The Four Deaths and Rebirths
Death is not merely the end of physical life. It can also be viewed as a series of transformations that an individual undergoes on their spiritual journey. The four deaths are transitions from one state of consciousness to another, where something must “die” for something new to be “born”. This can be likened to the Resurrection, the Phoenix rising from the ashes, the snake shedding its skin, or the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly. Usually it is a very slow process and can take many years to complete. Each transition represents a stage of spiritual growth and self-realization, culminating in the ultimate return to Source and the Union with the Divine.
The journey of transformation and rebirth follows a distinct pattern:
- Birth and Growth: The journey begins with birth, followed by a period of excitement, growth, learning, and new experiences. However, as we progress, we realize that life is a mix of positive and negative experiences. We encounter pain, disappointment, disillusionment, separation, and loneliness as we struggle to conform to our new environment. The bright day inevitably gives way to the night, which can be exceedingly dark.
- Existential Crisis: Just like a caterpillar turning into a chrysalis, we may feel as if we are being torn apart, turned into a chaotic mess, and plunged into an existential crisis. When we finally feel like we had enough of all the struggling and suffering, and all the fear, uncertainty and doubt, we give up. It feels like we are dying, and we are. It’s not a physical death but the death of the “old self” which occurs when we surrender completely.
- Rebirth and Balance: After this surrender and symbolic demise, we undergo a rebirth, marking the beginning of a new cycle. Initially, the transformation can be exhilarating, much like a butterfly experiencing flight for the first time, and we may feel compelled to share our transformation and the joy of newfound freedom with everyone. However, just as a butterfly that emerges from the chrysalis still carries remnants of its caterpillar stage, we too retain elements of our old self. Old memories, habits, patterns, and belief systems run deep and often resurface as we adjust to our “new self”. It becomes essential to find a balance and inner equilibrium between the old and the new.
- Continuous Evolution: Once we achieve this balance, we get used to the new normal for a while. But soon, we start to feel the pull of further evolution, more growth, and the upward spiral of expanding awareness. The dark night follows the bright day again, and that leads to death and rebirth once more.
We go through many transitions in one lifetime: from baby to toddler to teenager to adult to senior citizen. We cycle between success and failure, marriage and divorce, sickness and health, and so on. For now we will only focus on the four major spiritual transitions.
The four major spiritual transitions or “deaths”:
First Death
The infinite must die to become finite. Infinite Awareness has to limit itself to Creation. Creation limits itself to light, energy, matter, life and life forms. “God” has to die to become Man.
“Being born with the veil of forgetting” is a phrase we use to describe all the levels of this limiting process. We are born into this physical world naked and alone, a complete blank slate, or so it seems. Gradually, we begin to form a sense of self, characterized by the development of a unique personality and ego, which is influenced by various external and internal forces.
We cultivate different facets of our identity: a public self that we present to the world, a private self that we share with close ones, and a secret self that we keep to ourselves. We oscillate on the spectrum of Narcissism and Nihilism, moving from one extreme to the other, and everything in between.
The egotistical ego of our inner narcissist looks to the outside world for validation and confirmation of being. A desire for status, good looks, or fame and fortune can quickly turn into lust and greed. From our perspective we are the center of the universe, and we deserve more. We seek validation from our family, friends, partners, and society, to reinforce this ego-centric perspective.
When these external sources fail to provide the affirmation we seek, we experience disappointment, suffering, anxiety, and depression. In search of relief and answers, we often turn to various external authorities such as politicians, psychologists, religious leaders, spiritual gurus, and others. We search for anything outside of ourselves to rescue or help us.
Dark night of the Ego
When external solutions fail to provide the relief we seek, we are compelled to turn inward, embarking on a spiritual journey. This inner journey is not without its challenges; it requires us to confront our shadows, heal deep wounds, and dig beneath layers of conditioning, beliefs, and falsehoods to discover our authentic self. This process can be painful, lonely, and disheartening.
This period is often referred to as the “dark night of the Soul,” but a more fitting term might be the “dark night of the Ego,” as it involves overcoming the ego or small self.
Some suggest a total annihilation of the ego but if we do this from a purely mental perspective it will lead to nihilism. With no ego, nothing has meaning, life has no meaning, creation has no meaning, the “I” has no meaning, nothing of any value can be found anywhere.
This can be a dark and dangerous place, leading some to contemplate ending their own lives to escape their suffering. However, this is not the solution. The journey through the dark night of the Ego is a necessary part of our spiritual evolution.
