The Importance of Guidance
Man will occasionally stumble over the truth,
but usually manages to pick himself up,
walk over or around it, and carry on.
- Winston Churchill
Ascension provides a simple systematic approach and an effective tool to master choice for love and truth in this life. It is an inward journey that is dependant on our own commitment and discipline to keep using the tools of Ascension within all experiences. It is indeed an art of integration of life.
Like in any art the individual can either move forward on his own attempting to master it through one's own experience after learning the basics or with trust receive necessary guidance from a competent teacher. It needs to be well understood that there is balance to this as to anything else. The beginning point is always one's own experience and as that develops the guidance of one who has traveled the road before becomes meaningful. Once the individual has gained a personal experience of the subject at hand, an experience of ascending, then there is an established platform for further inquiries into the art Ascension. That is why ascending is always the first thing to do.
With higher guidance it is possible to find the most direct way to one's own heart. That type of guidance does not provide answers that are for the individual to find out but it can give a direction when it is necessary, when we are faced with a spot of blindness within ourselves. And everybody has those spots until their nervous system is cleared of stress completely. This is where surrender is cultured and in the higher states of consciousness surrender becomes more and more important. With greater clarity and power comes greater responsibility. And it is more important to know clearly what one is choosing for and surrendering to as a result of that.
It takes humbleness to admit that one is not able to see through the trickery of the ego without any help from one who has mastered the limited condition of the little self. How much one uses guidance if any varies like everything else depending on the choices that are being made and the desires that are being followed. There are no right or wrong answers to this but as one cognizes the Reality more deeply the natural order of things becomes apparent. A natural desire to surrender to a greater experience than one's own occurs. An experience of true surrender is a source of immense joy and leads one through the last barriers set up by the ego. This is where one needs the doorway to step out of the illusion and the doorway is the Teacher. The two finally become One. The student crosses the last of the seeming separation with the help of the Teacher that already stands on the other side in full awareness of Union.
It is not necessary to glorify or mystify the relationship between the Teacher and the taught. It is, however, the one relationship that is specifically designed to free the individual very quickly from the illusion of boundaries. It is the one relationship where all other relationships can be healed in the realization that there is only the Ascendant that we are ever relating to. The Teacher is nothing less than the Ascendant manifested in the physical for the benefit of the eyes that can see and recognize that.
Nataraja Ishaya
A Road Map to Consciousness
Have you ever taken a trip to a new city without having a road map or guide of some kind? It can be quite an adventure! What seems to happen most often in such a situation, however, is that you end up driving around in circles without much idea of what it is you are looking at. Approaching Ascension without the guide of teachers is very similar. It is of course possible to get in your car and go somewhere unknown, but it is much easier and more effective if you have some form of guidance to help you find what you are looking for.
The Ascension Attitudes act as the vehicle to drive you to the Ascendant, the first sphere weekend gives you a basic road map, but continuing interaction with the teachers is like having a tour guide as your navigator. Having some one who not only knows the territory, but can even give historical understanding of landmarks makes the trip much more worthwhile.
One way to deepen your understanding and experience of the practice of Ascension is to audit or retake the first sphere weekend. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and share your experience. It is not only helpful to yourself when you do this, but the others in the class as well will get to learn as well. When you share your experience and ask question it opens up the door for greater expansion. In this way you are not alone, but have all the help of those wonderful tour guides to help you navigate.
If you are struggling with something or have questions that arise in your practice don’t wait or hesitate to ask them. The teachers of Ascension are always available to help in any way we can to further your practice of ascending. Remember that this is an art, and it does take practice. Some people may have the ability to pick up a paintbrush and create a masterpiece with no instruction. However, it is much easier and faster to simply ask for help.
Satyavati Ishaya
Competent Guidance
One common misperceptions of New Age thinking is that anyone can attain full realization without competent guidance. Anything, of course is possible; but the Ishayas have always maintained that attempting to structure full enlightenment without fully enlightened assistance is only slightly more difficult than attempting to build a starship having as your tool a primary school grammar book. The ego is subtle in the extreme; it will convolute and twist and even mimic enlightenment in its attempt to stay alive.
