Spiritual Evolution - how is it "measured"?

[Mina-Laura]

Dear Stephen,

Has anyone heard of the 5 ranks of Tozan?

http://slbuddhists.org/?p=8

Interesting concept of development/enlightenment.

Thank you for this resource. Is really enlightening to know that before Maslow and his pyramid the ancients had a far better way to describe these states. I shall read it carefully.

love - Laura

[Leila]

Dear Adrian and All Beloved Friends,

Dear Leila,

Dear Friends,

But which is the "measure" or "evaluation" of this state? Do you feel yourself spiritually evolved?
Do we have a "general" level, (which is the sum of our vibration) or it fluctuates from high to lower level, depending on our current vibration? A spiritual level of evolution once achieved is preserved from now on?

So, how do we weigh it? What means to be spiritually evolved?

An exceptional question to which there is no absolute answer.

It is as enigmatic as the "how long is a piece of string" question.

There are no qualitative or quantitative measure of human evolution, because at this level, the kindergarten of the Universe, humans cannot comprehend the Inner levels, and therefore what to aspire to until actually reaching that destination, at which point we may look back to see where we have evolved from.

The only answer I can provide, which is never satisfactory from an academic perspective, is that Spiritual Evolution is Experiential, and we will always know it for what it is at any moment of Now.

Today it was revealed to me the answer to this question of mine, and to the other "What makes us evolve?".

It's as simple as all ways of the Universe. Since evolution means return to the Source, and the Source is Unconditional Love, the only "measure" of evolution is the extent to which we can feel and then express Unconditional Love.

I realized this experientially, as Adrian always underlines, and not at intelectual level.

I feel myself evolved, when I can love unconditionally, in any circumstances.
Last time when I remember my Love not being Unconditional, was in 11 January 09, when my love for Adrian became very attached. As he can feel our energies, knew this as not being good for anybody, and reacted rather surprising and hurtful. But it was Divine Order, and very useful for me.

Loving with attachment is not what we want, but we can't easily control it, as most certainly it comes from the depths of our subconsciousness. We clear it little by little, by allowing Life Energy flow through us and purify this mind.
I suffered when Laura did what I do tens times a day, and told Adrian "I love you". It's stupid but I felt pain, regardless of my conscious mind, because I felt kept at distance and not loved, while they became so close.
Next morning, when I woke up at 6.20, turned on my home PC, and declared my deep love to Laura, asking her to express her love truly and openly. That was the real me, and Laura returned my Love multiplied.

Few of my coleagues at work act like my enemies. I love them, and send them blessings daily. I pray for them to be well.

I love deeply and unconditionally Darrell and Larry. I want them to shine with the brightness of their spirits, and be admired and loved by everybody. My heart melts of happiness when they are adored by others in the forum. I send them my love energy, to fill their hearts and spark their sensitivity, to bless us with their wit.

Can't imagine that I could suffer anymore of love. Maybe God blessed me to find the love Within.
Want everybody to be loved deeply, and be happy.
I am at peace with myself and those I love.

This state of bliss and detachment may not be permanent from now on. It could be, if I stay focused in Spirit. If I experience pain again, will live and use it for my growth. Will go out of it empowered.
This applies to each of our human relationships, from most beloved persons to most hostile.

If someone, myself included of course, feels envy or jealousy for any reason toward another aspect of ourselves, we are falling back temporarily.
I'll watch carefully my feelings, as they are the "measure" of my spiritual evolution.
If I can truly feel Unconditional Love, the Highest Vibration of all, I don't need any other help on my way back to Source.

What makes us evolve? The Perfection of our Love. The more Unconditionally we love, the more evolved we are.

Thank You, Father for this revelation! It all happens for a reason, like always.

