Why are these requirements so important? The six-month period of Teacher Training is a time in which one practices Ascension for 10 to 16 hours a day, every day, to begin to experience the full power of the Ascension Attitudes and of the Ascendant. As the process begins to take hold one’s entire perspective—indeed, one’s entire Universe—begins to shift dramatically. It is also during this time that the individual ego is enveloped in, and consumed by [or at least submitted to] the Love of the Ascendant One, the Love of God.

The training period also includes a well-laid and solid grounding in the Holy Tradition of the Ishayas, which is the root essence of all spiritual traditions everywhere. This Tradition has been a powerful vehicle to enlightenment, for millennia; if it weren’t, it wouldn’t have survived. In its pure form, it has served its users well throughout the centuries; it isn’t a modern invention that can be "amped up" by anyone who thinks he has a better idea.

This brings us to the second qualification, "Mastery of the first six Spheres." What does this mean, exactly? How does one become an Ishaya "Master?" Actually, one doesn’t; that interpretation is a misreading of the phrase. What is being referred to here is mastery of the trainee by the first six spheres; again, it is a process of surrender, of un-doing, rather than of doing. As the trainee enters into this process, there is one very critical bit of experience that is gained; he or she begins to appreciate, probably for the first time, the awesome power and orchestration of the Ascension Attitudes. He/she begins to develop a very healthy respect for the Attitudes, as well as for the Tradition that birthed them and the Ishayas’ restrictions on how, when, and how often they are to be given. Only a teacher who has not developed this respect—whose ego has not been mastered by the Attitudes—would even consider disregarding those restrictions. It’s the same as saying that, at one’s own stage of development, one knows more than MSI, Patanjali, and all of the other Ishayas put together!

And that brings us to the final qualification for teaching: Perpetual Consciousness. There is simply no way to convey what this means, until it has been experienced—and even then, it is only the beginning of a very beautiful and awe-filled process. It is the equivalent of what Jesus called "entering the Kingdom." But here is the crux of the matter, and why this qualification is so important in teaching: When a teacher is firmly grounded in the Ascendant, and has fully surrendered his or her own dominance to that One, it is then—and only then—that the Ascendant is able to teach through that teacher. This is the Ishaya Tradition, and it is only under those circumstances, when ego is subsumed by the Ascendant, that the awesome power of the Tradition, and of the Ascension Attitudes, can be effectively passed on.

Think about that. Be with it. See if you don’t know, in the depths of your knowing, the truth of those statements. When a teacher of Ascension speaks a few words to a group of 20 people, and each of them hears exactly what they need to hear, do you really think it’s the teacher who’s doing that? How many times have you heard us say, "Your relationship isn’t with the teacher; it’s with the Teaching?" At the same time, you may begin to see how important the teacher’s training is, in effectively passing on the power of the Teaching. The job of the teacher is to act as a bridge—a bridge between the student, on the one hand, and the Ascendant and the Tradition that leads to it, on the other. This is why we say that, in Reality, there is only one Teacher.

In our desire to move ahead as quickly as possible toward enlightenment, we’re often tempted to indulge in what one British Ascender called "Spiritual Materialism." We want to gather up the Ascension Attitudes like collectors’ cards, as though there were some magical dividend awaiting us for collecting the "Whole Set." We forget that it’s not in the number of Attitudes we have, but rather in how we use them, that their power lies: It is in our desire, our surrender, our deep Commitment to the Attitudes, to the Tradition, and to our growth—It is these things that power our growth, that open the door for the Attitudes to do what they do so well, that give us something to line up with, a Tradition to which the ego can surrender.

This last, a Tradition to which the ego can surrender, is extremely important—for, as we’re all aware, the ego would love to be in charge of its own "enlightenment." This is why the ego will try its best to imitate enlightenment, while in reality doing nothing more than engaging in self-gratification. Therefore, if you wish to move effectively toward enlightenment—and this is true for all spiritual pathways, not just Ascension—it is a very wise thing to align yourself with a Tradition that will take you there, and with teachers who reflect it fully.

