The Realized Human
As seeking reaches its culmination, the search for truth gives way to direct understanding.
At this stage, the individual is peaceful, stable, and content. There is a natural sense of happiness and bliss that does not depend upon possessions, relationships, status, or external circumstances.
The individual becomes increasingly surrendered and minimalist. The ego is no longer allowed to dominate life except where it is practically necessary. There is a natural control over thoughts, speech, and actions without the need for force or suppression.
They do not easily lose their poise, even when circumstances change.
The Nature of the Realized Mind
The realized individual is generally non-worldly and may prefer to stay away from society and unnecessary social interaction.
There is indifference toward worldly affairs, but this indifference is not hostility toward the world. Rather, there is little personal need to acquire, control, or possess anything.
Unconditional love arises naturally. There is no need to favor one person over another because the individual sees the same reality in everyone.
The individual does not seek to establish superiority, authority, or personal importance.
What Occupies Their Mind
Speech becomes simple and purposeful.
The individual generally speaks only when necessary, particularly when someone has a genuine question or when there is something useful to communicate.
Their speech tends to be:
- Sweet.
- Truthful.
- Wise.
- Appropriate to the situation.
There is little interest in unnecessary conversation, gossip, argument, or self-expression.
Thinking Pattern
The mind is predominantly meditative and free from unnecessary thought.
Awareness remains present without constant mental activity. Thoughts may arise when required, but there is no compulsive need to keep thinking.
The individual remains equanimous and sees the underlying oneness of everything.
Knowing this oneness is not merely an intellectual belief. It becomes the basis of their way of being.
Relationships
Relationships no longer occupy a central place in life.
The individual may have no relationships in the conventional sense, or may remain detached from any relationships that exist.
The primary relationship is with the Guru. The Guru becomes everything for them - not merely a teacher, but the embodiment of the truth toward which the entire spiritual journey has been directed.
At the same time, the individual is friendly toward everyone.
Because oneness is understood, there is no need to establish special relationships in order to feel complete. The absence of relationship is not experienced as loneliness or lack.
Entertainment
Entertainment is no longer centered on stimulation or escape.
Common interests include:
- Satsang.
- Nature.
- Reading scriptures.
The individual can find contentment in simple experiences without needing constant entertainment or sensory stimulation.
Limitations That Must Be Overcome
Even this stage has tendencies that can become obstacles to further evolution.
The major afflictions of the realized stage are:
- Ignoring the mind and body.
- Ignoring responsibilities.
- Experimenting with supernatural phenomena without understanding their consequences.
- Developing an intense desire for supernatural powers.
- Becoming involved in controversy because of old suppressed desires.
- Forming cults around oneself.
- Developing megalomania.
Even after profound realization, remnants of the ego can arise through the desire for recognition, powers, followers, or authority.
Unless these tendencies are completely understood and overcome, even realization can be appropriated by the ego through the desire for recognition, powers, followers, or authority.
Beyond the Human
This stage represents the culmination of the human evolutionary process.
The human being has moved through survival, pleasure, power, emotion, intellect, and spiritual seeking, finally arriving at direct understanding and freedom from the ordinary identification with the individual self.
But evolution does not necessarily end with the human stage.
There may be stages of existence beyond the human that cannot be understood from the ordinary human perspective.
The human journey ends here; what lies beyond belongs to another level of evolution.