Second death
We have to go further, dig deeper, go beyond the mental, emotional, and subconscious programing. It’s not the death of the physical body that liberates us but the total and utter surrender to the Absolute. This involves letting go of all our preconceived ideas, concepts, teachings, and apparent knowledge. All sense of self, ego, or “I” needs to be surrendered, and all fear needs to be released and overcome for us to achieve Self-Realization or Enlightenment.
While the path to self-realization is well-trodden with guidance available from various traditions, methods, and teachings, the final step is a deeply personal one. Only the individual themselves can take that final leap of faith into the unknown.
Second birth
As the whole concept of the ego, or little “I” as a separate entity dies, we reach a state of Enlightenment or Self-Realization, where we become one with the divine Source and all that exists. We are born again.
This is one of the most profound experiences attainable in this lifetime, and many aspire to achieve it. However, upon reaching this state, we realize that we were never truly separated or lost; we were always part of the divine Self. We just weren’t aware of it.
After experiencing Unconditional Love and Infinite Awareness firsthand, we are in a state of Pure Bliss.
However, this state is usually transient, and we soon find ourselves back in the “real” world, with all its challenges and joys. Back to chopping wood and carrying water as the saying goes.
But we are forever changed; we can never see the world as we used to. Our perspective has shifted, and we now view life through the lens of our enlightened self.
Dark night of the Soul.
Nothing is ever the same and yet everything is. We try to explain something that has no words. We try to teach and guide, we try to live with light and love, we try to express our authentic self, we try to see ourselves in all things, we try to uplift everyone around us. But…we fail!
Self-Realized does not mean perfected, we are not gods or ascended masters. Well, we are, but not on this plain of existence, here we are just human.
This dichotomy brings with it its own pain and suffering and can lead to periods of intense inner turmoil. We may grapple with feelings of inadequacy, disillusionment, and existential angst.
Many of us will fall back into the traps of the ego again, and this time they are much more subtle and insidious. The dangers can be disguised as lofty ideals, apparent good deeds, or as masters, gurus, and light workers with an inflated ego and a sense of entitlement. Navigating this phase requires discernment and self-awareness. It’s easy to get caught in the trap of spiritual ego, where we use spirituality to bolster our sense of self-importance. It’s crucial to remember that true service to others stems from a place of genuine love and compassion, not from a desire to feel superior or special. This can get real tricky, and it can be hard to discern the difference between the two from the outside.
Going it alone without the guidance of a long lineage of masters can also be fraught with dangers, but so can dogmatic adherence to a certain lineage. It’s a catch-22 situation.
We’re in “the dark night of the Soul” because the Soul, which is now known to itself, tries to express itself fully but can’t.
Something has to change and that means something must die…again!
Third death
This stage involves the death of the Enlightened being or the “big I” or “I am” to become fully Embodied. The very concept and idea of Self-Realization or Enlightenment must be surrendered, even if it seems impossible.
Being born and dying at the same time, we have to surrender once again, this time to the perfectly imperfect. We come to accept that everything is as it should be.
Every aspect of life holds equal importance: the daily life, the spiritual life, the passionate life, the passive life, the family life, the professional life, an individual ego-filled life, a “bad” or “good” life, all life, and even no life. Each is as significant as the other in the grand scheme of existence.
Trice born.
The third birth bring us into Union with the Self, all aspects of it.
It’s described as “Issing in the Isness”, or simply that “God Is”, and “Love Is”. Creation is simply experiencing Creation as Creation.
Naturally Being, effortlessly Doing, abundantly Having.
This is the union of the spirit, soul, mind, and body, or the integration of the Source, Higher Self, Self, self, and ego. It can also be described as the state where God is Man and Man is God.
Dark night of the Truth.
In this stage, we grapple with the paradox of existence. We know there’s no “I”, no “I am”, no “I am this or that”. Yet, there seems to be. There is conscious awareness that is aware of infinite awareness that is conscious of itself, which gives it a sense of an “I”.
If the “I am” is everything and also nothing… Am I? This question leads us to ponder: Who is experiencing and expressing? Who is being, doing, having? Who is Issing? Who is who in the zoo?
When we make peace with paradox, and see the beauty in the mystery, we walk the fine line as a Modern Mystic navigating their way through the spiritual, energetic, mental, emotional and physical worlds with awe and wonder.
Fourth death
The fourth transformation is the physical death of the body, marking the end of our material existence in this lifetime. This transition leads us to the next level of existence, where we can explore the mysteries of the universe in an infinite number of other ways.
Until at the highest level; Creation returns to Source, and Source returns to the Absolute.
Conclusion
A modern mystic knows how to die and be reborn many times in one lifetime. They do not fear or resist these transitions but welcome them, knowing that each “death” is a new beginning, a new adventure, leading to a higher level of consciousness.