Spiritual growth is not a religious concept but rather the process of becoming aware of your inner consciousness or being, which transcends the usual boundaries of your mind and ego to realize your divine nature. In this article, I will share with you 10 stages of spiritual growth and their characteristics.

These stages of spiritual growth reflect the evolution of consciousness, where the starting point is a contradiction with your old beliefs, and the final point is the unification with the Divine.

I must say that these stages of spiritual growth do not divide people into castes, do not underestimate or exaggerate the importance of any of the living souls embodied on Earth. Each spiritual path is unique and therefore should be equally respected. Every experience is spiritual because we are all incarnations of the Divine spirit on Earth and we all are moving to the same destination.

Therefore, when reading this article, please keep in mind that being on stage 1 or stage 10 doesn’t make you more or less spiritual than others. As long as we are moving along the spiritual path, we are all equal.

10 Stages Of Spiritual Growth

Stage #1: Collision

At this stage of spiritual growth, you discover spiritual knowledge that contradicts what is generally accepted in society and takes you beyond the usual worldview. You are faced with the choice of either not believing, being skeptical, pushing away these contradictions, or being interested, and trying to learn more to better understand.

At this stage, you get rid of old beliefs that limited your perception of reality. You start questioning everything you believed in. You may start questioning religion, social norms, and rules.

And the more clearly you realize that you don’t know anything for sure, the more opportunities you have to successfully pass this stage of spiritual growth. During this stage, your spiritual growth accelerates. You begin to realize that many relationships and desires have lost their relevance to you.

As your old comfortable worldview fades away, you move beyond the dualistic perception of the world, and the reality you live in.

At this stage, many people discover that most of their attachments and possessions are just illusions. This discovery can frighten you so much that you may want to return to your old beliefs and comfortable “Matrix” life. But if you overcome this fear, you can make a huge leap in your development to the next stage of your spiritual growth.

Stage #2: Knowledge

At this stage, you show interest in different areas of spiritual knowledge, you expand your spiritual horizons and want to share your new discoveries with others. At the same time, you begin to feel like most people don’t understand you, it becomes more difficult to communicate and understand others. But as you progress in the field of spiritual knowledge, you begin to distinguish people by their level of development, by their level of understanding of life.

You discover that there is something else beyond the material world, and you start seeing life as an opportunity for development. And after a while, you decide to engage in spiritual practice, apply your knowledge in order to change your life, evolve yourself, and engage in self-development.

One of the main insights you may discover at this stage is that you are no longer feeling like a victim. Now you start seeing that each life event, each situation (even the most negative one), each person is an opportunity for your spiritual growth, self-development, and personal evolution. You realize that difficulties are powerful sources of insight and inner transformation. It is by overcoming difficulties that we tap into our inner power and become much stronger and wiser.

At this stage, you stop avoiding difficulties but welcome them. Now you are clearly aware that the more difficulties you overcome, the faster you move along the path of your spiritual development.

Stage #3: Practice

At this stage of spiritual growth, the use of spiritual knowledge in practice begins. You begin to study the movement of energies in your body, engage in meditation, do energy work, learn to scan and balance your chakras.

As a rule, at this stage, people use basic spiritual and energy practices to improve their health and life quality.

Stage #4: Choosing the Direction

After a series of failures to achieve your goals, you begin to realize that there are more powerful factors in your life than your own energy system and your own will. You begin to notice your ups and downs on the energy plane. You learn to use your time and energy efficiently.

In the end, you realize that you need to choose a new direction for further development, as your previous values are gradually being questioned. It all ends up with the old values being revised, and you have to make a choice of your future direction. In connection with this choice, a new system of values is chosen and new goals are set.

Stage #5: Spiritual Collapse

At this stage, all ideas about what is important, what is necessary, and what is not, collapse. You begin to understand the illusory nature of this world. You realize that all forms and states are temporary. You feel frustrated that the directions and goals you have chosen don’t deliver the results you expected. You start re-thinking the meaning of everything. You begin to feel the presence of Higher forces and start to notice their impact on the world and your own life.

Stage #6: Observation

You become independent and free in your spiritual views. You begin to understand the paradox of life, the unity of opposites, the oneness of spirit and matter. You stop looking at the world from the perspective of your personality and become an observer.

You return to an understanding of the value of spiritual knowledge in your life and begin to realize that the world is harmonious and its functioning is not subject to the ideals of only one group of people but develops dynamically, periodically changes its structure, and even the direction of its development.

Such an observation leads to a deeper understanding of the harmony of the world. And most importantly, even if there is another spiritual collapse or the collapse of another ideal happens, you are no longer lost, but accept as it is with deep awareness.

