Shortcuts to Spiritual Development?

Within spiritual circles, an issue sometimes gets raised involving a critique of methods, techniques, processes meant to aid one in spiritual transformation. Teachings are often framed in terms of people who are “spiritual aspirants” or “spiritual seekers” who have a goal to attain. The criticism posed is that such formats are counter-productive and keep people distanced from that which they desire, because true spiritual awakening is accompanied by the realization that you cannot seek, that there is no goal to attain. Seeking, working towards a goal, and all of the variety of techniques and methods designed to aid the search, are thus seen as counterproductive. As the old adages say, “you cannot desire desirelessness”, all that is needed is to “Be Here Now”, and as Alan Watts once put it in the title to one of his books, “This Is IT.” Proponents of this school of thought contend there is a shortcut to spiritual awakening, which involves something like just being in the present moment and realizing on a profound level of epiphany that the present moment is all there really is. There is nothing to search for, to strive for, to attain. There is no where to go and no teacher is necessary to find wisdom; all that is needed is to rest in the present.

I think it is a helpful stage in one’s spiritual development to come to the realization described above, for even the traditional teachings that are criticized for promoting seeking often also claim that realization doesn’t dawn until seeking ends, until there is a profound “giving up” and surrender. But the traditions that are criticized for promoting all of these techniques and methods claim there are good reasons for such spiritual practice. For those who have not yet come to the basic realization described above, the practices and teachings help prepare and guide them in a supportive approach towards life, both inner and outer. For those who have come to this basic realization, it is not as if that is the be-all and end-all to life, and that you just live happily-ever-after from that point on. Life and its challenges remain. The practices, methods and teachings continue to assist in providing guidance and inspiration in how to navigate through and contribute to life. Certainly, a significant milestone is reached if one regards life not so much as groping in the dark as navigating through the light, but navigating tools are still useful.
 
Also, there is an important function that remains to be served by spiritual practices that aids in developing life-navigating tools: increasing one’s capacity of life-force conductivity. Other than for fully realized avatars, saints, bodhisattvas, tzaddiks or some other equivalent, most beings who remain functioning in this world of relativity maintain some sense of identity separate from everything else. Beginning with an acknowledgement of this dualism that remains, many spiritual systems teach that there are two sources of energy by which we function. One source is a dynamo within each being, and the other is a kind of cosmic dynamo. The cosmic dynamo is a source of infinite energy capable of generating as much energy as all of the beings in the cosmos are ever able to utilize at any given time. The cosmic dynamo is the ultimate source of the dynamo that exists within each being, which actually can access the energy of the cosmic dynamo. So the dynamo within each being is also a source of infinite energy, as it is a kind of substation for the cosmic dynamo, which is really its ultimate source of energy. The individual dynamo substation functions to modulate/transform the energy of the cosmic dynamo into a form useful and suitable for the individual.
 
Any given being at any given time only has a certain limited capacity to conduct a certain amount of limited energy, even though an infinite amount of energy is available at any time. In keeping with the dynamo metaphor, we can utilize the analogy of electricity as an apt description for the type of energy generated by the dynamo. All beings have wiring through which the electricity of life force energy is conducted. As we know, some wiring is capable of conducting more amounts of electricity than other wiring. If electricity is pumped through wiring that is beyond that wiring’s capacity, the wiring fries and ceases to function. This is an explanation for spontaneous human combustion and other instances involving people who suffer from a variety of energy imbalances that cause them to not function in an integrated fashion. Spiritual development and the methods associated with it can be characterized as procedures to expand our capacity to conduct greater amounts of life energy without frying or becoming imbalanced, to improve the capacity of our wiring. There are no shortcuts for this process. Efforts to increase the force and flow of energy through various manipulations of the individual dynamo’s control valves, such as in misguided kundalini yoga practices, can result in devastating negative results, as has been documented in various annals. This kind of shortcut is available, but it will not yield long-term positive results without preceding it by the gradual process involved in increasing one’s capacity. If the capacity is increased, the energy increase it is capable of handling will follow in due course. A big lesson: don’t mess with the control valves if the wiring isn’t up to capacity!
 
Mystical Judaism uses two metaphors for human energy systems. The circulatory system is likened to plumbing, as it conducts fluids. It is considered the system regulating our lower animal instincts. The nervous system is likened to electrical wiring, as it conducts electrical impulses. It is considered the system regulating our higher mental functioning and divine instincts. Maintaining and enlarging the capacity of these two systems is what spiritual development and accompanying exercises and practices is all about. If there are any shortcuts, they are shortcuts to disaster. I believe that a balanced combination of various yoga practices combine as fast and safe a method toward spiritual development as anything available, and I believe that meditation is a key element for most people. “Sadhana” in yoga is generally translated as “spiritual work”. Gurdieff aptly referred to spiritual development as “work”. There is no getting around that most of us have work to do. It does not mean that it is all a grim task and without playfulness and joy. Many traditions, including the Talmud, extol the virtue of cheerfulness. But there really are no shortcuts.