Karlfried Graf Von Dürckheim - The Way of Transformation

8/12/2019 Karlfried Graf Von Drckheim - The Way of Transformation

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DAILY LIFE AS SPIRITUAL EXERCISE:

The Way of Transformationby Karfrie!" #raf $on D%r&'heim

Transate! by R%th Le(inne' an! P) L) Tr*$ers

This boo' (as ori+inay ,%bishe! in En+an! %n!er the tite The Way of

Transformation: Daily Life as Spiritual Exerciseby #eor+e Aen - Un(in" Lt!) It is here

re,rinte! by arran+ement)

C./TE/TS

E$ery!ay Life as Pra&ti&e

0eain+ Po(er an! #est%re

The Whee of Transformation

1) Critical Awareness

2) Letting Go

3) Becoming ne with the Groun!

4) "ew#Becoming

5) $roof an! $ractice in E%ery!ay Life

A,,en!i6


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Everyday Life as Practice

It is a tr%ism that a (or'" a art an! a ,rofessiona a&ti$ity re7%ire ,ra&ti&e if they are

to s%&&ee!) This (e a&&e,t" an! in or!er that (e may estabish o%rse$es in the (or!" it is

ob$io%s that (e m%st be at ,ains in a o%r $o&ations" a$o&ations an! transa&tions to ,ra&ti&ean! assimiate e6,erien&e) We !o not s%ffi&ienty reai8e" ho(e$er" that the s%&&ess of man9s

most im,ortant tas'infinitey more essentia than any of his arts or ,rofessionsaso !e,en!s

%,on ,ra&ti&e)

The !estiny of e$erythin+ that i$es is that it sho%! %nfo! its o(n nat%re to its ma6im%m

,ossibiity) ;an is no e6&e,tion) I? that re@e&ts ,ain" is f% of fears an! is soey &on&erne!

(ith the thin+s of the (or!) Then m%st &ome the ,er&e,tion" the a&&e,tan&e an! %nfo!in+ of

o%r inborn" trans&en!enta Essen&e an!" to+ether (ith a this" the rein7%ishin+ of stan!,oints

an! ,ositions (hi&h obstr%&t it There m%st be attit%!e of earnest a&7%ies&en&e to s%&h

e6,erien&es as (i ea! to its ,er&e,tion" the attainment of ,ersona ,ost%re (hi&h

&orres,on!s to the inner essen&e an!" thro%+ho%t this !iffi&%t (or'" an abso%te on to one9s

,ro+ress aon+ the Inner Way)


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in the (or! re7%ires a &ertain e$e of h%man !e$eo,ment" so aso !oes the transformation

(hi&h ea!s to inner mat%rity re7%ire that a man sho%! &ons&ientio%sy an! res,onsiby abor

at the tas's set 'y the worl!( Inner an! o%ter (or' are not m%t%ay e6&%si$e) .n the

&ontrary" (e are in$a!e!" as it (ere" from mornin+ to ni+ht" both by o%r inner bein+ as (e as

by the threatenin+ e6terior (or! for (hi&h (e are res,onsibe) The fie! of o%r &easeess

effort to re&on&ie both si!es is none other than o%r or!inary !aiy ife)

&

.%r a&hie$ements in the (or! may be sai! to be ,erfe&t ony in so far as they

&ons%mmate an! reai8e the i!ea that is their inner meanin+) Whether it be a (or' of art or a

system of ,hioso,hy" the b%i!in+ of a ho%se or the settin+ %, of some or+ani8ation" fa&tory

or te&hni&a a,,arat%s" it ,ossesses a $ai! form g)ltige Gestalt* ony (hen ea&h of its ,arts

a&&om,ishes the %n!eryin+ ,%r,ose of the (hoe) The same a,,ies to the inner tas') ;an"

himsef" is one of ife9s forms +Le'ensgestalt*b%t he" too" is $ai! an! &an en!%re ony in so

far as he f%fis" as a (hoe an! in the %nifyin+ of a his for&es" (hat be is f%n!amentay

inten!e! to be)

oneness? of that Life (hi&h is beyon! s,a&e an! time brea's a,art in man9s e+o

&ons&io%sness into t(o ,oes one" the historical worl! (hi&h" bein+ s%b@e&t to a(s of s,a&e

an! time" &an be %n!erstoo! an! mastere! an! t(o" Transcen!ental Being, (hi&h &annot be

en&om,asse! by s,a&e an! time an! is beyon! a or!inary %n!erstan!in+) Th%s" ine$itaby"

man e6,erien&es himsef as a bein+ stan!in+ bet(een hea$en an! earth) 0e i$es in a state of

tension bet(een t(o reaities the (or!" (hi&h &onfines him to atit%!e" on+it%!e an!

!%ration" en!an+ers his e6isten&e" tem,ts him (ith ho,es of ha,,iness" an! !eman!s his

obe!ien&e to its a(s an! the s%,ernat%ra state of


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inner" nonme&hani&a se$es)

/ee! this be so= It m%st be so" aas" as on+ as man is en+%fe! by his (or! e+o" an! so

en+rosse! by (or!y %n!erta'in+s that they &om,etey o$ersha!o( his in(ar! sef) There

is" ho(e$er" a (ay o%t) It nee!s @%st a sin+e moment of insi+ht" a fash of %n!erstan!in+ of

o%r sit%ation to ma'e e$erythin+ &han+e) S%&h a moment" s%&h a fash (i i+ht %, not ony

o%r o%ter a&tions ,arti&%ary those most re,etiti$e an! famiiar b%t o%r inner e6,erien&e as

(e)

It is ,ro$erbia that in (hate$er (e !o (e ass%me a &ertain attit%!e) >What? (e !o

beon+s to the (or!) In the >ho("? the way (e !o it" (e infaiby re$ea o%rse$es (hether

o%r attit%!e is ri+ht or (ron+ in harmony (ith the inner a( or in &ontra!i&tion to it" in

a&&or!an&e (ith o%r ri+ht form or o,,ose! to it" o,en to Di$ine form?= It is none other than that in (hi&h

(e are trans,arent to Di$ine


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The state of min! an! bo!y that bo&'s any a(areness of the ,resen&e of #reater


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>&ons&ien&e)? The !eman!s of the first are orientate! to(ar!s heath" the se&on! to(ar!s

bea%ty an! the thir! to(ar!s trans,aren&e to #reater Life)

&

To!ay" it sho%! be +eneray re&o+ni8e! that (hat (e &a >bo!y? an! >,sy&he? are not

t(o se,arate entities rather" they are the t(o mo!es by (hi&h man" (ith his rationa" !i$i!e!$ision" ,er&ei$es himsef) They are the means (hereby man as s%b@e&t reai8es an! e6,resses

his ,ersona %nity) That (hi&h is (itho%t is (ithin" an! that (hi&h is (ithin is (itho%t) The

%nity (hi&h en&om,asses an! &om,rehen!s this antithesis of bo!y an! so% is the Persona

S%b@e&t) An! the ony 'in! of ,er&e,tion (ith (hi&h (e &an !o @%sti&e to man as a ,ersona

s%b@e&t is the one that sees him not merey as an ob@e&ti$e >thin+"? b%t by ,arti&i,ation in

his ife earns to $a%e him as a s%b@e&t an! re&o+ni8e him as a >Tho%)? 0ere it is ne&essary

to !istin+%ish bet(een the !is&riminatin+ >(hat? &ons&io%sness that is &on&erne! (ith

estabishin+ fa&ts an! the %n!erstan!in+ >(ho? &ons&io%sness (hi&h aone &an re$ea

,ersona tr%th)

&

As su'-ect, (e e6,erien&e o%rse$es as ,art of a system (hi&h has itte reation to the

o%t(ar! (or! in (hi&h a thin+s are rationay or!ere! an! fi6e! in %n&han+in+ ,ositions)

From the ,oint of $ie( of this (or!" (e see e$erythin+ materiay as somethin+ o%tsi!e %s)

We e$en t%rn o%rse$es an! other ,eo,e into ob@e&ts" into mere >,ie&es of the (or!)? In as

far as (e see o%rse$es an! others in this (ay" (e are obi+e!" as are a >thin+s"? to fit into

an! f%n&tion (ithin ri+i!" (or!y an!" on their o(n e$e" $ai! systems an! str%&t%res)

0o(e$er" (hen (e reate to ife as s%b@e&t" as Tho%" (e e6,erien&e an! a,,y to(ar!s it a

personal point of %iew( Then e$erythin+ is seen in terms of the ife that (e o%rse$es are that

ife (hi&h" in a&&or!an&e (ith its o(n a(" is fore$er stri$in+ to(ar!s &ons&io%sness"

&om,etion" iberation an! f%fiment) In this (ay the (or! reso$es itsef into the fie! of

o%r ,ersona ife) It be&omes the mirror of a o%r !esires" ho,es an! fears)

&

Life ne$er stan!s sti) Its or!er is ne$er ri+i!" i'e that of some system estabishe! by the

(or!) It is a(ays fe6ibe" a(ays &han+in+" a(ays in the ,ro&ess of be&omin+) An! so it is

(ith man) 0e is not merey an e6terna form" b%t a Form in Time +.eitgestalt* an!

therefore fore$er in the a&t of be&omin+) The !ri$in+ for&e behin! this transformin+ ,ro&ess

!eri$es not ony from the ,romise of ,ossibe reai8ation (hi&h ies in man9s inmost essen&e"

b%t aso from the an+%ish (hi&h arises (hen obstr%&tions ,re$ent the f%fiment of this

,romise) It ispromise an! pain together that !etermine the ,ersona nat%re of the (or!)

