1. The truly self conscious person vs an alert person I would like to use an example of what I believe was given to me as a lesson and learning experience on the path of discipleship I fee a real life situation is better then making something up. I have a male neighbor that I have known for over 20 years. He is a bright alert person an d is a national sales manager. You have to be bright and alert to reach that level. As far as adaptability in the physical world he appears to withdraw when under pressure or in a difficult situation. I lost my loved one over a year ago This is someone he knew He came to the funeral showing the ability to to do the right thing in daily life but then after a year started to show an interest in me. I was aware of his divorce and I knew it also was a painful ending for him. I wanted to show kindness but set boundaries Things got a bit awkward. As living in the horizontal world I felt his only response to retreat to be not in line with what I would hope for in a long term neighbor and hopeful friend. If I moved into the horizontal world as a human I would feel a sense of rejection and a re connection with the long period of grief for my deceased loved one But on the vertical I would balance the spiritual awareness and my connection to higher consciousness This would go to the heart center feeling a love of the highest level and kind Like it says the disciple looks back at his brethren on the darkest path and reaches out to guide with their light. At this level I felt the spiritual higher self coming in– The karmic lesson versus the human instinct. It was a very interesting lesson indeed. I realized that acting as the observer with indifference -rising to the higher soul level could only reach out with heartfelt kindness for a potential imbalanced situation THere was a karmic plan and a lesson to be learned apart from the human emotional a nd intellectual reaction, In discipleship, reacting on the horizontal level involves fostering relationships with others, while the vertical level focuses on one’s relationship with spirit . Both dimensions are interconnected, as a healthy vertical relationship enhances horizontal interactions and vice versa. So to accomplish the karmic lesson it was necessary to operate on both levels. There appears to be a great deal of fear of vulnerability in any offer of pure spiritual kindness and an inability to operate beyond the horizontal demands and fears of interacting as a human on the horizontal plane. To be able to interact thru the lower nature and come down to the level of people who can only operate on this level is a lesson for the disciple in and of itself. But, on the vertical to look upon the horizontal and operate at both levels thru setting ones lower and higher nature apart is the key here. Matter in form operate in a distinct way thru human consciousness. Observing is the key and offering wisdon thru actions is the only alternative
2. The Nature of the disciple Consciousness
Vertical and horizontal living in the context of the disciple refers to the balance between spiritual awareness and practical expression in daily life. Vertical living emphasizes the soul’s connection to higher consciousness, while horizontal living focuses on manifesting that awareness in the physical world. To do this one must be the observer and act with indifference. The hardest part is having patience with “humans” and not expecting everyone to be like you. The key is the ability to see your brother on the darkened path and reach out with the light from the heart.
Vertical and horizontal living are concepts that are extremely important for human and spiritual development.
Vertical Living means sensing and connecting with higher spiritual ideas and truths.
Horizontal Living is more difficult because it demands expressing these spiritual insights in everyday actions and interactions in the world of human existence.
The balance comes with achieving harmony between these two roles and is crucial for development of the disciple.
Meditation is a tool to cultivate both vertical and horizontal living but most importantly acting as an observer apart from the emotions and the lower mind . Realizing the world of meaning- operating from the etheric level and trusting.
The vertical level is the the indifferent observation of consciousness of the personality of the lower nature and of himself as a human. The vertical is understanding the world of meaning and of the soul of the higher self or ego or as son of God
3. The disciple has three things to bear in mind
The synthesis of life—spirit
The unity of consciousness Soul
The integration of Forms Body or Form
The consciousness of the personality or the vehicle we must operate thru on this plane of existence can draw into the emotional and lower mind Over sensitivity and over processing events and reactions is what I see. The human element is being tested and it is the work of the disciple to help and asssist by acting thru example and just moving ahead and realizing they are just humans. Living in the horizontal world is not the world of meaning so it must be observed and not acted upon with actions- Thoughts words and deeds- are the truth in the horizontal world When one observes the horizontal from the true state of the vertical every day occurrences on the lower planes become less forceful and over whelming. The place upon the chain vs the place within the chain
As the personal;ity in the lower form we interact with other personalities in the lower form Each with their own path Some more aware then others And some still newbies as I call them. Child souls This is the persona or mask that hides the soul and operates on the horizontal plane. We act act and interact, we speak and feel Sometimes we do not realize that words matter and we must learn how to see how actions effect , hurt or help People are extremely cautious and vulnerable right now I go back to a long term neighbor who acted out of the neighbor relationship and then hid afraid of the result There was no strength to stand behind his actions. This is no soul connection. But, from the vertical we can observe see this and perhaps act with out being fully absorbed in the horizontal- step apart to be in the vertical and blend with care for the physical and mental and emotional gift- not be angry at its possible malfunction in others but stand apart
The undeveloped man on the horizontal meets the developed man on the horizontal who has access to the vertical. These 2 world collide and the horizontal man pulls back, The vertical man must be patient and act with the self conscious efforts of the developed man. It is a tough interaction but full of tests and lessons for the disciple on a daily basis