Summary of Points
- Definition of 'a way'.
- There are Four Ways.
- Explanation of Each Way.
- Why the Fourth Way.
- Fourth Way offers the possibility for Full Development.
- Definition of School.
- Four Types of Schools.
- Gnosis as Fourth Way and School
A Way
The most complete sense of the word we understand 'a way' as being the knowledge and means to fully develop a human being's human and spiritual potential. Elevating that human being to transcendental states of knowing and being.
In a less complete sense a way is any attempt to develop a human being's psychological and spiritual knowledge, values and powers. This way may be successful, partly successful or not successful, all depending on the knowledge available and the means employed by the people of that way.
Four Ways
There are four known ways (see definition of 'a way') of spiritual development.
1. Way of the Fakir
2. Way of the Monk
3. Way of the Yogi
4. Fourth Way
Outline of Four Ways
Each way has a different: centre of gravity, physical location, goals, motivations, perspective of seeing God, practices and rites, conditions and results.
The four ways in times gone by formed a complete system. The process was that the aspirant would start following the way of the fakir, then move to develop the way of the monk, then the way of the yogi and finally the fourth way.
Each of these ways can be considered serious and authentic ways to achieve something spiritually real. As all of these ways require the aspirant to invest his or her life into the way of life and practice of the way. Which implies a very strong and constant discipline.
All the ways are against the nature of everyday life, which they have to be, as spiritual development itself is a revolution of the common state of consciousness that governs normal everyday life.
What follows is the classical description of each way.
Description of the Four Ways. Include the different characteristics of each. Which further includes the different centres of gravity, different locations, different goals, different motivations, different perspective of God, different practices and rites, different conditions to be a fakir, monk, yogi, fourth way, different results etc.
Fakir
Development of physical will. Subject the body to very difficult tasks. Requiring tremendous physical effort to achieve them. Examples, a fakir raising one arm and never lowering it. Another fakir adopted the 'table' position and never left it. The goal is the acquisition of such a degree of will to hold complete dominion over the body. Fakirism is usually practiced in small communities in the mountains, river banks outside the cities and townships in the Orient, mostly in India. They are many false fakirs that are simply showmen who walk on fire and sleep on beds of nails etc. Ouspensky said that most of these fake fakirs achieve their 'prodigies' through hypnosis. Besides the development of physical will the fakir wishes to pay his/her karmic debts - making the practices of fakirism an act of penance. Which is seen as a way of getting of purification taking one closer to God. Fakirs leave their everyday life behind, which includes their families, their jobs, their towns etc. They take vows of celibacy and often vows of silence. It is against nature and normal life and it is even against God, because fakirism tortures and ruins the physical body which is a temple of the Divine in us. So the fakir develops will in the physical sphere and in relation to the motor centre, however the fakir does not know and does not know how 'to know' nor does he or she know how 'to feel'. It is a way of incomplete development. In short, it shows us clearly that physical will and a physical discipline is needed for spiritual development yet that is only the beginning, the other spheres of ourselves need developing. This way again can be seen as selfish. It serves only a very small community and often fakirs do not have disciples or only ever very few. When they do have disciples the disciples serve the basic needs of the fakir.
Monk
Development of emotional will through emotional unity. The work of the monk is one of unifying all of his/her emotions into the love of God. All inferior emotions and emotions not related to God are overcome through the love of God. The end results is unified love for God where contradictions have been overcome and are no longer present. Monks renounce their normal life and enter a monastery of which there are numerous all over the globe. Monks take vows of poverty, celibacy and obedience to the order they belong to. Monks submit their will to the order and the superiors of the order. They work intensely with service, obedience, devotion and develop through prayer, ceremony, contemplation, worship their love for God. They also develop mysticism which has at its base the love for God. Though obedience and service one draws closer to God. In short the way of the monk shows us that to walk towards the Divine a love of the Divine is needed. Not just any love but an ardent love that takes one over. We also see that the monk is not everything, as the monk has a depth and richness of feeling towards God but lacks knowledge and the power to do. The other spheres of development are needed. If a fakir becomes a monk, such a person has the power to do and to feel but lacks knowledge. This way is against nature, everyday life and
Yogi
Development of knowledge and mental will. The yogi using study and meditation, comes to know and develop a unity of mind, where through a tremendous discipline the yogi has achieved dominion over his or her mind. At will the mind can be focused on God and not stray for several days. Yogis develop mental discipline and consequently do achieve awakening of consciousness. They come to know and experience much of what is occult. They live in Ashrams, temples and on the outskirts of cities and even in remote areas. They know occult anatomy and achieve samadhi through meditation. In the end they know much however they lack the power to do. Because the physical will is not fully developed. They leave behind their everyday life with their family, their occupation and they take vows of poverty, celibacy and sometimes isolation. Some do and some don't have disciples, it is not a requirement of the way. It can be seen like the others as a way that is selfish.