If a man is to be&ome a Person" ho(e$er" his inner" menta s,irit%a !e$eo,ment is notthe soe re7%irement: he nee!s" too" to !e$eo, his bo!y) If (e re+ar! an! treat the bo!y

merey as a thin+" a ,ie&e of the (or!" (e remain bin! to its meanin+) E$en in his bo!y"

man as s%b@e&t is not a thin+" a mere bioo+i&a or+anism) bo!y? of a ,erson= It is the mo!e in (hi&h he" as s%b@e&t" is $isiby ,resent to the (or!)

Ta'en th%s" the bo!y" in a h%man sense" &an ony be ri+hty %n!erstoo! an! (or'e! on (hen

(e &ontin%ay bear in min! the ,erson (ho i$es as this bo!y" that ,erson (ho as a >some

bo!y? is a(ays rene(in+ himsef" a(ays stri$in+ to %nfo! an! to 'e in the (or!" in

a&&or!an&e (ith his inner a() Th%s the bo!y is not ony somethin+ (hi&h man has" b%t the

somebo!y he is in the (or!)

The tr%e man is he (ho is ,resent in the (or! in the ri+ht (ay) Whether he be !ense or

trans,arent" (ith!ra(n into himsef or o,en to ife" in form or o%t of form" &entere! or

(itho%t &enter" he is a these thin+s (ith his (hoe bein+" (hi&h is to say" aso (ith his bo!yH


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Any an! e$ery +est%re of a man re$eas him to the (or!) An! it is &ear that (hen a +est%re

is fre7%enty re,eate! an! be&omes more an! more habit%a" the &ontent it e6,resses aso

be&omes" for +oo! or i" more an! more &rystai8e!) Th%s the bo!y" in its ,ost%re" its

,atterns of tension an! rea6ation" in the rhythm of its breathin+ an!" manner of its

mo$ement" is an infaibe in!i&ation of the ,oint at (hi&h any man has arri$e! on his (ay to

be&omin+ a Person) It may re$ea ho( an! (here he has st%&' fast in his e+o an! ost himsefto the (or!" or aternati$ey to (hat e6tent he has remaine! o,en to his bein+ an! on the

Way)

&

Pra&ti&e on o%rse$es" in the ,hysi&a an! s,irit%a sense" is a(ays of t(o 'in!s) It

in$o$es both the pulling # !own of e$erythin+ that stan!s in the (ay of o%r &onta&t (ith

Di$ine


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(or!) 0e may attrib%te the !e&ine of his effi&ien&y soey to e6terna eements" or fee

,erha,s that his !istress arises as a &oroary of some offense he may &on&ei$e himsef to

ha$e &ommitte! a+ainst the !eman!s of (or!y $a%es" rei+io%s !o+ma or someone in

a%thority) Th%s the $ery $irt%es so&ae! of his a too ri+i!" ha,ess" (or!y e+o" !ri$e

him into sti +reater aienation from his essen&e) It &annot be too stron+y %r+e! that e$ery

attem,t to reai8e the tr%e sef is !oome! to fai%re %ness the !e,ths (ithin are &eanse! first).ny thro%+h this &onta&t (ith his essentia bein+ &an man be&ome sensiti$e to (hat is

+en%ine in him" an! as&ertain (hat is nee!f% for his sefreai8ation) .ny by the e6,erien&e

of his essentia bein+ (i he &ome into &onta&t (ith the Di$ine So%r&e of


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,o(er (hi&h" at the same time" ma'es him re&e,ti$e an! o,en to the (hoe of ife) Atho%+h

he is forsa'en by the (or!" somethin+ from beyon! the (or! ma'es him fee at one (ith

e$erythin+ an! someho( %n!er the (in+ of o$e)

S%&h e6,erien&es may be&ome the t%rnin+ ,oint of o%r ife) They are the means by (hi&h

o%r inmost essen&e &an s,ea' to %s) When o%r (or!e+o an! its ,rofi&ien&y fai %s that

,rofi&ien&y (hi&h %nti no( has seeme! to be s%ffi&ient for the f%fiin+ an! masterin+ of

ife bit is then that the inner $oi&es be&ome a%!ibe) It may ha,,en that at the moment (hen

the (hoe frame(or' of o%r ife is s%!!eny shattere! the frame(or' (hi&h (as inten!e! to

,ro$i!e o%r e+o (ith &omfort" meanin+ an! se&%rity the &han&e of somethin+ ne( may

a,,ear) If a man is no( abe to a&&e,t that (hi&h" (ith his >I? aone" he cannot a&&e,t" he

may 7%ite %ne6,e&te!y e6,erien&e the sensation of bein+ borne %, by Di$ine


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as if yo% !i! not see hear as if yo% !i! not hear fee as if yo% !i! not fee ha$e as if yo% ha!

notH? e6er&iti%m? ony after one has f%y mastere! the ne&essary te&hni7%e) Th%s by means of


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this &ontin%o%s re,etition" the tr%e" in(ar! ,erson be+ins to emer+e) In this (ay the or!inary

!aiy ro%n! &an be transforme! into >,ra&ti&e)?

The se&on! &on!ition for this 'in! of ,ra&ti&e &ontin%o%s e6er&iti%m is that a man m%st

be reso$e! an! ,re,are! to ea! his ife in the (or! in a&&or!an&e (ith his inner a(" an!

this means i$in+ his ife in the ser$i&e of trans&en!enta reaity) 0e m%st at a &osts +ras, the

tr%th (hi&h is that ony by bein+ faithf% an! &ommitte! to this ser$i&e &an he be&ome (hoe

+heil*, an!" that as on+ as he &ontin%es to i$e soey for se&%rity an! ha,,iness in the (or!"

he (i be %nabe to !is&o$er the ri+ht (ay) When a that (e 'no( an! !o be&omes a means

for the re$eation of #reater Life in the (or!" then the Way may be attaine!" an! the or!inary

!ay itsef be&ome one sin+e fie! of ,ra&ti&e)


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same time" from be&omin+ atta&he! to anythin+ at a e$en tho%+h in so refrainin+" (e may

fear to ose o%r ho! on o%rse$es) The (or! en&o%ra+es %s to ta' an! to !o interminaby

Di$ine


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B%st as hy,ertension an! sa&'ness hin!er a re&o$ery from ,hysi&a iness" so !o they

obstr%&t man9s sefreai8ation an! inner (e bein+) We a &ome to re&o+ni8e" sooner or

ater" to (hat e6tent the &onstant s(in+ bet(een these t(o &on!itions ,re$ents the formation

of the &entra &ore that is so essentia to o%r bein+) &orre&t? (itho%t a &ertain !e+ree of a(areness of the

res,onsibiity he bears for his tota a,,earan&e +Gestalt#geissen*( If he remains tr%e to his

&ons&ien&e" it is im,ossibe for him to be (itho%t form) The ,ro,er frame of min! a(aysre$eas the &ombination of a tr%stf%" ,assi$e attit%!e an! an a&ti$e attit%!e of in!i$i!%a

res,onsibiity) ;ost ,eo,e ha$e neither" therefore they a&' the two most essentia &on!itions

for bein+ in the ri+ht state of min! an! bo!y: transparency an! true form(

&

;an" as a Person embra&in+ bo!y an! so%" !e$eo,s an! reai8es himsef in e$ery +est%re

he ma'es)


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.n&e" ho(e$er" (e be&ome a(are of the harmf% effe&ts of ba! ,ost%re an! &onse7%enty

stri$e to !e$eo, an! mat%re in a&&or!an&e (ith o%r tr%e nat%re (hi&h means an %nfa++in+

sear&h for the ri+ht &enter of +ra$ity (e be+in to ,er&ei$e in o%rse$es &ertain farrea&hin+

&han+es) We 'no( (itho%t !o%bt that (e are mo$in+ in the ri+ht !ire&tion)

