Systematic approaches - A Course in Miracles (free online), A Course of Love, The Way of Mastery. All of these books are channeled lessons in how to train the mind and move toward enlightenment. You could also listen to John Mark Stroud - onewhowakes.org. There is lots of free information on his site and movies about awakening that you can download (also free). I wish you blessings.

Purple Iris

. The universal "truth" that is hard to deny, is simply this: IT IS WHAT IT IS. It is what it has always been and what it always will be. How we perceive it, our beliefs about it, and all the arguments never settled make no difference because it is what it is. Is the nature of our reality limited to just the physical universe? Does it contain both physical and non-physical (spiritual) dimensions? Is there is a heaven or hell, a god, or gods? Are there angels or extra-terrestrials? Are there12 dimensions, multiple dimensions, or infinite parallel universes? The one thing we can say for certain is that it is what it is, what it always has been and what it will continue to be. Truth has no obligation to reveal evidence of its nature nor is it hiding evidence. IT IS WHAT IT IS. It does not require nor does it care whether we believe or not believe. Arguing about it, denying it, makes no difference whatsoever. To answer your question, I can only offer (suggest) my personal perspective based on what I have learned over many years of exploring this topic.

In my opinion, the "truth" about the nature of reality and our existence is far simpler than you might imagine. Attempting to comprehend the entirety of our existence in our heads alone is difficult given the inherent limitations built into our physical brains. It is not possible, in my opinion, to comprehend a multi-dimensional reality explored from the perspective of an organ that is limited to thinking in three (possibly four) dimensions. Here is my current perspective:

OUR DAY-TO-DAY THOUGHTS ARE THE CONSCIOUS EXPRESSION OF OUR INDIVIDUAL BELIEFS. THESE THOUGHTS INTERACT WITH ENERGY IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAWS GOVERNING THESE INTERACTIONS AND WILL MANIFEST THEMSELVES IN PHYSICAL FORM AS THE MATERIAL OBJECTS AN EVENTS THAT ARE PERCEIVED AS OUR PERSONAL REALITY. YOU CREATE YOUR OWN REALITY THROUGH THE INTEGRATION OF BELIEF AND EMOTION.
Everyone has a unique set of beliefs formed by choice from thoughts. (Thoughts repeated often enough become beliefs). Our thoughts will eventually manifest into physical form as objects or events. ALL BELIEFS ARE VALID. There are no right or wrong beliefs. Beginning at a very early age, we each begin constructing our own individual set of beliefs. We choose what we want to accept and what we want to reject continually throughout our lives. We are constantly altering our beliefs. We adopt new ones based on new information, and reject older ones when they no longer serve our purposes and preferences.

A question you might ask is this: Why is it so hard for humans to accept that we belong to a civilization of highly evolved beings that are in essence, created from pure energy that is conscious and that we each have developed over the course of our existence, an individual "personality" that is constantly changing and evolving creatively? Is it that hard to accept that one of the ways we do this is by creating physical worlds constructed from time, space, gravity, and other forces, where every thing operates and is maintained by way of quantum mechanics?

Isn't it at all possible that as energy essence beings, we are indestructible and therefore immortal by nature and that we create these physical worlds out of a desire to experiment with the experience of mortality by immersing ourselves in biological creatures with limited life spans? Is it also possible that we have the means to induce a temporary amnesia upon ourselves in order to make the experience seem more real?

Why would we choose instead to accept the idea that we are worthless, insignificant, biological creatures driven by the instinct to survive until we eventually succumb to our environment as our consciousness dissolves into oblivion? As you continue to explore these questions, you will discover many answers. At some point, the information you have gathered from outside of yourself will find a synchronicity with what you already know (from within yourself). At that moment, you will become consciously aware of what you call the truth.

I feel happy for you, Theodore, because with your question you have embarked on an amazing journey. A Course in Miracles is systematic and powerful; it's also a little dense and maybe inaccessible. Maybe a first step is to pay close attention to what you pay attention to all day each day - this will show you what you are busy creating. The more attention you put (energy you apply) to the joys that are unfolding for you, the more you will experience those joys. Wishing you all the best.

