Twelve Pivotal Insights on the Nature of Enlightenment
In a world where our attention is often captivated by external factors, a renowned psychologist and consciousness researcher, Frank M. Wanderer Ph.D, invites us to explore our inner selves. The author of the book "3 Stages in the Evolution of the Human Spirit: EGO - ALERTNESS - CONSCIOUSNESS" sheds light on a unique perspective of human development.
According to Wanderer, the three stages in the evolution of the human spirit are:
1. **EGO** – The initial stage characterized by self-centeredness or individual identity. This is where we find ourselves primarily focused on personal desires and ambitions.
2. **ALERTNESS** – The intermediate stage where awareness or vigilance develops beyond mere ego. It is possible to transcend the confines of the self and begin to perceive the nature of desires and the constant variability of the world of shapes and forms.
3. **CONSCIOUSNESS** – The highest stage, representing a fuller, more integrated state of being or spiritual awakening. In this stage, we can experience a state free of thoughts and emotions, and recognize the truth of our inner nature. Enlightenment, Wanderer suggests, is not a future state, but the heart of our nature.
Wanderer posits that our internal development depends more on our ability to divert our attention from the outside world to our internal world. He encourages us to abandon desires and ambitions, not to suppress them, but to understand their true nature. This understanding, he believes, is the key to real self-control.
Sufferings, too, can play a role in this journey. They can accelerate the process through which Consciousness wakes up in the body we formerly considered our own. A brief moment of alert Consciousness can help recognize enlightenment, and it is this recognition that sets us free from the hypnotic spell of personal history.
Many people have been alienated from enlightenment during their spiritual search, but Wanderer reminds us that enlightenment is not something external to us. It is us, we ourselves. Enlightenment is our true, inner nature. Everything created for us by others is transitory, but what we create for ourselves will be lasting and permanent.
In the state of alert Consciousness, thoughts no longer keep our attention captive. In the alert silence, we may experience a state free of thoughts and emotions. It is in this silence that we can recognize the truth of our inner nature and truly understand the meaning of Life.
Wanderer's work offers a compelling exploration of the human spirit's evolution, inviting us to embark on a journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening. By understanding and embracing these stages, we can unlock our potential for a more fulfilling and integrated existence.
- Delving into Wanderer's work, we find that the pursuit of happiness might be found not outside us, but within, as enlightenment, he suggests, is our true, inner nature.
- In the context of health-and-wellness, mental-health, education-and-self-development, and personal-growth, this spiritual awakening could be seen as a crucial component, guiding us towards a fuller, more integrated state of being.
- Inspired by Wanderer, one might reconsider the role of science in our lives, questioning whether our primary focus on external factors might be obscuring our path to consciousness and self-realization.
- As we navigate through the matrix of our egos and the ever-changing world, the journey towards consciousness becomes not just a personal endeavor, but a call to redefine our very understanding of life and happiness.
