Disciple and Discipleship

Wisdom Teachings
Essences of the Teachings

We tend to concern ourselves with advances spiritual concepts and ideas. In this the fundamentals of the path are easily forgotten. We pick up something here and there, but the exercises we do don’t subsequently bring any progress. After 10-12 years we are thus landing in a totally confused situation, where we don’t know anymore what we are doing. Disappointment comes and it might even cause depressions. When we don’t care for the fundamentals, there is a lopsided development and the resulting distortions.

For the search of truth or self-transformation a systematic, scientific approach is needed. We have to make an endeavour to organize our lives in a way that we experience a harmonic, gradual development. The path is called discipleship and it is a long way. Discipleship cannot be gained overnight. For this a perfectly normal spiritual person is needed who doesn’t do too much or too little and who doesn’t undertake any tortures in the name of purity or spirituality. He is keen to regularly and perseveringly work on his transformation into the light and he tries to come out of the worldly illusions.

The purpose of discipleship is to be active in accordance with the soul. The soul is the solar angel. We all are basically solar angels who have come down to earth and have taken to an earthly body. We fulfil our duties here, but don’t develop a lasting interest. As long as we are intensely interested in the outer world, we “stick” to it and cannot turn to the path of discipleship. The soul however feels that there is something more in life than food, drink or earning money, than holidays, sport or sex. Even if the experiences make us happy, this is only just for a moment and then it is over again. A disciple is someone who has tasted the joys of life and has experienced that they cannot satisfy and hold him.

The first and basic step of discipleship is to see the soul in all we meet in the world. We should not reject any forms, situations or behavioural patterns. As much as we reject so much we limit our scope of experience. We don’t run away from society or from problems, but do what has to be done. In the family, profession or in any social activity we can live for the spirit and thus express it. A disciple participates in any normal human activity and remains nevertheless in inner balance. Many disciples of the masters live in the busiest cities of the world, they don’t withdraw into the solitude of the mountains. We should be effective in objectivity as well as in subjectivity and always remember. “I am in the world, but not from the world”.

Like a businessman who is resolutely committed to earning money we should get involved in discipleship. In business life the impulse is a self-centred motive. In discipleship the motive should be to serve the general welfare. The stance of discipleship should penetrate all our activities. Discipleship is not a casual or occasional activity, it is not a part-time job, but should be our main profession. The work of discipleship consists in linking our individual identity with the universal identity.

A disciple is expected to train himself well, in order to acquire the skills with which he can serve the society. A good intention alone doesn’t help; we also need the related abilities, so that we can manifest good will in an intelligent manner. Reliability and sincerity of intention are needed for the work. But discipleship also demands a humorous general mood arising out of a relaxed inner. A disciple cannot always be at work. Discipleship has place for modest entertainment and recreation.

Many however are often too casual with their work of good will and this doesn’t do good to the work. A person who is successful in the world is target-oriented and hard-working. The disciple also should work like this.

In an aspirant, i.e. a person who tries to become a disciple, there is a fight going on for a long time between his ideals and his habits. He would like to reorganise his life, but the old habits prevent him from doing so, and he experiences an inner resistance. He has to learn to shift his focus bit by bit; he cannot do sudden jumps of consciousness. We should not think that we are already disciples if we read a book which a master has written or sing mantrams. As long as we are trying to achieve something for our personality with our spiritual practices, we are on the path to discipleship but not yet on the path of discipleship.

Experiencing sudden changes and conflicts is very normal on the path of discipleship. Often the disciple goes through ups and downs and his life is absolutely chaotic, with problems concerning family, profession, health or reputation. Crises come in rapid succession; they help us to transform our personality and serve clearing our karma. It is through crises that we gain the ability to keep balance in the midst of worries and difficulties.

The science of respiration and pulsation is the key to discipleship. When we turn our mind regularly to respiration, the thoughts are regulated and liberated from astral and lower mental currents. Every respiration gives us the opportunity to move upwards, to higher circles. The throat is the centre of discipleship. It has to be kept completely pure. Therefore the way we use words is very important. The entire discipleship serves the transformation of the vehicles of the body tissues in order to give a finer structure to the body. In order that such transformations can happen the food we take is also important. If possible we shouldn’t eat meat or fermented and smelling food. We also should purify ourselves inwardly and outwardly with much water and use pure clothes.

The new training for disciples is different than in the past. In former times the teacher assumed the responsibility for the disciple, and the condition was that the student had to do everything what the teacher said without asking. Today the disciples are left much more independent than ever before. The teacher gives the technique and makes a proposal that it would be good to practice something. He gives guidance, when it is looked for. He waits, he imposes nothing and never admonishes, because free will is encouraged. Everyone can pick up what he is inclined to, and he is free to experience the consequences of his action. Seemingly he is left alone, but he is not.

The teacher gives his presence not by himself, it has to be invoked by the disciple in the inner. We have to feel the presence and start working. When the disciple is linked with the master and sees a friend, he sees the master in the form of the friend. But also through those with whom he disagrees, the master approaches him. He sees that there is always someone in the group who doesn’t agree with us and thus friction takes place. As much as we accept this friction, so much we get rounded up. We therefore should see the master as the group and in the group. It is a great opportunity to become part of a group and take up a work.

The master in us makes the call when our lifestyle is in accordance with discipleship. Many think that it is a big luck to find one’s master. But the masters say that it is a rare chance to find once a good disciple. Normally a master in the form can only be recognized by a disciple. There is the form of the teacher, and there is the teacher himself working through this form. Many relate to the form and build a cult around it, which develops to a religion. Thus disciples are often more attracted by the fame of a master than by the presence. Worshipping the master, however, helps to come via the master close to God.

Discipleship means to live and work for the spirit. Just as we receive love, knowledge and support, we also should give others love, knowledge and support. Thus we transform ourselves and become transmitters of the energy of the master. The master works through the disciple in order to help the aspirants. Finally the disciple becomes the teacher and the teacher works as disciple.

K.P. Kumar: Hercules / notes from seminars. The World Teacher Trust - Dhanishta, Visakhapatnam, India.