Stage #7: Full Acceptance

This stage of spiritual growth is characterized by the fact that you begin to accept everything as it is, and become grateful for everything that happens to you. You calmly accept everything that happens, without tormenting yourself with expectations and suffering from disappointments.

In the end, it becomes clear to you that the main Teacher is your Life. Now you feel God in everything and everyone around you. You realize that there is a combination of the Will of God and the Will of Man in every event and every situation. You feel that you are about to merge with the Divine, and you begin to prepare yourself for this significant spiritual discovery.

Stage #8: Conscious Aspiration

By this stage, you have already learned how to see the sacred meaning of everything that is happening. When this skill is fully developed, a Conscious Aspiration is born. You are not looking for any knowledge, esoteric secrets, secret techniques, but you are looking for the very Essence, the Holy Spirit of the Creator, because at this stage you fully realized its significance and power.

Stage #9: Dedication

At this stage, you feel that you are ready to meet the Creator. When you are ready, your human consciousness meets God and you experience the state of Supreme Bliss. Your heart chakra is fully awakened and you start radiating Divine unconditional love.

You feel a powerful impulse of spiritual energy, which remains in your consciousness forever. Since this moment, you begin to receive information directly from the Source – the Consciousness of God. This can be perceived in different forms, such as knowledge, sounds of higher spheres, Akashic Records, or prophetic dreams. However, the main thing is that you become receptive to information from above and begin finding the answers inside yourself.

Stage #10: Divine Unification

At this stage, you merge with the Creator. Your will begins to coincide with the will of God. Your main actions and aspirations are to serve the evolution of people’s consciousness and to spread unconditional love to the world. You become a vessel and vehicle for Divine Love.

You are aware of your divine mission and reveal your unique abilities to realize it. You begin to conduct the Highest Divine energies, radiate love, open spiritual paths to people, and assist others in their healing journeys. Everyone who comes in contact with you changes forever. You become a tool for expressing the will of God on Earth.

This stage could be considered the final one. However, in fact, this is the beginning of a Completely different spiritual and physical existence and development.

The Bottom Line

There are many different interpretations of the stages of spiritual growth. The above stages of spiritual growth are purely advisory in nature. You may be at different stages in different aspects of your life. The purpose of these stages is to help your understanding of the processes that you’re facing on your spiritual journey, encourage you to move forward, and avoid steep turns on the way.

The Vedic scriptures say that a person who understands the Law of karma is deprived of suffering. Such a person overcomes his fate through a righteous life and thus gets rid of suffering. In this article, we will explore the 12 laws of karma and how we can correct our fate and improve our lives by following these laws.

What Is Karma?

Let me start by clarifying what karma is.

Karma is a Sanskrit term that literally means “action” or “doing”. In the Buddhist tradition, karma refers to action driven by intention which leads to future consequences. Each action can be analyzed through the prism of the four elements of karma:

• the object of the action;
• motivation;
• the action itself;
• the attitude to the action that has already been completed (judgment).

And only by combining all these four elements of karma can you fully determine what kind of action is committed, what consequences it can lead to, and even assume how soon a person will receive the effect of his action (the cause).

It is important to note that karma is not a punishment or retribution, although it can be translated that way. Karma is the consequences that a person receives based on how he lived. There is no influence of providence here, so a person decides what will be best for him, and he himself can decide how to behave in order to influence fate as much as possible in this and subsequent incarnations.

The Four Elements of Karma

Now, let’s take a deeper look at the four elements of karma and what they mean.

#1: The Object of the Action

This is the first thing we evaluate when we try to analyze an action. There is an opinion that our interaction with people, and with living beings, in general, is due to karmic connections that we have with those people/beings.

According to Vedic knowledge, anyone we meet, anyone we can see, any living being that comes into our view, has some kind of karmic connection with us. In your life, you never meet or see people or other living creatures who wouldn’t have a karmic connection with you. Everyone we interact with in one way or another has a karmic connection with us from our past lives. It’s just that the intensity of these connections is different.

For example, a person with whom we just exchanged glances at the store has a weak karmic connection with us, and our parents are souls with whom a karmic connection has been formed over many lifetimes, therefore, it is very strong.

#2: Motivation

The second element of karma is motivation. Paradoxically, actions can often look the same, but it is the motivation that determines how a given action can be characterized.

For example, I’m sure you’ve heard about brutal methods Zen teachers have been using for helping their students on the spiritual journey. Zen teachers have been using hits, jabs, and shouts to cut off a moment of thought. For the same purpose, they could through away a student from the window. As you can see, the action itself may look cruel, however, the motivation behind the action is noble. The Masters were not hurting their students out of anger or frustration but rather from a sense of compassion. Their motivation was to help their students on their spiritual journey.