The Ba,anese ha$e a s,e&ia term for that ,art of the bo!y (hi&h is the &orre&t &enter of

man) It is2ara( The (or! 0ara" 'no(n to many thro%+h the e6,ression >0ara'iri"? iteray

means >bey)? 0o(e$er" in its a,,ie! sense" it !es&ribes rather the +enera attit%!e of man"

in (hi&h" free! from his sma e+o reease! from ,ri!e" from the !esire to !ominate" the fear

of ,ain" the on+in+ for se&%rity he be&omes firmy an&hore! in his tr%e &enter) Th%s

&entere!" he is abe to be re&e,ti$e to the for&es of


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the ,erson) We nee! to earn to rea6 o%rsel%es # not ony o%r bo!ies in the ri+ht (ay) This

entais far more than a rea6ation of the m%s&es) Dro,,in+ the sho%!ers an! ettin+ +o of

one9sself in the !ro,,in+ of the sho%!ers are t(o f%n!amentay !ifferent mo$ements) The

one is a te&hni&a e6er&ise" (ith res%ts that are merey e6terna an! ha$e no astin+ effe&t the

other transforms the (hoe ,erson) 0y,ertension bears (itness to the fa&t that (e are &a,ti$e

to the (or!e+o) Th%s it is essentia" in so far as (e are i!entifie! (ith o%r (or!e+o" that(e earn to et +o not ony at those times (hen (e are tense" fri+htene!" >%, in the air? or

!efensi$ey &in+in+ to the %,,er ,art of o%r bo!y b%t at a times an! in a ,a&es) This

sho%! be o%r ,rimary &on&ern)

&

Whene$er (e mana+e to !ro, that e+o (hi&h ho!s %s fast in a state of hy,ertension" it

(i be noti&e! that a &han+e in o%r (hoe ,erson is bro%+ht abo%t) /ormay" (e be&ome

a(are of (ron+ tension ony (hen (e are tro%be! by ,hysi&a hy,ertension)


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Healing Power and Gesture

In man the ,ro&ess of ri,enin+ an! mat%rin+" in &ontrast to the nat%ra ri,enin+ of a fr%it"

is not a&&om,ishe! a%tomati&ay) It re7%ires &ons&io%s &oaboration) In the ream of

instin&ti$e !ri$es" it is nat%re that thr%sts %s to(ar!s the f%fiment of o%r !esires" an! it isony ne&essary for %s to yie! to this irresistibe for&e for s%&h f%fiment to foo() The

same !oes not ho! +oo! in the ream of the s,irit tho%+h here" too" the ,re&on!ition for

any &han+e is that (e are first sei8e! by im,%se) me!itation? &omes from >me!itari"? (hi&h is a ,assi$e form of the $erb

meanin+ J >bein+ mo$e! to the &enter"? rather than the a&ti$e (hi&h is >mo$in+ to the

&enter)?


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an! be&omes an in(ar! 'no(in+ that e6,erien&es itsef as a ,ersona ife &enter an&hore! in

#reater Life) This forms the basis of a ne( &ons&io%sness of the (or! in (hi&h man senses

himsef as bein+ reborn)

G

The transformation (hi&h is the ob@e&t of me!itation is a ,ro+ressi$e ,ro&ess)I!entifi&ation (ith the (or!e+o is s%,erse!e! by i!entifi&ation (ith Di$ine


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.n&e a te&hni7%e has been mastere!" any ina!e7%ate ,erforman&e is mirrore! in (ron+

attit%!es) The tra!itiona 'no(e!+e of the fa&t that it is ,ossibe for a man to be in(ar!y

&eanse! soey thro%+h the ,ra&ti&e of ri+ht ,ost%re has 'e,t ai$e the si+nifi&an&e of &orre&t

sittin+) The inner 7%iet (hi&h arises (hen the bo!y is motioness an! in its best ,ossibe form

&an be&ome the so%r&e of trans&en!enta e6,erien&e) What is it (e are reay ,ra&ti&in+ if" atho%+h

both are affe&te!" it is neither bo!y nor s,irit=? The ans(er to this is that the ,erson (ho

,ra&ti&es" is himsef bein+ ,ra&ti&e!) The one (ho is (or'e! %,on is the Person in his

ori+ina totaity" (ho is ,resent beneath an! beyon! a ,ossibe !ifferentiation into the manyan! $ario%s ,hysi&a" s,irit%a an! menta as,e&ts) In so far as (e re+ar! an! $a%e o%rse$es

as in&arnate ,ersons" &ertain manifestations in o%r ife mo$e from their a&&%stome! sha!o(

into the i+ht of %n!erstan!in+) Th%s o%r moo!s an! ,ost%res ta'e on ne( meanin+) So on+

as (e thin' of bo!y an! so% as t(o se,arate entities" (e re+ar! moo!s sim,y as >feein+s"?

an! oo' %,on bo!iy attit%!es an! breathin+ as merey ,hysi&a manifestations) When" bo(

e$er" the (hoe ,erson is re&o+ni8e! as a >tho%:9 it is no on+er ,ossibe to se,arate the bo!y

from the so%) .n&e it be&omes a 7%estion of transformation" o%r basi& inner moo!s" to+ether

(ith a the +est%res an! ,ost%res that e6,ress them" a&7%ire ne( si+nifi&an&e) They are the

means thro%+h (hi&h (e +ro( a(are of" manifest o%rse$es" an! be&ome ,hysi&ay ,resent

in the (or!)

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We ha$e seen that the ,%r,ose of a ,ra&ti&e is transformation) It is the means (hereby

essentia bein+ is abe %ne7%i$o&ay to ,re$ai in man9s inner an! o%ter ife) 0is ne( state of

min! an! the ra!ian&e that no( foo!s his or!inary e6isten&e &an ,ermit Di$ine


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be&ome a (itness to Di$ine brea'in+ thro%+h? that &om,etey transform o%r reationshi, to ife) The

smaest in&i!ent may e7%ay a&hie$e it) The ,rimary aim of a ,ra&ti&e on the Way is to

,re,are man for s%&h e6,erien&es of ,ea&e? of the (or!e+o" i%strate! by the bo%r+eois aim of a >7%iet ife"?

&omes abo%t (hen a inner mo$ement an! +ro(th ha$e sto,,e!) .f 7%ite a !ifferent 7%aity

is the ,ea&e of inner bein+ an! the ife (hi&h stri$es to manifest itsef thro%+h it) This 'in! of

,ea&e &an ony ,re$ai (here nothin+ f%rther interr%,ts the mo$ement to(ar!s be&omin+) Toa&hie$e s%&h an attit%!e to ife is the aim of a ,ra&ti&e an! me!itation it &an ne$er re,resent

a state of >ha$in+ arri$e!? b%t is a(ays a ,ro&ess of >bein+ on the (ay)? S%&h ,ra&ti&e"

therefore" is by no means a&&e,tabeO to a) There are many )(ho thron+ to the so&ae!

,ro,hets (ho ,romise a &hea, 'in! of ,ea&e to tro%be! man'in!) masters? sim,y

betray nian by hi!in+ from him the rea &a%se of his an6iety" (hi&h ies in the !esire for

transformation inherent in his inmost bein+)

G

0o( &an (e re&o+ni8e the &orre&t state of min!= What are the obsta&es that stan! in the

(ay of a&hie$in+ it= Stran+ey eno%+h" the $ery manner in (hi&h a man !e$eo,s his I(or!

a(areness is one of the &hief obstr%&tions) This is a form of &ons&io%sness in (hi&h the e+o"intent on assertin+ itsef" &onsoi!ates its rationa $ie( of an! ,osition in the (or!) Th%s (e


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see that the !an+er (ith (hi&h s%&h an e+o threatens the mat%rin+ man ies not ony in the

(e'no(n threefo! sin of see'in+ ,ossessions" ass%min+ im,ortan&e an! stri$in+ for

,o(erH The rea &a%se ies rather in the fata h%man ten!en&y to remain stati&) The so&ae!

nat%ra e+o is r%e! by its in&ination to(ar!s an! &a,a&ity for ho!in+ fast to fi6e! ,ositions

that seem to ,romise se&%rity)

Tho%+ht an! ener+y are t%rne! to(ar!s fa&ts that ha$e been rationay estabishe!"