Fourth Way
The development of the consciousness. It was seen that each of the three ways of fakir, monk and yogi would often take a lifetime to master. Which is too long and death would wipe away all that was achieved. One would die and often not return as a fakir, monk or yogi to continue the way. So a way that developed all the aspects of the human being simultaneously was needed. Through the development of the consciousness this is achieved. The consciousness is developed in the fourth way through the dissolution of the pluralised "I" and the awakening of the freed consciousness. To enter a monastery, leave everyday life, take vows of silence, celibacy, poverty is not needed to practice the fourth way.
Fourth Way in More Detail
Working to free and awaken the consciousness is a work that actually touches every aspect of the human being and simultaneously develops all the innate qualities of the human being. Everyday life touches every aspect of ourselves, whereas living in a monastery for example, removes the conditions for every aspect of ourselves to be worked on.
The fourth way offers the quickest way of spiritual development as one does not have to go through the three other ways.
The work of the fourth way can be done in a lifetime. It is not a selfish way it takes into account other human beings. That is why it is also quicker because it activates the law of reciprocity, meaning that more we give the more we receive. The other three ways don't activate the law of reciprocity this way: give light to receive light.
The other interesting point has to do with the use of the sexual energy. The other three ways don't work with the sexual energy. They do not have the knowledge to intelligently work with it for spiritual development. They instead work to overcome the sexual impulse to not be distracted by it.
The fourth way has the practice of Alchemy or transmutation as one of its foundations. The practice of Alchemy is a practice for all the centres of the human machine, in other words to practice alchemy means to practice the way of the yogi, monk and fakir. One certainly needs physical discipline, devotion to the Divine within and mental discipline to practice the Alchemy.
If we analyse a little the esoteric teachings of the main religions and the occult societies we find that they coincide with the fourth way. Esoteric Christianity, esoteric Islam, esoteric Buddhism (tantra) masonry and the authentic yogas all coincide with the fourth way as they work on dissolving the pluralised "I" and practicing the Alchemy.
There are many attempts at reaching more spiritual or higher states of consciousness that people naturally seek out which fall into one of these four ways. Where these higher states of consciousness allow people to experience the feelings of oneness, connectedness to nature, greater lucidity and peace... A good example of this are the various popular attempts to fall into the way of the fakir. To name a few of these we have: surfing, mountain climbing, rock climbing, cross country running, hiking, skiing etc. when done for that spiritual like feeling or experience. These are degenerations of those ways yet it shows that these ways are deeply present in the psyches of people. There are other degenerations that fall into the way of the monk and yogi.
Another interesting point about the fourth way is that it has no fixed or set location on the globe. A fourth way movement with its schools appears at a specific location on the globe to fulfill a mission and after that mission has been fulfilled it withdraws, whereas the other three ways have very fixed locations.
(In general this explanation of the fourth way has to show that the fourth way is very different and has different aims. means and results and its aims and results are more transcendental than the previous three.)
Here below are some excerpts taken from a book: Gurdjieff: Key Concepts written by Sophia Wellbeloved.
A School
What is out there that really helps people to develop their hidden possibilities and to evolve (raise their self-knowledge and level of Being)?
There are: books, workshops, talks, classes, groups (of all kinds: study, practice, discussion etc.), activities such as meditations, worship and ceremonies, religions, teachers, churches, healings, meetings etc. Out of all of them the ones that are most effective at evolving the human being are schools, that is the system where there is a teacher, students and an organised didactic of instruction.
In conclusion to this point, what really gives results is the system of a school. In life what produces serious results are schools. No doctor, lawyer, engineer, plumber or electrician is let lose to serve the public until they have passed through a school of some kind: medical school, law school etc. As schools produce serious and real results in human life, schools produce serious and real results in the life of the spirit.
A school is needed to help develop the human being to its full spiritual potential. A school teaches what and how. In other words people need to be taught about spirituality and about how to practice it. Even Jesus it was said travelled and learnt from many different schools such those in Tibet, Egypt, Greece etc.
What is a school? A school is not a conventional religion. It is an organization that has a teacher, students, objectives and methods to achieve those objectives. Those objectives in this context are the awakening and liberation of the essence and the incarnation of the spirit.
For more information about an esoteric school please refer to this link below, which links to a post on this blog about esoteric schools.
For more information about an esoteric group please refer to this link below, which links to a post on this blog about esoteric groups.
Esoteric Group Fourth Way Notes - 4648
Four Types of Schools
It is almost impossible to list all the spiritual schools, religions, religious sects, spiritual doctrines, movements, teachings that there are on the Earth but we can list the different types of schools.
Master Samael is so clear about each type of school. For example he is so clear about which schools in the world fall into the kindergarten type of school. Read his lecture "Types of Spiritual Schools".
Kindergarten Schools
The kindergarten schools are the ones that deal superficially with spirituality. Their knowledge and methods do not go to the root causes of humanity problems and their knowledge and methods do not delve deep enough to the depths of the human being and the universe to solve the profound spiritual riddles.
Kindergarten schools are useful in the sense that they introduce spirituality and give a person their start into spirituality. They introduce one to the Law of Karma, to perceiving the subtle forces of nature, to meditation, to past lives, healing, the chakras, metaphysical phenomena etc. Many great spiritual leaders of the past had their start in one of these type of schools.
