The most beneficial, yet difficult and arduous task on the physical plane termed Assiah is the path of spiritual enlightenment and self realization. As the less traveled path of transcending the limitations of society, popular culture, personal fears and negative attachments become more difficult and adverse in nature, the adept must learn how they are the determiners of their eventual salvation. In understanding the nature of adept ship, the apprentice learns from in-depth and persistent study that there are two spiritual factors in the development of the higher self. They are as follows:

• (Factor 1) Pure Seeker - The true and pure seeker learns and demonstrates the willingness to experiment and practice the teachings for Higher Consciousness while displaying the active principles of Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom and Justice. When demonstrating the previously mentioned principles the adept must strive ceaselessly with the mission to become honest with one’s self. In this phase the adept must decrease the following: 1) procrastination,? 2)? the? ability to rationalize why he/she should not apologize and 3) the failure to take? responsibility for his/her own negative actions or self defeating behaviors. This state of development forces the adept to grow inward and upward while paying close attention to detail and divine instruction. The statement “many are called, but few are chosen” applies to this state of being as the separating factor between higher consciousness attainment and normal human existence. True self realization and consciousness evolution takes place in phases; therefore, the idea of “overnight spiritual mastery” is a pitfall to self destruction and delusion. The true seeker must maintain inner strength and integrity so as to avoid old patterns, behaviors and ways of thinking. The active study and practice of Moorish Science allows a weak personality to conquer negative thoughts and destructive perceptions, feelings of discontent and addictive desires. This active study of Moorish Science teaches the pure seeker how negativity reinforces the strength of the chains of limitation, adversity, conflict and all things that harm. The idea is to form purity of heart by actively expressing the mantra - “Love instead of Hate” as instructed by Noble Drew Ali.

• (Factor 2) Sheik hood - Sheik hood is the phase in which one provides spiritual, emotional and communal counseling and insight into the mysteries of life. The Sheik/Sheikess, operating with “Love,” acts as a conduit for understanding. As most pure seekers have found, an individual or congregation can read sacred and divine texts and scripture until their heart is content, but without the key of understanding, the teaching will leave the reader in the same state, bound to the ego oriented arena of illusion and conceptual delusion. The Sheik/Sheikess should be available to help the pure seeker practice and develop themselves in every phase of life. The Sheik/Sheikess should bring honesty, harmony, and a decrease (if not a termination) in harsh words. Along with the previously mentioned attributes, the Sheik/Sheikess should also display and encourage a true desire to know the nature of the Universe while overcoming stagnate behavior and thinking which leads to ignorance, bondage and the perpetual state of sorrow.

It is said that once these two personalities emerge as one, that even the celestial hosts pay homage and take notice of them. The key to adept ship states that within every pure seeker is the seed of the “Master” and within every “Master” is the seed of the pure seeker. For the inner and upward spiral continues until man and his personal identity is no more.

Read the following parable regarding spiritual attainment:

“An eager and motivated seeker went to visit a Sheik to ask for initiation into the ancient mysteries of life and to gain an operative understanding of the sacred science of the Universe. The Sheik instructed the seeker to visit the temple regularly, study the ancient texts, attend class and practice daily the lessons provided to him. The seeker reported that he could not perform these tasks because he did not have the time. However, he did state that he wanted liberation, deliverance and salvation from the suffering and cares of the world. The seeker then asked, in a serious tone, “why are you holding the ancient wisdom teaching from me?” The Sheik then stated that he would indeed provide the seeker with the teachings that he so desired, but he had to prepare a special meal for his new instructor the following evening. Once the time arrived, the Sheik visited the home of the seeker for the food offering. The seeker brought out the food offering to his Sheik and encouraged him to eat and enjoy. The Sheik then removed from his bag a heavily soiled bowl that contained parasitic insects and other crawling creatures. The seeker was astounded and requested that the Sheik allow him to clean the bowl before he, the Sheik, ate from it. However, the Sheik refused. The seeker, now angry, stated that he did not understand why the Sheik would put his food in such a dirty and nasty bowl. The Sheik then replied that he did not understand why the seeker would expect him to teach him, the seeker, the purest wisdom without him first emptying the vessel of his mind. The seeker immediately realized the error of his ways and pledged to follow the instruction with a sincere heart and with disciplined action.

In the future we shall explore the complex phases and degrees of consciousness one must enter to achieve higher states of being.

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- Zothyrius Ali El