(hether their ,%r,ose be to safe+%ar! ,ossessions in the (or!" to !efen! a system of tho%+ht

or to &in+ to fi6e! $a%es)

Whene$er the i!ea of ho!in+ fast !ominates the min!" ife itsef is in !an+er)


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%natere!) It is ony (hen (e reay hear the s%mmons that reso%n!s in a +en%ine e6,erien&e

of


27/55

G

In oo'in+ at man sim,y as man (e sho%! not ma'e any !istin&tion bet(een his bo!y

an! his so%) If (e are abe to set asi!e this ine$itabe antithesis" (e see thro%+h his most

!ire&t re$eation of himsef is thro%+h his +est%re) In!ee!" his (hoe fie! of mo$ement"

,ost%re an! fa&ia e6,ression ,ro$i!es in&ontro$ertibe e$i!en&e of his inner an! o%ter states)

In res,e&t to o%r (or' (hen (e are on the Way" the manner in (hi&h o%r bo!ies mo$e is $ery

si+nifi&ant" for it is here that (e e6,erien&e o%rse$es not o%t(ar!y b%t in(ar!y) To obser$e

an! re+ister (hat ha,,ens from a ,%rey e6terna stan!,oint is $ery !ifferent from in(ar!y

e6,erien&in+ the rhythms of the breath" an! the inner sensation of mo$ement)

G

Rationa 'no(e!+e has not the same 7%aity as in(ar! 'no(in+) .n the other han!" if (e

are to a&hie$e &arity in o%r inner a(areness" a ba&'+ro%n! of a&7%ire! 'no(e!+e is

essentia) The im,ortan&e" for the ,ra&ti&e of the Way" of the in(ar! 'no(in+ of the bo!y9s

&han+in+ ,ro&esses" &an ony be reai8e! (hen (e %n!erstan! that this bo!y" in its e6istentia

sense" !iffers from the bo!y &om,rehen!e! anayti&ay" i)e)" as an o,,osition of s,irit%a an!

,hysi&a for&es) The bo!iy e6isten&e of a i$in+ man has no reation to the &or,se he ea$es

behin! (hen he !ies) In its o(n (ay the bo!y9s manner of e6isten&e sho(s ho( far a man9s

trans&en!enta bein+ has been abe to e6,ress itsef %n!er the &on!itions of s,a&e an! time)

The &ommon $ie(" (hi&h !ifferentiates bet(een bo!y an! so%"" is the ,ro!%&t of the

anayti&a" rationa min! that &annot" by its $ery nat%re" ,er&ei$e the %nity of the i$in+

,erson) Whene$er man is oo'e! %,on as a thin+ a thin+" moreo$er" o+i&ay !etermine!

(e ost si+ht of him as a Person) It foo(s that if (e !o not ,er&ei$e him as a %ni7%e" i$in+

(hoe" (e not ony &annot he, him on his (ay to sefbe&omin+" b%t (e fa into the fata

!iemma of !%aism) With its rationa !istin&tion bet(een the ,hysi&a an! s,irit%a as,e&ts"

!%aism se,arates man into t(o !ifferent entities) This o+i&a $ie( &an so misea! %s in o%r

,ra&ti&a e$a%ation of ,eo,e that (e ten! to re+ar! another ,erson as im,ortant ony inres,e&t to the si+nifi&an&e of his f%n&tionin+ in the (or! an! to i+nore his e6istentia

re7%irements) To re$erse s%&h metho!s of thin'in+ is far more !iffi&%t than is +eneray

s%,,ose!) 0i+hso%n!in+ ,atoni& ass%m,tions of the %nity of bo!y an! so% are no more

%sef% here than o%r ineffe&ti$e mo!em attem,ts to &oor!inate the ,ra&ti&es of me!i&ine an!

,sy&hoo+y) We sha not a&hie$e any $ai! %n!erstan!in+ of a h%man bein+ by a!!in+ (hat

(e &an !e!%&e from the i$in+ &or,se to o%r 'no(e!+e of the bo!iess ,sy&he) The &on&e,t

of the %nity of bo!y an! so% is the ,ro!%&t of !is&%rsi$e thin'in+) It fais to ta'e into a&&o%nt

that $ita Person (ho is to be met in another as a tho% or e6,erien&e! (ithin o%rse$es as an I)

S%&h an attit%!e ma'es it im,ossibe" either theoreti&ay or ,ra&ti&ay" to &ome to any

%n!erstan!in+ that &o%! !o a man @%sti&e as a i$in+ Person)3

G

When (e meet him as a Tho%" (hen (e are abe to see him in his e6istentia reationshi,

to the (or! an! to ife ony then !oes man as Person a,,ear) It is ,ossibe no( to see him

as an eement in a system of interreate! ,arts (hose or!er has no ree$an&e to the or!er so

!ear to the rationa min!) We &an" in!ee!" ne$er !o a man @%sti&e (ith o%r rationa

%n!erstan!in+ aone: o%r !ire&t ,arti&i,ation in his ife an! s%fferin+ is ne&essary for this)

.ny (hen he is ,resent to %s as a Tho% &an (e fee an! sense him in his ,ersona" h%man

e6isten&e" (here he" i'e o%rse$es" is stri$in+ for ha,,iness" meanin+ an! f%fiment) When

this ha,,ens (e re&o+ni8e in him a brother (ho is aso on the Way" borne aon+" by !estiny"

as (e are" to(ar!s the +oa of be&omin+ a tr%e man (hi&h is to9 say" a Person) A !o&tor for

instan&e" (i ose si+ht of the h%man bein+ if he oo's at the ,atient sim,y as a &ase)3 See 0ans Tr%b" 0ei%n+ a%s !er


28/55

G

At e$ery moment in his ife" man as a Person is bo%n! by his o(n essentia a( to ,%rs%e

his transformation a&&or!in+ to his inner !estiny) It is in the &onte6t of this a( that his

,arti&%ar bo!iy form is to be %n!erstoo! an! e$a%ate!)


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a) Rather" it is a i$in+" mo$in+ an! &han+in+ ,ro&ess (ithin (hi&h he &an remain re&e,ti$e

to(ar!s his essen&e" in s,ite of the fa&t that the bo!iy form he may ha$e at any +i$en

moment is bo%n! by &on!itions of s,a&e an! time) This enabes him to obey the stri$in+ of

his inner bein+ to be&ome manifest" to remain a(ays in a state of transformation an! to

be&ome e$er more ,ermeabe to Di$ine


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The Wheel of Transformation

It is im,ossibe for man to a&hie$e sefreai8ation as a ,erson" %ness he is ,re,are! f%y to

&oo,erate in the ,ro&ess) At ea&h ste, this ,ro&ess !e,en!s on man9s (hoehearte!

&on&%rren&e" for in the on+ r%n sef reai8ation &an ony be the res%t of his &onstant an!tireess ,ra&ti&e) /ot %nti a man has be+%n to ,ra&tise &ontin%o%sy (ith &om,ete a(areness

&an he be sai! reay to ha$e @oine! the Way) From then on the Whee of Transformation

ne$er sto,s t%rnin+) .r" if it !oes sto," it to,,es o$er an! man be&omes st%&' fast an! is

%nabe to mo$e)

The ,ro&ess of transformation &onsists of three sta+es:

1) A that is &ontrary to essentia bein+ m%st be rein7%ishe!)

2) That (hi&h has been rein7%ishe! m%st be !isso$e! in the #ro%n! .f


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1. Critical Awareness

Criti&a a(areness bears %,on a that obstr%&ts o%r &onta&t an! inte+ration (ith essentia

bein+" as (e as a that stan!s in the (ay of tr%e sefreai8ation) Criti&a a(areness is not a

state of min! (hi&h &an be rea&he! on&e an! for a" (itho%t f%rther effort: it is a &ontin%in+

,ro&ess (hi&h has as its aim the +ro(th of &ons&io%sness) It is not to be &onf%se! (ith the

,%rey intee&t%a fa&%ty b%t is" rather" an inner a(areness" an inner 'no(in+ in!ee!" a

transformin+ ,o(er)

For instan&e" to ta'e &o+ni8an&e intee&t%ay of the fa&t that there is a &ontra!i&tion in

(hat (e thin' of as the i!ea ima+e is not at a the same thin+ as be&omin+ in(ar!y a(are

of a (ron+ attit%!e) The atter ,ro&ess is" rather" an in(ar! sensin+ of the (ay in (hi&h" as a

,erson" (e are ri+hty or (ron+y ,resent that is" in harmony (ith or anta+onisti& to o%r tr%e

nat%re) This sensin+ +ro(s more a&%te the more &om,etey (e are &ommitte! to foo(in+

the Way" to i$in+ in a&&or!an&e (ith essentia bein+ an! to obeyin+ o%r inner a()

The &reati$e an! transformin+ ,o(er of &riti&a a(areness !e$eo,s o%t of an inner

a(areness of the bo!y" an! not from some rationa &on&e,tion of (hat (e beie$e

&orres,on!s to or &onfi&ts (ith &orre&t ,ost%re) For this reason transformation be+ins ony

after the ne&essary attit%!e has been in(ar!y e6,erien&e!) Th%s (e fin! that" in or!er to be

effe&ti$e" o%r orientation to(ar!s the Di$ine an! its manifestation (hi&h sho%! be the

fo%n!ation of a other a&tions re7%ires far more than the &on&ei$in+ of an i!ea ima+e an!

systemati&ay stri$in+ to(ar!s it) It is not %nti (e &om,rehen! o%r inner str%&t%re that s%&h

orientation effe&t%ay be+ins to ,ermeate a bo!iy mo$ements) .ny by means of

&ontin%o%s sin+emin!e! effort &an this ,ro&ess in the on+ r%n either brin+ abo%ttransformation or e6&%!e a that stan!s in the (ay of s%&h ,ermeabiity)

