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WEB 4 - ARCHIVE
Commentary 19 - Page 5 |
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St. Anthony and the three levels of studentGurdjieff spoke of the staircase that led to the Way itself. He spoke of how we first had to find the staircase. St. Anthony the Great described three kinds of student who come to the Way and it is clear this links with the three stages. One of the great masters of monastic psychology, Saint Anthony in a letter described three types of person,
The first type progresses rapidly and simply by what has been called, in modern terms, the way of the heart, also known as the Royal Road. Note 2. (But at other times the term seems to have been used to apply to any method that uses the faculty of diakrisis, discrimination of Spirits, which can prevent deviation from the narrow way of the Gospel.) The most significant division between the different ways is of course the division between monastic and non-monastic ways. The difference in the circumstances of individuals between these different ways is such that very different methods are normally used, and the classic descriptions of the Royal Road are certainly based on the monastic life, as are almost all the books on this subject. This is because periods when the non-monastic way was no longer understood have alternated with periods when it had to 'go underground' to avoid persecution, while the outer form of the monastic way has survived intact down to the present time, although its inner content has been lost and restored several times, the latest restoration is just now occurring. The problem is that although at one time many lay people were able to follow a protected path, giving rise in mediaeval times to disciplines such as the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, which claimed to be possible as a practice only to individuals who could withdraw completely from worldly activity, today the monastic way appears to be unsuitable for those who do not form a firm commitment early in life. If we can learn to accept ourselves, to face our imperfections consciously, without turning aside, then we can learn to ask consciously. When we ask 'unconsciously', there is a question to ask, that question is, "who is it that asks?" With faith, the answer to this question changes. "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." ( Matthew 17:20) But what is faith? I shall leave you to ponder this question - perhaps for the remainder of your lives! |
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