Unconditional Love to You, dearest Friends,

Leila

[Larry]

   My Dear Leila,   I have had a strange relationship with love. From birth through six years of age i and all but one of my siblings lived with my parents.  My father was persuing a carrear in the U.S. Navy. He was away most of the time. My mother (quite the beauty) would be lonely for male companionship. She found it easy to find men to keep her company when dad was gone. Both mom and dad were alcoholics. Many times when dad was away, mom would tuck us in for the night and the next morning she would be gone. Most of the times she would come home in a couple of days drunk and with a man. This went on for years. Finally a time came when she was gone for more than a week. My older brother (14 months older than me) My younger ( by 2 years) sister and i would walk to town. We would leave our baby brother (of 6 months) at home. He was too heavy for any of us to carry all the way. We would go to all of the bars in town looking mom. We never did find her. Someone discovered what was going on and reported the situation to the authorities. To make a long story short, we were made wards of the state. You know the rest.    Now back to love. We had no examples of healthy love. We wanted it but couldn't trust it. We screwed up love in every way possible. Our whole lives were bad. I've had to deal with this love thing in a big way since i developed all of those horrible diseases. I can see that you are having a hard time with love also. Admire is a word you need to substitute for love. Also when you feel jealous know immediately that it's not because of love you feel that way.  Everyone on this planet has the same needs. Most of (if not all) of us need to do better in the love department. Love, larry

[Larry]

      My Dear Leila, Which is greater, the expression or the reception of love? There are those born into this world who receive no love, even though they express love through the physical beauty of being an infant. Could it be that the need to receive love gets in the way of expressing love? Is experiencing love possible when one has never received it? Do we as adults need to receive love in order to experience it? I believe that the only way to know love, is to be born again. A spiritual birth. This is the only way we can enjoy love. This is the only unconditional love there is. When we can accept that we are sure enough, without any doubt, Source, then we are love.     love Larry

[Leila]

My Beloved Larry,

      My Dear Leila, Which is greater, the expression or the reception of love? There are those born into this world who receive no love, even though they express love through the physical beauty of being an infant. Could it be that the need to receive love gets in the way of expressing love? Is experiencing love possible when one has never received it? Do we as adults need to receive love in order to experience it? I believe that the only way to know love, is to be born again. A spiritual birth. This is the only way we can enjoy love. This is the only unconditional love there is. When we can accept that we are sure enough, without any doubt, Source, then we are love.     love Larry

As always, your wisdom gives me themes for meditation. I will reflect upon the questions you rised.

Until yesterday, I would have thaught that expressing love is greater. Now, I was compelled to see that receiving it, is at least at same level. We are not able to receive it as fully and beautifully as given.

In my opinion, the need to receive love gets mainly in the way of receiving love, but also of expressing love. In this and my yesterday's post, I'm not referring exclusively at my feelings, but at what I've learned recently by interracting with beloved and kindred spirits.

I used tough words, as "envy" and "jealousy". They surely never apply to any person in this forum, for we are all much above them, and always were. I personally never experienced such feelings in my entire life.
What I talked about was 'pain', due to the feeling that I'm not at the required "heigh", and therefore in the position to receive what I desire. And of course our inner feelings create our reality. We are what we think that we are, worth or not worth for something.
But the revelation about Unconditional Love did not occur by observing my feelings, but what I received from beloved ones.

I completely agree with your sharing, that we cannot experience unconditional love, without being born again, spiritually.
All Love that we share here, is only meant to teach us that the only place where we can find true love is Within, in the Source we express.
All the rest is disappointment and deception. No matter how spiritually fit with another we believe we are, we don't become One in love, and can't fully meet each other's expectations.

Each loving experience contributes to our growth, and brings us closer to finding the Love Within. That is the only love we can enjoy. The sooner we evolve to that level, the more pain we avoid, and the more love we have.
Focusing within and discovering our true Self is the only answer to the everlasting need for love of humanity. We become Love ourselves, or rather become aware of this eternal Truth.

I am not going to replace "Love" with "Admiration", because even love is a too inexpresive word for my feelings.

Yes, I understand that the only worth love for you all is your Self Love. Please do the best you can to find your inner Love, and I'll do the same.
When we are all conscious of the Love we Are, we shall be able to share Divine, Unconditional Love, with no pain, expectations, at all.

Thank you for You All exist, and allow me to grow by loving you humanly, for now!

