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andrew cohen
December 2007 
The role of autonomy in the spiritual path
Posted on Jul 17th, 2007
by 
Evolutionary Enlightenment Webcast
Evolutionary Enlightenment Webcast
Dear Jeff and Katherine,
I have really appreciated your calls and the opportunity to hear the teachings of Evolutionary Enlightenment in your own voices. I think that because it is in your own words and based on your own experience that the inquiry is so powerful.
A few weeks ago you asked us to suggest a topic, and I asked you to talk about the role of autonomy in the spiritual path. The sense of poetic justice wasn't lost on me when you emailed me back and suggested I write about it myself. :) So I have been thinking about it. What is autonomy anyway? This morning it all crystallized as I was speaking to my sister.
For a long time, I have been under the impression that autonomy is synonymous with interest. Interest is similar to intention. It is like the gasoline of the evolutionary impulse: you can't go forward if you don't have any interest in doing so. Autonomous interest. But lately I am realizing that interest isn't the whole picture. It doesn't have any weight itself. It's like how gasoline can get you places in your car, but it doesn't have in it the knowledge of the landscape you just passed.
When it comes to standing solidly in the truth revealed in my own experience, especially in the face of opposition, I have not lived an autonomous life. I've run from conflict, and kept far too private the beauty of truth. It's shockingly immoral, in this context, to cave in on what you know to be true. But I didn't even realize that until just now.
I'm starting to change. I am suddenly finding the ability to be strong in what I believe without having to hold on to it, because it isn't separate from me. It is easy to be strong in the company of others who share similar interests but to be strong, to be truthful on your own is autonomy.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter.
Thanks again for the weekly cosmo-cast!
Love,
Christiana
I have really appreciated your calls and the opportunity to hear the teachings of Evolutionary Enlightenment in your own voices. I think that because it is in your own words and based on your own experience that the inquiry is so powerful.
A few weeks ago you asked us to suggest a topic, and I asked you to talk about the role of autonomy in the spiritual path. The sense of poetic justice wasn't lost on me when you emailed me back and suggested I write about it myself. :) So I have been thinking about it. What is autonomy anyway? This morning it all crystallized as I was speaking to my sister.
For a long time, I have been under the impression that autonomy is synonymous with interest. Interest is similar to intention. It is like the gasoline of the evolutionary impulse: you can't go forward if you don't have any interest in doing so. Autonomous interest. But lately I am realizing that interest isn't the whole picture. It doesn't have any weight itself. It's like how gasoline can get you places in your car, but it doesn't have in it the knowledge of the landscape you just passed.
When it comes to standing solidly in the truth revealed in my own experience, especially in the face of opposition, I have not lived an autonomous life. I've run from conflict, and kept far too private the beauty of truth. It's shockingly immoral, in this context, to cave in on what you know to be true. But I didn't even realize that until just now.
I'm starting to change. I am suddenly finding the ability to be strong in what I believe without having to hold on to it, because it isn't separate from me. It is easy to be strong in the company of others who share similar interests but to be strong, to be truthful on your own is autonomy.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter.
Thanks again for the weekly cosmo-cast!
Love,
Christiana
Access: Public
Dear Christiana,
Thank you for your very inspiring letter, it is beautiful to read. I have been struggling so much with autonomy and something definitely has changed. I think this has to do with purpose: the combination of understanding and the fact that so much is happening now. The idea that we will be able to change something in the world. Thank you again, Liesbeth.