Integral Being on the Path to the Divine

How do we stay grounded and centered, especially when feeling overwhelmed or overly sensitive to our surroundings? 

Finding ways to ground ourselves in the present and remain functional is essential, as many of you have families, jobs, and responsibilities. Unless you choose to retreat to the Himalayan mountains and live as a sadhu, you must navigate your daily obligations while maintaining a sense of presence and balance, regardless of whether you're experiencing overwhelming bliss or emotional turmoil. No matter where you are, it's essential to guide yourself back to balance, centeredness and groundedness.

This message is for everyone who experiences ongoing overwhelm or hypersensitivity. First, we need to recognize and examine the various factors that contribute to these imbalances. It's essential to understand how we become unbalanced and what is truly happening. We must pay attention to where we direct our focus, both in the real world and online. When our attention is scattered in multiple directions, it leads to a sense of disarray.

You might not fully realize it, but if you find yourself constantly jumping from one meditation technique to another or watching countless videos on various methods, this can lead to a significant imbalance. Different meditation practices or spiritual lineages may not necessarily align with one another. Each practice has its own appropriate time and purpose, and it's important to understand why you are choosing a particular method and meditation.

Seeking the next experience? 

You may find yourself constantly seeking the next experience or trying to search for something that you believe fulfills you. However, many people are not fully able to discern what is truly supportive of spiritual growth. This is a common issue, and it's important for everyone to cultivate a certain level of discernment. For instance, if you are practicing various meditations from different sources that don’t align with each other, it can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed and imbalanced. On the other hand, if you develop enough self-awareness and tune into where you are now, you can recognize how certain practices and meditations support you in specific ways while others may serve different purposes.

For instance, Self-Inquiry helps to navigate beyond the relative according to the capacity of your level of consciousness. However, it's important to understand that trying to jump from a state of Presence to Divine openness at once is simply not feasible. Trying to force such a way can lead to significant imbalances. This is why we have a framework outlining the levels of consciousness. By taking a gradual and integral approach – merging your focus and attention step by step – you can advance your consciousness effectively.

Feeling too excited on your spiritual path?

People often feel excited to move forward and make progress. However, it's equally important to remember the value of slowing down. Taking breaks can be incredibly beneficial, as too much of anything can lead to imbalances and create undesirable consequences. Our focus should be on achieving a harmonious and grounded way of being. It's essential to adopt a step-by-step approach that keeps you grounded and, if needed, to stop. When we consider the overall picture of your life experience in the present moment, the key is to ensure that it remains centered and harmonious, which is of utmost importance. To cultivate a harmonious present as you navigate your path, it's essential to recognize the transient nature of experiences that arise during meditation.

Experiences come and go, but what stays here?

Too many spiritual experiences may sometimes create imbalances and feelings of being overwhelmed, particularly if you become too identified with them. For example, people can have all sorts of experiences, but that does not signify where they truly are. If you hold on tightly to that specific moment, you may realize it has already passed, as experiences are inherently transient. Don’t desire that moment to come again, and neither try to freeze in time to contain it. This can lead to a struggle to recapture a previous moment of joy or to chase after the next spiritual high. It's vital to remember that these experiences are temporary; they come and go. Thus, you may find yourself trying to cling to an extraordinary experience from the Great Void or seeking the next moment of Divine Bliss, but since these are merely experiences, they are not lasting.

All experiences are fleeting; they come and go, offering a brief glimpse of what may lie ahead for you in the coming months or years. When we concentrate on expanding our consciousness, we are essentially redirecting our focus and attention toward what lies beyond our current familiarity. This shift allows us to move past what has become normal for us. As we gradually go beyond our focus and attention into the unknown, we enable our consciousness to expand and open up further.

Transitioning Between States of Consciousness

For instance, when someone is in their familiar state of Unity consciousness, they become one with the vast ocean of energy and connectivity. The next step is to familiarize yourself with what is beyond the ocean of energy and activity, redirecting it toward what lies closer– Presence consciousness, which is the empty space of being. This awakening requires adjustments, dedicated practice, and a continuous redirecting of one's attention to emptiness and making Presence consciousness your new foundation. This process is not a fleeting experience; rather, it signifies a permanent expansion of consciousness that remains accessible in the background of your being, regardless of what is occurring in the foreground.

(Photo credit: OpenAI's DALL·E)

Transient experiences do not represent the true opening or merging of your focus and attention with what lies beyond, leading you to a higher level of consciousness. Once this distinction is clear, we can understand that we don't need to identify with these fleeting experiences. Much like thoughts, experiences come and go; they offer a glimpse of something that may eventually lead to a more permanent state of consciousness that will be consistently accessible in the months or years ahead.

