A Complaint

I have a complaint and thought to share with you all. I caught this guy in an act of deceit when he was making us play this game that I was playing by the rules and serious intent. Not with an intent to win or loose as I had known that it must be played in a true spirit but why this deception. I thought of confronting him one day and told the lie right on his face. Pat came his reply " No one is Forcing you if you don't want don't play." I didn't know what to say and could only utter But why". Mustering up courage and not wanting to be duped again I said that I would scream and shout and let all the players know his true face. He chuckled and then looking at me said " Be my Guest". I am sure you can all understand my indignation. Even then I mustered up courage and shouted at some of the players who I thought were wise and would be able to catch the deception if only I pointed it out. Lo and behold to my surprise they gave me that look which would be difficult for me to forget. I could make out from their looks what they were thinking. Some were thinking I am either mad or too naive. There were others who had a look of pity as if I had messed it up and was probably thrown out. Some others were thinking only if I knew the delight of the game and could savour it like they were though it was very painful at times I would pray and ask for forgiveness. Some thought I had committed the greatest blasphemy and must repent forthwith. The old man looked at me with a sideward glance and I could see him wallowing in mirth seeing my perplexity. At last I told him I don't care let those who are interested play your game, I am done and so saying I walked out a free man and felt as if a load had been lifted of my head.

Instinct and Consciousness

1. Self observation is an important tool to understand the causes of our reactions and complexes which take up so much of our energy and cause conflict and untold misery. An important principal of observation is that it needs to be done by establishing a co-relation between the data as experience stored in our memory or the result of our observations in the present which are direct without imagination or confusion and the outer world. Let me explain this with examples as I go along. 2. The three basic principals which emanate from instinct of survival & have a hidden influence all through our life are: a) b) c) Desire of Security. Herd instinct. Fear

3. Desire for Security. This is very important for a child who feels vulnerable and its a continuation of the same drive that we see in animals. In the body it relates to food or the digestive tract & alimentary canal. In the psyche we could call it the influence of our Mother. In tradition it can be traced to the earth element (force). It can be said to the remnant of reptilian brain and can be symbolized as alligator or astrologically the Zodiac Scorpio. 4. Herd instinct. We all want to be part of the herd (society). Besides enhancing the sense of security it enriches our life in many ways. It is related to our circulatory system (blood & air). In the psyche it can be traced to the Father. In tradition it can be traced to element water (force). It can be said to the remnant of mammalian brain and can be symbolized as tiger or astrologically the Zodiac Leo. 5. Fear. This develops our adaptation skills and is related to our instinct of fight or flight. It is related to the central nervous system and element Fire (force). It is another instinct that pervades all our decisions knowingly or un-knowingly. It can be said to the remnant of ancestral ego and can be symbolized as Grandfather or ancestors & astrologically the Zodiac Sagittarius (Jupiter). 6. Now these very instincts develop to a conscious level and are transformed to the three Principals of our Conscious content. They are: a) b) c) Development of Identity or Ego. Interdependence or Relationships. Sex.

7. Development of Identity or Ego. This is a very ingenious way in which we try to solve the problem of Security and hope of Immortality. In the body it relates to Brain or intellectual consciousness which tries to dominate everything in an adult. In tradition it can be traced to the space element (force). To our intellectual consciousness the element Space presents itself as Time past & present (experience). In our psyche it is the function of a patriarchal society. 8. Interdependence or Relationships. We all want to be find our place in society. Majority of stress are related to this. Our relationships define us in a way and we feel fullness or the lack dependent on our success & failure in relationships. It is related to our Heart and to element Air (force). In our psyche it is the function of a matriarchal society. 9. Sex. It is another pole of our psyche which is related to both the search of our Identity & relationships. This relates to the Divine waters spoken of in scriptures and the most potent force available to us for creation. 10. All the content of our Consciousness is the permutation and combination of these six constituents. Their cyclic nature gives us a sense of permanence and stability. The flip side is that it becomes our prison too. Besides all forces have a negative element. They are all well known to us in form of Greed, insatiability (Desire), Anger or aggression, Hate or Jealousy and Egoism or Vanity and self love. 11. Having an Insight into all this is to break open the wall of the prison.

The Way of White Magician

1. Before I begin to write on fourth way I must express my gratitude to Mr Gurdjieff and clarify that I do not follow or represent any Tradition. Yet today I want to repudiate

the deception that Gurdjieff spread about India concerning the Way of a Yogi. Gurdjieff divides the ways into three traditional ways and claims that his is the Fourth Way. The three ways dealing with body, emotions and mind according to him are: a). b). c). 2. The way of the fakir. The way of the monk. The way of the yogi. He also felt that:

