The essence of pure consciousness underlies all that is, has been, and will be. Every phenomenon in our reality is the manifestation of consciousness driven by the field of universal intelligence.

The fact that mainstream science is not unified in a consensus that supports these statements means very little at this time. The experiential process, deep intuitive evidence, and a wealth of teachings derived from humanity’s wisdom traditions over thousands of years all help validate the observation that our physical world emerges from natural sentience.

The various levels of life represent the many ways the cosmic force makes itself known. A massive Oak tree may be the life force experiencing silent strength and nobility as it provides shelter and food for the creatures of the forest. Perhaps through an eagle soaring above the tree line the cosmos relishes the simple experiences of freedom and power. Through humanity universal intelligence has learned to express via romantic love, speech, art, music, deliberation, philosophy, and many other shared experiences of choice and intent.

The human body existed long before articulate verbal communication. Before our ancestors were speaking and writing, according to archeology, they were building tools and structures, and cooperating with one-another through deliberate means. Hence our species was self-aware, or conscious, long before we developed the ability to daydream or gossip.

Intelligence is in our nature, or literally encoded within our bodily composition. In fact every cell, organ, and system within a living body exhibits intelligent behavior, since organic forms manifest from the conscious cosmic substance. The digestive processes of a human, a cat, or a horse all are driven by conscious faculties within the organs and chemistry of digestion.

This doesn’t mean your stomach calls itself Linda and is married to Bob, your small intestines. Remember intelligent expression exists independent of the superstitious tendency to transfer human likeness and language onto an organism or function; consciousness transcends words and thoughts.

The Cells Of The Body Show Us True Spiritual Wisdom

Intelligence is effectively defined as the capacity to learn and respond dynamically to various stimuli; some level of awareness is also presumed, such as the ability to communicate with other systems and forms. In his book Cosmic Connection Carl Sagan cites the ability to learn over the course of a lifetime and an effort to control the environment as definitive factors in identifying intelligence. By all these virtues the cells and organ systems of the body are highly intelligent.

Organized religions like Christianity and Islam regard the body as lowly, unclean, and certainly not spiritual. However individuals of a genuinely spiritual inclination see the preposterous nature of such teachings.

Religion is not spirituality. Often enough (though not always) religion is cult morality and mind control.

What then is spirituality? Ten philosophers may offer ten definitions of what it means to be spiritual, and every one of them would be correct. Spirit is a deeply personal concept that helps an individual understand the self and know his or her individual purpose in life.

While I believe it’s counterproductive to cling to any “set in stone” doctrine on this matter, I like to define spirituality as: the exploration of consciousness, acknowledgement of the connection to all other living things, moment-to-moment observation of life, and following of one’s own intuitive purpose.

By this and similar definitions the physical form, as part of the whole, is absolutely spiritual in nature; indeed all aspects of life are part of spirituality when a person decides to embrace his or her own concept of spirit. Observing the body at a variety of levels can reveal life’s greatest spiritual lessons.

Most fascinating is a quick study of our body at the cellular level. When we compare the basic nature of our cells with the highest spiritual principles, the similarities are truly amazing .

Here are just a few of the lessons our cells can teach us about spirituality*:

Selflessness And A Higher Purpose – Spiritually speaking, the human mind has sought a higher purpose for as long as there have been writers and teachers to record the observations of the wise. The cells of your body have a clear, intrinsic sense of higher purpose as they all function for the good of the whole, prepared even to die if doing so will serve the greater good.

Furthermore, the primary function of every cell is giving. Cells function as if they were the source of all abundance, never withholding from the whole. As a result of this cellular prosperity consciousness, these tiny units of your body are provided for without question by your overall physical system.

Oneness And Universal Communion - The idea of oneness is as old as the first spiritual texts to emerge on our planet. For the man or woman who seeks a connection to spirit, the idea of being one with all others is central.

Our cells again provide a perfect example of oneness embodied. Each cell in our various systems shares a deep connection and continual communion with all other cells and systems that make up our bodies.