Leila

[Talker]

Leila, Larry, and All Loving Souls,
This is a very touching series of posts here, that reflect a yearning for a 'something' that 'appears' highly elusive. Be not concerned with love, about love, or giving and receiving love. I easily relate to the words of Larry's (silvermudflaps) well written posts here, and to your words, Leila, that for some reason seemed so sad. You've tasted love, rejoice. The word tasted here, is used to say 'I've experienced love'. As with any nourishment, love is fulfilling, replacing temporally a inner hunger. Unlike any nourishment though, being loved, and accepting love imprints ones soul forever. Yes, certain behavior by others, can dull, even cover that imprinted love, but the yearning continues unabated. The soul 'dimly' recalls that feeling of Unconditional Love it once knew, and that yearning can become very painful to bear. I see this as the souls 'fine tuning' to again 'fully' experience that wondrous feeling, if even only dimly recalled at the moment, by experiencing fully the temporary 'lack' at the moment. Again, as I see this, only a soul well advanced, can do this special 'fine tuning', while maintaining equilibrium in other areas of ones experiences. How one copes with the experience, at this point, is crucial to the souls completing this learning process before moving on to the next adventure experience. As you've so beautifully expressed your awareness, is indicative of a cycle nearly completed. No change is needed, you are properly guided, you are fulfilling that which the soul desired. You are perfect as you are. Expressing Unconditional Love is not an 'all or nothing' (as I see it) condition, but a moment by moment learning curve, until one is fully living and expressing it.
That these words make sense to you, and bring to you an understanding, that is difficult to express in words.
Be Well

[Adrian]

Dear Larry,

I do not think I have enjoyed the pleasure of welcoming you to the forums and thanking you for your contributions. So I do so now.

      My Dear Leila, Which is greater, the expression or the reception of love? There are those born into this world who receive no love, even though they express love through the physical beauty of being an infant. Could it be that the need to receive love gets in the way of expressing love? Is experiencing love possible when one has never received it? Do we as adults need to receive love in order to experience it? I believe that the only way to know love, is to be born again. A spiritual birth. This is the only way we can enjoy love. This is the only unconditional love there is. When we can accept that we are sure enough, without any doubt, Source, then we are love.     love Larry

Love has many levels as we have discussed in other topics.

Divine Love is the Highest, and then we head down the scale of Love until people over-step the mark and confuse it with lust.

And then we need to differentiate between the degrees of Love humans feel frequently adult love between each other and between parents and child - but these are quite different manifestations of Love.

Any person who is Source-Realised - ultimately Enlightened- has no need to receive Love from others, because such a person is tuned completely with the Source of All Unconditional Love which is always there.

In other words for such a person being Loved is implicit and far beyond any variety of love that humans might need, desire or even crave.

A "need to feel loved" is very human but also very normal, and must not be diminished, but sooner or later "needing" is replaced by Knowing, Feeling and Oneness with the One Source of All Love.

In Love and Light,

Adrian.

[Leila]

Dear Talker and Adrian, and All,

It is very touching for me that you reverted to this wonderful thread and have such nice and tender thaughts to say.
I’m not ‘concerned’ with Love, dear Talker, with giving and receiving it. Love is my life, my breath, my food, and what I can give to the world.

Yes, I’ve ‘tasted’ Love, and what it meant so far is only a pale shadow of what it means now. It’s a completely new vision and experience.
Looks like my Higher Self has chosen this ‘life’ on Earth to experience Love in many and unexpected ways and forms, all of them highly evolved. And I like to believe that my role in this transition is related to rising overall vibration through the high radiation of this divine emotion.
I realize that my love is not fully “Unconditional” in all moments of my life, but I have plenty of moments when it is, and when I comprise whole world in my heart, and hardly can bear the love it emanates, the desire of expression, the wish to know everybody happy, accomplished, awakened.

I trust that the cycle is ‘nearly completed’ as you say, and I’m sure I’m guided each moment, and will be where I need to be in order to make this transition. I contribute to it with my gifts and abilities.
If Adrian is dedicated to service and Unconditional Love to spread awakening, I can bring my humble aid by spreading the vibration of Love, be it even Human.
Even in its human form, Love is still closest emotion to God nature, and this fact gives me the confidence in spiritual evolution, which is the topic of this thread.