All roads lead to Rome. No matter which way it happens. Eventually it will happen. Infinity will wait for all, for it is not bound by time. If the answer given to you seems right it is. It is subjective to the person seeking. Then you will feel it. But it could be different for someone else to get the same answer. The seeker creates the answer.

take the bible one of the best course you can find. here are the 3 step. 1:"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." trust in the lord wait for him sit down in the same spot each day fix a spot in front of you that is not there. doing this will put your focus inside of you on what you think that is the start. 2:you need to be born of water and the spirit to enter the kingdom. clean the inside of the cup and the outside will also be clean. 3: and the third step is the spirit once the water will be clean on the surface you shall start to see your reflection the light that you are the light will guide you and help you solve your last division once the 2 become one the water and the spirit with out fear you can cross the last gate out of the flesh to the kingdom. that is enlightenment. you see some stop at different step saying that is enlightenment. and the fact is that yes having more light is enlightening. what about a kingdom full of light is that enlightening enough for you? And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

john 10:17-18

if I have been your helper so be it and let it be.

Let there be light, be the light that you can be, experience and enjoy.

Yes I do have an approach in relationship to your question. And it is highly systematic and simple.

Bashar's Formulae for Life:

1. Out of everything you can do RIGHT NOW, pick and DO the thing you feel most enthusiastic and excited and inspirational about. **This step requires sensitivity to your feelings, to be able to sense what you are most enthused about. It can take a few days to get to be a better sensor.
2. Do that item as MUCH AS YOU CAN in the moment, and keep going until that item is finished/exhausted/completed, or you feel your interest in it dropping. Ensure to explore every possible way you can act on it, use every bit of imagination and creativity possible to keep this going. Go through every door, window, alleyway and valley to get this kicking off, again, until you cant do it anymore (for now) or until your enthusiasm for it is dead. **This step requires creativity, and a bold approach to life.
3. If physical reality presents you 'obstacles' in the pursuit of this most enthusiastic thing, these are NOT obstacles; these are roadmaps pointing you elsewhere. Bless the so called interruptions and obstacles and let them take you wherever. However, always ensured you did step 2 of using every bit of creativity and imagination you can to continue youre task. At the same time, go with the flow of life and do not fight these obstacles. And if you are meant to switch tasks the universe certainly will steer you elsewhere, so don't worry too much. Start treating these interruptions, objections, obstacles, bumps, halts as SIGNS to switch. **This step requires a build up of trust in these processes. If you cannot trust this process, do a 2 week trial and it will prove itself to you (providing you commit to this as much as you can allow)
4. Repeat the process once you have exhausted that item. Look around for the next most enthusiastic and exciting thing to do.
5. If you have trouble deciding which item to do next, as in, which one is better- then flip a coin.
6. Ensure to obey all your previous currently existing beliefs around ethics, commitments with other people or organisations, laws, morale standards and personal values. Your excitement will not need bypass these things.
7. Do not CONFUSE anxiety with excitement. Utilise anxiety and fear as a means to explore toxic, out of dated definitions, but do not act on these items until you have cleared the negative beliefs. Once you clear the negative beliefs, it will become very obvious whether than anxiety is excitement or, comparing to other things, it is inferior on your list of things to do via a lack of enthusiasm.

Doing this process will be the fastest path to enlightenment, and fulfilling your dreams.

I am currently reading this book and finding it a great guide to living in higher consciousness. http://www.amazon.com/Keys-Soul-Evolution-Dimension-Collective/dp/0982484615/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1455697178&sr=8-1&keywords=keys+to+soul+evolution

Then there's Ken Keyes Jr.'s Handbook to Higher Consciousness. Free pdf: http://worldprayerfoundation.com/resources/Ken%20Keyes-Handbook%20to%20Higher%20Consciousness.pdf