Even the most enlightened individuals among our species are prone to casting judgment on others. It’s a blemish that we have yet to evolve past. Yet the cells of our body accept every other cell as an equal, integral part of the greater system and process.

Clear Awareness And Being In The Moment – Perhaps the greatest spiritual challenge of all time is staying in the present moment. There is so much power available to us in the here and now that we instinctively go to great lengths to avoid the moment. We live much of our lives dwelling on a past that is gone or a future that does not exist.

Cells, on the other hand, adapt to the needs of each new moment as it occurs. While they may follow established patterns they do not cling illogically to a particular behavior, and they have the capacity to transform entirely if the moment demands such a course. They are neither bound by rigid belief systems nor preoccupied with non-reality such as regret and drama.

Pure Inspiration And Trust – At our most basic level, most of us just want to be safe, loved, and to matter in the great scheme of life. In our cells we see a perfect illustration of living out pure inspiration and trust.

The cells of our bodies carry out their functions without obsessive action or self-defeating compulsions. They follow the true flow of life, functioning with the smallest possible expenditure of energy and never stopping to neurotically question the rightness or wrongness of their actions. In fact a typical cell only stores a few seconds of food and oxygen, trusting completely that the Universe will provide for all its needs.

Many additional principles could be listed, the point being that our cells are tiny manifestations of consciousness that give themselves to the good of the whole. If each member of global society chose to express the wisdom of their cells in daily life the world would quickly become a utopian community.

Is it not incredible that the most basic units of our physical form already behave in a manner that reflects the highest spiritual ideals of human history? This is an empowering discovery that can go a long way toward relieving us of any excuses we might make for our own shortsightedness; in essence we already have within us (literally and physically!) all we need to become model spiritual expressions.

* I got the idea for a comparison of cell function to spiritual living from Book Of Secrets, by Deepak Chopra. I’ve used my own reflections in this article, but did want to credit this cool analogy to Dr. Chopra.

Sentience Expressed In Nature

Humans certainly aren’t the only organisms that reflect these amazing spiritual traits at the fundamental physical level. All creatures are formed from consciousness and therefore embody the cosmic intelligence. Life forms can be considered intelligent regardless of whether or not they surf the Web and drink cappuccinos.

The way mother cats apply judgment to the care and protection of their offspring goes far beyond instinct. In many cases feral cats have been known to care for groups of kittens in multiple locations, demonstrating an ability to manage their time effectively between the feeding and nurturing of the separate groups.

When living in an enclosed community of mated pairs and offspring, mice have been observed cooperating in a strategic manner for the benefit of the group. Typically the adult mice will move all of the young into a safe area where the females work together to nurse them. The adult males, working in pairs, will often relieve the females by sitting with the offspring while the females visit the feeding area. When witnessing such astute behavior on the part of these small mammals, one is compelled to believe the actions are driven by clear awareness and intention.

The brain of an earthworm is more complex than the most advanced computer systems on the market today . These little creatures may appear insignificant, but in fact they play a vital role in conditioning the soil for plant life. The cosmic mind created this organism to fulfill a purpose, and the intricacy of the design far exceeds anything to roll off the assembly line at even the most cutting-edge manufacturing facility.

The tendency of plants to grow toward the light is an obvious expression of intention. And the judicious mixing of two chemicals by the firefly to create her flashing language is yet another example of nature’s intelligence.

Society’s concept of consciousness/awareness is in serious need of rehabilitation, as is the disappointing tendency of some humans to consider our species irrevocably superior to all other life. The current disrespect for the natural world and the appalling ignorance that makes litter, poaching, mass pollution, and deforestation possible must change if the grandchildren of this generation are to have any hope of survival.

Simon G. Powell’s insightful film Metanoia illustrates, through practical observation, how the universe must be intelligent. At just over an hour long, this quick presentation is worth renting or downloading. Powell raises a number of compelling questions and does a good overall job of presenting a case for logical cosmic order and a revised view of intelligent life.