Phase 11 - Change, Transformation, and Realization

Outline for Phase 11:  Jan-Mar 2013

Self-development and spiritual development take place in three quite different but mutually supportive ways. We might provisionally call these three ways

  • Change – mostly having to do with functioning on a higher level
  • Transformation – having to do with developing a higher level of being
  • Realization – a strengthening of our will, our understanding, our creativity and our ability to ‘see’

Most people are familiar with self-help programs that focus on change. Typical approaches involve goal setting, self-help groups, training programs, visualization, repeating aphorisms, developing new skills, and so on.  In general the objective is to function on a higher level.

The aim of transformation is quite different.  Instead of trying to do more (in a functional sense) we try to “be more”.  In the contradictory language often used for this level of development we can say we are trying to become what we already are.  The “methods” usually employed include meditative techniques, breath control, zikr, devotional practices and many other inner exercises.

The third area, what we might call realization, is a bit more difficult to describe.  It’s sometimes referred to as ‘enlightenment’. In a moment of realization or enlightenment nothing is different, and yet everything is different. We can’t really say that we have more being or more functional abilities, it’s just that we ‘see’ the world differently. A better description is that we create, enter and live in a different world.

The 4th Way is a path of accelerated development. This ‘acceleration’ is partly achieved through the mutually catalytic action that each of these modes of development has on the other two.

In summary this next phase of our work is about coming to understand…

  • The difference between these three modes of development
  • How they mutually reinforce each other when we work in a balanced way
  • How they ultimately hinder each other when our development becomes unbalanced
  • What we need to do to achieve and maintain a balanced approach to Work

We will make extensive use of the enneagram, J.G Bennett’s schema for the different levels of selfhood, exercises to gain direct experience with the Physical, Astral and Causal worlds, understanding latifas and much more.The enneagram shown below will provide a starting point for our enquiry.