What Is Spiritual Growth?

Thru John L. Payne (copyright)

Spiritual growth is the process through which our soul becomes conscious, and therefore more dominant on the earth plane. It is also the greater purpose of our Soul to master this Earth life. By the term “master” it refers to the ability to experience oneness with All-That-Is, which leads to the full realization of all our creative abilities.

Many of us assume that we are here on Earth in order to evolve. This implies that our soul, or our being is in some way ‘inferior’ to that which is ‘higher’ and is therefore confined to the realm of the physical until it evolves sufficiently to be focused elsewhere. This translates into the belief that we are ‘not good enough and ‘fall short of grace’ and that in some way we are inferior to non-physical beings. This just is not so!

The earth plane, the world of matter, is but one of many, many realities. We have neatly divided and sub-divided our view of the Universe into a hierarchy of realities; Physical, Astral, Causal, Mental, Christ/Buddhaic etc. However, within each of these vibrational differentiations are multiple realities, multiple universes and multiple worlds which all form the playground of the soul.

The Earth is but a reality our soul has chosen to master, nothing more, nothing less. It knew ahead of time that a part of it would associate so fully with the earth plane that it would forget its very essence and indeed forget its whole reason for being present in the physical.

The long-term goal of the soul is to become fully present, fully conscious. Its desire is to be a conscious creator here as in the higher vibrations of reality. This process of becoming conscious has hitherto been a lengthy process, taking many hundreds, sometimes even thousands of lifetimes. Becoming conscious means the simultaneous realization of us, as being one with the Source, whilst being fully human. This was expressed by the one in Christ who said “I and the Father are one”, in other words “I am at one with the Source of All-That-Is”. Being one with the Source of All-That-Is gives one the ability to turn water into wine; one fish into five thousand fish. It gives one the ability to see into the molecular structure of water so that walking upon it becomes a mere act of scientific understanding. It is not a miracle, miracles do not occur. All miracles are shifts of consciousness that give us insight into our Divine Self, our Eternal Source Self. Miracles are a glimpse of our own Divinity and how we are the Source of ALL-THAT-IS in our lives.

So, what is the measure of our spiritual growth? The only measure of spiritual growth is our ability to love. Love is not ingratiation, it is not being kind, polite or being nice. Love is the complete and total acceptance of what is, and that starts with ourselves. As we accept ourselves, we accept others; as we cease judging ourselves, we cease judging others; as we love ourselves, we love others. It really is that simple…for we are the center of our own Universe.