Indeed expressing Unconditional Love is a ‘learning curve’, as conditions change continuously, once we learn a lesson, we move to the next, for which new, ‘unwalked’ circumstances are created.
I am exactly where I need to be in this moment, to fulfil that which my Higher Self chose to experience.
I am not sad at all. On the contrary, I live happiest days of my whole life, and give thanks for this bliss all days.
The beautiful friends in my actual ‘reality’ are the reflection of my consciousnes, I created our relationships within.
We give and receive tremendous love. It feels so good, that sometimes I wonder what if at some moment we will no more resonate and mirror one another, and consequently they will no longer be part of my life?
This thaught seems rather scaring, but I immediately remember that Love comes from Within, not from Without, that I have inside all that I need, and if something exquisite is ever to leave my ‘reality’, than certainly something even better will replace it. When a door close, a new one opens.
This thaught of Faith removes and dissipates all doubts and fears that “good times’ could ever come to an end.
We are awakened people, and know that we create our realities. What we desire to experience stays in our power to create. “Reality” is the reflection of our consciousness, so all we need to do is to create peace, freedom, bliss and abundance within.

Adrian talks about ‘not needing to be loved’ at human level, for we are One with Source, and already have all possible Love at highest level.
I believe that to be true, we shall all reach that very evolved state. I faced many ‘lessons’ even during last months, which obliged me to turn Within, and seek the divine love there. It can happen at any moment of possible deep distress. The ‘healing’ is ‘at hand’, ready to ‘operate’ if required.
If not required, I consider that everything is ‘in flow’, not stepping out of it, no mistakes done, which would ask for ‘corrections’.
And while I walk in divine order, it’s my greatest pleasure, joy, happiness to share Love with those who resonate with my soul.

We all get that which we focus upon. I was reminded of this truth while taking an e-course for ‘manifesting money’. Students are asked to focus on money, wealth, abundance, or even better, on the feelings experienced when desire manifest in ‘reality’.
I find this topic rather funny. Am I capable to ‘waste’ my day thinking of money?
Since I am One with God, do I need to do that? Isn’t abundance my natural state?
For several months at least, I guide my life by “Let Go and Let God”, and things are getting better and better as I see and feel them.
But reading the teachings of that course, made me realize why there is so much Love in my life Now. Because this is what I focus my thaughts upon. I think, feel, speak, live Love, and this is what I get. The Principle of Expression works perfectly.

I have joined this forum on Christmas Eve. It was a time when whole earthly world focused on love and giving. Therefore, the energy resonated perfectly with mine, and I was very present here during first weeks. As the Love energy dissipated and all kind of worries replaced part of it, seems that I no more fully resonate with it. Remained in my everyday life, those persons with whom I match perfectly, who truly are the reflection of my soul, and with whom I can give and receive, express Love of highest order.
All that which happen in my life confirms what we talk here. Mind is principle over everything, and feeling is the divine language. Our Consciousness creates our reality. We can never experience without, that which is not firstly felt within.

I wrote and post this, to spread and radiate Love energy through this forums and amongst its beloved members.

Unconditional Love to All,

Leila

[juliainkc]

Dear Beloved Leila,

So Be IT (your Divine Expression)

Namaste within Divine Love,

Julia

[Leila]

Good evening Beloved Friends!

I feel your call for me to come in here and share my heart in full sincerity, like always.

I can answer the call, for I am now in the mood of high energy and overflowing Love upon the world.

My heart is so full of love, that I easily and freely can share it with any Being around, and especially with those resonating with my energy. And it finds echos in kindred hearts, and they give me back the love I radiate. I feel immersed and surrounded by love.
This is the best state I can live, and seemingly comes from within - this is what we are 'tought'. As within, so without.

Today I spent the afternoon and evening with some members of the family, including the youngest one, of nearly 8 months, a beautiful, lovely and adorable baby boy, who enjoyed playing with me, and being hold in my arms, caressed and kissed, talked with, and helped to walk.
It was a splendid summer day, with hot temperatures and the sky clear blue, cloudless. We were in a beautiful environment, a marvellous villa in the countryside, with a huge garden with green grass and trees. A small heaven.

But can't say all my days and life are such marvels, with so light energies. The Light periods alternate with dark ones, when I feel sad, tired, worried, even not loved. Seems that I'm still deeply affected by duality, by the principle of rithm, and cycles of life. That happens when I become too attached of those I love deeply.
The energy within reflects without, and it hurts me. It compels me to look inside, and remember that there is the place of all treasures we seek.

