Simple Tools of Great Value

"Another delay on the way to Enlightenment is the supposition that one has to master an assimilate a vast amount of spiritual information in order to achieve spiritual success.... While valuable information does arise along the way, it often ends up being more of an interference than a help because the accumulated erudition reinforces spiritual pride and the self-delusion of 'I know.'

To cut through the complexity, it is really only necessary to know and apply a few simple spiritual tools, the efficacy of which is enormously empowered by the consistency of their practice, and continuous application to everything, no matter what, with no exceptions.... Spiritual evolution is not the consequence of knowing about the Truth, but the willingness to become that truth.

One can pick a primary tool, plus a few others, but many are not needed. Simple tools consistently applied will result in the revelation of spiritual truths that do not have to be acquired intellectually because they present themselves with great clarity. In addition, they present themselves when suitable and serviceable, and because they are not an acquisition of the mind, they do not end up as spiritual vanity.

Some tried and true basic tools that have brought about tremendous results over the centuries are as follows:

1. Be kind to everything and everyone, including oneself, all the time, with no exception.

2. Revere all of life in all its expressions, no matter what, even if one does not understand it.

3. Presume no actual reliable knowledge of anything at all. Ask God to reveal its meaning.

4. Intend to see the hidden beauty of all that exists–– it then reveals itself.

5. Forgive everything that is witnessed, no matter what. Remember Christ, Buddha, and Krishna all said that all error is due to ignorance. Socrates said all men can choose is only what they believe to be the good.

6. Approach all of life with humility and be willing to surrender all positionalities and mental/emotional arguments or gain.

7. Be willing to forgo all perceptions of gain, desire, or profit and thereby be willing to be of selfless service to life in all of its expressions.

8. Make one's life a living prayer by intention, alignment, humility, and surrender. True spiritual reality is actually a way of being in the world.

9. By verification, confirm the levels of consciousness and spiritual truth of all teachers, teachings, spiritual groups, and literature with which one intends to be aligned or a student.

10. Accept that by spiritual declaration, commitment, and surrender, Knowingness arises that provides support, information, and all that is needed for the entire journey.

The most powerful tool that is in the province of the will is devotion. Thus, it is not just the spiritual truth, but the degree of one's devotion to it that empowers it to become transformative."

– Dr. David R. Hawkins, Transcending the Levels of Consciousness: The Stairway to Enlightenment (p.334-336)

The shift in consciousness that Dr. Hawkins describes here is a critical one! In this excerpt, we can see that although our culture places extraordinary emphasis on the value of the intellect, education, learning, and 'knowing about', those things will only take us so far on the spiritual path. For truly transformative spiritual growth, it is insufficient to hold kindness, forgiveness, and humility as mere concepts; they must be lived and applied. And not just sometimes, but as constantly as possible.

If you're like me, you may have read this passage and thought to yourself, "Be kind to everything and everyone, including myself..... all the time...... with no exception???? Impossible!" And you may have thought that because, well, it's quite nearly true.

Unaided, the unconditional application of these tools actually is impossible. Yet, we're not exclusively our egos. There's another dimension to our humanity that offers a ray of hope here–– our spirit.

Our spirit is of God in the same way a ray of light is of the Sun. Therefore, if we accept that the infinite, all-powerful creative nature of God dwells within us, we can much more easily take the next step to call on that Power. We learn to turn to that Power as the source of our spiritual strength, and as we do, we surrender resistance to its flow in us, and its manifestation in our heart, mind, and body.

Allowing the Divine intelligence to flow naturally in us is the critical mechanism of spiritual transformation; and it is precisely why I love Kundalini Yoga so much. While many Kundalini Yoga teachers don't emphasize that part, and still others may gloss over it entirely in favor of a 'keep up!' approach, I believe in centering it. Through teaching, I have found that students are more likely to grow spiritually when they favor the subtle connection they have with their breath, body, and awareness rather than getting all caught up in their 'doingness'.

When we cultivate sensitivity to the unmistakable ways that spiritual energy dances and flows within us, we become much more attuned to the Source of those subtle energies. Furthermore, it's much easier to practice awareness and devotion when we have a dedicated forum in which to experience it! As a teacher, I have found that keeping one's Kundalini Yoga practice simple leaves sufficient room for us to connect with our deeper nature, in lieu of getting lost in a sea of seemingly infinite kriyas, mantras, mudras, and meditations. In this way the basics are not only the foundation, they also become the advanced practice!

By keeping things simple, staying connected to our subtle awareness, and calling on the innate Divine Power within to keep us willing, constant, and able, we can discover for ourselves the mysteries of spiritual life and the unfolding of our heart's full potential.