The Nature of Spiritual Progress

Alan L. Pritz

The pace of modern society is rushed, and with it, corollary expectations arise for quick results in almost any endeavor. In keeping with this racy mode, I share an anecdote that seems relevant. An acquaintance of mine, a Huichol Shaman, apprenticed at least 12 years before being conferred the shaman status. On the flip side of this legitimate process I met people who, having attended a weekend drumming and healing ritual, were told they now qualified as shamans. While it may seem obvious that the former was the real thing and the latter were sold a real "bill of goods", the reality is that many folks often don't want to work for spiritual attainment. They'd rather hop on the latest paranormal bandwagon and let subconscious whimsy lead them through hoops of self-glorifying delusion. Sad but true.

Unfortunately, this dynamic can also be found in those starting to meditate. Many want glorious visions or exhalted states of consciousness as if they could be produced on demand. Here's an encounter I had with this sort of whimsy.

I'd just come from an extensive half-year yoga and meditation retreat. Curious to see what else could be added to my metaphysical plate, I joined a crowd for what turned out to be an amusing snake-oil adventure. A stately white-haired man presented himself to the audience with his young, sexy, blond female assistant. (What she truly assisted with I'll leave to your prurient imagination!) He told the audience he'd experienced cosmic consciousness and would now provide them with a taste of this exalted state. Of course it was just a taste and they could enroll in his workshops to develop more advanced capabilities.

Everyone was then asked to close their eyes and sit still while lights were dimmed and music turned on. Gradually a sound and light show came on, a carnival of noise and color designed to induce a semi-trance but which, in actuality, was nothing more than an assault on the senses. Were I in a restaurant listening to such clamor, I'd either leave or ask them to turn off the racket. Yet the audience produced willing victims. Instead of wincing at the ignoble cacophonic theatrics, they were charmingly guided into paying additional workshop fees! The only true value of this episode was a lesson in discernment or, the lack thereof.

Needless to say, false spiritual expectations abound. Inner development can't be hurried to suit personal convenience like quick-stop shopping at K-Mart. Some things simply take time and wishful thinking or haughty enthusiasm won't yield instant transformation. Of the many reasons for this, I'll briefly reference two, habit and energy.

Habit

We're creatures of habit and habits take time to both develop as well as dissolve. Think how long you've had certain negative patterns of thinking and reacting. Just because a change is desired, your habits won't immediately reconfigure to more pleasing traits. The brain stores repeated actions and feelings like grooves on a record. Accordingly, most people require deliberate effort over time to fashion new inner scripts, thus better modes of being. Positive affirmation coupled with appropriate acts and attitudes are needed.

Energy

Energetic transformations also take time. The subtle nervous system must be purified and strengthened to accommodate an increase in vital force. Just as muscular, aerobic, and cardiovascular development is necessary to run a marathon, so too must we cultivate the capacity to safely handle powerful surges of life current as it courses through body and brain. Otherwise, such excessive power pouring through an unprepared body will fry the nerves. So time is actually a natural protective mechanism on the spiritual journey.

That said, it's only natural to periodically want to assess inner progress. Such reflection is good if it fosters continued good efforts or hastens needed reforms. However, it becomes detrimental if one fixates on outcomes. The rule of thumb should be: Do spiritual work solely for the love of God, and, "Make haste slowly." Since I believe meditation, regardless of tradition, is central to inner development, I share the following benchmarks of inner growth that arise from correct practice over time. (*Excerpted from Journey to Self-Realization, by Paramahansa Yogananda.)

• Increased peacefulness during meditation. *
• Experience of meditative calmness that changes to increasing bliss.
• Greater understanding and response to questions from true intuition.
• Enhanced mental and physical efficiency in daily life.
• Love for meditation and preference for corresponding inner states of peace and joy versus those derived from worldly attractions.
• Expanding consciousness of unconditional love applied equally to all.
• Actual God contact; worship of Spirit as bliss felt in meditation and in His omnipresent manifestation in and beyond creation.

You'll note that nowhere is there reference made to the development of unusual powers. While a mature flower develops blossoms, so may spiritual aspirants find themselves with increasing psychic abilities or spiritual gifts. However, such things are not of themselves representative of true inner growth. After all, those who practice sorcery can gain power but not be saturated in God. Real inner development is measured by developing the soul qualities of Spirit within you, not being infatuated with power. If you seek Spirit for gifts, you may indeed gain a few, but not God. Seek Spirit for its own sake and everything else will be added to you, as the Divine sees fit.