The Reverend Dr. Linda De Coff is the founder of the New Thought Institute, which pushes for the advancement of global consciousness and universal spirituality.

In the theology of Christian mysticism, perfection is described as the attainment of spiritual maturity. Accordingly, it is said that something is perfect only when nothing is lacking in its nature or purpose. This means that when one achieves spiritual maturity or perfection, one is fully cognizant of their reason for being and acts in accordance with that reason. There have been many other terms that describe the same fulfillment in the whole of Christianity: perfect love, entire sanctification, second blessing, baptism by fire, and many more.

While the actual merit of perfection varies between sects and denominations, ultimately, the goal of perfection is that of an eternal union, a oneness with God that is adjacent to pure divine love and personal sanctification. This vision is based on Matthew 5:48: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect,” which calls upon all believers to attempt perfection. 

Yet what is the path toward perfection?

According to Gregory of Nyssa, an early patriarch of the Christian church, perfection is the “constant growth in the good.” Macarius of Egypt envisioned the process as washing away all sin from the person. The 12th-century abbot, Bernard of Clairvaux, developed the idea that the process of perfection was akin to a ladder, which he referred to as the ladder of love in his treatise, On the Love of God; he posited that the ladder had four rungs: the lowest represented the love of the self for the self, the second the love of God for what he gives, the third rung was for the love of God for one’s own sake, and the fourth and final one was the love of God for God’s sake. It is only when the faithful individual reaches the fourth state, or the condition of loving God only for God’s sake, that one becomes perfect.

But, as mapped out by Dionysius, the Pseudo-Areopagite (a theologian and philosopher who sought to synthesize Christian doctrine with Neoplatonic ideals) in the late 5th to early 6th century, the standard path toward perfection is the three-fold path.

He outlines three stages of enlightenment that a believer must undergo before they reach the peak of perfection:

• Katharsis (purification) or the purgative stage
• Theoria (illumination) or the illuminative stage
• Theosis (union) or the unitive stage

These stages stood for the aspects that made up a human individual, the body (soma), the soul (psyche), and the spirit (pneuma). It is only through the sanctification of each aspect that a faithful believer becomes ready to accept the totality of God’s grace into their being and become one with Him, achieving universal spirituality and higher consciousness in communion with the divine. 

The Threefold Path of Universal Spirituality

The purgative stage concerns the body. It is called Katharsis or purification because this is where the mind and body are cleansed of what is unclean and what is unwholesome. This involves discipline and deep meditation. This is to help clear away the vision in preparation for seeing the light of God.

The illuminative stage concerns the soul. It is called Theoria or illumination because this is where one becomes truly enlightened, illuminated to the voice and reason of God. Deep and intimate contemplation of the mysteries of the divine are keys to achieving success in this stage. 

The unitive stage concerns the spirit. It is called Theosis or union because this is where one becomes aware of the fullness of God and His overwhelming consciousness. Here, in this stage, a person is filled and surrounded by the eternal and infinite love of the divine for all His creatures. It is only through the achievement of the unceasing prayer can this stage be unlocked.

The Reverend Dr. Linda De Coff is the influential founder of the New Thought Institute, which is based in New York, as well as New Thought International, Inc. She has authored several books on spiritual attainment and enlightenment, pushing for the advancement of global consciousness, which will lead to universal spirituality and lasting peace in the cosmos. Dr. De Coff is a recognized thought leader, and her writings on Higher Consciousness are inspirational and empowering. 

The next step in spiritual evolution is just around the corner, and the whole of humanity can only be benefited.

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