“In our study of the Mystic Life, its purification and illumination, we have been analyzing and considering a process of organic development, an evolution of personality. We may treat this either as a movement of consciousness toward higher levels, or as a remaking of consciousness consequent on the emergence and growth of a factor which is dormant in ordinary people, but destined to be supreme in the full-grown mystic type. We have seen the awakening of this factor—this spark of the soul—with its innate capacity for apprehending the absolute. We have seen it attack and conquer the old sense-fed and self-centered life of the normal self, and introduce it into a new universe, lit up by the Uncreated Light. These were the events which, taken together constitute the ‘First Mystic Life’; a complete round upon the spiral road which leads from Man to God.

“What we have been looking at, then, is a life process, the establishment of a certain harmony between the created self and the Reality whose invitation it has heard: and we have discussed this life process as if it contained no elements which were not referable to natural and spontaneous growth. … But side by side with this organic growth there always goes a specific kind of activity which is characteristic of the mystic: that his consciousness of the Infinite may be stabilized, enriched, and defined.” ~Evelyn Underhill

Mystic Life

The book from which the above quote is taken is all about the life of the mystics, so Underhill uses that name a lot, but we could just as easily say spiritual student or spiritual adept, so the Mystic life is also the Spiritual life, at least if you are talking about actual spiritual development and not the pretense of it that is so common today.

Purification and Illumination

Purification and illumination are what spiritual (or mystical) development is all about. Foolish people claim they are perfect just as they are and have no need for development. Mystery schools and spiritual schools have not existed for many centuries in many parts of the world for nothing. Just as the doctor, carpenter, or lawyer needs training and development, so does the spiritual adept. In this world, there is no free ride. You don’t climb out of the deep hole of matter by simply wishing for it, or pretending you have already gotten out.

Organic Development

What Ms. Underhill means when she says “organic development,” is the natural growth of the body and mind that happens to everyone, or at least everyone who doesn’t have some disease that prevents it. It is the development that largely happens on its own, with little conscious effort, as opposed to spiritual development which requires a conscious effort applied regularly and consistently. But as Underhill adds to this, the Mystic follows a different kind of organic process by seeking to awaken and develop his spiritual faculties and develop higher levels of consciousness. The highest level of consciousness is that found in the highest dimension that most call Heaven.

Levels of Consciousness

Underhill tells us that the mystic undergoes a process of either remaking their consciousness or developing higher levels of consciousness. There are those who have made both spiritual and scientific studies of this, and most agree that there are multiple levels of consciousness. Obviously, a potato doesn’t have the same level of consciousness as a fish, and generally, a human has a higher level of consciousness than that fish. But are their levels of consciousness beyond humans? Spiritual people and mystics believe so, and some of the more advanced have achieved very high levels, levels where they gain the Truth and Wisdom known as Gnosis, which cannot be gained by reading books.

Conquer the Self-Centered Life

Yes, spiritual development does require us to conquer the self-centered life. To put it another way, the Soul must be awakened and developed to the point where it can control the ego which is all about the world of matter. The ego does not need to be destroyed, as some claim, it needs to be controlled. We need ego to function in the material world, but we can’t let it dominate and prevent us from making spiritual progress.

The Spiral Road

The Spiral Road (or staircase) is the path of illumination that leads to Heaven. It is spiral because it is the nature of man that most of us don’t move forward on a straight and continuous path. We take a few steps forward, we fall back, we move forward again, etc. That is why the path is best depicted as a spiral. And it is, as Underhill says, a “life process,” the gradual establishment of harmony between our material and spiritual natures so that we can continue forward on that spiritual path and also continue to function in the world. And when we finally face physical death, the spirit and soul will continue on that spiral road until the highest level is reached.

“The Spirit of our Lord speaks thus in the Book of the Secrets of God, which St. John wrote down: to him that overcomes, He says, that is, to him who overcomes and conquers himself and all else, will I give to eat of the hidden manna, that is, an inward and hidded savour and celetial joy; and will give him a sparkling stone, and in the stone a new name is written which no person knows saving the one who receives it. This stone is called a pebble, for it is so small that it does not hurt when one treads on it. This stone is shining white and red like a flame of fire, and it is small and round, and smooth all over, and very light. ….

“Now to him who overcomes and transcends all things, this sparkling stone is given; and with it he receives light and truth and life. This stone is also like a fiery flame, for the fiery love of the eternal Word has filled the whole world with love and wills that all loving spirits be burned up in love.” ~John of Ruysbroeck

Book of the Secrets

The “Book of the Secrets of God”, better known today as “The Secret Book of John,” or “The Apocryphon of John) is a Gnostic book that talks about God being the One who rules all and the Pure Light, among other things. It is surprising that Ruysbroeck references it since he was not known to be particularly gnostic in his beliefs and teachings.

Overcomes and Conquers

What it means to overcome and conquer yourself is that you are able to control your animal instinct, and your ego, and put the development of spirit and soul above all else. That may seem like an impossible task in today’s materialistic, capitalistic world, but it can be done. It doesn’t mean that you can’t have a normal job but must live in a monastery. You can have a normal life, but with the idea always in front of your mind that the spirit comes first and the Laws of God come before those of Man. And spiritual development techniques only need to be practiced for five to fifteen minutes a day, so should be doable by all.

Hidden Manna

There are two kinds of Manna. There was the manna given to the starving Jews in the desert that was a physical bread to nourish their bodies. There is another manna that is spiritual and available to those who seek it in love and humility. That second manna is God’s Light that comes to us through the spiritual sun. That manna is the hidden manna that awakens and nourishes the spirit and soul. Nothing physical can do that.

Sparkling Stone

Ruysbroeck says the awakened person receives a sparkling stone that is shiny, white and red, and does not hurt. So he is saying in an indirect way that this stone is not something physical like the Sorcerer’s stone in the Harry Potter tales. I have left out a section of the quote from Ruysbroeck because I think it is misleading. Ruysbroeck goes on to say that the stone is actually Jesus Christ, who is the savior of all. Those who are spiritual students generally know better. The Sparkling Stone, also known as the Philosopher’s Stone, is our own inner Christ that is awakened with spiritual practice. That is what Jesus meant when he said we should follow him. He meant that we should awaken our own inner Christ, our own Sparkling Stone. It is only by doing so that we are able to reach up to the highest level of consciousness known as Heaven, and become one with the All.