Metaphysical Development & Disciplines Part 1 Back to Home
The Need for a Guru
By Leonard Lee aka Luxamore
In the spiritual, metaphysical path, various disciplines and exercises are conducted to aid the awakening and the
unfoldment of the faculties and virtues of the divinity within. To attune with the Higher Self, one is required to undergo
the process of purification and to carry-out meditative exercises. Meditation, concentration, visualizations, chanting,
esoteric rituals, and other spiritual disciplines are utilized as aids on the path of spiritual and metaphysical development.
In order to tread the metaphysical path a spiritual teacher or Guru is indispensable as a way-shower. The Guru or Adept
having been on the spiritual path for many years, or for the greater part of his/her life, or even for several lifetimes is
qualified to guide the enthusiastic aspirant. Treading the spiritual path alone without outside assistance and guidance is
a difficult task. Only a few great souls are able to do this. However, it should be noted that according to tradition and
occult revelation, even great souls like Jesus and the Prophet Muhammad had Guru-Chela relationships with Spiritual
Masters, both physical and non-physical. External spiritual preceptors are here to "push" or motivate the aspirant, just
as the inner divine Master is present within our beings to "pull" us inwards, to help us gravitate towards the Inner Light.
Learning from books has its disadvantages; firstly, one is unable to bask in the presence of a Guru. A genuine Guru
radiates powerful energies that stimulate slumbering souls in his immediate vicinity. The Master's aura prompts the
energy-level of those around him to step-up in frequency. By constantly being in the presence of a Guru one gradually
transforms one's microcosmic vehicles to a higher expression. One accelerates spiritually by being in the proximity of a
Spiritual Preceptor. It is like a magnet that induces iron bits to become magnetized just as it is simply by the association.
Secondly, books do not provide all of the keys or knowledge necessary that would open metaphysical doorways to
higher worlds or to higher states of awareness. Many keys are omitted in books. Thirdly, books hardly present a two-way
interaction that a Guru-Chela relationship offers. From these three points (and there are more) it can be seen how
necessary it is to have a Way-Shower. Genuine spiritual/metaphysical teachers are not easily found or met. One meets
a real Spiritual Guide partially because of spiritual merit. There is an occult saying, "When the student is ready the
Master appears." The student has to prepare himself for the Master's advent by attaining a certain soul-level, by
spiritual works and study. It should be realized, however, that those individuals passing themselves off as Spiritual Gurus
and Metaphysical Masters are hardly what they claim themselves to be. Here lies the problem for the occult tyro--how to
discern the true Master from the "false prophet," or the wolf in sheep clothing and the true Shepherd of the Spirit.
In the traditional teachings of Christianity we are told that St.Peter, one of the Apostles of Christ, guards the portals to
the Kingdom of Heaven. He holds within his hands various keys that would unlock the gate and allow the soul to pass
the threshold and enter into a world of heavenly delight, to a land where one could pluck and eat the fruits of the Tree of
Life. The average Christian interprets this teaching literally. In truth, this is merely an allegory, an esoteric precept
referring to the principle that a Spiritual Guru or Murshid, (St.Peter) is necessary to guide one's spiritual development.
The Spiritual Guru holds and preserves the keys of metaphysical (mystical/magickal) development. By applying the keys
(the cosmic laws and spiritual principles) that the Guru transmits to his disciples, it would be possible to acquire a
spiritual consciousness (the Kingdom of Heaven) and consume the fruits of the Tree of Life (a constant awareness of
one's immortality).
In the early days of Christianity, "priests" functioned as Gurus and not merely as preachers. In the centuries that
followed, the priesthood lost the keys to Heaven because of their corruption and degeneration. They subsequently grew
envious of those that did possess the keys, the gnosis or spiritual, esoteric knowledge. This was one of the factors that
instigated the attack of the orthodoxy upon the Christian sects called Gnostics. These Gnostics were the custodians of
the secret, esoteric, spiritual teachings of the Essenes, the Master Jesus and the other divine avatars.
