What is enlightenment? How does one increase spiritual awareness?

[Leila Raven]

What is enlightenment? What is it to increase one's spiritual awareness?

Spiritual awareness is something that comes from within and not from outside sources. In very simple terms we can think of it as simply awareness.  We have many things that we are aware of, and this natural awareness we have is an effortless process.  In some ways we can think of enlightenment as just becoming more aware of what simply is. Sounds simple, Just be aware...  and Just Be.

In this way spiritual awareness can be seen as a form of mindfulness, and becoming more mindful of spiritual truth.  One does not necessarily need to devote years of study to spiritual truths to become aware of them. Also there is no need for particular practices, meditations or devotions to have a spiritual break through and become illuminated. This awareness is not something that can be forced, one does not bully the self into becoming more spiritually aware. Rather this is a natural process, like a flower blossoming or fruit ripening, it is becoming open to what is already within you. 

You are already filled with all kinds of natural awareness. You're aware that you breathe, you're aware of the colours you see around you, the flavours of the foods you eat.  These are truths that for the most part are familiar to all of us.  These are not things that we need to analyze in great detail, or remind ourselves of, we simply know them. Usually when we become aware of a truth, we have that sense of natural innate knowing. We don't need to question the validity or reality of what we are experiencing, for we understand on a natural deep level that experiencing truth is awareness. These are things you naturally accept and it is this natural acceptance that informs your awareness.

This natural common sense awareness of things, like the air we breathe, and things we see and foods we eat, is the same as spiritual awareness, there's no difference. It is the process of your acceptance of your own experience that causes your increase in your awareness.

You cannot perceive what you do not believe.

Everything that you know as your own personal experience of your reality is a reflection of your subjective beliefs. In this way, your life experience is an expression of those concepts that you have chosen to accept as true. What this means, is that we all experience our own personal subjective reality that is equally true and valid. We are all unique manifestations of truth. No two people have the same experiences, the same interpretations of experiences, and therefore no two people hold the same set of subjective truths. We may find people we agree with many many things on, but there will always be truths we have, things we know, believe, or feel, that are unique to us. We are all an equally precious facet of infinite truth. 

Enlightenment then, becomes about transcending the darkness of your own personal reality, your own manifestation of subjective beliefs, and moving awareness into the realm of light that which is common to All. How then do we come to transcend our own personal darkness within? By increasing our awareness we allow illumination. We must go within our own personal self and search out our own false beliefs, and whenever we become aware of and let go of a false belief, we become more spiritually aware.

Enlightenment is change, and as much as we may want the positive changes from increasing our spiritual awareness, change also means letting go of things, and this is harder. Particularly when what you must give up to discover truth are fallacies that you have in the past thought of as your personal truths. This means identifying some of your current spiritually limiting beliefs that are false, and letting go.  Acceptance really is not just about embracing and surrendering to what it is you wish to accept, but also about letting go of those beliefs in your way. It's about surrender and giving yourself over to faith.

Faith in what? If you haven't understood this yet, the faith is in yourself. It is the faith in your own ability of self to become aware of the truths of what you experience in your path.

So to summarize, if we want to grow in spiritual awareness we must accept the spiritual truths we experience. 

The question then becomes for many, how do we determine a greater spiritual truth from our own personal truths?

It comes back to that natural awareness, that knowing, what does that knowing feel like?

Awareness of spiritual truth evokes positive feelings and a sense of 'rightness' to them. A spiritual truth is never a reason for anything, it stands alone, and simply IS. In order for it to be spiritual truth it must be universal and apply to All.  I am powerful is a spiritual truth. As we are all, in our own way, powerful, we all have some form of power.  However, I am powerful because I am wealthy/strong/male/white/etc, these are not spiritual truths. These are not spiritual truths because they rely on reason to substantiate them. These may be personal truths, but they are not universal truths. Personal truths are very valid, but they are not  synonymous with spiritual truths, and as valid as they are, if we hold onto them in place of a greater spiritual truth, they will hold us back from enlightenment and increasing our spiritual awareness. Growing in spiritual awareness then means letting go of our subjective, personal, and if we are to be brutally honest with our self delusional beliefs. 

Every time you let go of a limiting, conditional, personal truth, and replace it with a greater spiritual truth. For example, white people are worthy to All are worthy.  You grow in spiritual awareness.

Every time you accept a concept, belief or idea, which not only just feels 'right' and makes you feel good, that stands alone without any qualification, you grow in spiritual awareness.

Spiritual awareness is a uniquely personal journey, it takes you taking personal responsibility for becoming more aware of your limiting beliefs and replacing them with spiritual truth. You must be willing to accept  spiritual truths within yourself and apply them to yourself in order for these truths to become truly revealed and apparent to you and manifest in the world around you.

All of the infinite universe, all of creation, is a reflection of You, you as spirit are connected to All, and are all. We are all the same infinite soul energy interconnected. As you allow yourself to become more aware of seeing your Self in the world around you, people, events, experiences, everything, a reflection of you, and you everything, you become more spiritually aware.

Essentially then, what it comes down to is having an open heart and mind. If you accept a spiritual truth you will be mindful of It regardless of whether or not you are directly thinking about It. The only effort needed then is that of convincing yourself to be accepting of the spiritual truths you have thus far rejected and letting go of the old limiting personal truths. If you truly want to believe you will. Like a plant that blossoms or fruits, you cannot help but grow in spiritual awareness and move toward enlightenment. We are all in the process of becoming more spiritually aware.

What you can do is encourage the process. Nourish yourself with accepting the spiritual truths that are around you. Most importantly, focus on perhaps the most profound of all spiritual truths, Love.

Love just is. Start with loving yourself, if you do nothing else, this can make all the difference in the world, because if you love yourself, you will accept yourself, and within yourself, all spiritual truths can be found... so love is a key that can unlock the door to all other truth.

Leila