Opening up to consciousness is fundamentally different from merely experiencing fleeting moments. This encourages a more grounded approach, as it helps you avoid scattering your attention on secondary matters. Instead, the focus should always be on redirecting your awareness to your present state and gradually deepening or settling into a higher level of consciousness. This process should be gentle and methodical, ensuring a balanced and centered experience that avoids unnecessary imbalances and dis-harmonies.

Are you overdoing healing?

Another important topic to discuss is the tendency to overdo healing. It's common for people to become almost addicted to the healing process. While some may not realize the need for balance, those who do understand that there are appropriate times for healing and times to pause. Continuous processing and delving into wounds can lead to more disturbances than actual healing. 

Some individuals may feel a strong urge to progress quickly or fix their issues rapidly. However, when we take a step back and look at the bigger picture, it becomes clear that some people are often struggling and unable to manage themselves effectively. 

Did you know that when you open your next Level of Consciousness, “from Presence to Full Consciousness,” healing happens simultaneously? 

The difference is that this type of healing is transcendent, where if you are swimming in the ocean of energy and healing from there alone, you can continue swimming for many decades more. Transcendence is not a negation; people don't fully understand this because they haven't directly experienced transcendence. True transcendence is for one to have enough capacity and strength to pass right through and rise above what held you there. 

Do you have a luxury challenge?

Another factor that can create imbalances, overwhelm, and disrupt your sense of stability is what is often referred to as a "luxury challenge." This involves the energy of excitement. While excitement can be uplifting, excessive excitement can pull people away from the present moment and throw them off balance. Certain personality types naturally exhibit more exuberance and joy, but it's important to recognize that too much excitement can also lead to a loss of equilibrium. Therefore, it's essential to acknowledge that both negative and positive energies or perspectives can play a role in creating this imbalance. So if you find yourself back into the river of flow (energy), you may find it challenging to be truly present as the empty space of being, The Same goes for higher levels of consciousness, such as non-duality, awareness, the great void, divine love, divine truth, and full consciousness. You may not be easily moved unless you have settled very well in a state. However, someone just awakened to a certain consciousness must know that too much excitement pulls you out of yourself. 

Experiencing overwhelm by the awakening of your chakras and kundalini? 

When someone experiences an awakening to their energy, particularly the flow to their chakras, it can initially lead to various disturbances. This is because the energy flows, chakra awakenings, and Kundalini awakenings can be overwhelming for individuals who may not yet have a strong sense of presence. 

Presence often develops later, and without sufficient space to accommodate this energy, individuals may experience imbalances, heightened sensitivity, and feelings of being overwhelmed. If you or someone you know is going through such experiences, it's important to recognize that many spiritual seekers are facing similar challenges. A significant number of individuals on a spiritual path are awakening to their Inner Light, Higher Self, and the initial stages of spiritual heart awakening, which involves discovering Inner Love and Unity consciousness. This is a common phase for many on their spiritual journey. Everyone experiences suffering because their focus is overly fixated on energy. They lack awareness of what lies beyond energy and, as a result, do not yet have the capacity to hold or contain their own space, as that space has yet to be created. 

When one opens up to Presence and embraces the emptiness of being, one comes to realize that energy is already flowing within that empty space. This realization leads to a shift in perception, allowing you to move from the turbulent ocean of energy and constant movement into the stillness and emptiness of your being. 

The energies flowing through the chakras and along the spine, which create a whirlwind of activity, begin to retreat back behind the chakras and return to the emptiness. This return of energy completes the cycle, bringing it back to stillness, peace, and silence. Even if someone is open to higher levels of consciousness, they may find themselves feeling overly active or agitated. In such cases, it’s essential to redirect all that activity back into silence and emptiness. By doing so, one can integrate those energies into the emptiness and experience a greater sense of grounding.

I understand that many of you are already aware of this, yet it can still be challenging to maintain your sense of grounding and centeredness. It's important to recognize that achieving a state of emptiness or being is not easily accomplished through sheer willpower. Disengaging from the overwhelming ocean of energy and rising above its magnetic pull is no simple task. Often, a teacher or guide is essential for facilitating this shift in consciousness, helping individuals to experience true centeredness and grounding. Many people mistakenly believe that grounding is solely related to the root chakra, but this perspective is quite limited. While it is indeed an energetic process, true presence and consciousness extend beyond mere energy; it encompasses your entire being, fully anchored in the present moment. When you transition to that state, you establish a presence in the here and now, becoming a vessel for all energy to flow while your focus remains in that serene emptiness.

Are you experiencing excessive emotional processing or an overwhelming sense of bliss? How can you find your grounding in the present moment?