Now it should be realized that not all Spiritual Gurus are of the same evolutionary level. They are of various initiatory
grades. Some Gurus offer their services specifically to the masses, to the average person on the street; others are here
on the physical plane to help higher-evolved persons, or those of disciple status to attain the first and second planetary
initiation. Rarely do we find Gurus who are real Adepts and Masters guiding those who have heard the call of the soul to
attain liberation, enlightenment, and the ascension. Each person who is interested in metaphysical and spiritual culture
will find himself at the doorstep of the Guru most appropriate to his present state of soul development. When he grows
spiritually to a certain point with the guidance of his Preceptor, he may eventually find himself being led to other Gurus
of a higher grade or different ray-ashram for further esoteric instructions or for developing a different soul-quality..
Metaphysical Development
In the Path of metaphysical development it would be advantageous and worthwhile for the spiritual aspirant to study the
spiritual teachings of various religions and philosophies. Anything that would help refine one's soul-character and
expand one's metaphysical knowledge is beneficial. The student should be equally comfortable studying the teachings
of Alchemy or Zen. By the exploring of various teachings we do not imply that one should build one's spiritual philosophy
upon the foundation of syncretism. This would hardly work if we strive to integrate the superficial, dogmatic aspects of
religion. What we would like students of metaphysics to probe is the essence or core of religions, back to the source of
all religions, or to the Gupta Vidya--the Ageless Teachings. In the Old Testament, for instance, we were admonished by
God to walk the ancient paths (Jeremiah 6:16). This "ancient path" is an esoteric term for the Ageless teachings, or the
Ancient Wisdom. Followers of the "New Age" movement may consider the revelations received through the phenomenon
of "channeling" as something novel; however, the essence of what is revealed is nothing new and is to be found in the
spiritual teachings of all ancient cultures. We admonish the novice not to focus on or speculate too much upon what lies
above in the cosmos. It really does not matter what or who lies "up there," whether it is "Ashtar," "Kryon," or the
"Pleaidians," or any other beings flitting around in their merkabah vehicles; what really matters is what lies within you.
Pay attention to that, to the task at hand. Improve your character, your spirituality, your evolutionary status, and your
awareness. Unfold unconditional love and compassion. Beware of self-complacency and arrogance, thinking that you
know everything, or more than others.
The first step of spiritual unfoldment is the purification of the lower aspects of the microcosm of all psychical and
physical toxins, negative energies, psychological complexes and fixations, karmic effects, record, and memory; and the
transcendence of the false ego. Not only should these unwanted energies be discarded or transmuted, the spiritual
aspirant should also be vigilant that they no longer be generated by the mind and emotions or attracted into the
microcosmic force-field by establishing a point of attraction through negative thinking and feeling. Conversely, the
aspirant should strive to express the divine qualities of the Spirit, such as compassion, tolerance, affection, beauty,
order, generosity, selflessness, etc. In Patanjali's Yogic philosophy these two steps are called Yama and Niyama. They
comprise the dos and the don'ts in religious moral teachings.
According to Patanjali's metaphysical system of development, breathing and physical exercises should next be
conducted to maintain healthy and vital bodies. These are called Pranayama and Asana, respectively. Pranayama
actually means the control of the life-force within the physical/etheric body, and not to the control of the breath as some
occultists would have us believe. Asana means "body-position." In Hatha yoga we are taught various asanas to help
maintain a supple, healthy, vital body. Although beneficial to a certain degree, in our metaphysical system of
development we do not stress Hatha yoga too much for this form of yoga actually belongs to the Lemurian Age (the
Third Race) where physical cultivation was the basis of spiritual unfoldment. In the days of Atlantis (the Fourth Race), it
was Bhakti yoga that was of certain importance, for it helped cultivated the emotional nature. In our present Aryan Age
(the Fifth Race), Raja yoga is indispensable for it aids in the development of our mental nature. Metaphysical
development should therefore, be concentrated more upon the mental/spiritual plane for it is the most appropriate for
our present Soul-Race. Below is a tabulation and clarification of the above information:
1) The First Race -- Polarian - No yogas, involutionary race.
2) The Second Race - Hyperborean - No yogas, involutionary race.
3) The Third Race - Lemurian - Hatha yoga, related to the physical/etheric principle.
4) The Fourth Race - Atlantean - Bhakti yoga, related to the emotional/astral principle.
5) The Fifth Race - Aryan - Raja yoga, related to the mental principle.
6) The Sixth Race - Unknown - Yoga unknown, related to the Buddhic principle.
