Study: we continue our study of Esoteric Psychology, this month studying "STIMULATION" problems, those caused by the invocation of spiritual force through meditation. "Meditation" in this case can apply to concentrated mental focus on a topic not necessarily spiritual. The problem is caused by intense mental focus, that draws in fiery energies, that the receiving fields are unaccustomed to. This disrupts their normal rhythm.
Raja Yoga Meditation: this month we study RULE three - FIERY ASPIRATION. This fire serves to purify our nature and is like a spiritual accelerant, hastening the rate of our spiritual evolution. However, if we draw in too much fire, more that the bodies can handle, over-stimulation occurs.
STUDY – ESOTERIC PSYCHOLOGY 2
Q1. What is the difference between “energy” and “force” as understood esoterically. And why then should this soul energy pouring in, cause the various problems which we group under the heading “stimulation”?
The difference between ‘energy’ and ‘force’ esoterically:
· ‘Energy’ refers to activity of the spiritual realms and of spiritual entities as the soul.
· ‘Force’ refers to activity of the form and of the physical entities in the physical plane.
Energy: Energy is neutral, neither positive nor negative. When energy interacts with a substance of some kind, it becomes qualified according to the vibration level of this substance. Soul for instance, is a vibrating center of energy. Soul energy is expressed in its pure quality when our personality substance has been purified no longer diminishes or distorts it.
When energy moves through denser substance (what we call form) it becomes force.
Soul energy pouring causes various problems of stimulation because soul energy is of higher vibration and that can speed up the atoms composing the personality’s lower bodies. If the personality’s vehicles are not purified enough or adjusted properly to adopt this higher vibration inpouring, reactions can occur.
Q2. You are given brief fictional experiences of eleven people, each of whom suffers from one or other of the variations of the problem “stimulation”. Choose 3 of the examples. For each person, identify the problem/s that you think that person is suffering from; giving the symptoms that justify your choice. Then briefly, the therapy required for each.
1. Judith
The psychological problem that Judith is suffering from is Mental Extrovert (intense mind stirring up desire nature). The symptoms are talking non-stop, not being still, racing around going to this meeting and that lecture, not being stable emotionally with up and down and exhausting being around her.
Suggested therapy:
- Practice mindfulness techniques, especially mindful listening and mindful speaking.
- Meditate for inner peace and for connecting with her own soul and developing wisdom.
Stimulation - Illumination - over-activity of the mind in its four expressions - strain on the system, a new phenomenal world disrupts
2. James
The psychological problem that James is suffering from is Sectarianism, rigidly adhering to a set of doctrines (anti-meat-eating) and intolerant of other views. The symptoms are lecturing everyone on every occasion, criticising them for not supporting his views and for not eliminating meat from their diets.
Suggested therapy:
- Some wise, patient and inclusive person should present to him a wider vision for being more tolerant and respecting different views of others.
- Meditate to connect with his own soul to develop wisdom for a more holistic vision.
Stimulation - illumination - Illusion. Characterises those who are more intellectual than emotional. It is the misunderstanding of ideas and thought forms, and of misinterpretations. Victims can become controlled by thoughtforms, which produce separation, divisiveness and fanaticism
3. Anne
Anne is suffering from the psychological problem of Guidance. The main sources of this can be: contact made with thought forms on the mental or astral planes, then interpreted as instructions coming from an enlightened source, Voice of God; the subconscious "wish life" may be brought to the surface, and interpreted as extraneous guidance and as being the Voice of God; or latent spiritual aspirations and tendencies from previous lives, brought to the surface through group stimulation, and regarded as being divine injunctions from God.
The symptoms are talking often about receiving special messages from Jesus, relying on this advice to the extent that she won’t use her God given mind to think problems through or to act without the voice speaking to her; believing that she is one of God’s special people, chosen to ascend into heaven at Judgment Day.
Suggested therapy:
- Develop critical thinking and careful analytic thinking to evoke the intellectual mind
- Reject all contacts or messages that feed the ego and the sense of being superior or special.
- Cultivate a spirit of true humility
Stimulation - illumination - Illusion. Characterises those who are more intellectual than emotional. It is the misunderstanding of ideas and thought forms, and of misinterpretations. Victims can become controlled by thoughtforms, which produce separation, divisiveness and fanaticism
Q3. What have you personally gained in your understanding about yourself and others, as a result of this two month study of psychology problems from an esoteric perspective?
Esoteric Psychology is really profound and it has opened my mind a lot, bringing to me awareness on many psychological problems. Especially most interesting to me are the problems of integration and stimulation, as without studying, I would not be able to consider it as ‘problems’. These again remind me of critical thinking, of careful discrimination among illusion, glamour and maya, of being modest and of the middle way, the way of balance and avoid going to any extremes.