When we find ourselves processing without sufficient strength or understanding of when to pause and transition into a state of emptiness, we can fall into a blind spot that leads to burnout. Similarly, in higher states of consciousness, one might experience overwhelming bliss. While being immersed in intense bliss or deep meditative states can be uplifting, it can also cause a disconnection from the realities of life, including responsibilities to family and others. This phenomenon often occurs in elevated states of consciousness, where individuals may not yet possess the strength to maintain balance. Even in moments of profound bliss, it’s essential to recognize when it becomes excessive and to consciously shift your focus back to grounding yourself. It’s a matter of common sense to understand when it's necessary to redirect your attention in order to ground and center yourself.

The beauty of discussing higher levels of consciousness lies in the understanding that, at these elevated states, one does not simply rest in Presence consciousness; rather, one finds rest in the Great Void. This represents a second restful state. When someone is in a Divine feeling, blissfully immersed in the intensity of the light of Source, one may redirect the focus to the Great Void. The Great Void serves as a true sanctuary, even deeper than Presence, as it transcends all cycles of manifestations and creations. The Great Void is not a physical space; it is an emptiness that differs fundamentally from Presence. While someone in Presence may not have the capacity to experience the Void, access to it typically unfolds at a certain level of maturity and consciousness. However, beyond the Void, when one opens to Divine Bliss, Love, Truth, and Divine awareness, one can rest in the Great Unknown. It is here that all energy, all manifestations, and the entirety of creation – spanning 700 quadrillion universes, including our own – yearn to return to the Great Void.

Even your energies, including the higher mind and awareness, truly find rest in the Void – a realm of absolute nothingness. In this vast emptiness, you experience complete rejuvenation and replenishment. It surpasses the benefits of a night's sleep, as during sleep, you are often engaged in astral travel and various activities, which means you aren't truly resting. Even in lucid dreaming, you remain aware of everything happening while your physical body rests, so it doesn't provide genuine relaxation. However, in the Great Void, all energy dissolves and returns, yearning for that profound peace and deep restfulness that transcends comprehension. In this state, there is nothing to know, nothing to understand, and certainly nothing to do.

This represents the second state or level of consciousness, where you genuinely facilitate integration. It empowers you and acts as an incredibly restorative reset. It's beneficial for your nervous system and harmonizes both the higher and lower aspects of the mind. Everything comes to a complete standstill, and while it may not seem particularly exciting to some, it is a profoundly rejuvenating and replenishing stateless state.

Even when one opens up to Full Consciousness and merges with the Absolute Self, the intense Light from the Source can sometimes be intense, leading to a sense of unrest. This is when, from a state of Full Consciousness, we may descend into the Great Void of nothingness to find rest. This aspect pertains to higher levels of consciousness. As you can observe, whether through processing or bliss, there exists a stateless state – where one can return and allow everything to revert back. This return is essential and profoundly significant.

How can we stay grounded and centered? 

One effective way is through meditation. While practicing alone can provide some strength, participating in group sessions offers a unique sense of support. In one-on-one private sessions, you experience the greatest strength and transmission during meditation. However, if you wish to feel supported while meditating alone, you can utilize two helpful tools: the column of peace and space. For those familiar with Divine Marga's work and the methods we share in private meetings, we incorporate these tools to help you further gain your inner strength and abidance according to your level of consciousness. 

The Column of Peace and Space serves as a vertical alignment, helping you anchor yourself with your center. The vastness of space can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when we lack the inner strength to fully inhabit our being. In such moments, it may be challenging to remain present due to a sense of weakness or insufficient cultivation of awareness. To help with this, we can draw upon the Column of Peace and Space, allowing it to nurture our strength from above and guide us back to a state of abiding Presence. Additionally, at a higher level of consciousness, we can connect with the Column of the Great Void, which serves as a supportive environment, helping us to regain our grounding and centeredness.

There are alternative methods, such as using a Spirit mantra, but since these approaches vary greatly depending on the individual's circumstances, I will not mention them here. We typically discuss these personalized practices during private sessions. Working with a Spirit mantra can assist in grounding and integrating the higher Light that one is opening up to as one adjusts to elevated states of consciousness. It's important to remember that this option is available. 

Additionally, I want to emphasize the significance of maintaining balance in your life. A wonderful way to achieve this is by staying connected to the heart and embracing love, which is essential. For example, excessive Self-inquiry can lead to an imbalance, so it's essential to incorporate more heart, love, and devotion into the process. This approach fosters a greater overall equilibrium, especially for those who tend to adopt a more mental or overly intense approach. By inviting in loving presence, awareness, or even Divine Love, we can support a higher state of balance within ourselves.

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