At the same time, we can see lots of violence in the world coming from anger, jealousy, hate, etc. In such cases, the motivation creates negative karma.

Thus, you can see that the same form of action can have radically different motivations that lead to different karma.

#3: Action

Now let’s talk about the action itself. People often believe that if you have the intention to do something bad but you couldn’t do it due to circumstances beyond your control, then it doesn’t count as a bad action.

However, according to the Divine Law, any action, complete or incomplete, causes the karmic effect.

During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ (Matthew 5:21) But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” (Matthew 5:22).

Thus, if a person has a desire to kill someone, but does not commit murder, for example, because of physical weakness or because of fear of punishment, it is not at all his choice, but rather it is just a coincidence. And if the circumstances had been different, he might well have carried out his plan.

Jesus also said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ (Matthew 5:27) But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28)

Again, Jesus is talking about the fact that the inability to commit a vice does not release a person from responsibility.

We should always keep in mind that karma accumulates on three levels: the level of the body, speech, and mind. And if a person in his thoughts “executes” somebody — this is the same as if he would have done it on the physical level.

This is confirmed even by modern science – according to neuroscientist Jeremy Bennett, our brain does not distinguish real events from our fantasies and reacts to everything in the same way. The same applies to karma.

#4: Attitude to the Action

This is the final element of creating karma. There is an opinion that even if a person committed the most terrible act against, for example, his parents and his motivation was the vilest, but after committing the act, he realized that he was wrong, and sincerely repented — this will facilitate the retribution for the committed act.

But this rule also works in the opposite way. For example, if a person made a donation, but his motivation was selfish, for example, he learned about the law of karma and purely out of commercial interests decided to donate money to get some “karmic benefits”, then, in this case, such an attitude to the completed action will affect the final result: either the reward for the act will come much later, or in a much smaller amount.

What Are the 12 Laws Of Karma?

It is important to remember that everything is energy. Your emotions and thoughts are energy in motion. Every action creates corresponding energy that comes back to you in the form of a positive or negative consequence.

Learning the 12 laws of karma helps us to understand how karma really works. By following these laws, we become more mindful of our thoughts, emotions, actions, and deeds and create a better life for ourselves and others.

Now, let’s explore the 12 laws of karma and how they work.

#1: The Great Law

This is the law of cause and effect. When you hear someone talking about karma, it’s most likely they’re referring to the first law of karma. What you sow, you will reap. Or, what you give is what you get. If you put out positive thoughts and actions, you will receive positive consequences. If you put out negative thoughts and actions, you will receive negative consequences.

#2: The Law of Creation

This law of karma reminds us that each of us is a part of this universe and requires us to participate in it. Each of us is a co-creator. To a greater or lesser extent, you are responsible for everything that happens in your life, on this planet, and in this universe. The accumulated karma of the members of society also affects the development of the whole society. Therefore, we have to remember our responsibility to co-create this reality in a harmonious and peaceful way.

#3: The Law of Humility

This law reminds us of personal responsibility for everything that happens in our lives. It teaches us to accept that our current reality is the result of our past actions. Only by accepting the situation, we are able to change it. In order to do it, we need to develop spiritual awareness. As soon as we become aware of the situation or the state we are in, we will be able to influence it.

When you find yourself in some negative situation, do not rush to blame others, humble yourself and turn your gaze inward. Accept this situation and the lesson you have to learn from it.

#4: The Law of Growth

As we evolve and change, our external reality will expand and change as a result. Having begun to grow spiritually, you change a whole layer of your life. Therefore, there is no need to force your reality to change. Start with yourself. You can change only what you have control over, which is yourself, not others. If you want a better life, focus on your spiritual growth – and the reality will “catch up” to your new level!

#5: The Law of Responsibility

This law states that you are the product of the choices you make. It teaches us that we have to take full responsibility for our lives and for what happens to us. Do not blame other people, parents, the government, or colleagues at work. Turn your gaze to yourself as the cause of everything that happens to you. In order to practice this law, take responsibility for the part you play in every situation you have.

#6: The Law of Connection

Our past, present, and future are connected. Everything we’ve done in the past has led us to where we are right now. Everything we’re doing today will lead us to our future. And the quality of the future will depend on the quality of energy we are putting out there today. Your negative attitude today will bring negative consequences in the future.

In other words, who you are today is the result of your actions in the past. And who you will be tomorrow depends on your actions today.

