Evolution of Spiritual Consciousness

As we face existential problems like climate change, Covid-19 and an ever-connected economy, we realize that our problems can only really be resolved at a planetary level.  But global cooperation can only be achieved if we override our instinct for a low-level tribal consciousness.  Even though each of us has moments of low consciousness, like when our ego gets in the way of treating others well, we also have moments of high consciousness, when we selflessly transcend our own personal concerns and extend ourselves in the service of others. Spirituality is what creates awareness around our choices.  It fosters the compassion we need in order to move beyond tribalism and self-centeredness.  So how do we move to higher levels of consciousness? How can we evolve spiritually?  What does 'Evolution of Spiritual Consciousness' look like? 

“Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship.”

-Baha’u’llah

“The world doesn’t belong to leaders. The world belongs to all humanity.”

- Dalai Lama

“The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.”

-Baha’u’llah 

“It is through weakness and vulnerability that most of us learn empathy and compassion and discover our soul.” 

- Desmond Tutu

“Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest.”

-Baha’u’llah

“Compassion is the radicalism of our time.”

- Dalai Lama

“Do not be content with showing friendship in words alone, let your heart burn with loving kindness for all who may cross your path.”

-Abdu’l-Baha

“All souls must become as one soul, and all hearts as one heart.”

-Abdu’l-Baha

“It is not about what you do. It is about how much love you put into what you do that counts.” 

- Mother Teresa 

“If you desire with all your heart, friendship with every race on earth, your thought, spiritual and positive, will spread; it will become the desire of others, growing stronger and stronger, until it reaches the minds of all men.”

-Abdu’l-Baha

“Love is the absence of judgment.”

- Dalai Lama

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”

- Mother Teresa

“Love cannot remain by itself – it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is service.”

- Mother Teresa 

“So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.”

-Baha’u’llah

The pathway of life is the road which leads to divine knowledge and attainment. Without training and guidance the soul could never progress beyond the conditions of its lower nature, which is ignorant and defective.

- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

It is your duty to be exceedingly kind to every human being, and to wish him well; to work for the upliftment of society; to blow the breath of life into the dead; to act in accordance with the instructions of Baha’u’llah and walk His path — until ye change the world of man into the world of God.

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha