Fleeting moments of inner silence and grateful acceptance show glimpses of our being. It is not yet fully formed, hovering between consciousness and oblivion.

The idea that ‘just to be is enough’ comes to mind, and I know that, in many moments, I instead ‘do.’ We are programmed early on to respond and react to stimuli. But for those on the path of spiritual growth, the ability to be in the moment becomes more crucial daily. It’s a challenge that one can meet with conscious effort and practice.

When something blossoms within, rejecting the idle, material gods of the world, new aims arise. You become interested in finer, more eclectic, and spiritual influences. Initially, you may be still determining which technique or tradition might be proper, so you try a few. After study and contemplation, you read this article.

“To be” is the first and ultimate truth. Yes, you are a human being belonging to the class of homo sapiens. Yet the differences between human beings are as vast as those between animal or human, conscious or asleep. 

Do you want to become a better human being? Do you want to be excellent and spiritual, different from others, seeking something higher?

External behaviors, like being ‘good’ or ‘humble,’ are essential for somebody traveling toward consciousness. But it’s our internal world that genuinely matters. The conscious presence within us can make every moment appear like a child seeing her first snowfall or the joy of being silent together. Our inspiration fuels our spiritual journey.

Who do you think you are? 

So you explore, try different suggestions, and see new perceptions appearing. From the viewpoint of evolution, it doesn’t matter. Awakening will occur if you are ready to awaken and your wish is so strong that it supersedes all others. But even the others, a little behind, have no choice either. You can’t close your eyes again when you start seeing behind the veil.

I thought of myself as having a specific being, forged in the deep caves of inner revelation, gained through transforming life’s challenges. I had seen who I am, and went on to explore new thoughts and attitudes. And yet, there is a specific trap one can fall into. Personality often takes on the facade of what is considered spiritual and enlightened, falling prey to vanity. Being called a “good person” or “considerate” is a beautiful character trait, but the question remains: where does this remarkable behavior come from? Is it from vanity? From wanting to be loved? From wanting to impress?

Who is behind this strong thought in us that wants to develop a better being? And who decides what is better? Who judges what is right or wrong?

We need to recognize the different thoughts within us. Not all seemingly ‘good’ thoughts come from the right place. Thoughts are filtered through our minds and are part of a pattern we have formed throughout our lives. Because our brains try to make our lives easier, specific pathways that trigger the same behaviors become ingrained. These are what we call habits. Therefore, we need to reprogram our brains from negative habits to positive ones, whatever that means to us personally.

Beneficial habits and attitudes need to be nurtured and valued. What we focus on grows. Every moment presents us with a choice of possibilities, and we can decide how to react and which path to take. Our daily chores, like walking the dog, making dinner, or washing dishes, can become beautiful encounters when one brings presence to them. Then the work becomes a laboratory of all kinds of observations and perceptions.

Conscious Being

In spiritual texts, “Being” with the capital “B” is often used to describe someone with extraordinary abilities. To become a complete Being, one must cultivate specific habits and attitudes and overcome the body’s laziness. Transformation is necessary to smooth out the rough edges of automatic actions and reactions.

Sometimes, the behavior of conscious beings is puzzling. A friend and devotee of Meher Baba explained that the Avatar mentioned these individuals having to undergo a cleansing process of their previous incarnations. Such a process is complex, painful, and erratic.

Our concept of a conscious being initially includes supernatural powers or abilities. When we experience conscious moments, we understand that we can only observe and accept what is happening without being able to intervene. The focus and determination to prolong and intensify these experiences distinguish the profound adepts. It requires seriousness and patience. Everything else falls into place as needed.

Suffering

Many spiritual writings point out that only ‘transformation of suffering creates being.’ These difficult experiences, such as accidents or life-changing events, allow us to build something real inside. When substantial challenges leave us speechless, we become present in the moment. This can lead to profound personal growth. When viewed from a spiritual perspective, suffering can be a catalyst for transformation, leading to a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

These significant challenges lead to essential revelations and always leave us more vital than before. But often, we fall prey to little daily annoyances. When faced with minor inconveniences, we tend to complain or seek validation from others. Letting these tendencies pass and staying silent is transformation.

Ultimately, we may not have much control over our external circumstances, but we can develop consciousness through our experiences. Consciousness, in this context, refers to a state of heightened awareness and understanding. It means a deep connection with our inner self and the world around us. While our lives may follow a particular path, our essence remains unchanged. Our ability to be more awake and conscious is closely connected to our essence. When we are in tune with who we are, we find peace and simplicity, which can lead to a profound awakening.

And yet, much of our current understanding is limited. Awakening people are often in the dark, trying to find the answers in somebody else. We become unafraid to experiment when we understand that our being can only grow through our internal efforts.

This article is by Klaus Labuttis, a practitioner of the Fourth Way for four decades.  For more of his articles, see: https://fourthwaytoday.org/author/klaus-labuttis/.