" A n d r Cohen made me believe that there has never been a better time to be enlightened.

"

-FROMTHEF R W R BYD E A C O R OE OD EPK H PA

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CHAPTER 5

Awakening to Evolution
CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 5

Awakening to Evolution g to Evolution

The evolutionary impulse is the consciously experienced choicein-action to take form and become the whole universe. It is the energy and intelligence that burst out of nothing, the driving impetus pulse is the consciously experienced choicebehind the evolutionary process, from the big bang to the emerging m and become the whole universe. It is the edge of the future. And that impulse is active right now, throughout nce that burst out of nothing, the driving impetus the life process, and at every level of your own human experience. nary process, from the big bang to the emerging In fact, that life-pulsation is the most important part of who And that impulse is active right now, throughout and what we are. When you locate that impulse in the depths of at every level of your own human experience. your own self, you will become aware that it is inherently free and ation is the most important part of who explosive in its freedom. It is dynamic and completely unrestrained hen you locate that impulse in the depths of in its nature. While Being feels like eternal peace, Becoming feels will become aware that it is inherently free and completely different. The evolutionary impulse is felt as a sense of dom. It is dynamic and completely unrestrained tremendous urgency, an ecstatic urgency. At the level of consciousness, eing feels like eternal peace, Becoming feels it is experienced as a sense that something unthinkably important . The evolutionary impulse is felt as a sense of must occur NOW. y, an ecstatic urgency. At the level of consciousness, a sense that something unthinkably important

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The easiest place to locate the evolutionary impulse is at the most basic level of your being: the physical body. In the body, the desire to create form is expressed as the sexual impulsethe biological imperaCHAPTER 5 tive to procreate. Its the most elemental expression of the First Cause, or the big bang. Thats why its so powerful! When we experience the sexual impulse, we are feeling that very same vibration that released the enormous energy of the entire cosmic process, pulsating in our own bodies and minds. If you observe the arising of sexual desire in your own experience, and pay attention to the impulse itself, rather than the particular individual or circumstances that aroused it, you can identify the qualities of the initial burst of cosmic becoming.You will experience pulse is the consciously experienced choicethat ecstatic universe. It feeling m and become the whole urgencya is the of overwhelming positivity and the nce that burst simultaneous sense that I must out of nothing, the driving impetus At the physical level, emerging nary process, from the big bang to theall living creatures experience this creative impulsethats how the life-process And that impulse is active right now, throughout ensures its own continuation. But the sexual impulse is experience. at every level of your own humanthe most basic and least rened manifestation of that primordial vibration. Human beings also experience that impulse ation is the most important part of who hen you locateat higher levelsin the depths of miraculous propensity to innovate, to that impulse of the self. Our give rise it that which is new, is what makes us distinct from all other will become aware that tois inherently free and forms of life. Beyond basic survival dom. It is dynamic and completely unrestrained needs, no other life form seems eing feels like compelled to innovate in this way. But human beings are driven by eternal peace, Becoming feels an innate creativity as sense of . The evolutionary impulse is feltthataexpresses itself in art, science, technology, and beyond.What drives of ever-accelerating y, an ecstatic urgency. At the levelthis consciousness, change and innovation that characterizes human culture? It is a sense that something unthinkably important that same energy and intelligence that initiated the entire evolutionary process. What does it feel like? Ecstasy and urgency. Think about your experience of those moments when you are most creatively engaged. What does it feel like? Being in a creative ow can be ecstatic and, simultaneously, there is an often surprising
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sense of urgency to bring into being that which you can sense is possible. Thats why great artists or scientists will work day and night, neglecting to eat or sleep. They are driven by a vision, something just CHAPTER 5 beyond their reach that will not let them rest until they have brought it into reality. That drive is the very same impetus that caused the whole universe to burst forth, fourteen billion years ago, and is now expressing itself through the body, mind, heart, and talents of an inspired human being. When you feel that creative ow, often you discover a part of yourself you are not normally aware of, but which feels more like your self than the person you usually think you are. Its like plugpulse is the ging in to a experienced choiceconsciously deeper source of energy and passion that transcends whatever limitations you ordinarily m and become the whole universe. It is the assume. A deeper, more authentic part of your self is driving impetus nce that burst out of nothing, the creatively released. Thats why such moments are so the big bang to just the creative nary process, fromfulllingits notthe emerging work you produce, but the experience of right more alive, more connected, more in touch with And that impulse is active being now, throughout a of your own human experience. at every levelsense of meaning and purpose. The expression of the evolutionary impulse as human creativity ation is the most important part of who and innovation is a the depths of hen you locate that impulse in unique and miraculous emergence in the unfolding of the cosmos. But there and will become aware that it is inherently freeis an even higher expression of that impulse that some human beings feel dom. It is dynamic and completely unrestrained awakening in their own hearts and minds. At the highest level, the eing feels like eternal peace, Becoming feels evolutionary impulse is experienced impulse is felt as a sense mysterious compulsion to become . The evolutionaryas the spiritual impulse, theof more conscious. the level of consciousness, y, an ecstatic urgency. At Sometimes we feel this as an inexplicable yearning, a a sense thatreaching toward perfection. At other times, its a nagging and relentsomething unthinkably important less existential discomfort, a sense that I must nd a way to wake up, to evolve, to liberate my heart and enlighten my mind. This spiritual longing, this ecstatic urge to become more conscious, is the most profound expression of that initial cosmic explosion. Your own spiritual yearning is not separate from the big bang itself.

