The True Seeker

If the spiritual search begins within the state of ignorance, how can it possibly yield truth? How can reality emerge from illusion? Even when lost in forgetfulness, a part of us simultaneously abides in both the state prior to our creation and our ultimate future; the inmost essence of the soul has never lost its connection to our unborn self. By awakening to this primordial link, we finally meet the aspect of our true identity that timelessly knows and remembers our destiny in earthly time, and our desperate search for awakening is infused with profound value. The pre-cognition of our spiritual purpose is a revelation that arises from the encoded knowing inherent to our original nature. To be in touch with this knowing is in fact what makes one a true seeker. Without it, our whole perception of the path and the inner search is disconnected from any existential or evolutionary truth. The authenticity of a true seeker is reflected in the depth of his connection to the light of the soul; he seeks from the soul, not the mind. That which gives reality to the inner quest is the presence of our higher being, which even prior to the actualization of our awakening eternally knows the goal of our evolution. To begin the search for truth, we must feel its essence within our existence. Unless the one who begins the inner journey is in touch with the realm of I am, any effort to awaken remains futile.

Becoming a Seeker

To become a seeker is to begin serving the light by taking responsibility for the realization of our evolutionary purpose. It is to use all of the resources given to us by existence - the mind, heart, intelligence, and the powers of energy and will - to penetrate and ultimately transcend the thick veil of ignorance. For a true seeker, not a single moment passes that the inner work is not in progress. His life is completely dedicated to that which is real, and to renouncing, with courage and complete attention, that which is false. To seek is to acquire a new identity - not of the ego, but of the soul. It is not just one of the many roles that we play in our life or something we do in our free time, but our very reason to live.

Awakening is the call and command of each individual soul; our existence demands awakening, but it has universal implications as well. Our inner quest is not merely our personal affair with spirituality, but a part of the much greater plan of universal evolution. Anyone who does not move towards the light actually hinders the universal expansion of consciousness; our individual contribution as a conscious seeker serves the universal movement into the fathomless wisdom and mystery of the creator's supreme presence.

The Essential Qualities of a Seeker

To seek is by no means an easy task, but in fact the most challenging endeavor in human existence. While striving for illumination, not only we have to face the exacting challenge of cutting through innumerable layers of our own unconsciousness, but also we must cope with the complexities of living in the world and the ignorance of the collective mind, and last but not least, we must face personal psychological issues and often conflicting desires and fears. In order to meet these challenges and ultimately realize our higher being, it is critical that we develop certain essential qualities:

Sincerity: Sincerity is truthfulness to oneself and others. It expresses our purity of intention and the deep honesty of the soul. Sincerity is the only true remedy against the ego's games and manipulations, and can be seen as the virtue that connects our human identity with the integrity of the soul. When there is a lack of sincerity, the ego becomes arrogant and succumbs to the impurities of the mind. The presence of sincerity proves that the soul has already purified the mind and heart to a significant degree.

Honesty: Honesty is the aspect of sincerity that guards us against self-deception. A typical example of self-deception can be seen in a seeker who pursues the path of renunciation while still having significant desires to fulfill. Such a radical approach is entirely inappropriate, in this case even counterproductive. Lacking self-awareness, the seeker mistakes his willingness to make sacrifices for what he believes to be a superior way of life for true readiness to transcend his human existence, and risks forestalling his essential maturation. In another classic scenario, a seeker deceives himself by indulging intellectually in spiritual matters, while refusing to actually do the inner work. He believes himself to be 'spiritual' but lacks the honesty and integrity to face his own fragmented state of being.

Maturity: The level of maturity of a seeker can be seen as the measure of his evolution through many lifetimes. Maturity can be measured by the ability to take responsibility for realization of one's spiritual potential - the capacity to discriminate between one's own lower and higher nature, and to serve the latter. The keystone of maturity is the sensitivity through which one can identify the dimension of pure subjectivity, the state of I am, as the essence of the path.

Inner strength: There can be no true progress on the spiritual path unless one has the necessary inner strength. Inner strength is the power of our will to prevail over the major obstacles and difficulties on the path. Without it, we cannot transcend the darkness of unconsciousness and overcome the hindrance of the mind. Furthermore, inner strength is crucial for the upholding of our own truth in the face of the collective ignorance. A seeker must be completely dedicated to the inner work - like a warrior - courageous and one-pointed in following that which is real.

Inner discipline: Inner discipline is required in order to maintain our spiritual focus. Through inner discipline, one can surmount a lack of inspiration and reluctance to continue the inner work. For instance, this quality is an essential support in the work with the mind, for it helps us to arrest the flow of unconsciousness.