Now, this is where your discernment comes in: Because, despite the best efforts of the Ishayas, the Teacher Trainings have managed to turn out a few teachers whose focus has wavered from the qualifications set by them, as well as some who have later fallen out of alignment with the Ishaya Tradition and its guidelines [yes, constant self-vigilance is essential, for all of us]. To the extent that this has happened, it therefore falls to you—the Ascenders—to accept no less than you deserve on your pathway. The Ishayas require that we give no more than two new Attitudes in a month, that we give them in person, and that we cognize them from the deepest levels of our connection to the Ascendant—and beyond. They require a private Cognition Ceremony for each individual or couple, for every Cognition Technique we give, in order to strengthen the bridge I mentioned earlier.

I personally have no desire to control anyone’s experience; I wish only to present the situation, and then let you make the decisions that affect you personally. But I am saddened when I meet individuals who have been given Attitudes at a very rapid pace, or Advanced Attitudes that were way out of sequence, et cetera, and who have not moved significantly toward their goal, no matter how much they practice. I do know that absolutely nothing is out of place in the overall scheme of things, and I experience the perfection even in this; but I also know that, from their desire to "take charge," their willingness to compromise, and their ignorance of the Tradition, they have cheated themselves out of a very powerful Experience.

We are also aware of several people who have not trained as teachers, but who have managed to convince themselves that it’s okay to teach Ascension anyway. This is the height of ego mocking enlightenment, of the blind wanting to lead the blind. The Ishayas are adamant that we never condone such activities in any way, shape or form. Why? The consequences of "teaching" a powerful Tradition while at the same time thumbing one’s nose at it, are not desirable. Obviously it’s not desirable for the student, who doesn’t know any better, and who is losing an opportunity to move along a marvelous pathway to an even more marvelous goal. And how would they know? The Attitudes that your Aunt Tilly so generously shared with you may feel "very nice, thank you very much indeed"—but did they come with a guarantee that they will produce the same long-term effects as Attitudes that have been properly given? Our experience, through the stories of many Ascenders, is "No."

But for the self-proclaimed "teacher," however well-intentioned, who is engaging in this egoic endeavour, there can be negative consequences as well. Again, why? I’ll defer to the Ishayas here, and quote:

"The reason is twofold: the purity of the Ishayas’ Teaching simply will not endure if it is passed on by those who have not been properly trained to do so. Secondly and more subtly, karma flows. The destructive tendencies of those coming to learn have to be destroyed. Only the Ishayas have been given the power to do this. Branching out from this Teaching creates chaos. Simply put, the one teaching outside the guidelines is picking up the karma of everyone he or she teaches. It is very dangerous. . . ."

I hope, by presenting the concepts above, that I’ve given some information that will enable you to make holistic decisions regarding teachers and non-teachers alike, insofar as your personal spiritual growth is concerned. We live in an age where everybody wants everything "Now!" But enlightenment can only occur as fast as we are willing to let go of the old beliefs, habits, and perceptions—including impatience and lack of trust—that have held us in non-enlightenment. We would love to motor up to the local drive-in and order "Two cheeseburgers and full enlightenment, please!" But would that truly serve what each of us is here to do? Would it enable us to heal all of the separation-based misperceptions that have invaded our personal nervous systems and, in so doing, participate in bringing the entire world into Unity and Love?

The temptation to compromise, to look for fast-tracks and shortcuts, is great indeed; but I doubt that any of you truly believe it will take you where you want to go. Nonetheless, the choice is—and always will be—yours, and nobody can take that away from you. It is within your power to seek only that which will serve your highest and best, and to settle for nothing less. If you want to explore compromise, your obliging Universe will give you ample opportunities to do so. But at the same time, remember: Nobody is twisting your arm. In that regard, I’d like to leave you with something that MSI asked me to share with every person I teach. I’ve done so for the past six years, and I’d like to offer it again now. In his words:

"The greatest gift I can give to you is to have each of you ask yourselves this question: ‘Where in my life am I compromising?’ "

In the path of Ascension, there is no need to settle for less than you truly deserve. Unless, of course, you want to. It’s your Life.