Expanding on the theme of the last teaching, in which we explored sovereignty and coherence in the context of natural hierarchy, this session looks at the relationship between spiritual depth, hierarchy and what we term verticality: the ascending nature of evolving consciousness.

Most seekers do not connect the goal of enlightenment or spiritual attainment with a truly focused intention or strong ambition. That level of focus may be acceptable or desirable in other areas of life, but it is not often connected with enlightenment.

Spiritual attainment may be a generalised goal, or even quite a serious pursuit, but it is very rare for an individual to demonstrate the kind of unwavering commitment that will actually catalyse real breakthroughs and tangible results.

Consciousness actually evolves in a vertical context – as one climbs higher and higher, the air becomes more rarefied, and the experience of depth intensifies. The more one ascends, the fewer people one will encounter who actually live at that altitude.

Many people struggle with the idea of hierarchy in a context of spiritual development, or indeed with being able to recognise and acknowledge the vertical nature of spiritual attainment – ambition in the context of enlightenment is therefore often quite vague or indistinct, and an intense focus on stabilized attainment is very rare indeed.

Yet this is precisely what we need to cultivate if we really want to be free in a way that has depth, meaning and significance. We have to take enlightenment seriously in a way we have probably never considered necessary or even desirable.

In this teaching, Andrew invites us all to take a piercing look at this truth, and begin to challenge deeply embedded personal and cultural assumptions about the nature of consciousness evolution, enlightenment and spiritual attainment.