A question most frequently asked is: "Is it necessary to have a Teacher?"
It is theoretically possible, that anyone could anywhere at any time gain full realization, for it is the birthright of every human being. Full consciousness exists inside every human heart, everywhere, always. But even though this is true, we personally have never known anyone to gain full enlightenment without having a Teacher.
The answer flies in the face of reason, all beliefs, as well as any innate sense of fairness. We know of no way to kill an ego without the guidance of someone who has killed an ego. It is too subtle, its perversions of truth, its twisting of joy into happiness, its projection of its all-too-often perfectly logical program for healing are beyond the ability of any human mind we have known to defeat without assistance. We are reminded of the recurrent themes of Second Thunder: never in pride rely wholly on your own strength. Help will come when you need it, even when it is least deserved, if you but allow it. The willingness to be humble and ask for help is one of the things an ego can never do.
MSI
Trust
"I told my teacher the same thing you are saying to me now," Don Juan said. "He replied that without trusting the nagual there is no possibility of relief and thus no possibility of clearing the debris from our lives to be free."
Don Juan reiterated how right his teacher had been. And I reiterated my profound disagreement. I told him that being reared in stifling religious environment had had dreadful effects on me, and that his teacher's statements and his own acquiescence to his teacher reminded me of the obedience dogma that I had to learn as a child and that I abhorred. "It sounds like you are voicing religious belief when you talk about the nagual," I said.
"You may believe whatever you want," don Juan replied undauntedly. "The fact remains, there is no game without the nagual. I know this and say so. And so did all the naguals who preceded me. But they didn't say it from the standpoint of self-importance, and neither do I. To say there is no path without the nagual is to refer totally to the fact that the man, the nagual, is a nagual because he can reflect the abstract, the spirit, better than the others. But that's all. Our link is with the spirit itself and only incidentally with the man who brings us its message."
Carlos Castaneda, The Art of Dreaming
Divine Guidance
Bhagavad-Gita chapter 2, verse 6
We do not know which is better for us:
that we should conquer them or they
should conquer us. The sons of
Dhritarashatra stand face to face with
us. If we kill them we should not
wish to live.
Placed in a helpless situation, Arjuna decides that it cannot be resolved on any level of human thinking or feeling. He therefore looks to the Lord for divine guidance. The following verse records the helplessness of the greatest archer of all time, the most innocent and sincere feelings of surrender of a great and wise man.
Bhagavad-Gita chapter 2, verse 7
My nature smitten with the taint of
weakness, confused in mind about dharma,
I pray thee, tell me decisively what is
good for me. I am thy disciple; teach
me for I have taken refuge in Thee.
It generally happens that as long as man feels that he can think and do for himself, he sees no need to listen to others. When he is at his wits' end, he looks for refuge. If he finds a refuge, he approaches it in all humility and puts his trust in it. When he has surrendered himself completely, it takes full care of him. This is the impartial divine nature: I am to them as they are to Me.
'Tell me decisively' reveals Arjuna's character. He is practical man who does not want to remain on the level of idealistic talk. He asks for a clear line of action, which he can follow without doubt and which will prove to be right for him, his aim being the good of all. If a man has dedicated his life to the service of others and is conscientious about his responsibilities, he has all the greater need to be right in the course of action he adopts.
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When Arjuna surrenders himself to gain wisdom as a disciple, the Lord accepts him, and it is from this point that Lord Krishna's teaching commences. This is really the beginning of the Bhagavad-Gita.
It is an established natural law that action and reaction are equal to one another. In order that the reaction may take place, the action has first to begin. In the same way, in order that the teaching may begin, the pupil has first to approach the teacher. When he has done this he is considered serious, and he teacher feels a responsibility to teach him.
