1.3. Esoteric Techniques and Spirituality

At the end of the nineteenth century and at the beginning of the twentieth century, many spiritually developed individuals were warning that most users of esoteric techniques known in the East transferred this knowledge to the West in the wrong way. Considering the different cultures of the East and the West, users of esoteric techniques in the West have poor understanding of their nature, and incorrectly interpret and perform the programmes. The final results of using oriental techniques are therefore poor, often damaging and even health-threatening. This warning still holds true: users of esoteric techniques brought from the East want to quickly and simply – as characteristic of the Western world – achieve visible success in the society in order to become important persons because they know something that others do not, and the like. Such determination to achieve quick success is led by ego, which sets various traps, misleads these users of oriental esoteric techniques and blocks their spiritual progress. It redirects their thoughts to the logic of the West. Therefore, these individuals are not successful on their way to spiritual development. On the other hand, knowledge of and ability to perform esoteric techniques known among oriental nations and spiritual development have nothing in common. As I have already mentioned, ego is in control with esoteric techniques, falsely glorifying these individuals and misdirecting them, so that they believe that they are spiritually developed individuals. These persons are recognisable by their arrogant behaviour. They believe that they are the elite and “too intelligent”. They are not aware that these esoteric skills must be analysed and considered within the cultural life of the East, and that they should not cherish false feelings of superiority and unconsciously put themselves in the position of a cock crowing on the dunghill.

Let us take as an example a simple discipline, such as car racing, which I described in my books on healing with life-cosmic energy. One can win the first place in the world in car racing and become distinguished in the society as an unbeatable driver of a racing car. However, driving a car is a manipulative ability enabled by the construction of the car. In the competition of different models, the driver can win a good position in the race. The knowledge lies in the team of car constructors, and by no means in the ability of the driver who manages to win races by training: his skills are only useful when he is behind the wheel; without the car, he is just an ordinary person. Comparing the racing car construction team and the driver’s skill with the inner self and ego of a person, we find that the constructors are the inner self and the driver’s skill is the ego.

Likewise, ego and inner self can be compared to a computer game and winner in this discipline at a competition. The winner – manipulator in front of the computer – is at the level of ego and wants to win competitions; however, the main quality and skills are in the know-how of the programmer of the game, his or her ability to construct, and can be compared to the inner self or the spiritual component of the person. The programmer used his or her ability and spiritual potentials to invent and design this game, showed the skill, expertise and talent, which is a universal quality. The manipulators, users of the computer programme do not know this quality or programme, the way in which this game is designed and programmed. They do not need to know this as their task is to perform the tasks set by the programmer. Their knowledge is useless if there is no computer. The users of the computer programme are at the level of ego and personal desire to achieve the best result in competitions by mastering the tasks set in the programme. The programmer of the game as an expert possessing universal knowledge and functioning under the influence of the spiritual component can be compared to the inner self.

Astrology, one of the esoteric techniques which is very popular in our society, performs a certain analysis based on the information on the position of the planets, date and place of birth and the moment of observation. By calculating these parameters, one can foretell future, determine the characteristics of individuals and much more. This is a typical example where we can compare what is ego and what is spiritual progress, inner self. Astrologists use the known rules of astrology and determine the necessary position points required by the natal horoscope, for instance. The results of their work depend on the accuracy of the data entered. The rules are known and it is not necessary to think and combine a lot to get an answer to the questions asked. Everything is so clearly defined that the complete knowledge of astrology can be transferred to a computer and obtain the relevant answers from it. The gained knowledge in astrology is ego’s component, as well as the gained knowledge of computer work, so it is not a surprise that the contemporary astrologists are lost without a computer, ephemerides and the basic parameters for calculating a horoscope. The author who wrote the rules for the work of an astrologist enabled others to use this knowledge and rules. He or she was an expert and spiritually developed individual, which cannot be said of an astrologist who only uses this knowledge. Astrologists remain at the level of ego, as their knowledge is learned, manipulative, combined and by no means creative, while the author of the rules of astrology was a spiritually developed individual and can freely be compared to inner self.

Numerology, I Ching (yin-yang), Tarot, Runes and the like are esoteric techniques that can be learned and helpfully used for the needs of ego, but nothing more. A spiritually developed and skilful expert was the person who invented the rules for these esoteric techniques; the person who only uses these techniques is certainly not spiritually developed. As I have already mentioned, most of these esoteric techniques use computers and their capacities to help resolve the questions asked, so the users do not have many problems with their work. Knowledge of esoteric techniques is of considerable use to anyone if they value them and use them wisely. The knowledge of these teachings widens the horizon and insight into the physical and energy bodies of humans. It also enriches the knowledge gained through one’s vocation and enables successful participation in social processes. There have been cases where scientists became valued and respected not so much owing to their professional skills, but rather because they enhanced their work with esoteric teachings. There is no human activity that could not be enriched and improved with the knowledge of these physically-undefined systems, esoteric possibilities.

It is good to know, study and master esoteric techniques, but we must be aware of misconceptions and dangers involved in the work with this knowledge and use of these techniques. To begin with, we must be aware that knowledge of these techniques is not a spiritual ability and that we must develop a critical attitude towards the use of these techniques, which can gradually enslave us, limit us and prevent us from progressing spiritually. The consequences of work with esoteric techniques can be very dangerous for life, and it is no wonder that many users of these techniques seek medical aid and many need a psychotherapist. One can say that they become addicts who need therapy and disabled people from the point of view of the society. It has to be emphasised that incorrect use of esoteric techniques is often the main reason for the appearance of incurable diseases and short life.