7) The Seventh Race - Unknown - Yoga unknown, related to the Atmic principle.
But to return from our digression:
Following Pranayama and Asana is Pratyahara, or the withdrawing of the senses from external stimuli. This act of
withdrawing the senses results in Dharana, a deep concentration upon some inner point within the consciousness. Deep
and intense concentration of a lengthy period establishes the state of Dhyana, or meditation. The culmination of the
Dhyana-state is Samadhi, or a higher form of consciousness where one experiences the state of bliss and peace. There
are various consciousness levels in Samadhi; for simplicity sake we may designate them as "Christ Consciousness" and
"Cosmic Consciousness." The former is related to the Soul-Consciousness of the Higher Self, or the threefold aspects of
the Soul--the Higher Mental, Buddhi, and Atma. The latter on the other hand, is related to the Spirit-Consciousness of
the Monad, the Divine Spark within the microcosm. The eight steps of the above are often called the "Eight-limbs of
Patanjali."
In metaphysical development we strive to attain ever higher states of consciousness or awareness. In mystical teachings
this is often illustrated as a climb towards a mountain peak and we are often advised by mystics to climb the highest
mountain. In Holy Scriptures, when the tale is told of mystics "going up" to the mountains to pray and meditate actually
refers to an inner ascent in the consciousness and not to an actual physical journey.
In the early stages of metaphysical development it is advisable for the neophyte to introspect and reflect upon the
various elements forming his present desires, motivations, ideals, attitudes, beliefs, and feelings--all of the psychological
stuff forming his world-view, his belief-framework, his religious-view, and his understanding of life as a whole, as well as
its purport. There is much that we take for granted, much that we assume to be true because humanity as a whole or
certain groups of humanity have believed in them for centuries. We have been taught many things as "truths" by our
elders, our religious leaders, and pedagogues and we accept them at face value without any meaningful effort in
reflecting whether they are of any real substance whatsoever. This the neophyte has to rectify first and foremost in his
consciousness. The beginner in metaphysical development has to know why he is on the physical plane and for what
Cosmic purpose. He has to discover the meta-philosophical truths concerning life and death, and the real reason why
he embarks upon metaphysical study. In short, the neophyte has to awaken himself from his ignorance at the first
Cosmic level. Until he realizes that in his present condition he knows nothing, the neophyte has not yet arrived at the
state where he may acquire true knowledge.
Metaphysical development entails getting rid of the demons of the mind, the idols that drains one's energies. Idols are
not simply statues made of wood and stone; they may be anything at all. Idols at our present stage of soul-unfoldment
are glamours and illusions of the psyche. We may define idols do be anything that distracts the soul from carrying-out its
evolutionary obligations. Thus, television or the obsession of psychic powers may be considered as idols, and
irresponsible Gurus teaching psychicism sans spiritual unfoldment as fabricators of idols. This in fact is one of the
avenues of dis-service (dark services) offered by the Fallen Angels. In Islamic tradition Harut and Marut were the two
Fallen Angels that taught humanity psychicism/occultism irresponsibly. Low-calibre paranormals and metaphysicians
perpetrate this shameful tradition.
Nowadays, people who are interested in psychicism are so eager to unfold paranormal powers. It should be realized that
this is not a spiritual goal, because sometime and somewhere along the spiritual path psychic powers would have to be
renounced as they simply blind our inner eyes to the spiritual state of Light-Consciousness, symbolized by the
saviour-gods in the world mythologies. Psychicism prolongs our needless stay in the lower dimensions. Psychic powers
may corrupt the human soul.
Getting rid of or destroying idols is not an easy task. In order to do this we need the help of the Christ-Krishna force, or
the light of Muhammad. Invoke their power into your lives; pay more attention to their presence until the intrusion of the
demonic idols lose their power and hold over you. In the end you will truly become a holy one, unattached and untainted
by anything of this world--"to be in this world but not of it."
[Note: This paper contains images which may be seen as originally published at our website]
Copyright © 2006 Luxamore
About the Author: Leonard Lee aka Luxamore
Metaphysical teacher, counseler, healer and merchant of occult/magickal items of Indonesia.
Magickal Items from Indonesia: talismans, mustika pearls, kerises, etc.
Magickal Bezoar Mustika Pearls from Indonesia.