What steps can we take to
shift human consciousness? No social transformation happens in the absence of personal transforma- tion. Therefore, without worrying about other people, the questions to ask your- self are these: Can I be the change that I want to see in the world? What kind of world do I want to live in and how can I become the agent to create that world for myself?
When we are personally prac- ticing the divine attitudes of loving kindness, joy, compassion and equa- nimity, we are moving out of our limited ego. If we all do this and reach critical mass, it is possible to create a peaceful, just, sustainable and healthy world—but we each have to shift our self to get where we want to go. To make such a radical shift, we must ex- plore the process of waking up, which centers on transcending the maelstrom of everyday thoughts to find the Source of the mind.
How do you define transcendence?
There are many levels of transcen- dence. The most profound is deep meditation, known to alter brain structure and lead to lasting trans- formation. Transcendence can also happen through deep contemplation, mindfulness, music, poetry, art in any form, dance, falling in love and selfless service. Whenever you experience any quality of pure consciousness, however fleeting, you have transcended the mundane.
Pure consciousness, which is the unseen, infinite potential from which everything springs, is centered within itself; silent and peaceful, awake, self-organizing, spontaneous, dy- namic, blissful, knowing, whole and encompassing. Despite the infinite diversity of the physical world, at a deeper level, only one process is oc- curring: Wholeness is moving like a single ocean that holds every wave. You experience this quality when your life makes sense and you feel a part of nature; you are at home simply by being alive.
Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings.
natural awakenings January 2012 43
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