We discussed escalating desire (what I call the wants of the lower more physical self) to aspiration (the wants of the higher self). This is applicable to principle number four of Innate Ability Development™ which is: Purpose and Meaning are everything. They are Life Itself.

But what does it mean to transmute desire into aspiration?

What is this so-called Spiritual Purpose?

Is mine different from yours?

What matters therefore, is not the meaning of life in general

 but rather the specific meaning of a person’s life at a given moment.

~ Viktor Frankl

There can be no argument against the fact that every human being seeks meaning. As I stated before, unequivocally, the single most frequently asked question encountered from around the world is regarding personal purpose and meaning.

Frankl seems to suggest that there is no overarching meaning and purpose in life… but rather something we tend to define for ourselves in each moment. I submit this is both false and true. To further clarify this we must make a distinction between Spiritual and Personal Purpose. Let me explain.

As you may recall in our last installment I suggested that there are two levels of purpose. We’ll call these “Spiritual Purpose” and “Physical Purpose.” (Reference IAD13)

“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience

We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”

~ Pierre Tielhard de Chardin

As spiritual beings, our spiritual purpose is one and the same. No exception. With physical purpose, I submit that Frankl is correct… with a twist.

Simply put, as stated before, our spirit and soul long to “Think like God thinks.”

“I want to know the thoughts of God. The rest are details.”

~ Albert Einstein

This type of expansive thinking, while quite simple and straightforward, is most difficult for our small personal will. Likewise, it’s the most challenging of which to truly commit.

Spirit and Life itself are always 

For fuller expansion, experience and expression

When we realize the principle above, and align with it, we find our highest aspiration and also our unified spiritual purpose. Plain, simple, and straightforward, we’re here for development, advancement and growth. All of us. Period.

Now this is no small order to say the least… for growth is hard.

Once this commitment is truly made, we give ourselves fully and completely to development, advancement and growth. No matter what it takes; and no matter how we have to get there.

If you’re like me, this is most often scary as hell (particularly if you’ve faced even a small amount of personal hell in your life already).

We must care so much, that we’ll do our very best to carve a new path even

if it means our lives will be extremely uncomfortable.

You see, fully one third of the planet claims to be “Christian” (2.18 billion to be exact), yet even a brief perusal of the Christian Bible will clearly tell you that those who “follow God” don’t have easier lives.

In fact, they have more difficult lives by all outward appearances. Please read that again.

This Bible phenomenon is an undeniable truth—no exception. Check the lives of Abraham, Joseph, Jacob, Moses, Job, Jesus, Paul, Peter… I could go on. Yes these men were blessed… but the fact is that they were blessed after they paid the price… or at minimum in the midst of extreme personal challenges.

There’s always a price for the prize.

How do we miss that?

How do we fool ourselves into thinking that following a Spiritual Purpose of further expansion, experience and expression is all rainbows and roses?

Frankly, this ubiquitous thinking is the ultimate in ignorance.

Don’t wish for an easier life, that’s illusion.

Wish instead for greater capacity and capability 

to get through the challenges life brings.

In the esoteric traditions of Hermetics there’s an entirely different concept on “karma” than we’ve been conditioned from the East. One that actually makes much more sense.

It’s important to first understand that the Sanskrit word “karma” literally translates as both “action” and “reaction.” We could liken true karma to the Law of Cause and Effect that we’re so familiar with in the West.

Now follow this.

In Hermetics you’re not punished for your actions by “bad karma.” In fact, just the opposite. Karma is the action you must take, and the price you must pay, in advance for the results that are forthcoming. Let that sink in.

So when you’re going through extreme challenges and pain… you’re not being punished… you’re paying the price for an equal and corresponding future good. If not in this life, then the next. Let that one sink in deeply as well; and feel if it doesn’t resonate inside.

This philosophy makes complete sense to me. Way more sense than the traditional “you must have done something bad because you’ve dealing with some tough shit” mentality that’s been often propagated. God does not punish—Please! Give me a break!

We choose to punish ourselves through our own self-importance and by hanging onto what we think life should be. Man, are you thinking??!!

This is a complete game changer if you get it.

The reason that the karmic philosophy of Hermetics makes complete sense to me is because it’s how nature and the world around us works. For every prize there’s a price. And the price must always be paid in advance.



The only place I can think of where you get the prize in advance is a restaurant. You get the meal… then you pay. Everywhere else you pay the price in advance. Think about it.

Back to Spiritual Purpose; and the price you’ll have to pay for it…

I’ve done events all over the world, and I’ve frequently asked the question, “How many in the room consider themselves to be on some type of Spiritual path or quest?” (By the way, we’re all on this path whether we’re consciously aware or not). Reference Pierre Tielhard above.

However you might define this spiritual path, hands typically go up all around the room. Then I ask the kicker question, “Since you’ve been on this path, show of hands, how many would say your life has been more difficult?” Same number of hands with very few (if any) exceptions.

The fact is, as stated previously, development, advancement and growth is hard work. There is no short cut nor easy road to becoming more awake and aware. Old habits, old identities, and old models of the world die hard.

In fact… they most often must be torn away kicking and screaming! (Sorry to burst your bubble if you were living in one).

When we make a commitment to “Think like God or Universal Intelligence thinks,” we leave the shore of the comfortable and push off into heretofore unchartered waters. Frightening? Yes. But oh, what a glorious and Grand Adventure!

Are you up for it?

Please make sure you truly count the cost before beginning the journey… for once you’ve left the shore there is no turning back.

There’s always a price for the prize

You’ll either pay the price for your greatness or you’ll pay the price of mediocrity.Do you get the difference?

I recall the scene from the Matrix where Morpheus challenges Neo to take the blue pill and wake back up in la-la-land. Or… to be more courageous and take the red pill and “see how deep the rabbit hole goes.” While this is a great movie (one of the finest in my opinion when properly understood), this red pill challenge is no laughing matter.

When you wake up and realize that the fantasy and illusions once held as truth are fading like the mist in the noon day sun, it’s disconcerting to say the least. It’s at this precise moment you find yourself as they state in the Buddhist tradition, “standing on groundless ground.”

The Grand Adventure continues to unfold. Until next time…

Stay Awake, Love Life, and Be Epic,

James