#7: The Law of Focus

This law states that you cannot put your energy toward two things simultaneously. When we are focusing on too many things at once, we tend to slow down and be less productive. But when we concentrate on one thing at a time, we accomplish much more, and with much better results.

#8: The Law of Giving And Hospitality

This law states that you should practice what you preach. Let your actions be the reflection of your deepest beliefs. For example, if you want to be surrounded by kind and loving people, you need to focus on cultivating kindness and love for others. Think about your highest values and let them be your life principles.

#9: The Law of Here And Now

This law of karma states that we shouldn’t regret the past, shouldn’t worry about the future, but focus on the present moment. When we spend too much time thinking about our past or our future, we are taking energy from our present.

“All negativity is caused by an accumulation of psychological time and denial of the present. Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry – all forms of fear – are caused by too much future, and not enough presence. Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of nonforgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence.”

– Eckhart Tolle

#10: The Law of Change

This law states that the situation will not change and will be repeated in different forms until you learn your lesson and evolve into a better version of yourself. This is the only way to stop the vicious cycle. 

#11: The Law of Patience and Reward

This law is all about being patient and not working for the reward. May your main reward be the true joy and pleasure of the process itself. When you comprehend the basic laws of karma step by step and implement them, rewards always find you at the right time.

#12: The Law of Significance and Inspiration

This law of karma states that we all have unique gifts that we can share with the world. Each of us is capable of making a positive impact on this world. Work with love and invite inspiration in everything you do. Live according to your higher purpose, and it will fill you with strength and energy. Remember that what you invest your energy into plays a big role in your life, and vice versa. Focus on a positive contribution to this world, and you will always succeed.

The Bottom Line

As I already noted above, the law of karma has nothing to do with retribution. It should not be understood as a reward or a punishment that comes from God or the Universe or someone else. We can look at this law from the perspective of retribution only in such a way that a person forms his reality by his actions, therefore, retribution will occur depending on how many positive or negative actions and thoughts were generated during past lives. From here such concepts as “negative” or “positive” karma originate. If a person has “negative” karma, then it may have to be eliminated for several incarnations and it will continue to affect a person in the form of life circumstances, his environment, etc.

However, it is important to remember that each of us has the potential to eliminate negative karma by choosing the thoughts and actions that will contribute to the creation of the desired reality and harmonious life.

The positive karmic experience accumulated during all earthly incarnations tends to be spent aimlessly or changed for the worse, which leads to negative consequences in real life. To reverse this process, it is necessary to constantly improve karma. In this article, I will share with you 16 powerful ways to attract good karma.

But first, let’s find out what good karma actually is.

What Is Good Karma?

Karma is based on cause-and-effect relationships. In other words, we always get back what we give to the world. The more good deeds accumulated on the invisible “account” of each soul, the more bonuses it receives in its future life and next incarnations. If karmic “savings” are spent selfishly, without bringing benefit to others and the planet, then in future reincarnations such a soul will have “to reap the fruits” of his irresponsibility, because karma will change from good to bad.

Therefore, to build good karma is the main goal of every soul.

How Do I Know If My Karma Is Good Or Bad?

If we try to create a simplified model of testing karma, it will be based on four components:

• relationships with others;
• health (both physical and mental);
• prosperity;
• life purpose.

If each of these components is present in your life, then we can probably say that your karma, in this case, tends to be good. Thus, the good karma manifests itself in the harmony achieved in all spheres of our lives.

However, most people have problems at least in one of these spheres.

Have you seen babies being born with disabilities? This is an example of negative karma brought to this incarnation from past lives. But sometimes healthy people get into car accidents and get disabilities. This would be an example of negative karma that was created during this life.

Why Should We Build Good Karma?

Bad karma involves problems in all or some areas of life. If a person is haunted by constant failures, negativity, then his karmic debts exceeded the profit from good deeds.

The karmic debts accumulated in all incarnations will result in diseases, poverty, alcohol or drug addiction, unsuccessful marriages, and other negative consequences.

Do you experience any health problems? Do you have relationship problems? Do you suffer from money loss or poverty? Do you feel like your life has no purpose? If you answered ‘yes’ to at least one of these questions then you should consider taking actions for improving your karma.

How to Build Good Karma?

#1 Keep It Clean

Try to make sure that everything in your life is clean: your body, home, workplace, etc. But especially important to keep your thoughts and actions clean! Keep in mind that negative thoughts, emotions, and actions create negative karma. And positive thoughts and actions create good karma. Be mindful of what you thinking and doing!

#2 Get Involved in Charity

This would be especially helpful for those of you who have financial problems. You may say: “How can I do charity if I have no money?” Well, there are different ways to do it. We can help people even if we don’t have money to offer. A kind word, a smile, good advice – this is also a kind of charity that can change someone’s life for the better.

