Unity Metaphysics: 13 Spiritual Evolution

13A SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION:

"In every man the Christ, or Word of God is infolded; it is an idea that contains all ideas. Evolution is the result of the development of ideas in mind. What we are is the result of the evolution of our consciousness, and our consciousness is the result of the seed ideas sown in our mind. Therefore spiritual evolution is the unfolding of the Spirit of God into expression. It is the development achieved by man working under spiritual law. Humanity is the garden of God, of which the soil is the omnipresent thought substance. The Christ, or Word (Son) of God evolution of man is plainly taught in the New Testament as the supreme attainment of every man." (Keep a True Lent 165)

Charles Fillmore points out in the first sentence of this paragraph that Christ is "infolded" in us. Often there is the misconception that Christ is in "full bloom" in us. There is need for a great deal more spiritual evolution, as this paragraph points out. Sometimes Truth students make the mistake of thinking that what is true in potential is the same as whatever is being manifested at any given moment. This is not what Jesus taught and it is not what Unity teaches. Mr. Fillmore says in many different ways that manifest man is an unfinished product who has much work to do, much learning, much growing. And he can do all this very successfully because of the Christ or Word of God implanted (infolded) within him.

13B LIFE OF JESUS:

"By thought, speech, and deed this Christ Mind is brought into manifestation. The new birth is symbolically described in the history of Jesus." (Charles Fillmore Christian Healing 28)

"... Jesus was Himself a parable. His life was an allegory of the experiences that man passes through in developing from natural to spiritual consicousness." (Charles Fillmore Christian Healing 74)

Charles Fillmore had deep insight into the meaning of the life of Jesus. To persons without spiritual understanding statements such as "Jesus was himself a parable; His life was an allegory" might sound audacious. But to one with even a bit of metaphysical understanding, these statements ring true and provide a practical frame of reference for our work on spiritual evolution.

13C GOD'S OBJECTIVE:

"One of the fundamental principles in the study of Christianity is that God's great objective is the making of a perfect man. Man is the apex of creation, made in God's image and likeness, and endowed with full authority and dominion over his elemental thoughts." (Charles Fillmore Prosperity 160)

As we constantly progress in demonstrating dominion and mastery over conditions and situations in the relative world, more and more persons are coming into the realization that in the universe in which we now exist our consciousness is the "apex of creation."

13D WHAT JESUS DID:

"Every thinker who studies the life and teachings of Jesus readily admits that He attained an understanding of spiritual things far beyond that of any other man that ever lived. His mind touched heights far beyond those of other advanced searchers for Truth. As we unfold spiritually we see more and more that Jesus understood the finer shades of metaphysical reasoning and related His mind and body to both ideas and their manifestation." (Jesus Christ Heals 156)

Something not ordinarily noticed about Jesus is the remarkable fact that He consciously saw Himself as a living symbol—that of SPIRITUAL AWARENESS ACTIVE IN MAN. He patterned His whole life on that symbolic role. Also, He conducted two ministries simultaneously: a ministry of WORKS and a ministry of WORDS. After His ascension His words began to take on a new light and have new meaning in the minds of His followers. We are the beneficiaries of that dawning, and we today are the congregation of His ministry of words. This is one aspect of the second coming of Jesus Christ.

13E REINCARNATION:

"When a soul leaves the body, it rests for a season. Then innate desire for material expression asserts itself, and the ego seeks the primal cell and builds another body. This is reincarnation. Reincarnation will continue until the ego awakens to the Christ Mind and through it builds an imperishable body... But reincarnation is not a part of the divine plan and does not lift man out of mortal limitations. It is not an aid to spiritual growth, but merely a makeshift until full Truth is discerned." (The Revealing Word, Reincarnation, p.166)

"A new soul is not created with every physical birth. A physical birth simply means that a soul is taking on another body. Every man inhabiting this earth and the psychic realms immediately surrounding it has gone through this process of dying and being reincarnated many times." (The Twelve Powers of Man 138)

Little needs to be added to the clear and logical statements concerning reincarnation in these paragraphs except to comment on one point. In light of the current findings in the relatively new science of genetics, Mr. Fillmore's statement that "the ego seeks the PRIMAL CELL AND BUILDS ANOTHER BODY" sounds very similar to the DNA "programming" that goes into the PRIMAL FERTILIZED CELL of the soon-to-be-formed embryo. This scientific discovery came long after Mr. Fillmore wrote these words.

13F CRUCIFIXION & RESURRECTION:

"Having once seen Truth, having once had the illumination, you find that the next step is to demonstrate it and not be cast down or discouraged by the opposite. When the crucifixion comes and you are suffering the pangs of dying error, you may cry out, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' forgetting for the time the promises in the mount of transfiguration. This is when you need to realize that you are passing through a transforming process that will be followed by a resurrection of all that is worth saving." (Atom-Smashing Power of Mind 155)

Mr. Fillmore always dealt with the crucifixion in connection with the resurrection. This gives his metaphysical interpretations of it a very positive and uplifting tone. The life of Jesus is really a representation of every person's life and destiny, but presented to our world on a larger-than-life scale.

13G RESURRECTION:

"The restoring of mind and body to their original, undying state. This is accomplished by the realization that God is Spirit and that God created man with power like that which He himself possesses. When man realizes this, his mind and body automatically become immortal. The resurrection takes place in us every time we rise to Jesus' realization of the perpetual indwelling life that is connecting us with the Father. A new flood of life comes to all who open their minds and their bodies to the living word of God." (The Revealing Word, Resurrection, p.169)

As in so many of the important Bible symbols, Charles Fillmore sees resurrection as an ongoing process, not a once-and-for-all accomplishment. The resurrection experience can be a daily one for any person who is seriously committed to Spirit. Each effort with the attention directed forward (Godward) produces a new resurrection experience, new energies, higher vibratory rate, better molecular connections, truer thoughts, purer emotions, happier attitudes. These are all symptoms of the resurrection experience which any person may have who is willing to follow the Truth.

13H REGENERATION:

"A change in which abundant spiritual life, even eternal life, is incorporated into the body. The transformation that takes place through bringing all the forces of mind and body to the support of the Christ ideal. The unification of Spirit, soul, and body in spiritual oneness. Regeneration begins its work in the conscious mind and completes it in the subconsciousness. The first step is cleansing or denial in which all error thoughts are renounced. This includes forgiveness for sins committed and a general clearing of the whole consciousness. After the way has been prepared, the second step takes place. This is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit." (The Revealing Word, Regeneration, p.165)

What is regeneration? We cannot exactly describe it because we have not as yet experienced it. But we find that most metaphysicians generally agree that it entails a connection in mind with a higher and finer type of energy to be utilized by the body. This is followed by a purifying and refining of the fluids, cells, and tissues of the body. Atomic vibratory rate and molecular connections are changed, and the result is a dramatic change in the nature and performing ability of the body. Mr. Fillmore often refers to this as "a body of light" or "the Lord's body." Regeneration is often spoken of as the prelude to conscious immortality.

13I NEW AGE:

"The race is changing its vibrations to a higher rate, and the higher types of the race must keep the equipoise by unfolding spiritually or they will loose their hold. Cases of loss of mental poise are now getting so numerous as to attract the attention of the medical world, and these cases will increase in frequency in the future, unless there is a stronger development of the spiritual nature of men. Old things are passing away!" (Atom-Smashing Power of Mind 165)

In the language of the zodiac we could say that the Piscean age is drawing to a close and the Aquarian age is beginning. Mankind is developing rapidly into this new age of awareness. Jesus said, "follow me."

Transcribed by Sheri Owen on August 11, 2015.