(from Ascension! by Maharishi Sadashiva Isham [MSI])
The rate of progress in Ascension is individually determined. For those moving quickly and smoothly, it is valuable to learn the sixteen techniques of the first Four Spheres in rapid sequence: every two weeks, a new technique can be acquired. And even the advanced and subtle techniques of the final three Spheres can be quickly gained for those who desire growth above all else. In the final analysis, evolution depends entirely on individual desire, how quickly one wishes to rise in the full development of consciousness.
The Praise Ascension Attitude corrects the fundamental stress of the modern world, that something is wrong with the individual life. This Attitude by itself is sufficient to generate full enlightenment, but because of most individuals' life-long habit of strain and divided minds, more techniques will usually be required to perfect growth. This Attitude above all others can be used any time of the day or night when it seems that individual life is not progressing as well as it could.
Similar in power for transforming the root stresses of modern life is the Gratitude Attitude. The focus here is on the objective world; this technique is designed to cure all erroneous beliefs and concepts about the body and the external Universe. It is the master key for unlocking belief in the limitations of the body, in sickness and in death; it also is the first stage in mastery of the outer world. As such, it is invaluable for healing disease of any and all kinds.
For many, the Love Attitude is the sweetest of the first three; it is designed to heal all the misconceptions about our relationship with the Ascendant itself. Together, the first three techniques are capable of removing all beliefs and judgments about the limited nature of the three primary divisions of human life: subjective, objective and spiritual. These three Attitudes together are sufficient for anyone to climb to enlightenment. Further techniques are for greater acceleration.
The Fourth Technique clarifies the relationship of the individual with all other human beings and animals. Invincibility in human life is the result of mastery of consciousness; this is based in harmlessness. (Harmlessness is called ahimsa in the ancient literature. Mastery of ahimsa means that no creatures ever have enmity toward you or will knowingly harm you.) Harmlessness is established by the full development of compassion, which is the automatic by-product of this technique. Universal Compassion is the requirement for enlightenment from the standpoint of the Ascendant. Only those who have proven they will not abuse their power are given the key to the Door of Everything.
The first four techniques are sufficient to establish Perpetual Consciousness, but the rate of growth will be slower than need be. As the body decreases in stress and the mind increases in clarity as a result of regular Ascension, the desire will naturally grow to learn ever more powerful and subtle techniques. Each Sphere of techniques is greater than the preceding: each Sphere is more subtle and more powerful than the one before. They make a spiral of increasing experience, perception and knowledge.
One function of the advanced Spheres is to develop the subtle energy centers in the body known in the ancient literature as the chakras (literally and in the West, "wheels of fire"). Development of each of these seven energy centers is required to bring about full enlightenment; Ascension provides an effortless and highly effective method for accomplishing this.
In the West, the memory of the chakras is retained in the image of the caduceus, the traditional symbol for the healing arts. The open eagle wings represent fully developed consciousness, the highest degree of enlightenment, in the crown chakra. The staff represents the sushumna, the central channel in the spine through which the energy of life rises to bring enlightenment. The two serpents represent the two subtle channels that run alongside the sushumna, the ida and the pingala. The chakras are located where the ida and the pingala cross. The ida and the pingala originate in the base of the spine and end in the sixth chakra, in the center of the skull. The pingala is white and carries solar energy and the forces of the day. This energy moves our consciousness upward toward the rational. The ida is black and carries lunar energy and the forces of the night. Its downward movement takes us into the unconscious where we experience regeneration and intuition. In the average person, life energy flows primarily along the ida and the pingala, supplying energy to the sense organs and faculties of awareness that maintain the illusion of the world. It is only with the awakening of enlightenment that the energy flows fully and completely up the central channel, the sushumna. When this happens, the chakras reverse their orientation from downward and outward to upward and inward.
The chakras connect our consciousness with our bodies. In the waking state, the mind experiences chaos: at least 50,000 incoherent thoughts a day race through everyone's mind, many of them mutually contradictory, many of them desiring the useless or the impossible. Once the mind is freed from the source of these 50,000 thoughts — the defenses, complexes and addictive compulsions of our habitual beliefs and judgments — the energy of complete consciousness rises up the spine, enlivening each of the seven chakras, resulting in inner silence, perfect awareness of the Ascendant and complete and permanent bliss.
The result of the Solar Ascension Attitude is to begin to awaken the highest function of human consciousness: sahasrara, the thousand-petalled lotus of light at the top of the skull -- the seventh chakra. The Cosmic Regions are the seven planes of existence or light that surround and permeate our Universe of name and form. Mastery of the Solar Technique gives complete knowledge of each of these severally and individually. It is also a powerful tool for the development of the highest degree of human enlightenment, Unity Consciousness. Mastery of the Solar connection opens one to the Causal Worlds; upon death, this is where one goes. This is called the Path of the Sages.
