Stream2

Over the last nine and a half years I have found three axes of spiritual development.

The first is the Buddhistic capacity. The development is outline in Buddhism’s four stages of enlightenment. The fundamental premise is to become one with the stream or flow of life and consciousness (the first stage is called stream-entry), and then to subsequently deepen this connection several times, eventually culminating in nirvana. Which I take to be something like the bliss associated with resting in the stream or flow. Up until one is able to rest in the stream or flow, they suffer. They are prevented from resting either because of desire or aversion. Much of the work required after stream-entry is letting go of desire and aversion. As far as I know, the best way to achieve stream entry is through meditation. After that the subsequent stages are said to be inevitable, but take much time.

The second is the archetypical subconscious representation of the gender with which there is romantic attraction. The development is outlined by Carl Jung. He outlines four stages of anima/animus development. Which mean the subconscious representation of woman in man, and the subconscious representation of man in women. Broadly speaking, as I am no expert, we are born seeing the object of our attraction as a motherly or fatherly figure, then go on to see them as a romantic figure, then one who shares in morality, and finally in the culmination as one who shares in wisdom. As far as I am aware, the anima and animus develop by devoting oneself honestly to relationships.

The third and final axis of spiritual development that I have discovered is the creative capacity. The development is outlined by Nietzsche in Thus Spake Zarathustra. Broadly speaking we begin our creative journey by being slave to the values of others. Eventually we break out of this, and begin striving to create our own values, but are still not capable of doing so. Finally, in the culmination, we succeed in creating our own new value. I think the way to achieve this is to strive endlessly to create. Whatever ones’ creative medium(s) may be.

In my experience, the initial development of these three axes of spiritual development hit with a bang. Prior worldviews shatter as a new vector for growth is presented.

One of my deepest desires is to discover more axes of spiritual development! Do you think there are only three as well? Or are there more? Or do I have it wrong?

Let me know in the comments! 😊