I’ve learned that the key to solve these psychological problems is through meditation, discipline and service. Only when the character is purified, the physical body is fit and the person is free from personality control, then the lower vehicles can integrate with alignment the higher vibration inpouring energy from the soul and can express properly the soul’s guidance without distortion and misinterpretation.
Again, good understanding and interpretation. It’s always good to hear that these studies have impacted you and left you with greater understanding.
MEDITATION
1. What was the Raja Yoga meditation theme this month?
The Raja Yoga meditation theme of this time was Nijama/Rule 3 – Fiery Aspiration
2. What insights did you gain in your Raja Yoga meditations this month?
For me, the fiery aspiration is like the warrior spirit of strong courage, enthusiasm and perseverance, a ‘never-give-up’ attitude; focusing towards the ideal and no difficulties can depress it. Somehow, this reminds me of the Labor of Hercules in Scorpio, the fight with Hydra. We know that it is not easy to walk on the path and for sure there would be a lot of challenges. We must be willing to "bear the cross," to "enter the fire," to "die daily," so that our burning desire of the fiery aspiration can throw a fierce light upon our problems, and constitute the purification furnace into which all impurities of our lower-selves may be burned out, and all hindrances may be destroyed.
“Only when this quality has been developed and proved and when it is found that no problem, no darkness and no time element can hinder, is a man permitted to become the disciple of some Master.” This teaching does encourage, empower and inspire me to become more enduring on my own journey along the path.
Daisy, as I have taught Raja Yoga I have acquired many notes on this subject. I will share them with you.
The Sanskrit word has no exact English translation. It combines a number of qualities: purification, self-discipline, austerity – will factors, all for the purposes of purifying the lower nature so the higher nature can rule supreme.
Although fiery aspiration may result in discipline/austerities, it does not necessarily need to be so.
Fiery aspiration is born of the relationship between the soul and the astral nature. That relationship is primary.
The soul seeks first to contact the astral/emotional self, to inspire it (breathe into it), to raise its quality through the higher more inclusive emotions, such as caring, calmness, nurturing.
It should always be remembered that the will is aligned with the mind; the soul is aligned with the astral body and the emotions. Yet the lower correspondence of the will is desire.
The fires are - first the fires of emotions - passion, devotion; then the fire of the mind becomes an equal part of the process. Then inspiration becomes aspiration.
Aspiration is to move out of the current state of affairs, to raise oneself up and out of the mundane.
To be inspired is to be moved kama-manasically (desire/emotion-mind). Inspiration, however, moves one forward, and out of matter's embrace.
Does passion ever die? Or does it become transduced, like a lightning bolt being harnessed to become usable electricity?
When fiery aspirations are truly a mixture of emotion/mind (kama-manas), with the mind taking a larger percentage, a disciple is born.
With kama-manas is in equality or kama slightly more, one is still an aspirant – because the astral is dominant not the mental.
When the fires of the will blend with passion, dedication rules instead of devotion.
Why fiery aspiration? Is this necessary for treading the Way? Answer: Fire consumes. Fiery aspiration consumes all that is in the way of soul, then in the way of spirit.
Thank you Daisy for your good work.
Light, Love and Power
Eva
The Sanskrit word has no exact English translation. It combines a number of qualities: purification, self-discipline, austerity – will factors, all for the purposes of purifying the lower nature so the higher nature can rule supreme.
Although fiery aspiration may result in discipline/austerities, it does not necessarily need to be so.
Fiery aspiration is born of the relationship between the soul and the astral nature. That relationship is primary.
The soul seeks first to contact the astral/emotional self, to inspire it (breathe into it), to raise its quality through the higher more inclusive emotions, such as caring, calmness, nurturing.
It should always be remembered that the will is aligned with the mind; the soul is aligned with the astral body and the emotions. Yet the lower correspondence of the will is desire.
The fires are - first the fires of emotions - passion, devotion; then the fire of the mind becomes an equal part of the process. Then inspiration becomes aspiration.
Aspiration is to move out of the current state of affairs, to raise oneself up and out of the mundane.
To be inspired is to be moved kama-manasically (desire/emotion-mind). Inspiration, however, moves one forward, and out of matter's embrace.
Does passion ever die? Or does it become transduced, like a lightning bolt being harnessed to become usable electricity?
When fiery aspirations are truly a mixture of emotion/mind (kama-manas), with the mind taking a larger percentage, a disciple is born.
With kama-manas is in equality or kama slightly more, one is still an aspirant – because the astral is dominant not the mental.
When the fires of the will blend with passion, dedication rules instead of devotion.
Why fiery aspiration? Is this necessary for treading the Way? Answer: Fire consumes. Fiery aspiration consumes all that is in the way of soul, then in the way of spirit.
Thank you Daisy for your good work.
Light, Love and Power
Eva