&

With re+ar! to the !e$eo,ment of &riti&a sefa(areness" (hat eement in it sho%! (e

&onsi!er most im,ortant to ,ra&ti&e= It is the a(a'enin+ of" the se,aratin+ o%t an!" as it (ere"

the ma'in+ arti&%ate a ne( sense that &an sme o%t inner tr%th) S%&h (or' re7%ires the

!e$eo,ment of a sensiti$ity (hi&h (i enabe %s reiaby to ,er&ei$e a !e$iations from the

tr%e inner or!er) In ,arti&%ar (e nee! to be&ome s%s&e,tibe to that (ithin %s (hi&h 'no(s

beyon! any !o%bt (hether (e are (ron+y or ri+hty &entere!) In this (ay &riti&a a(areness"

bein+ the means by (hi&h (e ,ro+ress" be&omes a&ti$e in ea&h aim an! as,e&t of a man9s

ife) Thro%+h it (e &ome to %n!erstan! that (hat is re7%ire! is the !e$eo,ment of a ne( 'in!of sensiti$ity (hi&h (i enabe %s to sense the &orre&t &enter an! to be&ome a(are of a

!e$iations from it)

&

Fe( ,eo,e" in these !ays" ha$e any feein+ for or %n!erstan!in+ of the ri+ht &enter" e$en

tho%+h there may be &onsi!erabe te&hni&a 'no(e!+e a$aiabe abo%t ri+ht an! (ron+

,ost%re)


32/55

essentia bein+) This re$o%tion aro%n! the tr%e &enter be+ins ony (hen man is abe to

s%stain the ,ro,er in(ar! attit%!e (itho%t sa&'enin+) A !istortion an! oss of the &orre&t

,hysi&a form that form thro%+h (hi&h man is inten!e! to f%fi his ife is &onne&te! (ith

the absen&e of the ri+ht &enter) thin+s"?

the (or! >&enter? has merey a s,atia or ,hysi&a meanin+)

For the >(ho? &ons&io%sness" ho(e$er" >bein+ &entere!? si+nifies a state (herein a man

mo$es &ontin%o%sy to(ar! his innermost nat%re that is to say" his aim is &entere! in his

essentia mission (hi&h is to manifest &enter? has a threefo!

fo%n!ation) It stan!s on thestrengthby (hi&h (e i$e" the meaning aro%n! (hi&h (e re$o$e

an! thefulfillment for (hi&h (e sear&h)

&

Ine$itaby man9s ife is fo&%se! an! no%rishe! by a s,e&ifi& $ita for&e" by sear&h for

in!i$i!%a meanin+ an! by a on+in+ for ,ersona f%fiment) Stren+th" meanin+ an!

f%fiment" ho(e$er" ha$e a !ifferent si+nifi&an&e a&&or!in+ to (hether a man i!entifies

himsef (ith his (or!e+o or (ith his essentia bein+) Stren+th from the stan!,oint of the

(or!e+o is a 7%aity (hi&h enabes man to s%r$i$e heathiy an! effi&ienty in the (or!

meanin+ may +ro( o%t of any 'in! of (or' in&%!in+ ser$i&e to the &omm%nity that is

$ai! in an! re&o+ni8e! by the (or! f%fiment is bro%+ht abo%t by (hate$er finay sets the

min! at rest) When" ho(e$er" man is i!entifie! (ith his essentia bein+" stren+th is the res%tof &onta&t (ith essentia bein+" meanin+ !eri$es from obe!ien&e to the re7%irements of

essentia bein+ an!" on&e he @oins the Way of


33/55

&enter of +ra$ity) Un!erstoo! in the ,ersona sense" >&enter of +ra$ity? !oes not refer to any

s,e&ifi& area" b%t to (hat (e may &a the root of ,ersona or e6istentia ife) /e$ertheess it is

,ossibe to ,er&ei$e (hether or not a ,erson is ,ro,ery roote! in his ,hysi&a bo!y) When a

man has fo%n! this &orre&t &enter of +ra$ity in his bo!y he &an o,en himsef to the for&es that

ie at the essentia &ore of ife an! an&hor himsef therein) The >Qita or Earth Centre of

;an?4&ontains a the ener+ies of the #ro%n! of ,ate"? means the ,e$is) MWhen one says of

someone" >0e is not in his ,e$is"? it si+nifies that at ,resent he is hy,ersensiti$e" irritabe" %nreate! an! easiy !ist%rbe!) Inshort he is %nbaan&e! et&)


34/55

a(areness" (e may bear (itness to it in o%r i$es)

/o matter ho( manifo! nor ho( &om,e6 the manifestations of the earth &enter may be" it

ne$er &eases to s%mmon %s an! entreat) If (e are ,re,are! to isten faithf%y" (e (i

&onstanty hear its &a) It rin+s o%t (ith e7%a fei&ity an! ,romise" no matter (hat the

sit%ation: in &on!itions of @oy or +rief" !earth or e6&ess" an! in the (arnin+ $oi&e of

&ons&ien&e that &ries ao%! to %s (hen (e ose si+ht of o%r inner !estiny)

&

As (e ha$e area!y seen" the &o%nter,art of a (ron+ or a none6istent &entre of +ra$ity is

a ten!en&y to(ar!s hy,ertension" (ith its ine$itabe &om,ensation" !isso%tion) 0y,ertension

is an in!i&ation that the attention is ,re!ominanty &on&erne! (ith see'in+ to &onsoi!ate a

,arti&%ar ,osition) This 'in! of fi6e! attention (i ne$er rea6 its ho! (hie man is he! fast

by his e+o) E$ery ty,e of hy,ertension" e$ery 'in! of &ontra&tion" is an e6,ression of a&' of

tr%st an! re$eas" (hether a&ti$ey or ,assi$ey" attit%!es of sef,rote&tion or resistan&e) S%&h

attit%!es &annot" therefore" be &orre&te! by ,%rey te&hni&a means: ony on+ ,ra&ti&e of the

f%n!amenta +est%re of tr%stf%ness ser$es any ,%r,ose here)

0y,ertension a(ays +oes han! in han!" as it (ere" (ith the 'in! of shao( breathin+ that

ta'es ,a&e in the %,,er ,art of the bo!y) This of itsef is s%ffi&ient e$i!en&e of a man9s

im,risonment in the e+o) It a&'s the &amness an! &om,os%re (hi&h !istin+%ishes one (ho"

bein+ ri+hty &entere!" is in !ire&t &onta&t (ith


35/55

in&orre&t a,,roa&h to ife" the more it is a si+n that (e are inter,enetrate! by the Di$ine

Presen&e) It &an e$en be sai! that this ,resen&e sets free in %s a harmonio%s an! re&e,ti$e

form) A ne( feein+ of &ons&ien&e to(ar!s o%r (ay of bein+ emer+es an! this has as its

&oroary an in&rease in &riti&a) a(areness) E$ent%ay" this sensin+ of (hat is erroneo%s in

o%r attit%!es &oin&i!es (ith the im,%se to et +o that (hi&h is (ron+ or stan!s in the (ay of

the ri+ht attit%!e) The a&tion of steerin+ a bi&y&e or &ar ,ro$i!es an i%strOtion of this) The&ontin%a instin&ti$e a!@%stments that are ne&essary if the $ehi&e is to be 'e,t on a strai+ht)

&o%rse &annot be se,arate! any more than &a%se an! effe&t from the !ri$er9s a(areness of

e$ery min%te !e$iation from the &hosen !ire&tion) The more ,ra&ti&e! he is" the more !oes

his re&o+nition of s%&h !e$iation &oin&i!e (ith his a!@%stments)

G

What !o (e mean by the e6,ression >ettin+ +o=? It is e$i!ent that on the (ay to tr%e

bein+" there are many thin+s from (hi&h (e m%st ine$itaby be ,arte!) This is best e6,resse!

by ;aster E&'hart) A&&or!in+ to him an! it is an an&ient tr%th the ettin+ +o (ith (hi&h (e

are &on&erne! is >the ettin+ +o of o%r e+o)? This mo$ement enabes a man to e6tri&ate

himsef from the net in (hi&h his i!entifi&ation (ith his (or!e+o &ontin%o%sy ensnareshim)

This ettin+ +o of the e+o" ho(e$er" means m%&h more than merey rein7%ishin+ a those

ob@e&ts to (hi&h !%rin+ his ifetime a man has be&ome atta&he!) It entais the +i$in+ %, of the

entire ife ,attern that has re$o$e! aro%n! the >,ositions? ta'en by the e+o) In this ,attern a

o%r thin'in+" feein+ an! !oin+ is orientate! to(ar!s (hate$er is firmy an! finay

estabishe!) Where$er man is he! fast in the +ri, of any stati& system (hether of fa&ts"

attit%!es or $a%es his ife in the (or! is im,ermeabe to its rea meanin+) This meanin+ is

a(ays ,ersona an! is a(ays in the ,ro&ess of transformation) The ony attit%!e thro%+h

(hi&h it &an be !is&o$ere! is one of in(ar! 'no(in+ an! e6istentia reai8ation) >Lettin+ +o?

means forsa'in+ the briian&e of the rationa min! an! enterin+ (hat may be &ae! thesemi!ar'ness of another form of &ons&io%sness in (hi&h is re$eae! an inner i+ht) In this

(ay aone &an the ri+i!ity (hi&h transfi6es a tho%+ht an! beha$io%r be !isso$e! an! the

'in! of thin'in+ that t%rns a thin+s into ob@e&ts" +i$e (ay an! !ie) .ny (hen (e et +o

those attit%!es (herein (e rey soey %,on (hat (e >ha$e" 'no( an! &an !o"? (i there

arise a ne( &ons&io%sness in (hi&h the &reati$e !ynamism of ife is &ontaine!)

