I noticed on a forum yet again reference to 'implied hierarchies' ... how we need special training, rituals, meditation, special potions and so forth to advance to the next level of 'spiritual awareness'. And worst of all, how our egos are inhibiting us from getting 'there'.
All of which implies, or explicitly states that we poor humans are 'less than' some perceived higher authority, spirit, God etc.
Now, common sense reveals there can be no hierarchies within the unlimited oneness of the spiritual. The reason for this is clear and simple. If there are hierarchies (levels) within the spiritual dimensions to existence, then we are not all of the same 'water' (spiritual ocean); we're not of the same one-stuff; we are not all one.
If there are hierarchies, we cannot be, now or ever, 'at-one' with God, or our higher-selves, for how exactly do we cross the threshold from "impure" to "pure", or from unenlightened to some perfect ideal state of being enlightened? If we're 99.99999% "pure", we're still "impure". How long does it take to get to infinity?
But worst of all is that if we believe in spiritual hierarchies we necessarily must limit our perception, awareness and power (to within the bounds, or limits of the level one is believed to belong).
And yet people still believe in some higher-authority. Why?
Because we're afraid. People who engage hierarchical thinking and beliefs — that our individuality and ego is inhibiting us from achieving wisdom and ease — believe themselves small, and in fear of engaging the unlimited power within.
As Marianne Williamson explained:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
When we seek to deny our individuality it is because we fear owning our power, our ability to speak our mind, and to achieve great things.
It is fear that is speaking, when we deny a very important and essential part of our wholeness. It is fear when we avoid being open, vulnerable, and accepting. It is fear when we believe we must compete, fight and defend. It is fear when we believe we must section our whole psyche — into an ideal 'other' (higher-self) section that is better, pure and wise, while our ego and individuality is less, worse, stupid and dirty.
It is fear that if we speak our mind we will offend others (for to be able to offend others is to require they be weak, powerless and not in charge of their emotional responses).
It is fear (and ignorance) which dissuades people from embracing the underlying, ubiquitous paradox of life -- that of the inseparable-duality of individuality and oneness.
As Maharishi Mahesh Yogi observed:
there is one hundred percent diversity and one hundred percent unity, both performing their work at the same time. That is the nature of the work of creation?this is true reality. To us, one seems real and the other unreal. The reality is that both are real at the same time.
To make one right, and the other wrong is to engage a tribal, hierarchical view that dis-empowers and debilitates the believer from accepting and engaging the unlimited fullness and creative power within.
Any creative idea is aggressive. Violence is not aggressive. It is instead a passive surrender to emotion which is not understood or evaluated, only feared, and at the same time sought ...
You will not attain spirituality or even a happy life by denying the wisdom and experience of the flesh1. You can learn more from watching the animals than you can from a guru or a minister ? or from reading my book. But first you must divest yourselves of the idea that your creaturehood is suspect. Your humanness did not emerge by refusing your animal heritage, but upon an extension of what it is. When you try to be spiritual by cutting off your creaturehood you become less than joyful, fulfilled, satisfied natural creatures, and fall far short of understanding true spirituality. Many who say they believe in the power of thought are so afraid of it that they inhibit it in themselves, avoiding any that appear negative or harmful. The slightest ?aggressive? expression is blocked.2
All in all, the whole is enriched and dependent on the individuals and egos within:
The self, the individual, being its fulfilled self, would automatically function for the good of itself and the good of society. The individual's good, therefore, is the society's good, and represents spiritual and physical fulfillment.3
In other words:
"The self, the individual, being its fulfilled self, would automatically function for the good of itself and the good of ..."
... the family,
the group,
the team,
the community,
the nation,
the gestalt,
the whole,
God,
All That Is
