The evolution of consciousness
From the beginning of time there has been one constant that has caused life of every form to either to grow or to fade into oblivion, and that is change or evolution. In the book The Evolution of the
Species by Charles Darwin, he goes into great detail how man evolved from primitive forms to where he is now. People can dispute the theory of whether his claims of man evolving from apes is true. However, the basic premise of life always moving forward and never backward or static is set in stone. In our world of form, we can see adaptations everywhere. From Wagner’s theory of Continental Drift, we can see how the landforms of our earth have evolved to the present state, and we know they will always be subject to change. Likewise, we see changes in global weather patterns. In the past we can see that the dinosaurs could not adapt to their changing environment and went extinct.
With all this constant change one bastion of great influence has resisted change with all its power, and that is religion.
Religion, unlike science, has stuck to their doctrines and practices for hundreds of years. They don’t think they need to change because they have the truth all sewed up and if anyone opposes it, they will attempt to silence them. Jesus told those that heard him that the Kingdom of God was within them and the established church plotted to have Jesus put to death. Recently, the Pope has changed policy about blessings for same sex couples. Today I heard where certain Cardinals of the church want to have the Pope removed. I guess that is better than crucifixion.
There is a movement for the evolution of consciousness that enlightened men and women have told us about but they haven’t broken through the wall of orthodoxy. There is a state of being we all experience, even if only briefly, that we know and know that we know. That state has many names but it is all one. Jesus called it the Kingdom of God. Buddha called it Nirvana. Psychologists call it a peak experience. Yogananda calls it enlightenment. It all amounts to peace and joy of being. It is the ultimate expression of love. Love for God, love for self and love of being.
Each individual has all the power, all the ability, and all the intelligence of the Universe to be at peace: free from sin, sickness, and death. We should have evolved by now where we can say, “Peace and Goodwill to men,” with inclusion of all men and women of every color, religion, or geographic region. This is a spiritual construct, not religion. In today’s society religion is slowly going the way of the doodoo. We don’t need a religion. We need a way of life that leads to peace and happiness.
It is time to shuck the old ways of struggle and anxiety. It is time to let go and let God. That means that it is not up to you to solve all the world’s problems or to untie the Gordian Knot. You must guide and direct number one and that is you. It’s just a few things we must do to come into the Kingdom, like the elimination of negative thinking and then loving life and throw in a few people as well. Emmet Fox proposed a seven-day mental diet to help us with negativity. As you go through your day you consciously avoid negative words, phrases and actions for seven days. If you catch yourself in a negative, you must start over. This is a great practice to aid in the elimination of negatives. I have done this for many years, and I have never made the seven days, but I am working on it. As for love, the more I love the more I want to love and the more I experience love. You do not have to fear loving.
The world and the cosmos is always evolving. Consciousness likewise has ever been on an upward spiral of evolvement. Religions of the past were good for their time, but time marches on. It is time we write a new chapter in the book of life and move into a new and ever evolving world life of personal empowerment.
Say to yourself, “The peace and power of God is within me. I move forward with strength and confidence. I let go of the restrictions of the past and embrace the truth of my being. I am guided, maintained and sustained in Goodness, Truth and Beauty.”
God is Love and Loving You Right Now!
(The Rev. Dr. Walt
Sharer is minister at Bishop Church of Religious Science, located at 129 E. Line St., Bishop. Rev. Freda Lindsay and Rev. Walt officiate the weekly, Sunday services at 10 a.m. You can hear Rev. Walt’s message on “The Devotional Hour” on Sierra Wave KSRW 92.5 FM Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. The church can be reached at (760) 873-4195 for more information.)