The Evolution of Consciousness

The future of Earth that is not in question; it's thesnowball, gathering speed as it gains mass. Simply
future of the human race. If we continue to disruptput, Awakening no longer requires decades of
the ecosystem, Earth will become increasingly hostilededicated meditation. Please see my book, Drunk
to humans. It may seem obvious, but I think it'swith Wonder, Awakening to the God Within, for a
worth pointing out that any meaningful discussion ofmuch more complete discussion of this topic.
Earth's future must be in the context of the humanI see the entire life cycle of the universe, from the
race's place on it. There will unquestionably be manyBig Bang to planetary awakening and beyond, as God
more extinctions, quite possibly leading to our own.creating a vast holodeck in which to play the game
According to a Science Daily article from January 10,of hide and seek. All of us are sparks of God. We
2002, half of all living bird and mammal species will bestart out feeling lost and alone, filled with fear, and
gone within 200 or 300 years. The question isover the ages of the universe gradually reconnect
whether we will survive our own ignorance.until, at the end, there is once again only One of us
I think that no matter how great our folly, Gaiahere. The evolution of consciousness is the spiritual
(Mother Earth) will eventually reach a new equilibrium.equivalent of life evolving from single cells to our
The biosphere will survive humans. The oceans maypresent circumstances. Eons ago, our bodies began
be hundreds of feet higher than today, and the polarby connecting disparate, separate cells into larger,
ice caps a fading memory, but in the larger schememore sophisticated structures. Though humans have
of the things that's OK, because life will adapt. Myonly been around for a few hundred thousand years,
guess is that at least some of us will adapt as well.distant ancestors had developed a bipedal structure,
I'm also confident that Gaia still has many millions ofwith eyes, ears, a mouth and so forth several
years still to drift in wonder through the cosmos.hundred million years ago.
In my experience, the main difference between anNow, with these bodies, these hands, hearts, minds
optimist and pessimist is that the optimist sees theand spirits, we are already well along towards
possibility of solving problems. Even in the face ofcreating heaven right here on Gaia. In fact, from an
today's seemingly intractable series of crises, I remainenlightened perspective, we already have. For many
optimistic that our species is capable of transcendingthousands of years, awakening to the God within
our current state of affairs and moving into atook incredible dedication and immense courage, and
sustainable future. Anyone who has seen Al Gore'swas an extremely rare phenomenon. Wisdom
brilliant movie, "An Inconvenient Truth," realizes theteachings from Awakened Masters, including Buddha,
imperative of awakening as a global family andJesus, Mohammad, Ramana Maharshi and others, still
beginning to make very different choices regardingform the core structure and process of Awakening
energy, pollution, food production, clean water, landfor many people. My vision is that it's time to
use and the conflicts those issues engender.acknowledge and make full use of the evolution of
Everyone wants a brighter future for our children andconsciousness, or at least of the methodology by
grandchildren. Isn't that what it's all about? Havingwhich we can become conscious.
children, enjoying each other and this splendid planetAs each Awakening occurs, increased wisdom and
we call home, having some fun along the way,awareness ripple out into the pool of planetary
together creating a world where everyone feelsconsciousness, making it a bit less onerous for the
safe, love and celebrated all seem to be worthynext Awakening. And so it goes. What was once
goals, even for a species as ambitious as we are.available only to the initiate who had spent a lifetime
This means that we must soon learn how to care forin solitary reflection is now far more accessible. Of
each other's children, not just our own, or civilizationcourse, from my perspective, awakening to the God
will collapse. It's happened many times before. Humanwithin is only the first step. The Awakened state
history is littered with failed and abandoned empires.allows us to live our lives in love, but it, in and of
Unless we decide to harness off-planet resourcesitself, does not get the laundry done. Jack Kornfield
such as mining asteroids, or choose to live a farthoroughly discusses this subject in his excellent
simpler lifestyle, there will continue to be a growingbook, After the Ecstasy, the Laundry.
gap between the haves and have-nots. If we can'tThe essence of this perennial wisdom is simply that
figure out how to play well together and share,ecstatic states of profound spiritual bliss, where we
eventually the have-nots will rise up and tear it allfloat serenely in the ocean of joy, is our birthright.