G

>Lettin+ +o? re7%ires not ony that (e rein7%ish those ima+inin+s that ha$e !etermine!

o%r %n!erstan!in+ in the ,ast" b%t aso the beha$io%r that &orres,on!s to them) The res%t of

a rationa" e+o&entere! ,oints of $ie( is a 'in! of (if%ness) Therefore the &onse7%en&e

of ettin+ +o m%st be the aban!onment of any attit%!e that ea!s %s to beie$e that e$erythin+!e,en!s %,on o%r o(n >!oin+)?

An" e+o orientate! to(ar!s rationa aims is a(ays &on&erne! (ith notions as to ho( ife

reay o%+ht to be)


36/55

ine$itaby in&om,rehensibe to %s !oes not &orres,on! (ith o%r &on&e,tions as to ho(

thin+s sho%! be) Therefore" the ,rere7%isite for +en%ine faith is to +i$e %, a s%&h

&on&e,tions Tr%e faith !e$eo,s ony (hen ife is a&&e,te! in (hate$er (ay that ,ro$i!en&e"

a(ays in&on&ei$aby" offers it) It is bro%+ht to birth in %s (hen (e are abe to re&ei$e" from

%nfathomabe ife an! abso%te metin+ !o(n? the in&orre&t ,hysi&a ,ost%res (hi&h are

themse$es the in&arnation an! e6,ression of the (or!e+o9s !esire for se&%rity) When this

ettin+ +o o&&%rs it (i be ob$io%s to the most &as%a obser$er from the (ay in (hi&h a man

!ro,s the h%n&he!%, sho%!ers that s,ea' so stron+y of the safetysee'in+ e+o" oosens the

o(er @a( (here the ,o(erf% an! arbitrary sef(i is estabishe!" rea6es the tense bro((herein the e+o9s +a8e is transforme! into a fi6e! stare" (ith!ra(s the rationay !etermine!

eye of the (or!e+o in fa$o%r of the re&ei$in+ an! a&&e,tin+ +a8e of the in(ar! eye" an!

reeases the bey (hi&h (hen ,%e! in" &%ts him off from his basi& ener+y an! ma'es of it

a broa!" f%ent an! firmy roote! bo!y&enter abe to s(in+ freey in the ,e$i& area) It sho%!

be remembere!" ho(e$er" that in tryin+ to o$er&ome fa%ts in ,ost%re (e are not &on&erne!

merey (ith &ram,e! >bo!iy? states" b%t rather (ith the manifo! manifestations of a ,erson

(ho is inhibite! at the &enter" &a%+ht in his (or!e+o an! %nabe to tr%st in ife) For this

reason" if m%s&es are merey te&hni&ay rea6e!" ettin+ +o &an ne$er be a&&om,ishe! in any

astin+ sense sti ess (hen" to(ar!s this en!" %se is ma!e of in@e&tions an! massa+e) It

s%&&ee!s ony (hen man earns to et himsef +o in his ego" (hi&h means to +i$e himsef

tr%stin+y to (hate$er &omes) Where$er a ,arti&%ar tension ma'es itsef ,hysi&ay fet" this

is !%e to the fa&t that the ree$ant in!i$i!%a" thro%+h a&' of ,ro,er tr%st" ho!s himsef in

an! be&omes tense) Lettin+ onesef +o re7%ires" abo$e a ese" the inner &on$i&tion (hi&h

enabes %s to fee" e$en if (e rein7%ish o%r (or!e+o" that (e (i by no means fa into

nothin+ness) .n the &ontrary" (e (i be %,he! by a state of min! (hi&h frees %s from

reyin+ soey on o%rse$es an! o%r rationa min!" an! he,s %s to i$e from essentia bein+

an! to ,arti&i,ate in Di$ine ta'in+ in? to >+i$in+ in)? In ,a&e of the >hi+h"? ,re!ominanty &hest

breathin+ (hi&h se,arates %s from the tr%e &enter" there arises the nat%ra !ia,hra+m

breathin+" (hi&h at one an! the same time iberates ife an! ao(s it to manifest in the tr%e

&enter)

E$ery form of ettin+ +o has a &eansin+ an! transformin+ effe&t" b%t the rea!er sho%! be

remin!e! that this is neither a ,%rey te&hni&a" ,hysi&a e6er&ise nor a (hoy inner ,sy&hi&

,ro&ess) It is a ,ersona +est%re that" in an anayti&a sense" is ,sy&hoo+i&ay an! ,hysi&ay

ne%tra) At o%r ,resent e$e of %n!erstan!in+ it is a too easy to %n!erestimate the

si+nifi&an&e of (or' on bo!iy attit%!es an! to oo' %,on it sim,y as a te&hni7%e forin&reasin+ the sense of bo!iy (ebein+) S%&h a &on&e,tion 7%i&'y ea!s to a sort of


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(ron+yinter,rete! Yo+a an! fasifies the effort by ao(in+ it to be&ome mere ,hysi&a

+ymnasti&s) Pro,ery ,ra&ti&e!" ho(e$er" that (hi&h from an anayti&a ,oint of $ie( may

a,,ear as the reation bet(een inner an! o%ter ,ro&esses is here seen as a t(ofo! e6,ression

of the one the Person)

3. Becoming ne !wit" t"e Ground

What si+nifi&an&e for %s" as the Whee of Transformation t%rns" has the ,hrase >be&omin+

one (ith the #ro%n!?= We ha$e seen that ettin+ +o means rein7%ishin+ the forms an!

str%&t%res (hi&h in the &on!itions of o%r ife in s,a&e an! time ha$e +ra!%ay e$o$e!) These

&on!itions are the means (hereby the (or!y ,ersonaity" re$o$in+ aro%n! fi6e! ,oints an!

,rom,te! by its !esire for se&%rity" maintains itsef by (or'in+ sim,y for itsef or the

&omm%nity) To the e6tent that these &on!itions be&ome &rystai8e!" they obs&%re the $ita

#ro%n!) ;an fees himsef to be b%r!ene! (ith %n%se! ener+ies an! im,%ses that" be&a%se

they ha$e been re,resse!" re&oi %,on him" an! may e$en ,aray8e an! !estroy him)

G

Psy&hoo+i&ay %n!erstoo!" the transformin+ #ro%n! is" in terms of h%man e6isten&e" the

>ream of the mother)? Any %nreso$e! reationshi, bet(een &hi! an! mother &a%ses an

obstr%&tion in this s,here an! hin!ers !e$eo,ment) The effe&t is the same (hen the mother

!enies the (armth ne&essary for the &hi!9s +ro(th" or on the other han! ho!s on to him (ith

a !e$o%rin+" ,ossessi$e o$e) In the first instan&e" (hen the &hi! be&omes a man" he is

inhibite! an! !e,resse! be&a%se he re@e&ts the ,rotests that rise from his !e,ths" !efen!in+

himsef a+ainst them by thr%stin+ them !o(n into the %n&ons&io%s in the se&on!" he !rea!s

the ,o(er of a that embo!ies the #reat ;other in the (or! for fear it sho%! !e$o%r him)

When the #ro%n! has been th%s bo&'e!" he is robbe! of the ,o(ers that rei+n (ithin him forthe ,%r,ose of re!em,tion" ,rote&tion an! transformation) Th%s he be&omes (hoy

!e,en!ent on his (or!e+o" e6,erien&in+ his re,resse! !e,ths as fri+htenin+ for&es that

either ine6,i&aby attra&t him or !emoni&ay t%rn a+ainst him)

.n the other han!" the #ro%n! is aso the bri!+e by (hi&h (e are bro%+ht to e6,erien&e

the materna as,e&ts of Trans&en!enta !eath an!

be&omin+? (hi&h itsef is a ,art of ife)

G

In a a+es Di$ine


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(ith Trans&en!enta stron+ ,ersonaity"? is by no means aso a