The Universe seems to set up situations meant for my growth, and force me to evolve. Feels like it says "time is running out, don't waste it, you can reach enlightenment".
Yes, I know that we are all ready for this, and in best times feel enlightened, and can act like being so.
But it doesn't last permanently for me. We talk about same things for almost half year.  Am I at least just a bit closer to MySelf than I was few months ago? Is evolution real, or just a chimaera?

Maybe I evolved, but spiritual growth feels harder to acquire now. Like the level is higher, and it takes more serious obstacles to overcome. Requires more faith, and more living the state of awareness. It is already "Practice", no more "theory". It asks from me full use of my spiritual knowledges.
Sometimes is so easy to just Be One with God, powerful, Unconditional Love.
Other times, I hardly can remember anything about my inner power and nature. It takes real effort to remember who I AM. I am learning to ask for the help of the Angels and Beings of Light.

I read some discouraging things these days. Contradictions in the affirmations of spiritual teachers. Even someone saying that Spirituality as we 'learn' it now as theory, is some kind of scam, since we are told that we can change the world, while we are not even able to overcome our negative emotions.
So, seems that theory is not of much help, and definitely doesn't make us enlightened, without living it in real life.

Thank you, Julia, for the link you posted yesterday, in the thread of "Everything Is Spiritual". Wonderful times we lived then! I re-read the posts, and recalled that energy and Love. So much Love and Passion, sensitivity, tenderness.

I also re-viewed the Gift of Darrell, which touched our hearts deeply at that time, and so does now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIOs58Em5sk&feature=related

We are all blessed to have this space of ours, to freely share and express our 'normal insanity'!
I smile at the thought that the 'normal' ones would not understand a bit of what we talk here about. But we hope that things are changing, and we All will soon speak same language, that of our true Divine Nature. 

It is a pleasure to be here with you all, and be able to spread the Love of my heart, and the energy of my being.

Hug and embrace you all, with Unconditional Love,

Leila

[wavepsychic]

Hi Leila,

Thank you for the Light and Love. I can feel it.

I am glad you can appreciate the beauty of a nice day. Those days truly are gifts. Is there any other color you'd want the sky to be? Is there any other color you'd want grass and plants to be?

All is perfect now. Being Spiritual is about being one with the Universe the way it is and not trying to change it.

In Love

Louis

[juliainkc]

Hello Dear Leila,

I appreciate your loving presence here and for sharing such a beautiful heart expression.

Very heart warming and uplifting my Beloved sister and friend!

InJoy this day.

Embracing you In Love's Spirit,

Julia

[wavepsychic]

Julia

That picture looks like something Jasmuheen would use on her books. Have you read anything by Jasmuheen?

[Leila]

Hello, sweet Louis,

I'm very happy that you feel my love, and take the time to read my thoughts and reply.

Yes, I finally begin to get closer to nature, young humans and the wonders of creations. In much part of my life I was too 'busy' with my own problems, and made not time to notice all these beauties, and feel my roots.

Sometimes I feel intimidated by you, intellectual guys here, who know a lot of things, and question, search and check everything, but fortunately I happen to read and hear that Love is no less important, but very precious, and then get comfortable with my way of "believe and not enquire", "sense the truth".

We are all unique beings, and it's so nice that here everybody is accepted, understood, supported and never judged for his "weirdness".

A true place of Love and Friendship! I like how you express, Louis, with so much openness and sincerity (these besides the wisdom which everybody acknowledge). True appreciation for what you do here and what you are!

Be blessed and loved dear Friend!

Unconditional Love for All,

Leila

[zensunni7]

I love sunny days, nature just being as everything grows and blooms. Awakened from meditation.

I also love storms - they are life energizing, rejuvenating, and allow one to feel the power of Self with Earth. I never wondered at the destruction of them, life knows it is eternal. Nature knows she is the ultimate healer and Humans are Self healers of themselves and their circumstances, so the winds blow with abandon.
Power, strength - building into a warrior of spirit unleashed into Self direction and evolution.
To love all days regardless of the windows revelation, this is the mind of a child every morning.
I cannot look anywhere into Nature and not feel the awe of childhoods eyes.

Darrell