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Awakening to Evolution g to Evolution

The spiritual impulse is that very same intention that forged the cosmos out of nothing, that drives us to procreate, that inspires us to innovate and create that which is new. But at this highest level, the CHAPTER 5 instrument of our creativity is not matter or esh, nor a canvas or violin. Our very own consciousness, our deepest self, becomes the instrument through which the original evolutionary impulse strives to express itself and to fulll its insatiable desire to become. Think about that for a moment. Your spiritual longing may seem like your personal desire, but is it really? Could there really be anything personal about that pure, passionate aspiration to awaken, to become, to evolve? The entire universe, including your own experience in this very moment, is the pulse is the consciously experienced choice- expression and manifestation of that one desire. m and become the whole universe. It is the

nce that burst out of nothing, the driving impetus nary process, from the big bang to the emerging And that impulse is active right now, throughout This singular evolutionary imperative is inherent in the fabric of at every level of your own human experience. the entire cosmic processfrom the big bang to the present moment. ation is the most important part of who hen you locateIt hasimpulse in theevery step, through each slow mutation and in that been here at depths of will become aware that it is inherently free and impulse, you have also been here. each momentous leap. And as that dom. It is dynamic have completely unrestrained the mind-opening, awe-inspiring We and all been here, throughout eing feels like journey peace, Becoming feels been unfolding since time began. eternal of Becoming that has . The evolutionary impulsetogether since innite density emerged from absolute Weve been is felt as a sense of y, an ecstatic urgency. At the level of consciousness, atoms, which make up the nothingness. Weve been together since a sense that something unthinkablymatter, were formed three hundred thousand very foundation of all important years later. We were there when those atoms formed gas clouds, which turned into stars, which grouped together as galaxies, each of which eventually produced billions of solar systems lled with small rocky planets, such as our beautiful Earth, which was forged from the remains of generations of dead stars.
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Awakening to Evolution g to Evolution

We have been here since the rst single-celled microorganisms emerged from the primordial soup and throughout the slow owering of life in all its diversity. We were here when the great dinosaurs CHAPTER 5 ruled the food chain unchallenged, and through their demise. When the rst hominids walked on the African savannah, this impulse, which is who we all are, guided each evolutionary step. And since our ancestors appeared on the stage of life just two hundred thousand years ago, that impulse has guided the vast unfolding tapestry of cultural development that brings us to this present moment. Throughout this whole process, from the beginning of time to the very edge of the future, as the energy and intelligence that has been driving cosmic, planetary, biospheric, animal, human, and culpulse is the consciously experienced choicetural evolution, we have It is here. m and become the whole universe. beenthe As the evolutionary impulse, as the initiatory force that is driving the entire nce that burst out of nothing, the driving impetus creative process, from the innermost big bang to the emerging nary process, from the dimensions of our human interiors all the way to the farthest is active right cosmos, we have always been here. And that impulse reaches of our now, throughout

at every level of your own human experience. ation is the most important part of who hen you locate that impulse in the depths of And theres is inherently it than that. Not only were you here from will become aware that it even more tofree and the very beginning, but your own emotional, psychological, and spirdom. It is dynamic and completely unrestrained itual experience, Becoming feels eing feels like eternal peace,in the present moment, is the very furthest reaches . The evolutionary impulse isof the interior of the cosmos. This is not just an of the evolution felt as a sense of y, an ecstatic urgency. At the level of consciousness, inspirational metaphor; its literally true. When you awaken to the a sense thatevolutionary unthinkably important in the knowledge, awareness, something impulse, you begin to live and understanding of this fact every single day. You realize your own experience of consciousness itself from one moment to another is potentially the leading edge of the possible. Why? Because unlike all other forms of life on Earth, we play a unique role in the unfolding of that original impulse. While all forms of life, to differing degrees,