#3 Help Others Selflessly

You can offer help to those who are currently suffering. The main thing is not to try to radically correct someone else’s karma. But helping them find their way is quite acceptable.

#4 Self-Development

Inertia is bad for your soul. Instead of dwelling on your past, you should be constantly moving forward. Every day you try to learn something new. Every event that life presents to you should be considered as a life lesson. Every night before you go to bed ask yourself: “What have I learned today? What did I realize today?“. If you find it difficult to answer these questions, then you probably have lost your awareness and mindfulness. Tomorrow will be a new day, try not to waste it!

#5 Spiritual Development

Constant training of the body is well reflected in its appearance and health. But we should also remember to give equal attention to our spirit. The purer your soul is, the higher your moral foundations, moral values, and the easier it is to learn the life lessons on the way to good karma. Make sure to train your mental essence with the help of prayers and meditations.

#6 Love

Open your heart to every creature of existence. Make your love available for everyone: people, animals, nature, planet, your work, every action you take, every word you speak, every thought you think. Unconditional love will help you achieve harmony and approach good karma.

#7 Take Responsibility For Your Life

You and only you are responsible for your actions, words, and thoughts. Thus, you and only you are responsible for every event and situation in your life. There’s no point in blaming other people, Government, President, parents, etc. for everything you’re not happy about in your life.

All your failures and successes are the results of your own actions and thoughts. You have the power to change your life, but it will require a change in your thinking. Stop hiding behind the mask of a victim of circumstances. You are the Creator of your own life, so start creating it! The more you take responsibility for your life, the more power you have!

#8 Be Honest

One lie inevitably begets another like a virus. Remember that lost trust is very difficult to regain. After catching you multiple times on lying people will eventually stop believing you. So in relations with others it will pursue misunderstanding and resentment. And sooner or later this will turn into another karmic debt.

#9 Listen to Your Inner Voice

Always remember that your subconscious has the answers to all your questions. You just need to be able to listen. Listen to your inner voice in every situation – this is the Universe talking to you. The more you’re connected to the Universe the more you follow the path that leads you to good karma.

#10 Be In a Present Moment

The past is gone. The future hasn’t come yet. Don’t distract yourself with thinking about your past or daydreaming about the future. Focus on the present moment and live it to the fullest. Put 100% energy and awareness in everything you’re doing in the present moment. The practice of being in the present moment will teach you to live your life consciously.

#11 Pray

When we pray we cleanse our karma. Especially powerful when you pray for other people, animals or planet. But such practice should be consistent and you should put all your attention to focus on the intention of the prayer. You can also use special mantras for purifying karma and chant them daily.

#12 Volunteering

By doing volunteering work you greatly improve your karma!

#13 Be Grateful

Never blame anybody (including God and Universe) for not receiving exactly what you’ve been asking for. If you believe in karma, then you have to accept the fact that we always receive exactly what we deserve.

Therefore if you’re not getting what you want you have to ask yourself: “Why am I not getting this?” Maybe it’s not time yet, or maybe the receiving of what you’re asking wouldn’t serve your Higher purpose and the Universe is trying to show you that you will receive something much better if you’ll be patient and grateful. Be grateful for every little thing you have in your life and very soon you will see that you attract more and more happiness and joy into your life.

#14 Forgive

Life doesn’t give us lessons that we are not capable of learning. And one of the most important lessons we come to this life for is the lesson of forgiveness. Most people choose not to learn this lesson which leads to repeating it again and again during many incarnations. But if you believe in karma and want to evolve you have to learn to forgive.

Every time we forgive someone we remove a giant block of negative karma and heal our heart. And the thing is, the more hurtful our resentment is, the more cleansing and healing the forgiveness brings to our souls. If you want to build good karma, sometimes the best way to do so is to forgive people for some of the bad vibes they’ve sent your way.

#15 Donate Blood

It is believed that when you donate your blood the ones who need it you improve your karma tremendously. The whole intention behind blood donation is saving someone’s life. And since the law of karma states that we receive what we give, then when you save somebody’s life the Universe will make sure that you will stay safe. Yes, it can even save your life if you experience any danger or health issues in the future!

#16 Inspire

Let every person that meets you become happier and inspired. Spread positive vibes and don’t let your negative emotions affect other people. Be mindful of what you’re saying and how you’re saying it.

Listen to other people who need to be heard. Sometimes inspiration is better expressed when we stay quiet to give other people room to speak their truth. Be a patient listener, care for other people, and provide them the type of inspiration they need at the moment.