&onstanty mat%rin+ Person or one ,ermeabe to Di$ine


39/55

re,ressions" an! by !ire&tin+ them into fr%itf% &hannes rene(s his a&&e,tan&e of the ,o(ers

of the !ee,)

It sho%! be remembere! that the as&ent to the bri+ht ,ea's of tr%e bein+ is a(ays ,re&e!e!

by a !es&ent into the !ar' !e,ths" i)e)" into those areas (hi&h ha$e been thr%st !o(n into the

%n&ons&io%s) It is ony (hen (e ,er&ei$e an! a&&e,t the Sha!o(" an! ,ainf%y re&o+ni8e o%r

erroneo%s res,onses to ife (hen (e ,er&ei$e" assimiate an! i$e thro%+h the ar&hety,a

fi+%res (hi&h ,ersonify the - re,resse! ener+ies the !e$o%rin+ mother et&)" that the (ay

to(ar!s tr%e %nion (ith essentia bein+ is o,ene! an! the ne( sef" born from essen&e"

be&omes free to +ro() A s%&h efforts are f%n!amentay an e6,ression of obe!ien&e to the

s%mmons (hi&h bi!s %s fin! the (ay from o%r state of aienation ba&' to o%r be+innin+s in

other (or!s" to enter into the #ro%n! in or!er to emer+e rema!e in a&&or!an&e (ith essentia

bein+) It is a ,ara!o6" ho(e$er" that (e &an ony !is&o$er o%r tr%e home by reai8in+ the

e6tent to (hi&h" in the (or!" (e ha$e be&ome estran+e! from it) abo$e? that is

to say" from the hi+hest e$e &a,abe of bein+ a&hie$e! by any h%man bein+) ;an is

inten!e!" as his %timate &on!ition" to rea&h s%&h a ,oint his tr%e nat%re is" in fa&t" a(ays

stri$in+ to(ar!s this ,ossibiity) E$en those systems of tho%+ht in (hi&h man is &onsi!ere!" I+eneti&ay s,ea'in+" as at the >bottom"? i)e)" in an %n!e$eo,e! sta+e" are !e%!e! if they are

not orientate! to(ar!s the hi+hest e$e for (hi&h man is !estine!)

G

When (e s,ea' of Trans&en!enta


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#reater Life &onstanty ,enetrates o%r itte ,ersona ife" (ith its &ontin%o%s s%mmons an! its

,o(er of rene(a) This &an sometimes o&&%r (ith s%&h intensity that (e (on!er" ama8e!"

ho( it &an be that the restri&ti$e ,o(ers of the e+o are so often abe to hi!e tr%e #reat E6,erien&e"? the >


41/55

forme! from an! ma!e effe&ti$e by s%&h stati& &on&e,ts as rationa !etermination" the nee! to

&assify an! the habit of thin'in+ in terms of o,,osites" the +ro(th of hi+her &ons&io%sness

(hi&h is &entre! in essentia bein+ is e$i!en&e! by the risin+ %, of stren+th (hi&h &an fa&e

the bottomess abyss an! a&&e,t the &ontra!i&tions inherent in ife (hie at the same time

a!mittin+ the trans&en!enta ,o(ers) When man is o,en to a these" he e6,erien&es s%&h an

in&rease of" stren+th that he is abe to reai8e his o(n essentia form" e$en %n!er (or!y&on!itions)

G

It is ine$itabe that o%r first a,,roa&h to Trans&en!enta Ersterebnisse? First E6,erien&es" in the Festschrift for


42/55

&onse7%en&e" t%rn to that frien! (ho offers him ref%+e an! &omfort an! en&o%ra+es his o!

sef to s%r$i$e) Rather" he (i see' o%t someone (ho (i faithf%y an! ine6oraby he, him

to ris' himsef" so that he may en!%re the s%fferin+ an! ,ass &o%ra+eo%sy thro%+h" it th%s

ma'in+ of it a >raft that ea!s to the far shore)? .ny to the e6tent that man e6,oses himsef

o$er an! o$er a+ain to annihiation" &an that (hi&h is in!estr%&tibe arise (ithin him) In this

ies the !i+nity of !arin+) Th%s" the aim of ,ra&ti&e is not to !e$eo, an attit%!e (hi&h ao(sa man to a&7%ire a state of harmony an! ,ea&e (herein nothin+ &an e$er tro%be him) .n the

&ontrary" ,ra&ti&e sho%! tea&h him et himsef be assa%te!" ,ert%rbe!" mo$e!" ins%te!"

bro'en an! battere! that is to say it sho%! enabe him to !are to et +o his f%tie han'erin+

after harmony" s%r&ease from ,ain" an! a &omfortabe ife in or!er that he may !is&o$er" in

!oin+ batte (ith the for&es that o,,ose him" that (hi&h a(aits him beyon! the (or! of

o,,osites) The first ne&essity is that (e sho%! ha$e the courage to face life, an! to en&o%nter

a that is most ,erio%s in the (or!) When this is ,ossibe" me!itation itsef be&omes the

means by (hi&h (e a&&e,t an! (e&ome the !emons (hi&h arise from the %n&ons&io%s a

,ro&ess $ery !ifferent from the ,ra&ti&e of &on&entration on some ob@e&t as a ,rote&tion

a+ainst s%&h for&es) .ny if (e $ent%re re,eate!y thro%+h 8ones of annihiation &an o%r

&onta&t (ith Di$ine


43/55

to ret%rn to the (or!) An! this im,%se ha!" at the same time" s%&h a%thority that she &o%!

not b%t obey) So she remaine! ai$e)

This in&i!ent sho(s $ery &eary the essentia eements that &hara&teri8e the !a(nin+ of

/e()


44/55


45/55

of obi+ation an! the f%n!amenta on+in+ (hi&h !etermine the ,arti&%ar ,attern of +ro(th

thro%+h (hi&h Di$ine %n!erstan!in+? of &on!itions that ha$e arisen of ne&essity from the

&ir&%mstan&es of s,a&e an! time) If (e ta'e the ine that as (e as ,er&ei$in+ the ori+in of a

man9s error" (e m%st aso e6&%se it" (e may (e be trans+ressin+ the inherent a( of his

,ersona +ro(th) %n!erstan!in+"? &ommiseration an! forbearan&e"

(e may be by,assin+ a man9s &han&e of free!om an! his ,ossibiity of a&hie$in+ ,ersona

res,onsibiity) In the mista'en beief that (e are he,in+ him" (e may in fa&t be barrin+ the

Way of Transformation to him)

It &an ha,,en that a man (ho has misse! the Way to(ar!s the reai8ation of his essentia

sef may so s%ffer as a res%t of this that he is bro%+ht &oser to s,irit%a birth than someone

(ho has been !enie! this s,e&ia 'in! of an+%ish) That man (ho fees himsef ost in %tter

!ar'ness in the (or! (hi&h" so on+ as he is &a%+ht in his e+o" thr%sts him into fear" !es,air

an! oneiness" may be the one %ni7%ey rea!y to hear the &a of his essentia bein+ rea!y to

res,on! to the s%mmons that" brea'in+ thro%+h his e+oshe" brin+s him to the a(areness ofhis inner &ore) Th%s" (hen someone entr%ste! to o%r &are has faen" ,erha,s" into %tter

!es,air an! rea&he! the imits of his aienation from Di$ine


46/55

nat%re" or (hen his easy a!a,tabiity to the (or! by seemin+ to ma'e s%&h &onta&t

%nne&essary hin!ers it) .n the other han! the $ery fa&t of bein+ &onfronte! (ith the innate

ima+e reeases a mira&%o%s atransformin+ ,o(er) We may therefore &onfi!enty tr%st in

the heain+ for&e of the innate ima+e an! rey on it not ony to !isso$e the ,ainf% ri+i!ity of

o%r mista'en res,onse to ife &on!itions" b%t aso to reease the &reati$e ,o(er of the #ro%n!)

G

The emer+in+ an! %nfo!in+ of the innate ima+e" an! the ,ro&ess of be&omin+ one (ith it"

is not ony an inner e6,erien&e: the bo!y itsef %n!er+oes transformation at the same time) We

&an" in this res,e&t" s,ea' of >the &or,oreaity of the innate ima+e)?


47/55

The man (ho" as a res%t of bein+ in a&&or! (ith his innate ima+e" is +en%iney ,resent"

im,resses a (ho meet him) Re,resentin+" as he ines&a,aby !oes" their o(n embo!ie!

