THE ART OF DEVOTION TO SELF KNOWLEDGE
index page index pageThe Society consists of a traditional English family and friends, who have variously had extensive contacts with three ancient paths to Self development. These being the Mystic Tradition of England, the Mevlevi Sufi Tradition of Turkey and the Advaita Vedanta Tradition of India. All three have the common aim of purifying the heart through renunciation.
In all three paths, various society members have had personal contact and instruction from masters in the traditions. With daily practise since 1962, within a Western European cultural background, the group continues to practise, research and preserve important aspects of the Self development methods. The Society was formed in 1983 so that the traditions could be continued in Britain and elsewhere for the benefit of anyone who is seriously interested.
The practise of these traditions can lead to living with a clear objective view about the Western European cultural background. This enables a person to realise some of the shortcomings of the mental attitudes in the West which are barriers to Self development. These unspiritual attitudes are spreading worldwide. Unless they are clearly identified, progress in Self Knowledge is difficult to sustain. An important aspect of the Society's work is the knowledge of how to repair the leaks which allow the value derived from spiritual effort to dissipate.
The Society is a registered charity, and in line with the three traditions, makes no charge for any of the help given in any way.
THE ART OF DEVOTION TO SELF KNOWLEDGE The above caption summarises the activities of the Society, each key word is explained below in the context of these activities.
Knowledge -- This is the information or human condition of being free from lack of understanding about human life. If a person was trapped in a prison cell and unaware that the key to the door was in his coat pocket, then the knowledge of that key and how to use it would be valuable.
This use of the word knowledge can mean something "added to" or something "subtracted from" the life of the person. The gaining of Self Knowledge brings release from attachments and hence liberation from the effects of the past life.
This concept of knowledge is one which brings a release from the bondage of ignorance. It is essentially the "Knowledge of Truth", which although it cannot easily be describe with language, is simple and remains the same throughout time and across all cultures in the history of human existence. It needs fresh expression in each generation so that it can be appropriate for those who wish contact with Truth for their own development.
As the water, which can be used to either bind substances or to free the same substances, is the same water, so it is with knowledge. It is the way it is used which makes the difference. Repetitive study is one important aspect which helps to clear away the fog of unknowing.
Self --- This is the Self implied in the Greek inscription over the Oracle at Delphi which reads --Know Thyself. This, in its own subtle way, implies that we may not already know ourselves. Hence a person who, before reading that injunction, believed that he knew himself, would gain a sense that there was something more to know.
Any normal association with the term self usually relates to the body, personality or character, which we identify with most of the time. Some people sense that over a period of years, this notion is of a temporary self.
For many people this changing sense of self does not lead to permanent happiness. Yet many also have a sense that there is a sameness about themselves which has not changed from childhood into adulthood, hence it is not to do with the body or personality. It is this unchanging part which is referred to by the word Self.
Knowledge and Self - These two words are coupled together and have, thereby, a mutual effect on each other. In the same way when we use the term clay pot, the pot is part of the word clay and clay is part of the word pot. The term clay pot therefore couples the two words to describe one specific thing. In the same way we should understand the term Self Knowledge. It is not merely Knowledge, neither is it Self only, but a single thing consisting of both.
Devotion. - is the one thing in the world which unites. A person devoted to his work will be more united to it. As with children and parents, any increase in devotion brings them closer to unity by improving communication.
Self Knowledge is different from worldly knowledge in another way -- it becomes of value for its purpose when it is taken to heart through a devotional attitude. Without this devotional attitude the spiritual knowledge mutates into a worldly form which binds the person by enhancing the bodily and sense aspects of our lives.
Example of this is when you wish to remove mud which is caked onto your boots, the instruction is to use copious quantities of water. Using only a little water the mud becomes more sticky and the water adds its weight to the boots, this retards progress even more. The same water used differently gives very different results.
Devotion which is true brings with it release from bondage to the normal attitudes which mentally imprison us.
Art. - is a use of human faculties springing from within the individual to be creative. New art does not supersede old art in the way that new theories replace old, as happens in the world of modern science. In the same way any of the traditional religions did not replace the old but continue to exist along side each other.
Art takes time to develop and cannot be learned in a day or a year. The art of devotion to self-knowledge requires daily practice to realise its value. Art continues to improve throughout the whole life of the individual. It is also a personal thing, specific to the individual. We all have an artistic aspect within waiting to be developed.
This word art has been coupled with the word devotion and hence they are to be considered as one thing in a similar way that clay pot was considered.
THE ART OF DEVOTION TO SELF KNOWLEDGE
Here we have the activities of the Society encapsulated in a single phrase and described through the understanding of the four key words within it.
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