"When the mind is enlightened, the spirit is freed, and the body matters not."
―Oma Desala
The ascension of Dr. Daniel Jackson to a higher plane of existence is a fascinating development
in the life of this integral member of Earth’s Stargate Command.
In this video I’d like to discuss the mysteries surrounding Daniel’s ascension, what he
learned from the experience and how living as a being of pure energy affected his life
upon his return to the physical plane.
The archeologist and linguist Dr. Daniel Jackson of Stargate Command’s flagship team, SG1
first learned of the concept of ascending while exploring a temple on the planet Keb.
The Legend of Keb maintains that when aging Jaffa Warriors reached the point of being
too old to carry a new larval Goa’uld symbiote, they’d make the journey to this planet where
their soul would learn the path through the darkness and into the next life.
SG1, having uncovered the long lost Gate Address from the Ancients original map of the Stargate
Network, traveled to Keb where Daniel Jackson took his first steps on his path to ascension.
There he discovered a Buddhist style temple and a monk speaking in Zen koans where he
learned of a benevolent being whose teachings guide those on their path to the afterlife.
Her name was Oma Desala which translates to Mother Nature.
At the time, Daniel suspected the temple was built by an alien race a millenia ago who
then figured out how to ascend to a higher plane of existence.
It was apparent they likely visited Earth, inspiring the mythologies surrounding the
concept of Mother Nature and the theology taught could have been the original basis
for buddhism on Earth.
He would later come to realize that the race of Ascended beings were the Ancients themselves,
and that Oma Desala was one of them.
Once the Ancients reached the point in their development where they learned to ascend and
live as powerful beings of pure intelligent energy they agreed to follow a strict set
of rules.
The greatest of these was a directive to not interfere under any circumstance in the affairs
of mortals.
Oma Desala, determined to help others no matter her plane of existence, walked a fine line.
Creating a theology in order to guide those on the brink of death on how to achieve ascension
to continue their journey beyond the physical plane.
However she could only guide individuals to the path of Ascension; ultimately it was up
to them to decide whether or not to walk the path, to decide their own fate.
In striving to uncover the secret of enlightenment Daniel went in with an open mind, a critical
factor in the process of spiritual ascension.
Some time later, Dr. Jackson would have the choice to continue what he started on Keb.
While on his deathbed Oma Desala appeared to Daniel in dream-like visions speaking in
riddles and Zen koans, to help him to move on and continue his journey as an ascended
being.
He needed to make peace with his life, his journey so far and to let go of the burdens
he carried.
This wasn’t an easy process as Daniel struggled greatly with whether or not his life and his
time on SG1 truly made a difference.
Even though the cause of his impending death was the result of a great act of heroism and
a sacrifice that saved millions of lives, he continued to be weighed down by feelings
of inadequacy and frustration, viewing himself as a failure who was unable to save those
he cared about most.
Ultimately he did not feel worthy of ascending and this was the roadblock preventing him
from doing so.
Daniel was so focused on his perceived failures that he could not see the bigger picture.
That because humans are so small in comparison to the vast universe around us, the only thing
that one can ever truly control is whether they are good or evil.
Oma continued in her thoughtful counsel encouraging Daniel to judge his worthiness by the intention
of his actions, and the strength with which he faced life’s challenges.
During this time Daniel’s closest companions visited him and revealed how much he meant
to them and the positive and lasting impact he had on their lives.
They helped him to make peace with his life and choices and let go of his burdens and
realize his worth.
As a result Daniel gained the resolve to move on and subsequently ascended.
On this higher plane of existence and on an incredible journey of discovery and enlightenment
Daniel still possessed an unwavering determination to help those closest to him.
Even though he was no longer allowed to take any action that would alter human existence
he did his best to provide assistance to others while working within the rules of ascension.
When his friends were in need he appeared to them to offer comfort and encouragement
to endure their trials.
This indirect help however would not be good enough for Daniel.
A deeply rooted part of his personality is his moral sense of duty to use the full range
of his abilities to help others.
A mindset that is in direct conflict with the life of an ascended being.
Daniel continued to struggle with the idea of having the power to effect positive change
in the lives of others and not being able to do so.
While at first he was able to reconcile this fact citing that he was no more qualified
to play god than the Goa’uld were, he would soon be put in a position to risk everything
in order to act in the defense of others.
When the people of Abydos were under threat of elimination from the half ascended Goa’uld
System Lord Anubis, Daniel could no longer stand by as a mere observer and attempted
to use his powers to stop Anubis.
To avoid the wrath that the other Ascended Ancients would bring against Daniel for interfering
in this way, his ascended mentor Oma Desala stopped him from harming Anubis and thereafter
he was returned to his prior physical form.
After he was reunited with his companions in SG1, they attempted to locate the lost
city of the Ancients to find technology that would aid them in their fight against Anubis.
It took Daniel some time to readjust to his former life struggling to come to terms with
the knowledge and memories he lost from when he was ascended.
He was left wondering whether he did the right thing by choosing to come back to a mortal
existence.
Later as Anubis grew in power and sought to destroy all life in the galaxy, Daniel would
once again question the kind of life he wanted to live.
Facing death but having the choice to ascend, Daniel wrestled with the prospects before
him.
Questioning whether having access to all the knowledge and understanding of the universe
would be worth it if he could only sit back and watch while the galaxy suffered.
Daniel’s ideals and bravery in the face of insurmountable challenges not only inspired
his friends from Stargate Command but also his mentor Oma.
Her mission to help good people to continue their journey through ascension did not always
end well as Anubis tricked Oma into helping him ascend.
As a result the Other Ascended Ancients who did not approve of her humanitarian efforts
let Anubis exist as a half ascended being, effectively granting him immortality in the
material plane.
The result of the devastation and suffering he caused was meant as a punishment for Oma
for interfering in the first place in the lives of others.
When the fate of the galaxy was at stake Daniel called out to the Ancients challenging them
to take responsibility for the suffering they caused simply to teach Oma a lesson.
Heartened by his courage Oma made the decision to engage in an eternal battle with Anubis
preventing him from enacting his evil schemes on the lower planes ever again.
After this epic confrontation Daniel was returned to his physical form to live out his human
existence.
Ascended or not Daniel never changed and his journey was never simply about the acquisition
of knowledge and understanding of the universe.
While this was certainly a fervent pursuit of his, it never outweighed his personal obligation
to help those in need and to continue striving to make a positive difference in the universe.
But I’m curious to know what you think of the ascension of Dr. Daniel Jackson.
Are there any qualities from this character that stand out to you?
Are there any moments from the story arc of his rise to and fall from ascension that you
enjoy most?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Stargate and other sci-fi and fantasy news and lore.
Thank you all so much for your support and as always have a very nerdy day.