As long as Arjuna was talking to Lord Krishna on a friendly basis, Lord Krishna answered in the same manner. But when Arjuna became serious and said: I submit myself to you as a disciple, show me the way, guide me to the light, for I am unable to see for myself - when Arjuna became quiet and turned completely to Lord Krishna, then the Lord took him seriously and began to enlighten him with the practical wisdom of life.
This is a great secret of success when guidance is sought from another in any walk of life. And the wisdom of peace and happiness in life, the wisdom of success in the world and freedom from bondage is the greatest secret of life. It is Brahma Vidya, the knowledge of the Ultimate. Naturally it can be imparted only to those who are at least willing to receive it. Their willingness is judged by their readiness to receive, and this in turn by their one-pointed attention in faithful devotion to the master.
Faith makes the student a good assimilator of knowledge. Devotion sets him free from resistance and at the same time influences the heart of the master, whence the spring of wisdom pours forth. Devotion in the part of the disciple creates affection in the heart of the master. When calf approaches its mother, the milk begins to flow from her udder, ready for the calf to drink without effort. Such is the glory of devotion and faith in a disciple. He surrenders at the feet of the master and cuts short the long path of evolution.
The result of Arjuna's sincere surrender to Lord Krishna was seen without delay. By His teaching, both theoretical and practical, He helped Arjuna to free himself from his state of suspension. He had become established in resolute intellect, in great skill in action and in the eternal freedom of existence.
To reach that state, Arjuna had only to surrender at the feet of the Lord. Surrender does not mean blind passivity. Throughout the Bhagavad-Gita, Arjuna continues to ask questions, for the student gains complete freedom to ask anything, once he has impressed his master with his sincerity. In a relationship of this quality between the teacher and the taught, the task of both becomes easy and free from resistance. Wisdom flows spontaneously from one to the other.
The path of surrender does not allow any reservation.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
From Victim Consciousness to Enlightenment
Ascension provides a systematic series of procedures to move our awareness from victim consciousness to enlightenment. There are discrete, mechanical steps to be practiced until they are mastered. One purpose of this short text (Ascension!) is to provide an intellectual understanding of the steps of growth to enlightenment. The actual mechanics of the experience can only be taught through personal instruction by qualified teachers. This is true primarily because it is not possible to verify the correctness of the practice without personal feedback.
MSI
A Course In Miracles on Teachers and Students
Who are God's teacher's?
A teacher of God is anyone who chooses to be one. His qualifications consist solely in this; somehow, somewhere he has made a deliberate choice in which he did not see his interests as apart from someone else's. Once he has done that, his road is established and his direction is sure. A light has entered the darkness. It may be a single light, but that is enough. He has entered an agreement with God even if he does not yet believe in Him. He has become a bringer of salvation. He has become a teacher of God.
Who are the pupils?
Certain pupils have been assigned to each of God's teachers, and they will begin to look for him as soon as he has answered the Call. They were chosen for him because the form of the universal curriculum that he will teach is best for them in view of their level of understanding. His pupils have been waiting for him, for his coming is certain. Again, it is only a matter of time. Once he has chosen to fulfill his role, they are ready to fulfill theirs. Time waits on his choice, but not on whom he will serve. When he is ready to learn, the opportunities to teach will be provided for him.
What are the levels of teaching?
The teachers of God have no set teaching level. Each teaching-learning situation involves a different relationship at the beginning, although the ultimate goal is always the same; to make of the relationship a holy relationship, in which both can look upon the Son of God as sinless. There is no one from whom the teacher of God cannot learn, so there is no one whom he cannot teach. However, from a practical point of view he cannot meet everyone, nor can everyone find him. Therefore, the plan includes very specific contacts to be made for each teacher of God. There are no accidents in salvation. Those who are to meet will meet, because together they have the potential for a holy relationship. They are ready for each other.
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This is the 9th edition of the Ishaya Foundation newsletter.
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