Patience: Because the evolution of consciousness takes many turns, and progress is mostly gradual, a great deal of patience is required when we tread the inner path. Patience can be seen as an aspect of our inner discipline, an opposing force against our subconscious tendencies. Essential to meditation, it pacifies frustration, restlessness and mental agitation. We cannot cultivate the inner state without complete patience, endurance and inner softness. Patience develops from the growth of humility, spiritual maturity and our trust in our perception of the path.

Determination: To grow on the path and persevere in the face of difficulties, one must have steadfast determination. Determination is founded on the awakening to one's evolutionary purpose; it is total conviction in the truth of the inner work. When one sees that there is no choice but to walk the path, regardless of the many obstacles, one unwaveringly persists with the work of awakening.

Discriminative wisdom: Most seekers remain half-asleep, functioning in a semi-conscious state, not making any effort to truly understand. Through the evolution of intelligence, we begin to comprehend the significance of the path and the truth of enlightenment. Discriminative wisdom, born of our spiritual intelligence, not only enables us to discern what is true, but moreover, to recognize that which is false; it guards us against various pitfalls on the path.

Sensitivity to the realm of I am: Sensitivity to the realm of I am - the dimension of pure subjectivity - is the marrow of a true seeker. Unless one can recognize I am as the fundamental nature of the spiritual dimension, one will compulsively cling to the objective side of reality. Unfortunately, most spiritual practices and methods of meditation do not point to the heart of pure subjectivity, but to experiences of expansion within the mind. Sensitivity to the realm of I am is the quality most lacking among the majority of seekers.

The ability to meet oneself: The ability to meet oneself is a complementary quality to sensitivity to the realm of I am. Many seekers are lost in artificial forms of self-enquiry, unable to really touch the core of their existence. Their difficulty lies not in an inability to awaken the inner state, but in the fact that they lack the maturity required to meet their souls. The ability to meet oneself is either an expression of wisdom acquired from past evolution or the result of present awakening. However, even a lack of evolutionary maturity cannot justify spiritual inertia, because awakening is ultimately a function of the present. How can we mature without sincerely facing the challenge of awakening in this very now?

Due to the intangible nature of the spiritual search, even if we intuitively recognize the essence of the way, we cannot truly know our final destination. Like a seed that cannot foresee its future destiny as a tree, a seeker entering the path cannot grasp his ultimate goal. Only by possessing the virtues described here can we persevere in the face of the unknown and unravel our final destiny.

Commitment to the Path

It is better not to begin the spiritual journey if we are not ready to complete it - better not to open the wound of unconsciousness if we are not determined to heal it fully. Many seekers give up their search having reached only a partial awakening. Some prematurely assume the role of teachers, while others simply idle, believing there is nowhere further to go. Both are mistaken, for there is always more to be realized before becoming truly complete on all levels. Unless we harbor the deepest commitment to the path, we will lack the necessary strength and determination to accomplish our evolutionary purpose. It is our burning desire to expand into light and understanding that inspires us to move forward, in spite of all obstructing forces, into the unknown land of future wholeness.

Commitment to the path is an absolute requirement for all seekers. It assures our steady progress and helps us to avoid the danger of relinquishing the inner work prematurely. Many possible temptations may lead us to abandon the path. A common one is the error of presuming that one has arrived at the destination, having only completed a portion of the inner journey. Other reasons for giving up the inner work can be a sense of stagnation, a lack of progress, or the inability to recognize the next step. In many instances, a seeker can become overwhelmed by a sense of futility, hopelessness and a lack of inspiration. One can be beset by doubts and skepticism, or give in to the collective mind with its utterly unconscious perception of spirituality. Regardless of these difficulties, one should never desert the inner work under any circumstances.

Living the Path

The inner work takes place at all times, our unbroken enquiry into the nature of reality and continuous awakening to the reality of the now. The path is our silent secret beneath the apparent reality. It is not something that we announce to others or even speak about, but the inner jewel we treasure above all else. The inner journey is not merely a means to reach a degree of inner awakening so that we can move on with our 'normal life'. Entering the path, we should be aware that we are embarking on an adventure for our whole life and beyond.

Living the path is the very essence of our existence. Some may choose to live the path in the mode of renunciation; others, by actively participating in the world; but ultimately, living the path is beyond the polarity of being in the world or renouncing it. It is an eternal love affair with the light of the self - the very meaning of life itself.