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.