"Even if you found schools you would find only 'philosophical' schools," he said. "In India there are only 'philosophical' schools. It was divided up in that way long ago; in India there was 'philosophy,' in Egypt 'theory,' and in present-day Persia, Mesopotamia, and Turkestan'practice.'" "And does it remain the same now?" I asked. "In part even now," he said. "But you do not clearly understand what I mean by 'philosophy,' 'theory,' and 'practice.' These words must be understood in a different way, not in the way they are usually understood. (Chapter One Page 22 In Search of Miraculous) 3. Those who are familiar with Indian tradition know that the ways here are divided into four and the way of the yogi corresponding to what Gurdjieff described, does not exist. I want to give my understanding of the eight fold path of Patanjali Ashtanga Yoga to show that the later is truly a way of White Magician. 4. All quotes are taken from http://www.integralyogastudio.com/ysp/ysp-alex-baileylong.pdf and in case of any conflict my views may be discarded as I claim to be no authority but am providing a new (old wine in new bottle) interpretation. 5. To begin with, "II 29. yama-niyama-asana-pranayama-pratyhara-dharanadhyana-samadhayo'stav-angani." "The eight limbs (asta angani) of yoga (which are yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyhara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi) work as mutual synergists together in order to create a beneficial momentous whole." 6. "II 30. Ahimsa-satya-asteya-brahmacarya-aparigraha yamah"

Ahimsa ( non injury). Having an attitude of non injury in thought word and deed helps us in overcoming our fears which are in large part totally unfounded where we see others as enemy or competitors. It is the outcome of our adaptation skills and is related to our instinct of fight or flight. It is related to the central nervous system and element Fire (force). This then helps in overcoming the basic instinct Fear plus the ancestral ego and the ill effects of the elemental force Air.

Satya (Truthfulness). In order to evaluate something properly we need to focus our attention on it. Attention is a function of energy and the psyche would prionritise the expenditure of energy in accordance with needs which in its evaluation are important to it. Sticking to truth creates a sort of artificial crisis and forces our mind to the resolution of the issue at hand. We have our escape routes so well laid out that we do all tasks in a state of hypnotic sleep. This may be said to produce heat which is akin to the elemental force Fire. Asteya ( non stealing). Greed is related to the basic instinct of survival the very same reason that makes the Indians predisposed to fat bellies. Greed is symbolized as the elemental force Earth and this acts as an antidote to dissolve Greed as elemental force Water. It is also related to our circulatory system ( blood & air). This harmonises our relationships and makes us respect the principal of interdependence. Aparigraha (Non accumulation or hoarding). To purify the elemental force Earth or Greed. Brahmacharya ( Continence). Due to lethargy all our mental energies or thoughts are directed to meet our needs of pleasure and satisfaction. Intentionally focusing on the pursuit of truth which in this tradition was symbolized as Brahaman, the aspirant was asked to dwell on it with all ones energies. Now it requires no brainer to see that all our energies are high jacked by sexual fantasies. For something new to be created one needs space, Brahmacharya gives an opportunity by freeing our energies if we are pursuing pleasure within bounds which do not cause conflict and harm to society. This frees the Space elemental force. This helps in developing reason. 7. "II 32. sauca-samtosa-tapah-svadhyaya-isvara-pranidhanani niyamah"

"Niyama consist of saucha (purity), santosha (contentment and peacefulness), tapas (spiritual passion and fire), swadhyaya (self study and mastery), and isvara pranidhana (surrender to the Universal Great Integrity of Being)." These are to purify the elemental forces Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space respectively. The aforesaid are to apply corrections to our Reptilian brain governing the need for security (food), the mammalian brain with its need of herd instinct (circulatory system) and the ancestral Ego or Central nervous system. Besides they help in further development of our emotions and reason. 8. Pranayama or regulation of Pranic energy. Commonly translated as breath control this is a known practice of Hatha yoga and deals with harmonic deep breathing. It is for purifying the Heart or Sentimental brain and bringing forth high EQ (Love). 9. Prathyahar Withdrawal or restraining of senses. It is for purpose of enhancing our Intellectual brain and has an aim to make Space available to it for New Perceptions. Senses constantly bombard us with inputs & they get filed in the old cabinets thereby

providing no novelty or freshness which helps brain renew itself and experience an emotional imprint at the same time as one perceives a stimulus. 10 To sum up the system is a method of transforming the Five brains which are formed due to the action of five elemental forces and their evolution. This then truly is a way of White Magician in which there is no secrecy.

Fifth Way the Pole Star

1. I call the path that I follow the Fifth Way or the Way of Pole Star. The chief feature of this path is to stick to the Rules & following the Truth while performing ones Duties in the world, unpleasant or discomforting though it may be at times, as a means of purification and finally arriving at Peace & Sanity the two traits which are so essential if we are to save humanity from its downward spiral. 2. I follow no particular tradition and therefore am at liberty to make use of any or all the valid ways of the past while not being bound by their letter. The spirit of the true old ways helps in conducting an impartial review of ones life as is being lived in the present incarnation with a view of sifting the wheat from the chaff and establishing the Principals that govern our life and their relation to the Cosmos. 3. Having stated the general principal let me outline the body of the Fifth Way. The Heart of the way is in Observing oneself in daily life of relationships and enquiring into the Principal feature which is our Ego. Observation depends upon the observer and hence he is always the focus. One could engage in any practice which aids oneself in enquiry. Vocation & relationships are of utmost importance and must be chosen carefully or those that by default happen to conjoin in the journey are to be given priority, time & devotion keeping the Principals which are necessary for the smooth functioning of any society. 4. To sum up life in the world must be lived by sticking to the Rules & following the Truth while performing ones Duties in the world.