Blair - - that is one of those questions that is quite maddening. The answer is a clear and definite - - yes and no ! !

Yes - - in the sense that one should "seek" the teacher - - but in a sense - - what Pounamu is trying to find out - - is right. They want to know someone that had done that in the first place. One who has - - "ascended" - - according to their terms of what that means. Then - - "all that follow" will be able to seek that teacher because s/he now "knows the way."

My point being - - it is nice to seek the teacher that offers the level of teachings that you wish to accept as part of your state of consciousness. It's nice to know that there IS one. That was my point in telling Pounamu that yes - - there are a goodly few that have ascended.

But - - beneath it all - - the student will find that they pretty much have to already be practicing a lot of what the new set of teachings will offer. In other words - - the student will already need to be believing in and living from the basic principles of the more advanced teachings. It is a highly used criteria for determining dedication and sincerity. It is also the basis for the old statement of - - "when the student is ready - - ." How much more ready can a "student" be if they are already living from the teachings that they wish to learn a deeper level of ?? Then the teacher is there to just help the student refine - - and not necessarily teach from scratch.

So - - bottom line - - continue to practice what you believe to always lead towards that higher truth - - listening to those that promote and offer glimpses from what they have been studying and where they "are" on the Path - - and always put out to Spirit that you wish the highest teacher that is right for you. When you work into the arena of the more advanced set of teachings - - the teacher will let you know how to find Him / Her because you will pretty much already "be" there - - at least as far as the basics are concerned.

The best way to go about all of this is to know what you want to find out. To "know Truth" or "to find God" or to "know it all" and such - - is way too broad. WAY too broad.

People begin to refine their entire approach to God when they deal with their own daily affairs - - which are the issues and beliefs / concepts that YOU use to understand and live life - - and these constantly need to be understood and refined - - and two - - that they know where they want to go. Specifically. Like - - to know the value / truth of this principle or that concept. To find the technique or method that will allow you to do this or that - - or go to this plane or that dimension to find out this or that.

Put the two together - - and you have set your course. When your course is so clearly defined - - then - - if nothing else - - thru the methods and principles outlined in various aspects of this forum - - you will "head there." And - - as you head there - - you will be refining and purifying your approach to Life via cleansing and understanding your daily affairs / interaction with what goes on around you.

That combination - - is very tough for LIFE to overlook. When one begins to do this - - and sees what effects come into their life - - and continue to refine from there - - you simply work more deeply into the arena of ALL LIFE. You cannot help but ascend naturally as you release the karmic burdens that are holding you down - - so to speak. People who try to MAKE it all happen by doing this ritual or that rite - - waste their time - - tho I would imagine it does help to some extent.

But as you walk more deeply into LIFE IT-self - - then you find the teachers necessary to give you specific details on how to refine your technique to continue on the quest you have already set for yourself.

Just from the 6 points that Pounamu offered in one of his entries - - the steps or stages for ascension - - as currently promoted today - - would be a good foundation. The refinement would be a later phase - - as it would in anything. There were points in those 6 aspects that will actually keep them "here" rather than allow them to ascend - - but - - who am I to make such a bold and audacious statement ! !

One of the biggest viewpoints that keeps people where they are no matter what they are trying to achieve is - - trying to "ascend" to just get OUT of here ! ! They've had enough of the physical world and they just want to escape. The intellectuals practice this when they just want to stomp mind and ego into oblivion.

This doesn't work - - no matter how lofty the goal. You are trying to grow - - to escape. That may work in leaving a lousy job - - but it doesn't if one wishes to leave a lousy life. It is "lousy" for a reason. It will balance thru understanding - - not thru escapism.

It all comes together into a rather simple process. The cons / traps / detours - - are endless. That - - can often be a test in simple discipline - - and knowing where one wishes to go.

(This one got WAY too long. Forgive me. )

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