A Three Step Self-Actualization Discipline

Seeing into darkness is clarity.
Knowing how to yield is strength.
Use your own light
and return to the source of light.
This is called practicing eternity.
(Tao 52)

Do you want a life? Or do you desire your life? Did you know there was a difference? For the longest time, I didn't. In A Course In Miracles it says: "Let Him, therefore, be the only Guide that you would follow to salvation. He knows the way, and leads you gladly on it. With Him you will not fail to learn that what God wills for you is your will. Without His guidance you will think you know alone, and will decide against your peace a surely as you decided that salvation lay in you alone. Salvation is of Him to whom God gave it for you. He has not forgotten it. Forget Him not and He will make every decision for you, for your salvation and the peace of God in you."

What does this mean?

Spiritual maturity or what I have come to call "self-actualization" calls us to claim our life and in effect let go entirely of what we want. Said differently, if we choose to grow into our "self" - life truly becomes more about tuning in and listening, while ultimately letting go of our own agenda. As a spiritual seeker, I used to think we had some kind of say in the course for our lives. Now I would amend this thought.

Although I do believe we are part of our co-creation with the divine, I now recognize that our outward life reflects only the life we live within. To let go of expectation and claim the life that is ours then, we must hold fast to the divine within and follow its light to show us the way. As I see it, for true spiritual seekers, you will need to know three "rites of passage" on your journey. I call these steps: Embracing Choice, Embracing Necessity and Surrendering to Divine Intention.

Step One: Embracing Choice

Embracing choice begs the question: How is choosing different than expectation? To me, expectation involves an egotistical outward desire for an intended result. As spiritual adults, it is of great importance to learn how to give up our need to have things our way. Easterner's remind us through the Tao Te Ching. It says: "True mastery can be gained by letting things go their own way. It can't be gained by interfering."

In my words, I feel we are all threads and colors in the greater mosaic, and as such we are vessels of the divine. Instead of imposing your will then, look instead to "tune in" with every decision you are faced with. In doing so you can better become aware of your inner world and the way it directs you. As a spiritual seeker, this will become part of your daily "work."

Step Two: Embracing Necessity

Next, we must aim to understand that some things simply must happen to shape the overall framework and development of our life. Like this or not, necessity is often a large part of what I think of as our spiritual infancy - the life we must know in effort to know who we are not. These events aim to develop us into who we truly are. As we come to know ourselves through necessity of experience, we can evolve into maturity. It is through these sometime dark places, we can find our balance and channel to the divine.

Step Three: Surrender To Divine Intention

On the road to self-actualization - the process of surrender is the most challenging of all of our quests. It is most difficult to give up our ways to live in divine intention. In the beautiful volume The Bhagavad-Gita: The Song Of God, the great Hindu classic, Sri Krishna says: "Who cares to seek for that perfect freedom? One man, perhaps, In many thousands. Then tell me how many of those who seek freedom shall know the total Truth of my being? Perhaps one only."

Sadly many will not dial in to receive their messages. The path is difficult and as we've said before, the roads are narrow and rocky. In the bravery of being a freedom seeker, we involve a spiritual evolution and maturity that requires a discipline of discernment. For those inspired to reach spiritual maturity - surrendering to divine intention is the discernment of the inner messages we receive and follow their direction. It is not important to immediately be clear on this path right away. It is only important that one gives in to it and surrenders, no matter the outcome. Life will then show us its way.