence of the teacher and they often reciprocate by expressing deep love and respect for the teacher. 

Problems occur when such veneration extends out of proportion, so that the student is implicitly or explicitly influenced to worship, obey, or serve the teacher without question, due to being placed on a high pedestal or due to the perception that the teacher has the authority to confer enlightenment. This can happen in many settings, but its most extreme form tends to take place in tightly insulated spiritual communities.  

This is not intended to convey the deep love for teachers is not appropriate.  Appropriate and proportionate love of spiritual teachers has a place and can be beneficial.

Deep LOVE for their teachers has been an important aspect of the spiritual unfolding of many great Saints and Teachers.  If you read the biographies and autobiographies of some great spiritual teachers, especially those of some eastern traditions, the degree of veneration that they showed to their teachers may indeed seem excessive by conventional measures, but not when measured against the lives of those who have sought or attained higher states of consciousness.  

What is perceived as being problematic in one culture, time, or place may not be seen as such in another.  Indeed, it is at the juncture when two very different cultures come together that problems tend to be most sharply perceived, prior to a gradual synthesis and eventual resolution, which arises with increased understanding and acceptance of that which at first seemed new, different and controversial. 

Eastern religious traditions have an array of beliefs, forms, and rituals, built up over hundreds of years, designed to focus the spiritual aspirant’s attention and devotion toward the teacher.  Respect and veneration of teachers (both secular and spiritual) was part of the fabric of the broader culture.  In some religious subcultures the ones closest to the teacher bow, touch the teacher’s feet or prostrate themselves before the teacher, thereby encouraging others to do the same.  Followers are encouraged to see the teacher as being all knowing.  The teacher is the touchstone for daily spiritual inspiration.  Pictures or small statues are handed out or sold to disciples for the purpose of helping them to tune into the resonance of the spiritual teacher and to help inspire them to maintain a steady and intense spiritual focus throughout each day.

You can see this behavior in all kinds of religious communities, including in the Christian community.  Many Catholics, Orthodox, and some Protestants use pictures or statues of Jesus, crosses, crucifixes, holy water, bread and wine, pictures of the pontiff, and pictures or statues of saints for inspiration, and as continuous pointers, reminders and touchstones of faith and DIVINE PRESENCE.

Consider for a moment whether the above types of devotion and inspiration are appropriate and proportionate.  Some will say absolutely.  Others will say “absolutely not” or “it depends”.  Those who bless or pray before a picture of their teacher or who kneel when they approach their teacher would tend to say that it is absolutely appropriate and proportionate.  

If one has a propensity for Buddhist teaching, one may get all excited and go “ooh!” and “aahh!” when a popular Buddhist teacher comes to town.  Perhaps one will be so greatly inspired by a Sufi Saint in a long robe, a healing shaman from Peru, or a Yogi who chants the names of all of all the prior leaders of his lineage that one will seek them out for healing rituals or hang their picture on one’s wall, and gaze at it for inspiration as one starts each day.  The point is that there is sufficient diversity among human kind that some will think it appropriate to ooh and aahh over one thing, and others will think it appropriate to ooh and aahh over something else. 

Most people tend to benefit from personal practices that help them maintain their focus while on the spiritual path.  Sometimes it may be another person, who they find inspiring, sometimes it may be a picture or a ritual.  One may look at someone else’s practice as right or wrong, proportionate or disproportionate, but if one believes that there are many paths, one might choose to look at the diversity of practices as an aspect of the wonderful and playful diversity within the CREATIVE MIND OF GOD.

It remains to be seen how the role of spiritual guide, spiritual teacher, mentor, coach or guru will unfold in western culture.  In western culture, there is a strong emphasis on the autonomy of the individual and there tends to be a strong public aversion to cult-like, dysfunctional, abusive, or excessive behavior.   We are fortunate to already have many notable western teachers of higher consciousness, such as David Hawkins, Eckart Tolle, Brian Nager, Joel Goldsmith, Jed McKenna, and Byron Katie exemplifying a modern, 21^st Century spiritual leadership style.  To a very large degree they appear to have avoided much that is most problematic or dysfunctional in prior spiritual leadership models.  They come across as relatively humble and accessible spiritual teachers without the ritual, trappings, and intense devotion (bordering on cults of personality) of some other traditions.  This does not imply that there is nothing problematic about them.  It simply means that when you consider the complexity of human life and how things can be viewed from so many different perspectives, they appear to be navigating across potentially turbulent waters with relative success.  

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