There is an idea that awakening is a clear state distinct from unawakened. Sometimes this is the case when there is a catastrophic event like a near death experience or some traumatic occurrence, but with gradual awakening there are degrees of the awakened state. Enlightenment can be a matter of degree.
The degree to which a person is awakened is determined by the degree to which the person has overcome, mitigated, diminished, or eliminated the obstacles and barriers to the person's awareness of Love's presence. It is written in A Course In Miracles "The course does not aim at teaching the meaning of love, for that is beyond what can be taught. It does aim, however, at removing the blocks to the awareness of love's presence, which is your natural inheritance. The opposite of love is fear, but what is all encompassing can have no opposite."
The degree of Love which one experiences in one's life, and the degree of the absence of fear is an excellent indicator of the degree of awakening a person has achieved in his/her life.
Here at UU A Way Of Life ministries our mission is to help people to become Holy and to sanctify the world. At UUAWOL ministries we teach about the importance of covenantal relationships based on the seven principles. The two most important principles in regards to awakening are the first and the second, the inherent worth and dignity of every person and the love for the interdependent web.
We all our the children of creation and together we comprise the cosmic consciousness of the world.