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have consciousness, only human beings have the miraculous capacity to be aware of consciousness itself. As human beings, we know that we know. This capacity for selfCHAPTER 5 reective awareness, or self-consciousness, in the context of fourteen billion years of development, is a very recent emergence. And it means everything. Because of the gift of self-reective awareness, the human being, distinct from all other forms of life, has the capacity to recognize his or her own true identity as being not separate from the whole event of creation. Not separate from the ground of Being, the void out of which the universe emerged, and simultaneously not separate from the First Cause, from the big bang pulse is the consciously experienced choice- itself. And as we awaken to that surging energy and intelligence, m and become the whole universe. It is the it is just beginning to become aware nce that burst of itselfnothing, the driving impetus out of directlythrough us. The human vehicle becomes a vessel through which the whole universe nary process, from the big bang to the emerging is able to know itself. Indeed, as is as we know, the energy and And that impulse faractive right now, throughout intelligence that created the universe is only able experience. at every level of your own human to know itself directly through the awakening human. ation is the most important part of who Could that in the and intelligence become aware of itself through hen you locate that impulse energy depths of a rock? A ower? A worm? A honeybee? A dog or a cat? If you think will become aware that it is inherently free and about it, completely unrestrained dom. It is dynamic and it becomes obvious. Only human consciousness, as far as we eing feels like know, has the unique quality of self-reectivity that can enable God, eternal peace, Becoming feels or the energy and as a sense that . The evolutionary impulse is feltintelligence of initiated the creative process, to know him, the level of y, an ecstatic urgency. Ather, or itself. consciousness, So the awakening important a sense that something unthinkablyof the spiritual impulse in the human heart and mind is the universe becoming conscious of itself through its own emerging creative process. When youan awakening human beingexperience that urge, the intensity of your creative inspiration is coming from the First Cause itself. The interior of the cosmos is awakening to itself within you, and responding to its own highest
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aspiration, which is to become more conscious. Its quite profound. Especially considering that its taken fourteen billion years for evolution to bring life to the point where this was possible. CHAPTER 5

Awakening to Evolution g to Evolution

As you awaken to the spiritual impulse, you begin to intuit and feel directly connected to the evolutionary momentum of the cosmos, to that surging energy and intelligence at the heart of life. You actually feel it working in you, moving in and through your body and pulse is the mind as the experienced choice- to evolve at the highest level. consciously mysterious compulsion This experience is the most the m and become the whole universe. It is subtle and profound expression of the initial cosmic explosionthe impetus nce that burst out of nothing, the driving outer reaches of the big bang. Thats the furthest it bang to as emerging nary process, from the big has gone,the far as we know right now: when you, a human active right now, throughout And that impulse is being at the leading edge of this entire process, awaken to this mysterious compulsion experience. at every level of your own human to evolve at the level of your very own consciousness. The spiritual impulse is the experience of the big bang ation is the most important part of who as that impulse in the depths of hen you locate a surging compulsion for interior development and growth. The innermost it is inherently free and will become aware thatregions of the cosmos are aspiring to evolve and be developed in and through you. dom. It is dynamic and completely unrestrained Can you recognize how feels eing feels like eternal peace, Becomingabsolutely meaningful your own aspiration to awaken is Do you see the precious signicance of even the . The evolutionary impulse is? felt as a sense of barest murmurings of your own struggle to y, an ecstatic urgency. At the level of consciousness, become more conscious?

a sense that something unthinkably important

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Evolutionary Enlightenment Evolutionary Enlightenment Evolutionary Enlightenment

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About the Book In Evolutionary Enlightenment, Andrew Cohen redefines spiritual awakening for our contemporary worlda world characterized by exponential change and an ever expanding appreciation for the processes of evolution. Cohens message is simple, yet profound: Life is evolution, and enlightenment is about waking up to this fundamentally creative impulse as your own deepest, most authentic self. Through five tenets for living an enlightened life, Cohen will empower you to wholeheartedly participate in the process of change as your own spiritual practice. Evolutionary Enlightenment not only makes deep sense of life today; it ! will show you how to play an active role in shaping the world of ! tomorrow. !

the cultural spiritual teacher,global nonprofit internationally respected postmodern world. EnlightenNext and its visionary, and founder of publication award-winning spiritual teacher, cultural Ken Wilber, author of The Integral Vision the global nonprofit EnlightenNext visionary, its magazine EnlightenNext and and founder of the global nonprofit award-winning publication I have admired Andrew Cohen for many years. He is a pioneer in the field EnlightenNext and EnlightenNext magazine its award-winning publication of consciousness. Andrew has brought together ancient wisdom traditions, Learn more...

! ! ! Advance Praise ! spiritual teacher, cultural Andrew Cohen is an ! visionary, and internationally respected founder of Truly one of the most significant books on spirituality written in the
Andrew Cohen is an

! ! Andrew Cohen is an ! internationally respected !

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modern cosmology, and a knowledge of evolution to give us a contemporary understanding of the nature of enlightenment. I think he is one of the most important teachers of our time. Deepak Chopra, author of The Soul of Leadership

If the fourteen-billion-year cosmic experiment that resulted in our lives is not to end in the next few centuries, it will require brave and brilliant steps in our spiritual evolution. With instruction at once tough and tender, Andrew Cohen gives us the inspiration and the means to accomplish the greatest of all endeavors for the human spirit. This is a spiritual masterpiece. Jean Houston, PhD, author of A Mythic Life