The Meaning Of Ascension

From – Beyond Words and Thoughts

By Joel Goldsmith

Chapter 4

P.47

The Meaning of Ascension

        On the spiritual path, we begin our journey by studying the truth, learning and practicing the truth. We never attain the goal of realization, however, until we reach beyond the mind and its knowing of the truth to our becoming Truth: “That which I am seeking, I am!”

        On the Mount, in a high state of consciousness, Moses realized I Am, and thereby became I Am. Yet, there remained still a sense of Moses as is evidenced by the fact that he spoke of himself as being slow of speech. The realization of I Am prevailed, however, and with that great illumination came such a height of consciousness that he was able to lead the Hebrews out of slavery to the Promised Land. Had Moses been able to crucify or relinquish completely the mortal sense of himself which still remained, he would have been able to enter the Promised Land, or heaven. But he was bound by a finite sense of himself.

        Jesus, however, not only knew the truth but realized and became the Truth: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Nevertheless, sense of Jesus, the man, remained, because he said, “I can of mine own self do nothing…. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.” This personal sense of self had to be crucified, as eventually it must in all of us, or we will not ascend to the Promised Land, the realization of our spiritual identity.

        Jesus’ realization of the need to crucify, or rise above, the seeming mortal sense of self, enabled him to make the ascension. The ascension is always the same: a rising above mind, above knowing the truth, to Truth Itself.