The question is that such schools can only lead a person to develop so far. There is a definite limit that if one wants to develop further one must find another school. The problem is not to get stuck. Such schools are to be graduated from, however it is common that people get stuck in the pleasantries of such schools and consequently their spiritual development stagnates.
Most of the modern spiritual type schools and movements these days fall into either the kindergarten or black magic type.
Often the problem with the kindergarten schools is as Master Samael says, is that the members have lust and that detracts from the integrity and effectiveness of these schools and their methods and aims. Mystical pride is also another common problem in such schools, as often its members believe themselves to be greater than what they actually are.
Another name for the kindergarten schools are the pseudo-esoteric schools.
Pseudo-Esoteric Schools
Often these schools were once Fourth Way schools that had completed their mission and those individuals that kept the revelation and profound traditions alive withdrew and slowly the school became cold losing its flaming heart that shone light and radiated energy into the school and humanity. What remains of them now are physical buildings and some truths. A good example of this is the Theosophical society.
In the pseudo-esoteric schools there is a lot of half-truths being taught and often lies. This is often because the real knowledge has been long lost and because people are not ready to assimilate the truth.
Some real esoteric schools became pseudo schools due to scandal related to the teaching and practice of the Arcanum A.Z.F. Such as with the yoga schools, that originally taught the Arcanum A.Z.F in the ashrams but due to abuse then scandal, the Arcanum A.Z.F was withdrawn to only be taught and practiced within the inner circle in secret, leaving the public to find an outer shell of the core yoga knowledge.
Schools that Crystallise soul
Schools that work to dissolve the psychological "I". Through the dissolution of the psychological "I" one develops soul. The instructor of such schools is one who ideally has created and possesses soul. His or her work is to lead the students to possess their souls and awaken their consciousness. It is taught that when one creates soul one can then awaken consciousness.
Schools that Crystallise Soul and Spirit
These are schools of regeneration. A school of regeneration is one that practices the three factors for the revolution of consciousness. A school where the Divine Alchemy is taught and practiced and the esoteric initiatic path is developed.
Gnosis is such a school and the 8 yogas were such schools back in the time when the Alchemy was a part of their curriculum.
Schools that teach how to crystallise soul and spirit are schools of regeneration that teach the three factors which are: psychological death, birth and sacrifice for humanity. Such schools lead to the full development of the human being.
Black Magic Schools
Schools that clearly teach the loss of the sexual energy and are devoted to the use of magical practices and ceremonies in various forms to advancing the cause of matter, that is money, power and sex.
When a school advocates the loss of the sexual energy and has practices around this, then without doubt according to Gnostic principles it is a black school. Even if there is a school with no knowledge of the sexual energy their members are losing the sexual energy and so they are black.
There are two types of black magic schools, those that know what they are and those that do not know. Those that know are those that are serious and dedicated and have knowledge but not being. Those that do not know may not want to strengthen the ego and develop the kundabuffer but through their methods, practices and beliefs they do.
Interesting School Notes
Gurdjieff said that it is difficult to find one schools that taught everything. He said that to learn philosophy one would have to go India, to learn theory to Egypt and to learn and develop practice to Persia, Turkey and the Middle East. Fourth Way school integrates all of these aspects.
Three Types of Churches
Three types of churches (just for personal knowledge not for the lecture)
1. Failed Church
2. Militant Church
3. Triumphant Church
See the links below to posts in this blog about the three churches.
Three Churches and Three Circles - 4037
Objectives
Two objectives of this talk:
The first objective is to introduce the fourth way as the way and how it functions and how it is practiced. The teaching of the four ways was originally presented by Gurdjieff as being the only way for a human being to evolve and develop of all its hidden possibilities. That is why we present this lecture on the four ways, because it is 'the way', the only way now, as all the religions and occult societies have now failed.
The second objective is to lay out on the table all the types of spiritual schools that exist. Then show where Gnosis as a school sits amongst them all.
Present the nature of the study and practice of Gnosis. Intelligent reference to what is studied in other schools can be made use of, to show how the Gnostic studies differ. Intelligent use means not to attack.
Present the objectives of the Gnostic studies. Intelligent reference can be made to the known objectives of other schools or spiritual movements to better highlight the objectives of Gnosis.
Basically it is a talk that is introducing Gnosis, giving the listener a clear and informed look into what one is to expect if one continues studying Gnosis. In terms of the nature (practical and esoteric) of the Gnostic knowledge, its aims, how it is practiced and how it will impact one's life, and what it leads one to become (a normal person on the outside with a normal external life but with a very deep and rich inner life perceived and illuminated by an awakened consciousness).
In short, this talk informs, captures the yearnings and aims to win the human and spiritual trust of the listener.
References
"Types of Spiritual Schools" by Samael Aun Weor
"Gurdjieff: Key Concepts" by Sophia Wellbeloved
"Self-Remembering" by Robert Earl Burton
"Search of the Miraculous" by P.D. Ouspensky
End (4623).
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