Esoteric Psychology
 
Our orthodox psychology does not calibrate a person’s true potential: nor does it plot for us an authentic ‘internal compass’ relating to the structure of our internal world. We are not aided in our task of navigating Life itself, nor are we enlightened with regards what constitutes knowledge.

Esoteric psychology begins where contemporary psychology ends; this can be easily ascertained when we study both disciplines rigorously and objectively; without any undue bias towards the orthodox, which most modern people seem to harbor. We must go beyond trite and restrictive psychological models which lead us nowhere. Freud and Jung are passe!

The esoteric approach is both more holistic and more profound than any existing form of psychology; it gives us an unprecedented super-noetic insight into the workings of man’s Being. Using esoteric principles, we can create a complete mapping-system of our entire Being and not just our mind. Esotericism treats man as a highly complex spiritual entity; with internal divisions and functions unknown to our ordinary psychology. This provides an unprecedented opportunity to remodel our thinking and our critical perceptions in the light of this metaphysical paradigm.

‘Great knowledge changes destiny.’             -Ancient Chinese Proverb

In the 21st century, we cannot afford to ignore such an in-depth and all- encompassing methodology relating to our present and potential cognitive abilities; and from which our evolution and growth as human beings can be viewed from a totally different and refreshing perspective. It also explains many of the anomalies which exist in our orthodox thinking – the gaps and the half-truths which never seem to satisfy!

If we remain rooted in narrow logic and within the limits of our culture-bound mentation, we cannot approach the new concepts with which esotericism provides us.  From esotericism comes a whole new paradigm of thinking: a vast, new world horizon which will take us into ‘uncharted territory’.

True intelligence comes from the pursuit of the original; of this core knowledge in whatever environment we find ourselves; this knowledge existed once before on our Earth and it will one day return! Right now, it is present, but dormant!

Essence, Personality and the False-Ego

When we are born, we come into being with pure Essence internally: we find nothing of the external world apparent yet; everything is our own and natural. But, to survive in a complex and sometimes dangerous world, we must develop personality. This begins to happen in us around the age of 7-8 years in our childhood. However, only Essence can evolve; can develop spiritually and exponentially into something greater than the sum of its parts: this, people tend to doubt because they lack direct experience of it. Generally speaking, we very rarely meet with people with higher Being than ourselves, and when we do, we do not recognize it – because we are looking for intellect.

The development of Personality allows us to cope with an ever-changing array of external circumstances which surround us in ordinary life. Personality, however surrounds Essence, just like the shell of a nut encapsulates the nut. Personality is limited in its potential because it constitutes only one ‘energy-centre’ [ called ‘chakra’] in man; and in order to develop holistically and spiritually, all seven cardinal energy-centres [ or chakras ] in man must develop in unison. Personality hinders and blocks the development of Essence! The stronger a persons Personality, the more difficult it is for them to develop their essential-core ... Essence.

In addition to these two pivotal elements in a person’s Being [ Essence and Personality], there is a third element: that of the False-Ego or the superficial-self. In rare cases, we find individuals with a virtually a non-existent False-Ego!

The False-Ego forms as part of an individual’s Personality and forms a kind of dam in the structure of our true psychology; manifesting in a poisonous, odious and selfish fashion. It subsists on fantasy, lies, arguments and negativity. This dark element in a person’s Personality, prevents one from seeing oneself clearly; and gives a very distorted and wrong picture of who we are. It blocks all authentic human development. It is based on what is often referred to today in common parlance as ‘egoism’; meaning that we are relating to others and our environment in an essentially selfish and egotistic manner.
 
‘I have come here seeking knowledge; the things they do not teach in college.'         -Sting.

Personality is necessary for external life; but its form and structure in modern peoples blocks Essence development; our spiritual core, especially so because of its now ‘symbiotic partnership’ with the bete-noir … the False-Ego.

Characteristics of the False-Ego
 

•  Jealousy.

• Argumentative.

• Negative.

• Always has to be right.

• Attention Seeking.

• Tantrums.

• Egoism.

• Projects its own Negative Characteristics onto Others.

• A Closed Mind.

• Grudges.

• Prone to Constant Blame.

• Double Standards.

• Greed.

• Conceit.

• False-Picture of Self.

• Overt Lack of Consideration for Others.

• A Marked State of Cynicism Common.

• Full of Self-Importance.

• Rigid Thinking.

• Cannot entertain any Kind of Criticism of Themselves from Others.

• Narrow Self-Interest Agenda.

• Stereotyped Responses in Conversation.

• Imaginary Traits and Abilities.

• An absence of any kind of Conscience.

• Sabotage and Self-Sabotage - Often a Feature.

• Banal Competition.

• Crass Material Interests.

• Lies.

• Manipulation of Others.

• Violent Tendencies.

• False-Interests.

 
The individual sometimes cloaks many of these traits and weaknesses in close proximity to friends. Indeed, the very nature of the False-Ego is to continuously hide from others its own deviousness, callousness and lack of conscience in relation to others. A friend with a well-developed False-Ego, for instance … cannot be totally trusted; they will always make excuses for their treachery, deviousness or narrow self-interest!
 
The Admixture of Elements in a Man’s Being

It must be understood that, with the average person on the street, these three elements are mixed in a person’s Being and manifestations: that is, they are not differentiated. In order for a person to develop internally, or spiritually, it is first necessary to separate from the False-Ego, and then, work to make Personality passive, while rendering Essence active. This is a definitive process and requires time and effort to achieve. It is only the ancient arcane teachings of esotericism that shows us the way, and gives us the means of doing so. Great wisdom has the power to unlock our true potential!

‘A man must understand certain things. He has thousands of false-conceptions, chiefly about himself and he must get rid of some of them before beginning to acquire anything new.’
                                                                                                                                                     -G.I. Gurdjieff.