The Lunar Attitude develops the intuitive power of the sixth chakra, Ajna, the "Third Eye." Another result of this Attitude is the development of Soma, the glue of the Universe that is responsible for the celestial perception of the second stage of enlightenment, Exalted Consciousness. Mastery of the Lunar connection opens the aspirant to the worlds of the virtuous, to the Heaven of the Forefathers, to the Path of the Gods; leaving the body this way upon death takes one to the Astral Regions. Those dying in Perpetual or Exalted Consciousness follow the Path of the Gods; those dying in unity attain the Path of the Sages.
The Seventh Technique is designed to facilitate the movement of Awareness, so vital for the development of Unity. It is also designed to remove the last of the separation between the individual and the Universe; it is the obverse of the Love Ascension Attitude and completes it. It is a protection from all accidents. The Earth Attitude creates a refined level of witnessing, the hallmark of Perpetual Consciousness, and assists in the development of the celestial perception of Exalted Consciousness, the second stage of enlightenment.
The Eighth Technique establishes Peace with all of relative creation, thereby further stabilizing harmlessness. It also has the effect of confirming the most important relationship of the individual with the Source of All that Is: the limited self surrenders to the Infinite. This Technique has the effect of stabilizing the only correct relationship with the Ascendant; this naturally results in a much faster rate of progress. It is also a key to the ability to fulfill all desires and dramatically develops celestial perception.
The Ninth Technique bequeaths the experience of the Reality of the most important aspect of the Ascendant. It also develops Soma and celestial perception. With its complete mastery, the second stage of enlightenment is permanent.
The Tenth Technique focuses on the inner petal of the sixth chakra, the petal that develops perfect intuition. Mastery of this Attitude gives complete knowledge of all that there is to be known and assures Perpetual Consciousness.
The application of this Attitude structures the ability to heal any disease of the aspirant or of anyone else. It also develops celestial perception and Exalted Consciousness.
The Twelfth Technique stabilizes immovability of Infinite Awareness and further establishes the relationship with the Supreme quality of the Ascendant. It also has the effect of opening the first or root chakra, Muladhara, which is located at the base of the spine.
The Thirteenth Technique develops perfect mastery of the body and the world. It complements the eleventh by bringing out the full ability to heal the body. This Attitude develops the third chakra, the navel chakra, Manipura.
The Fourteenth Technique masters desire. In its final development, it bequeaths the ability to manifest the form of all words: anything that is spoken comes to pass. This Attitude develops the fifth chakra, Visuddha, located at the base of the throat.
This Attitude develops celestial perception, Exalted Consciousness, the second, outer petal of the sixth chakra, Ajna, and continual awareness of the most important aspect of the Ascendant. It also develops a refined ability to use the intellect and stabilizes the power of intuition.
The Sixteenth Technique develops the unchanging reality of perfect Love. It is the first direct application of Awareness to the all-important fourth chakra, Anahata, the heart chakra. This Technique develops the relationship with the power of the Ascendant and the full perception of the most refined qualities of the Ascendant. As such, it is a highly powerful technique for the development of the second stage of enlightenment, Exalted Consciousness.
The Seventeenth Attitude further refines the sixth chakra, Ajna. It develops the Sat (absolute) quality of the Ascendant and connects the individuality with the perfect essence of Truth. This Attitude also refines the development of the Sixth Attitude by firming the relationship with the Path of the Gods, the Lunar Path.
The Eighteenth Attitude develops full use of the sushumna and further refines the seventh chakra, Sahasrara. It develops the Ananda (bliss) quality of the Ascendant by connecting the individual with unbounded joy. This Attitude also refines the development of the Fifth Attitude by firming the relationship with the Path of the Sages, the Solar Path.
This Attitude opens the doorway to imperishable physical life. It also develops Amrita, the molecule of immortality, and the second chakra, Svadhisthana, which is associated with the sexual organs. It is the essence of mastering mastery itself, for the full development of this Attitude bequeaths the ability to transform the consciousness of others through the movement of your Unbounded Consciousness into theirs.
Mastery of this Technique results in the stabilizing of the refinement of Unity Consciousness known as all-knowingness.
Mastery of the First Revelation Technique gives full knowledge of the connection of the Soul to the Ascendant, the qualities of the Soul and the qualities of the Ascendant.
The Second Revelation Technique is designed to burn away whatever is left of the limited individuality by diving directly into the heart of the Ascendant.
The Third Revelation Technique develops perception of the Infinite light of the Ascendant in all its varied forms.
Mastery of the fourth Revelation Technique develops complete knowledge of faith and perfect one-pointedness of attention.
The fifth Revelation Technique stabilizes the highest degree of awareness of the Chit (Consciousness) value of the Ascendant.
The final Revelation Technique develops complete awareness of the Sutra Atman: the connecting link between all souls.
The final technique ties all the sundered parts of the personality together in the Ascendant to establish Unity permanently.
The Seventh Sphere also contains the Advanced Techniques for the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Attitudes. Collectively these are known as Immortality Techniques.
Maharishi Sadashiva Isham (MSI), Ascension! An Analysis of the Art of Ascension as Taught by the Ishayas (Waynesville, NC: SFA Publications, 1991), excerpts from pp. 173-181.
For more information visit http://www.ishaya.com/.