Human Human PerfectibilityPerfectibility

Human Growth & Perfectibility

• Maslow calls it Self-Actualization and Self-Transcendence

• Carl Jung calls it Individualization• St. Teresa of Avila calls it “the way of perfection”

leading to what St. Paul referred to as “just men made perfect”

• Buddhists refer to it as the eightfold path to becoming an Arhat or Buddha

• Hindus refer to it becoming a “jivanmukta” or liberated soul

• Muslim Sufis call it tariqah

MaslowMaslow’’s Self-Actualization s Self-Actualization and Self-Transcendenceand Self-Transcendence

Basic Needs

Security

Belonging

Self-Esteem

Self-actualization

Self-Transcendence

Buddhist Buddhist

Srotapani (Pali: Sotapanna) – entering the stream

Sakridagamin (Sakadagami) – once returner

Anagamin (Anagami) – non-returner

Arhat (Arahat) – the enlightened one

Asekha – non-learner or adept

Christian SymbolismChristian Symbolism

Birth Baptism Crucifixion Ascension

HinduismHinduism

Kutichaka Bahudaka Hamsa Paramahamsa

Jivanmukta

Islamic Mysticism (Sufism)Islamic Mysticism (Sufism)

Tawbah (true conversion)

Tariqah (the path) Awhal (spiritual

states) Fannah (annihilation)

Mystery SchoolsMystery Schools

1. the katharsis, or preliminary purification

2. the sustasis, or preparatory rites and sacrifices

3. the telete, the initiation proper

4. the epopteia, or highest grade of initiation

The first two were public, while the last two were secret, and available only for initiates.

Gnostic Kabbalistic Hermeticism Pythagorean school Druzes Tibetan Druids Etc.

Ephesians 4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith

and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect

man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of

Christ;

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matt

5:48

The IncorruptiblesThe Incorruptibles

Vincent de Paul

Bernadette of Lourdes

Imelda Lambertini

Padre Pio

Therese Therese NeumannNeumann

The Mahatmas and the The Mahatmas and the Brotherhood of AdeptsBrotherhood of Adepts

Koot Hoomi Morya Serapis Bey The Venetian Comte de St. Germain Hilarion Polidorus etc.