"Those of us who have transcended mythical belief systems know without any doubt that there is no God up in the sky. But when we awaken to what I call the evolutionary impulse - the mysterious passion to evolve, to become, to develop on every level-we rediscover who God is."
Andrew Cohen
Psychologist
Andrew Cohen is a spiritual teacher known for his innovative concepts on consciousness and evolutionary enlightenment, challenging traditional spiritual norms.
- Born
- May 15, 1975
- Quotes
- 46
- Rank
- #4700
About Andrew Cohen
Andrew Cohen — Life and Legacy
Andrew Cohen is a prominent spiritual teacher and author, recognized for his unique approach to consciousness and personal evolution. His work emphasizes the idea of 'evolutionary enlightenment,' which seeks to integrate spiritual awakening with a commitment to collective progress. Cohen's teachings challenge conventional spiritual practices by advocating for a more dynamic and engaged form of spirituality that encourages individuals to confront their limitations and strive for higher states of consciousness. Central to Cohen's philosophy is the belief that freedom and truth are intertwined. He asserts that 'freedom is the ability to choose,' highlighting the importance of conscious decision-making in the spiritual journey. This perspective invites individuals to take responsibility for their lives and recognize the impact of their choices on their spiritual development. Cohen's quotes often reflect this emphasis on personal accountability, urging followers to engage deeply with their inner lives and the world around them. Cohen's influence extends beyond individual transformation; he advocates for the importance of community in spiritual growth. He believes that a supportive environment is crucial for challenging one’s beliefs and fostering deeper connections with others. His ideas resonate with those seeking a more active and responsible approach to spirituality, making his insights particularly relevant in today's fast-paced, interconnected world.
Quote collection
Andrew Cohen quotes (page 1 of 3)
46 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"In an evolutionary context, the goal of the spiritual life is not peace; it's perpetual development. Evolutionary enlightenment is about the ecstasy that compels us to create the future. And it's not a future that's going to unfold by itself while we go back to sleep. It's a future that we forge the hard way through direct, conscious, intentional engagement with the life-process itself."
"Everybody wants to get enlightened but nobody wants to change."
"The authentic self is the best part of a human being. It's the part of you that already cares, that is already passionate about evolution. When your authentic self miraculously awakens and becomes stronger than your ego, then you will truly begin to make a difference in this world. You will literally enter into a partnership with the creative principle."
"When you meditate you discover over and over again that you are not a prisoner of your mind."
"Most men are very attached to the idea of being male, and usually experience a lot of fear and insecurity around the idea of being a man. Most women are very identified with their gender, and also experience a tremendous amount of fear and insecurity."
"I believe that any individual who has spiritually awakened in our time, to the degree that he or she finds a higher and deeper motive for living, is going to be driven to fight the good fight in one way or another... And in order to fight the good fight, we have to engage, we have to get into the ring, not just stand outside it and be philosophers."
"I am already inherently full and complete as I am. Man doesn't need woman and woman doesn't need man in order to experience his or her inherent fullness."
"It is not enough to be well-intentioned; one must strive to put those intentions into action in a capable way. One must consider the effect his actions will have on others. Looked at like this, to persist in ignorance is itself dishonorable"
"Whenever a human being ceases to live for themselves and begins to care about that which is greater than themselves, the personality begins to experience ecstasy, joy and spontaneous liberation. And that's found through doing, through action, through giving, through deeply embracing the human experience."
"Men are recognizing that they have been forced to conform to a very narrow and rather two-dimensional picture of maleness and manhood that they have never had the freedom to question."
"This is our challenge at the beginning of the twenty-first century - we need to find the courage to see our own spiritual yearnings in the biggest possible context, in such a way that is going to compel us to finally transcend our self-concern. We need to find the heart to come together in such a way that will enable us to face the challenges before us. And to do this, we need a new spirituality. We need a new enlightenment."
"When a human being becomes so still that they begin to lose awareness of their gender, and they are simply looking into that abyss where there is no notion of self whatsoever, the world disappears. And that's really the only place to go. It's the only place to remain."
"Our true nature is free of any and all notions of gender, of any notions of difference whatsoever."
"As far as I'm concerned, the spiritual life is just like any other endeavor-you can succeed or fail. And when the goal is actual evolution beyond ego in an intersubjective context, success or failure is plain for all to see."
"In the new enlightenment, the reason we are driven to become one with the life-process is not merely to experience some form of mystical oneness with everything. We strive to become one with it for the biggest reason there could be - so we can ultimately take responsibility for where it's going."
"Spiritual experiences and their results are not meant for the individual. They are for the evolution of the whole race."
"Almost all the ideas we have about being a man or being a woman are so burdened with pain, anxiety, fear and self-doubt. For many of us, the confusion around this question is excruciating."
"A lot of people in spiritual life use the awareness of difference, and the spiritual glorification of difference, as a justification to indulge in that which is ultimately unreal."
"Our relationship to reality and to our experience is all based upon the ideas in our mind that we're always trying to live up to."