&ons&ien&e" he be&omes for them a mirror in (hi&h their o(n sear&h is refe&te!) For (ithin

e$ery man ies the ho,e an! the (ish that he may not ony be !es&ribe! b%t &haen+e! by

his best eements this is tr%e e$en (hen" as a res%t of %nfort%nate &ir&%mstan&es" any

!istortion in himsef mi+ht seem to be @%stifie!) F%n!amentay o%r on+in+ for essentia sefreai8ation is a(ays stron+er an! !ee,er than the !esire to be a&7%itte! of o%r short&omin+s)

G

From the moment in (hi&h man en&o%nters his innate ima+e an! hears its s%mmons" it

be&omes ne&essary for him to hee! the &a) It is not eno%+h to ha$e been momentariy sei8e!

by it) .f o%r o(n free &hoi&e (e m%st aso affirm an! !e&i!e freey to a&&e,t the im,%se

from Essentia


48/55

Eastern (or! from In!ia to Ba,an me!itati$e sittin+ is the fo%n!ationstone of a s,irit%a

,ra&ti&e) S%&h sittin+" ho(e$er" sho%! not be tho%+ht of as bein+ the ,rero+ati$e ony of

Eastern man) There is no one" in the East or the West (ho" &riti&ay a(are an! ,ra&ti&in+

&orre&t sittin+" !oes not $ery soon reai8e by obser$in+ his ,ost%re" tensions an! breathin+

that there is somethin+ (ron+ (ith his (ay of e6istin+) This reai8ation +oes far beyon!

mentay notin+ his ,hysi&a !istortions) Its ,rime ,%r,ose is to ma'e a man a&ti$ey a(are ofhis (ron+ attit%!es" an! his (hoe (ay of bein+ in the (or!) What 'in! of ,ost%re !o yo% &a that=? ine$itaby there (o%! be ,rotest)

Yo%n+ ,eo,e" in ,arti&%ar" i'e to ma'e it &ear that they are not in fa$or of the >sit%,

strai+ht? attit%!e) It remin!s them %n,easanty" they may say" of an a%thoritarian father) This

is &ertainy %n!erstan!abe)


49/55

rea!y an! abe to res,on! to ife (itho%t either fear or ,res%m,tion) 0ere is a &ase in ,oint)

Some time a+o" a yo%n+ 0%n+arian (ho ha! been har!hit by ife &ame to &ons%t me) U,

to the a+e of fo%rteen" (hie +ro(in+ %, at boar!in+s&hoo" he b%it %, s%&h an i!ea ima+e

of his on+absent mother that she be&ame for him" in his min!9s eye" the most ,erfe&t of

o$in+ ,arents) 0o(e$er" (hen he met her in the fesh" he (as sho&'e! to fin! that she t%rne!

o%t to be for him at any rate a that he most hate!) The for&e of his !isa,,ointment

,%n+e! him into the roe of the ,er,et%a a$en+er" of one in(ar!y &om,ee! to !estroy

(hat he o$es an! to !e$a%e an! !ebase those thin+s that others ho! sa&re!) To+ether (ith

a this" he (as immensey taente!" a s%&&essf% !esi+ner an! a&tor" an! a f%y traine!

!an&er) It (as this ast fa&tor his !an&in+ that ma!e it ,ossibe for me to yie! to his

re7%est that I sho%!" (itho%t insistin+ on any ,reiminary trainin+" tea&h him the ,ra&ti&e of

>0ara)? So" I %n!ertoo' to sho( him ho( to &ome to his tr%e &enter) The ,ro&ess of ettin+ +o

(as no ,robem for him his !iffi&%ty ay in stan!in+ %,ri+ht &orre&ty an! ao(in+ the tr%e

form that &orres,on!e! to his innate ima+e to emer+e) At ast" ho(e$er" he (as abe to !o this

&orre&ty" an! I eft him stan!in+ there" in the mi!!e of the room" ettin+ him ta' to me (hie

I mysef sat !o(n) I %se! this as a test in or!er to !is&o$er (hether" (hen eft to himsef" he(o%! imme!iatey fa ba&' into his o! !estr%&ti$e rebeions attit%!es) In fa&t" the o,,osite

o&&%rre!) Sin&e he (as in the >ri+ht ,ost%re? it !i! not (o%n! his feein+s to be eft stan!in+)

In!ee!" to my astonishment" he s%!!eny" b%t ,oitey" interr%,te! my &on$ersation by sayin+:

>I m%st te yo% somethin+) A $ery stran+e b%t" I beie$e" im,ortant thin+ is ha,,enin+ to me)

At this moment I am e6,erien&in+" for the first time in my ife" (hat is ,robaby &ae!

h%miity)? An! no(" I sa( for the first time the i+ht of tr%th in his eyes)

This" of &o%rse" (as ony a >first e6,erien&e? an! s%&h an o&&%rren&e by itsef !oes not

si+nify transformation) ,%re +est%re)?

This" of &o%rse" &an aso ha,,en !%rin+ ,ra&ti&e" (itho%t" as in the &ase abo$e" bein+ reate!

to s%&h !iffi&%t ife ,robems)

&. Proof and Practice in Everyday Life

If a man is to +ro( into a Person it &an ony be by re,eate! reso%tions of the ,ainf%

&ontra!i&tions bet(een the transformation (hi&h the a( of his essentia bein+ re7%ires of

him" an! his !esire to &in+ to those a&7%ire! metho!s of a!a,tation that seem tho%+hmista'eny to set him free from fri&tion) E$en (hen a man has rea&he! the hi+hest ,ossibe

,oint of his !e$eo,ment" he is abe to res,on! to the &aims of s%,erhistori&a" or abso%te"


50/55

Pra&ti&e may be tho%+ht of as ha$in+ a t(ofo! as,e&t: firsty" (e m%st at s,e&ifi& times

abstra&t o%rse$es from the !aiy ro%n! an! by &orre&t breathin+ or me!itati$e sittin+ ,ra&ti&e

ettin+ +o" in or!er to a&hie$e oneness an! to be ma!e ne( se&on!y" (e m%st i$e the

or!inary !ay as ,ra&ti&e) Ea&h of o%r !aiy a&tions not ony has an e6terna im,ort (ith

re+ar! to its ine$itabe res%ts in the (or! b%t" by the manner in (hi&h it is &arrie! o%t" it aso

re$eas an inner si+nifi&an&e an! ,ro$i!es an o,,ort%nity for inner +ro(th) .n&e a man is onthe Way" e$ery a&t an! e$ery tas' &an be the means by (hi&h the Whee of Transformation

a&hie$es another re$o%tion)


51/55

(e meas%re him a+ainst his innate ima+e" ma'in+ ao(an&es for (hat he may ha$e s%ffere!"

(e may ,erha,s ,%t asi!e o%r &riti&ism of (hat" thro%+h (or!y &on!itions" he has be&ome"

an! fee o%rse$es bo%n! to a!mit: >


52/55

%s" an! (ith ea&h ne( insi+ht into o%r Mfai%res" the fifth ste, on&e more be&omes the first)

For it is thro%+h >&riti&a a(areness? that (e are enabe! to reai8e ho( an! (hen (e e6ist

an! beha$e in a manner %nbe&omin+ to one (ho bears (itness to Di$ine Life)

G

Di$ine 0o( is one s%,,ose! to ,ray=? >Can yo% 'nee=? I as'e! her) ;y 7%estion m%st ha$eto%&he! her on a sensiti$e s,ot" for she retorte! irritaby" >What !o yo% mean=? >It is 7%ite

sim,e"? I sai!) >Yo% @%st 'nee !o(n by yo%r be! an! +i$e yo%rsef %, &om,etey) . . . At

that she trembe!" rose from her seat an! eft the room" (itho%t a (or! of +oo!bye)

The ne6t !ay she re,orte! Mthe foo(in+ in&i!ents) After she ha! eft me" she ha!" she sai!"

sta++ere! as if str%&' by a bo(" then s%!!eny she ha! be+%n to r%n" faster an! faster" %nti"

arri$in+ at her Mhote" she storme! %, the stairs" o&'e! her !oor an! fe9 %,on her 'nees) An!

then >it ha! s%!!eny &ome o$er her)? She !i! not %n!erstan! (hat ha! ha,,ene! a she

'ne( (as that in this ,ost%re she ha! been ,o(eress an! as it (ere" e6tin+%ishe!" an! at the

same time !ei$ere! %, to somethin+ that ,rote&te! her" an! yes" no( she 'ne( (hat it (as

a abo%tHThis is an e6am,e of the heain+ ,o(er of ,%re +est%re)


53/55


54/55

Di$ine


55/55

APPENDIX

Terminology

It sho%! be %n!erstoo! for the ,%r,oses of this boo' that (e !istin+%ish bet(een the

&on!itione! (or! of manifestation" i)e)" the reaity of time an! s,a&e" an! that (hi&h is

(hoy %n&on!itione! the reaity ofDi%ine Being( This %n&on!itione! reaity is" in effe&t"

the essen&e of a that e6ists) The manifestation of any i$in+ thin+ is ine$itaby the res%t of

the inte+ration of t(o ,oes" the one re,resentin+ that (hi&h is &on!itione! by time an!

s,a&e" an! the other Di$ine

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Karlfried Graf Von Dürckheim - The Way of Transformation

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