Consciousness-based Writing: Progressive and Evolutionary

Progressive and Evolutionary are two of the 50 Qualities of the Unified Field. 

Taught in pairs, these qualities are one means at Maharishi School for teaching Consciousness-Based education, one means for connecting the student and the subject matter. By practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique, the "lab" in which they experience their own inner selves, students then learn their traditional subjects but also learn to see them as expressions of consciousness, forming a more personal link with their studies.

How do these two qualities relate to consciousness-based writing? How do I find these qualities to connect to my writing?

Here are the etymologies of progressive and evolutionary, thanks to the free Merriam-Webster online dictionary (note: I don't have access to my unabridged Merriam-Webster dictionary right now, or I'd use that--it's a wonderful book):

•  Progress: Middle English, from Anglo-French progrés, from Latin progressus advance, from progredi to go forth, from pro- forward + gradi to go — more at pro-, grade. First Known Use: 15th century. The definition of progressive includes consideration of time in many aspects of life--education, politics, government, politics. The word includes not just the act of adding more but also the consideration of what existed previously and what is needed in the future.

• Evolve: Latin evolvere to unroll, from e- + volvere to roll — more at voluble. First Known Use: 1775. The definition of evolutionary includes the idea of something unfolding, of a process changing in a certain direction from lower to higher.

When writing, it is important to go forward, to progress from a blank piece of paper (or computer screen) to the first-time-through sloppy copy. This can also be considered as letting the idea unroll, to allow the vision to be connected to the words.

For my novel The Stone Dragon, the process was truly a synthesis of my years of experience, both inner and outer. I wanted to write a story that expressed how we create our own reality, of how our outer world comes to be furbished with the accoutrements of our inner life. I wanted to write a good story--one that was not only engaging but which also led the reader to a good place.

Whether or not I actually did that will, of course, ultimately be judged by time and the reader. I think the process of writing the book was good for me, though. I grew in the process; writing the book was an progressive and evolutionary experience. But what does that mean?

Writing is consciousness-based and progressive and evolutionary when the words lead both the writer and the reader to a more powerful, higher or heightened awareness of one's inner self and of the nature of existence.

These are big words and concepts. I don't think a writer gets up in the morning and says, "I think I'll write today about the more powerful, higher or heightened awareness of one's inner self and of the nature of existence."

I sure don't anyway. But I think if we look to the classics, we can see that the writer has taken a journey and that the writer includes the reader on that journey. It doesn't have to be a "classic," either. A note--why not a grocery list?--could in some way be phrased with a purity of intent and word choice to some minute progressive and evolutionary effect upon the writer and reader.

It all starts with the knower, the writer, the artist, the open and honest, progressive and evolutionary human mind. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who established the Transcendental Meditation and Consciousness-Based education programs, said that the outer expressions of the artist are reflections of the artist's inner being. I agree with that.

I'm glad I practice the Transcendental Meditation technique so that I can begin my writing day, as best I can, with a tabula rasa, a clean slate, unmarred (to whatever extent) by stresses, strains, and fatigue. I like it when an idea comes to me alone and uncluttered by a rabble and chaos of other unruly ideas. This is not to say an ocean of ideas is not good, but let me be strong enough to brave the tide. Let me ride the wave.

Writing the deluge of creativity from that place of silence doesn't always happen, but when it does, I write those words down and cherish the process.

Copyright 2011 by Thomas L. Kepler, all rights reserved