The experience of higher consciousness (and ultimately, Freedom) is within anyone’s grasp, because it is, for every person, our own intrinsic Nature. This Truth is not new. It has been spoken in different ways by every realized Being in every culture throughout history. This path requires no prior education or innate level of intelligence. There are no oaths or memberships, no clubs or cults to join, and no secrets to be kept or sold. The Truth is universal, and belongs to all. It is therefore not concerned with race, color, age, gender, background, religious affiliation or even prior actions. All are free to come and go, and teaching is by loving invitation only. Spiritual lineage, fame and reputation are of no importance. Financial means, social status and worldly success have no impact on progress or the likelihood of Self-Realization. It is available to all who seek it. Even ‘lack of time’ and ‘lack of means’ are self-appointed excuses to delay walking this path, usually due to uncertainty and fear (ignorance). Realizing Truth changes everything, including the availability of time and means. When the will to understand becomes intense, nothing gets in one’s way. See ‘About Patrick Connor’, under the tab ‘The Path.’
There are no requirements, except one. The path to the Divine, and the unlimited joy associated with it, is activated solely by intention – the will to grow and understand the meaning and possibilities of one’s life. The greater the purity of aspiration, the more powerful the response from the realm of inspiration and Grace. As one develops and as understanding dawns, it is normal for the intention itself to ripen and become more intense. As the aspiration unfolds, it flowers into the intention to make an offering of one’s life, to use one’s life energy for the upliftment and love and inspiration of all beings. This brings you immediately into harmony with the vibration of the highest Truth, with the Supreme Being, which is all Love.
The highest Truth has been given many labels in different cultures down the ages – Grace, God, Beingness, Universal Love, Divinity, the Universal Consciousness, the Divine Mother, Buddha Nature, Allah, the Self, Nirvana, the Tao, Heaven, the One, Great Spirit, the Unnamable, etc. But the Truth itself is beyond any one of these labels, beyond language altogether. Words are merely ‘fingers pointing at the moon’, not to be confused with the subjective nature of Realization itself. The power of Truth is its simplicity and its freedom from all dogma. Truth is all-inclusive, and is therefore not ‘against’ any person or group. It is simply the realization of the Divine, and its essence is always Love. This is a simple yardstick by which to evaluate any teaching. If the love is missing, it isn’t IT, however eloquent the words. This consciousness is a universal heartedness, a universal mindedness. It does not see itself as personal, and identifies itself with all existence, while simultaneously being aware of Being its Source. This is why its essential Being is Love. This Love sees no differences, and embraces all beings.
There is no specific length of time involved in realizing one’s Divine Nature. The path is progressively self-revealing and self-rewarding. It requires no long term commitments, as greater and greater freedom and possibility reveal themselves at every stage. The stronger the will to evolve and overcome the obstacles to Realization, the more quickly the answers reveal themselves. It is that simple.
The value of guidance
In absolute terms, even a teacher or guide is not necessary to transcend to higher consciousness, but in practice this is of enormous value, and can help one circumvent many lifetimes of searching. At the very least, the Presence of a true teacher greatly accelerates the path to Freedom. The teacher is a window to Grace, having transcended the personal, and is therefore an affirmation in human form of the reality of the Truth and the goal. Their role is to radiate the clarity, wisdom and love of that state, so that others may attune to it and become it for themselves, releasing all that is false along the way. Their energy is a silent vibration that acts like a tuning fork on the consciousness of the seeker, literally lifting them above and beyond their normal state of being. This is little understood by the western mind, which is trained to hear only with the ears and see only with the eyes. The mind focuses on the content rather than the energy, which can be felt only when the heart is open and engaged.
There are many factors, seen and unseen, which may determine the power and impact of any given teaching. They include the teacher’s level of consciousness, degree and nature of purification, degree of surrender to Grace (purity of love), and other karmic factors which may affect their capacity to communicate the Truth, and to help others identify and remove what is false. Below is a minimum list of attributes by which to trust a teacher or guide. Ultimately, there must be no contradiction between their teachings and their life.
Attributes of an integrous spiritual teacher, or guide to Truth:
- Does not do anything for self-gain. May charge for their time, and make money from different aspects of their work, but this is done as a sacred exchange in which the seeker’s sacrifice directly serves their own spiritual unfoldment. Resources are then used to support and serve others on a wider scale. Is never motivated by profit for its own sake.
- Places no intrinsic value in material possessions.
- Does not have a ‘lavish’ lifestyle, and is not motivated by luxury or anything in the world of form. All is seen in the context of serving others.
- Their life is devoted to the happiness and Liberation of others, to serving humanity.
- Has no strong opinions or personal biases about politics, religion, or social affairs. Such positions are mostly projections of the thinking mind, and a block to realizing the Self as infinite.
- Sees no-one and nothing as ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, ‘good’ or ‘bad’. Knows that all that is seen in this realm is just being what it is, following its programming as the expression of a certain level of consciousness.
- Is never abusive or negative towards others.
- Has no expectations of others, not even respect.
- Has no need to defend or justify what is spoken or written.
- Does not care if others believe in or value them or their work or not.
- Has no interest in having followers. Is simply there to serve others, and to teach whomever asks.
- Does not see themselves as a ‘teacher’, or any other limiting identity.
- Does not need to save anyone, change anyone, or get anyone to improve their lives.
- Sees everyone as perfect, as manifestations of the One Divine.
- Holds the intent to serve by way of a loving, open invitation only. Understands that no progress is possible without the intent of the seeker.
- Does not court attention or appreciation, even less praise, adulation or celebrity.
- Does not measure themselves or anyone else by fame or reputation.
- Has no need to persuade anyone of anything. Like gravity, the Truth is known to be self-supporting and is just “what is.”
- Is motivated by unconditional love, under all circumstances, with no exception.
- Is always ready to forgive, no matter what the situation.
- Has little or no attachment to the body or how it looks. Sees the body as a vehicle for communication, so attention to its presentation is motivated by the intent to serve others.
- Is always humble, knows that all is Divinity, which is infinite.
- Is beyond worldly ambitions of any kind, and no longer identifies with any conventional measures of ‘success.’ Understands that the only true success is absolute self-surrender to the Divine, eventually becoming That.
- Judges no-one as being less important / less clever / less worthy, or even less spiritual. All are seen as ONE, therefore there IS no-one else to judge.
- Does not care what people have done or “who” they allegedly have been prior to this moment in their lives. Accepts all who come in search of Truth.
- Knows that all energies are attributes of the ONE universal consciousness, or the Divine Play, and not actually personal or unique to any person, so is unable to judge.
- Radiates the energy of love and peace. Sees beauty and love everywhere.
- Everything and everyone is seen as another expression of one’s own Self.
- Realizes the essence of Reality as Love.