I've seen a lot of different people and societies say all kinds of different things regarding how we should act during day to day life, how to meditate, which breathing or other esoteric practices to follow, etc.
For the most part so far the majority of teachings seem to indicate a balance between working on ourselves in day-to-day life and in meditation/learning from the masters.
As I've been trying to find out more about Gnosis, it at least superficially seems like the emphasis is on almost solely esoteric practices and meditation/learning from the masters, with day-to-day life just being a consequence of existing in the place we are and the product of our previous actions. It seems like in Gnosticism working on oneself day-to-day is completely overlooked or not seen to have any effect compared to performing esoteric practices and meditation/learning from the masters, and it is especially emphasized that one cannot do anything about the egos with one's own efforts, only through requesting spiritual aid.
As someone who hasn't been able to succeed in meditating properly yet, it would definitely be very unpleasant to know that nothing I do day-to-day has any bearing on my spiritual progress until I figure out the knack of entering a meditative state, in fact it is hard to know if my pranayama practices among other things are effective if I don't have that ability of concentrating the mind.
For the most part so far the majority of teachings seem to indicate a balance between working on ourselves in day-to-day life and in meditation/learning from the masters.
As I've been trying to find out more about Gnosis, it at least superficially seems like the emphasis is on almost solely esoteric practices and meditation/learning from the masters, with day-to-day life just being a consequence of existing in the place we are and the product of our previous actions. It seems like in Gnosticism working on oneself day-to-day is completely overlooked or not seen to have any effect compared to performing esoteric practices and meditation/learning from the masters, and it is especially emphasized that one cannot do anything about the egos with one's own efforts, only through requesting spiritual aid.
As someone who hasn't been able to succeed in meditating properly yet, it would definitely be very unpleasant to know that nothing I do day-to-day has any bearing on my spiritual progress until I figure out the knack of entering a meditative state, in fact it is hard to know if my pranayama practices among other things are effective if I don't have that ability of concentrating the mind.
I do not know what "gnosis" you are studying, but the entirety of our studies are directed on a simple axiom: awaken right now, in this moment, and watch your defects closely to prevent them from acting through your three brains. Without that, one has nothing.
The “I” is a collection of memories, cravings, fears, hatreds,
passions, experiences, selfishness, envies, ambitions, lusts,
etc.; thus, only by separately comprehending each defect, by
separately studying and directly observing it—not only in the
intellectual level but also in all the subconscious levels of the
mind—will each defect disappear; this is how we die from
moment to moment. Thus, in this manner and only in this
manner, can we achieve the disintegration of the “I.”
Those who know how to live from moment to moment
walk indeed upon the path of true refinement.
We need to die from moment to
moment, from instant to instant. Only
with the death of the ego comes the new.
Therefore, the complete annihilation of all undesirable
elements that constitute the myself, the self-willed, is undoubtedly
urgent and unpostponable.
We need to learn how to voluntarily direct all the functionalisms
of our psyche. It is not good that we continue living in
bondage. We must become leaders and lords of ourselves.
Our consciousness awakens at same pace that our undesirable
elements are eliminated. Nonetheless, we need to become
serious. Up to now we have not been serious people, since presently
each one of us is nothing more than a log upon the boisterous
waves of the sea of existence. Again: we need to become
serious. This affirmation implies a tremendous self-vigilance
from instant to instant, from moment to moment.
Remember what we have already stated in our previous lectures:
the defects that we carry hidden within burst forth spontaneously
in relation to our neighbors, and if we are alert and
vigilant like a watchman in times of war, we will discover them.
In every self-discovery there is also self-revelation. A discovered
defect must be rigorously analyzed and studied in all the levels
of our mind and integrally comprehended through the diverse
processes of profound internal meditation. Afterwards, when
the defect that we have analyzed has been integrally understood,
we proceed with supplications to Devi Kundalini, our
particular Divine Cosmic Mother, with the purpose that she
eliminate and disintegrate the defect in question.
“Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For what each man wishes, that he also believes.” —Demosthenes
"Do not worry; cultivate the habit of being happy." —Samael Aun Weor
"Do not worry; cultivate the habit of being happy." —Samael Aun Weor
I didn't mean to imply that during day-to-day, Gnosis doesn't say to watch the ego and prevent its actions, I was just asking in hopes of understanding why the only method I've seen that actually is supposed to have an effect in eliminating/disintegrating defects is requesting spiritual aid. From interviews I've read through this is prescribed to be the absolutely only way. It is hard to accept that egos can grow because of our inaction but not shrink because of our action.
If there were other methods that I have simply overlooked, or if effort on being aware day-to-day also went towards the progress of this elimination in a direct way, I'd be immensely grateful in knowing.
If there were other methods that I have simply overlooked, or if effort on being aware day-to-day also went towards the progress of this elimination in a direct way, I'd be immensely grateful in knowing.
Note: I'm saying this based off of the impression that destruction of defects comes from asking mother Kundalini to destroy them, but this can only happen once you've comprehended them, which can only happen once you've meditated on them, and in that instant that you notice the defect you beg for it to be destroyed.
Actually I was able to sort-of find the answer already in the link I'm putting here, it looks like the elimination done by others is also done specifically via meditation according to the lecture. It may be that I was attributing less structured practices' optimism about eliminating ego throughout the day by our behaviors with those also of the more structured practices like religions.
Shallow egos can be eliminated without meditation. For instance, new habits or behaviors that are not very strong. By simple observation, one can comprehend that they are defects, and understand how they work, and resolve to be free of them. This is not difficult. However, those defects do not produce that much suffering.
We have been fortifying our defects for centuries. We do not even see them. You cannot understand what you cannot see. And if you cannot see them or understand them, then how can you eliminate them?
We have been fortifying our defects for centuries. We do not even see them. You cannot understand what you cannot see. And if you cannot see them or understand them, then how can you eliminate them?
“Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For what each man wishes, that he also believes.” —Demosthenes
"Do not worry; cultivate the habit of being happy." —Samael Aun Weor
"Do not worry; cultivate the habit of being happy." —Samael Aun Weor
Kevin Sims
marked this post as Resolved — 1 year ago
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