June 4, 2012
A Utopian Idealism
When one’s own self evolves, deepens, becomes more whole, then one naturally begins to seek for that same depth and wholeness in one’s relationships with others. As we awaken to higher states of consciousness, as we begin to see our own presence here in this unfolding process in a larger context, and especially as we awaken spiritually, there seems to be an idealism, what we could even call a utopian idealism, that is an inherent characteristic of the evolutionary impulse itself. It’s an urge toward greater wholeness, greater fullness, and greater relatedness. Of course, we can’t forget that some of the worst mistakes that have happened historically have been a result of this kind of idealism, but the drive toward utopia itself is part and parcel of the evolutionary impulse. I know I’ve felt that way from the very beginning of my teaching career. I actually think that this evolutionary impulse is part of the human experience at all levels, the minute we evolve beyond mere survival needs. It is part of what it’s like to be deeply in touch with life and the creative drive in the universe, and I think it has really always been part of what’s compelling humanity forward. Of course, it’s led to a lot of wrong turns and catastrophic consequences at times; nevertheless, it’s objectively important to realize that that’s part of what drives us in our best moments.
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Andrew Cohen is a spiritual teacher, cultural visionary, founder of EnlightenNext, and the author of 
As I awaken, the depth and wholeness in my relationships changes automatically. Rather than needing or wanting things to change outside of me (which results in the drive for some outside ideal) it seems to be that my inner awakened self is reflected in the outer world in all ways.I notice that the world is wakening up at the same pace as me! As I awaken the world awakens. Rather than desiring a utopian ideal (and the pitfalls thereof) the impulse I am experiencing is leading me to be more open, more loving and able to see the perfection as the unfolding is happening all around me. I don’t want or need others or the world to change and I delight in watching It and myself do what we do. Not wanting or needing change, I become better able to stay present, to serve and to be of service with an open loving mind that isn’t judging who anyone should be or how the world should be or if we should even survive collectively or individually. I’m in service to love and the evolutiionary impulse and that is not passive. I am actively responding to many things/issues in our world, but not with a reactive mindset based on wanting a utopia. Actually – this human experience feels quite perfect and miraculous and exciting as it is and an evolutionary imperative seems to be expressing itself through me without me trying to “change the world”. As I experience inspiration about creative ways to organize our society (without being attached to creating utopia) I can contribute with an open heart to the collective reimagination of our world. What an amazing mystery it all is. Gorgeous!
Thanks you Betsy for your beautiful comment
Andrews reflections on utopian idealism stresses the fact that idealism of a utopian kind is needed for humanity to move forward. Utopian thinking have existed since Plato’s The Republic and have inspired evolutionaries
throughout time. We need utopian idealists as visions for the future are lacking. The ones we are familiar with are based on sustainability or virtuality underpinned by technology. We need more constructive and positive utopian visions. Will we fail in implementing them? Yes, surely, but the process will teach us and drive us forward in an evolutionary way.
While this level of personal awakening creates cornerstones through which our experiences of enlightenment may evolve, we still live with the innately human qualities of desire and passion. We are not only inspiring divinity, we are expiring divinity as well. This divinity is grace as experienced through the expression of time. We may glimpse beyond the illusion for enlightenment, yet we remain part of it. To deny or ignore this is to deny or reject the purpose of our existence. We are compelled by an urgency toward relationship and must consider the pitfalls of ego-based idealism in all of our encounters. This is especially pertinent for those who are passionate about spirit-based service to the planet at this time. Compassion here is the key. We are all one and diversity is the signature (sign-nature) of our nature, supernatural, higher, or otherwise. Duality is not the lie, separation is. Balancing from our own original centerpoint in all of our endeavors is the purpose fulfilled. The paradox cannot be dispelled merely by personal experiences of our own divinitiy and its consequences, but by the desire to expand and experience this in our relationship/connection to all of life itself. Even as the present Paradigm shifts we are still being called to be human. To be an awakening means just that, awakening to the full potential of our humanity. It is consciousness expanding beyond its idea of itself. We are awakening to a world still covered in primordial sludge for all of its evolutionary accolades. We must be aware of the need to adapt as all of nature does to create space to embody life’s ever changing ideas of expansion. Remaining faithful to the vision of universal integrity is being aligned with the freedom and evolution of our own spiritual integrity, where the ego has resigned itself, childlike, into the loving care of the matured soul.
I will continue to hold out for/ create/ speak up for new more egalitarian and conscious ways of relatingness. It feels like we are just on the brink of something new and spacious…. only a few more 100 years to go
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Occasionally, It can feel lie a lonely path in the meantime.
Have you seen “Better Angels of our Nature” (2011) by Harvard professor Pinker who exhaustively documents the dramatic decline of violence and brutality and the inexorable evolution toward more humane culture driven to a large extent by open-ended exchange of ideas, commerce, and international relations? Humanity may well be an emergent property intrinsic to the Universe.
enjoyed your radio information reg sex and spirituality
Andrew writes about our “own self” evolving, deepening, becoming more whole…..as we awaken to “higher states of consciousness.” This seems to assume that each of us has an inner self or soul capable of achieving a “higher” state. But I wonder if we may not need to give up even this notion of being separate selves or souls. Why can’t we accept the possibility that each of us is a marvelous nexus of spiritual energy as it is refracted through our biological and cultural configurations? Why must we hold on to, or cling to, the notion that each of us has an identity which precedes our birth and continues after our earthly death? Just wondering….
Hi Richard, If I may;
I feel your description – “a marvelous nexus of spiritual energy” is just another way of saying “soul”, and that perhaps you are pushing back on a “fundamentalist” or “traditional” view of “soul” (?), but also feel that perhaps a deeper contemplation reveals the fact that not all “nexus’s of spiritual energy” have equal capacity at all times for awakening to Primordial Unity. And this is where we can point to soul as the “subtle being”, or “spark of the Divine” that incarnates in order to evolve consciousness – Spirit realizing itself as Spirit – individualizing, living in material reality, cultivating virtue, humility, wisdom and compassion; still a separate-self, until those capacities are cultivated into and beyond a “tipping point” of awakening.
What think you concerning developmental imperatives that continue from lifetime to lifetime, taking on gross, psychic, subtle and causal self-knowledge, until it’s multiple levels of self-knowledge become ONE?
Thanks, Linda Nada
Thanks for your comment, Linda. I like a lot of what you have to say, but still have trouble thinking of “separate” souls, each of which has an identify before birth and after death. Why can’t we just accept that each of us is a unique configuration of spirit, biology, and culture, that each of us has individuality but is not a separate Individual with a capital “I.” I believe our unique indivduality melts back into the ever-evolving whole, but is not a separate “self” or “soul” which is reincarnated again and again.. If you are interested in an elaboration of my views, please view my website at http://www.beyonddogmatism.com.
Richard