down.Staying in this state of blissful awareness can even
Many people already understand that God chose toseem effortless, particularly during meditation within a
manifest as this universe, and in so doing set up thespiritual community or in deep communion with
Great Passion Play. This play has evolved over time,nature. The trick is learning to maintain this peaceful
to the moment we find ourselves inhabiting right herestate of loving-kindness while doing the laundry, the
and right now. The entire history of life on this planetdishes, taking out the trash or driving on the
is a story of God-As-Us hiding from OurSelf so wefreeway. The truth is that God manifests in the
can shout "Boo!" to each other. We explore just howseemingly mundane as much as anywhere.
far we can go feeling separate and alone, only toAwakening into Conscious Awareness is a crucial step
eventually, and quite inevitably, call the game onin the evolution of consciousness. Staying Awake
account of consciousness. When everyone wakes upthrough all the drama, apparent chaos and casual
to the truth of who we really are, the Great Passionbrutality in the world is quite another. While opening
Play, as we understand it today, will be over.to states of Bliss is enormously valuable, learning to
This evolution in consciousness in no way means thatstay Awake, no matter what, is the game of
humans, or life in general, would suddenly vanish, ormastery. You see, each moment presents us with
Ascend, or whatever. Life continues. Remember, inanother opportunity to choose love or fear. Choosing
an infinite universe there are endless possibilities andlove makes it more available to everyone,
permutations to explore. We can have all the fun andeverywhere. Choosing fear... well, we're well
excitement of life without so much fear andacquainted with where that leads, aren't we?
suffering. It's our choice. Here's my hope-filled visionWhen we're able to see fear as a choice, we're able
for the future:to see that there are other choices available,
Like many other people, including Ken Wilber, Peterparticularly love. And as more and more of us choose
Russell, Barbara Marx Hubbard and Gary Zukav, I'mlove, we become part of the transformation of our
suggesting that Gaia is growing a cerebral cortex,entire world. Our Awakening inevitably leads to
with each human the rough equivalent of a brain cell.seeking out others who understand. Communities
As a species we're just at the toddler stage,coalesce around wisdom teachings much as flowers
beginning to learn about a larger world. And, as withbloom around up-welling springs. Once healthy
any child, time and loving patience are vital to thecommunities become established, they begin to
process of teaching a baby not to mess itself. Weconnect with one another. Using a combination of
have the power to stop plundering and destroyingtools, many of which I discuss in my book Drunk
our Home while still enjoying lives filled with peacewith Wonder, we can explore questions such as,
and extraordinary abundance."What legacy do we wish to pass on to our children,
For many of us, living our lives in love will beour grandchildren and on to generations yet unborn?"
sufficient. Peacefully enjoying the miracle of life withThe entire planet could choose to Awaken "in the
family and friends and making a difference in thetwinkling of an eye," and we'd still have countless
world can truly be the life of our dreams. For thoseadventures to share. Nursing our forests, rivers, air
who want more, well, we're still evolving. How aboutand oceans back to health; putting an end to disease,
exploring the evolution of consciousness itself?war, hunger and separation; in short, creating a world
Conscious awareness evolves out of self-awareness,where everyone wins; it's all well within our grasp.
sourcing its experience rather than imagining itself toNot only that, we can create all that our hearts
be a victim. Imagine Gaia-As-Us, an awakened planet,desire while, in the process, having more fun than we
wiring up a Galactic mind by making contact withwould ever have imagined possible. I say again: part
other awakened planets, creating connections inof Awakening is the profound realization that it's all
ways we cannot begin to imagine. And, even as theperfect just the way it is, while at the same moment
evolution of consciousness accelerates, there is still apassionately choosing love and service. The deepest
sense of self and other, all the way up to onejoy we can know is that which comes when we
Galactic Mind connecting with another.allow our broken-open hearts to pour forth the
Much closer to our home world and current timelimitless, sublime, ever available nectar of
frame, the evolution of consciousness refers to theloving-kindness. Truly, as Don Henley sings on
truth that as we Awaken, we make it easier for the"Everything is Different Now," from his superb album
next generation to Awaken. Imagine Awakening as aInside Job, "We get the love that we allow.