The 8 Levels of Personal Development Growth in Vipassana, et al

Oftentimes when we set out for Liberation of the Mind and the Spiritual Lifestyle, we find ourselves at different stages of our growth when studying a Personal Development System.

Below I have listed 8 Levels a person goes through when they find a new personal development system or have been studying one for some time. I can only hope this provides some balance for those who find themselves (or someone they love) with their lives upside-down, confused by what is happening to them while training an Advanced Personal Development System.

Some examples of Advanced Personal Development include:

Studying with a guru, like Sri Sri Ravi Shankar or Sri Sathya Sai Baba, studying with an energy master, like Master Sha or Master Aiping Wang, studying an advanced form of meditation, or attending a school that specializes in healing.

One point I wish to make is to understand that we are all unique with different quantities and qualities of karma. This is our soul's growth level. Is our soul fairly 'new', not having achieved much wisdom and good deed karma? Is our soul older, having integrated many more life-lessons into our core foundation? Our 'soul maturity' is the main ingredient that changes how people go through the 8 Levels of Personal Development Growth below.

Level 1: The Search

Intentionally or unintentionally, a person finds themselves searching for something to help them deepen their Release of old mental habit patterns (stagnant energy or ways of living). There are some challenges that are coming up in life, and they seek to resolve these challenges. Again, consciously or unconsciously, one realizes their problems are rooted in deep-seated mental programs that are not natural due to the perceived 'negative' feelings or judgments or anxiety that continues to arise.

Level 2: The Hook

One finds something that appears to have some merit to it. A personal development system has been found. One is new and just getting into it. One is realizing the value of the system or the teachings. One is still hesitant and rooted in old beliefs and ways of viewing the world, but one sees value in this new way and needs to explore for themselves where it will take them.

Level 3: The Addiction

The value of the system and the teachings has been experienced. Now one can't get enough. No matter what, a person wants to experience the system again and again. One isn't ready to give up on all the past teachings they have come across, but they are fully engrossed and welcoming this new teaching as the highest one they have come across to date. On the plus side, one is receiving lots of benefit, because they are very open to the teaching, sucking it up like a sponge. One begins Releasing quite a bit.

Level 4: The Warrior

Like a new recruit in an army, one begins to taut this system, its teachings, and even its unique vocabulary as The Way, The Truth, and The Light. Others can perceive this person as though they are in a cult. One's form of study (living of life) becomes very narrow, focused only on the system and its teachings. All other teachings fall away, though have been integrated in some level. One talks constantly about the system. One's friendships only revolve around that system, and one feels lost or angry outside of the system. One's life energy and thoughts are fully vibrating at the vibration of the system. Teachings, songs, vocabulary- anything in a system- can tend to be very focused, very narrow, making them powerful, yet 'narrow'. One is Releasing at extremely fast paces.

Level 5: The Break

For some reason or another, the time of massive growth speed slows down. The climax has been reached, this time around. A few weeks before the climax (depending on timescale of this situation) and a few weeks after this climax is known as The Break.

Level 6: The Integration

Some time passes, and one lives in Society System again (what's also known as "The Real World"). One may feel somewhat lost or disappointed that the rest of the world is not on the same level (or vibration). There are various stages to this integration process itself. One sees the world through the eyes of the system, yet also through the eyes of the world. One communicates to others in the ways of the system yet also in the ways of the world. One 'thinks' in the ways of the system and in the ways of the world, as life energy begins to be influenced by the energies outside the system. One sees the applicability of the system in the Real World with a fresh perspective. One also wonders who they are. Like a child, one begins exploring again.

Level 7: The Upgrade

More time passes, One's energy has reintegrated to the energy of society, yet at a higher level. One is practicing the system and has found a way to integrate it into their life, so it works well with the structure of society. It is at this level that someone can begin making balanced (equanimous) changes in their surroundings, in the world. One is part of the world and part of something greater; and vibrating at higher mastery of society system. One has more insights into society. One sees it from a higher level. One is less quick to judge or react or speak too soon on something. One has new wisdom and a higher morality fully integrated into their entire being. One is using their own vocabulary and ways of living, having fully integrated what works for them from the system they are practicing. One thinks for themselves, yet at higher levels having integrated the teachings and gone back to the ways their unique life energy lives life. One is not as dogmatic or narrow as they used to be in earlier levels. One is more natural and in tune with their unique gifts, not the gifts that the system solely stresses. One begins listening to themselves more as their own guidance system. One is even happy to be working a 'normal' job again in society. The major Releases that have taken place have properly settled and continue to release at manageable level that resonate with society. Like the Integration Level, this Level can also take on a few stages.

Level 8: The Trip

We've tripped the wires of normalcy. Something stirs within the soul and sets one off to begin wanting more at deeper levels again. We find ourselves back at Level 1. Our choice is to go back to our current system of teachings and learning for deeper Release, devotion, and learning, or to find a new system in the event the old system did not fully appeal to our energy. If a person goes back to Level 1, they are able to go back to a system they have been practicing with more wisdom and more detachment, to absorb the experience at a deeper and more equanimous level.

An example of this lesson would be me going to India to study with 2 gurus and meditate Vipassana for a year. Levels 1 thru 4 took place for me while in India staying at designated Vipassana facilities.

I remember listening to other students speak at the lunchroom tables about Vipassana, and they were mostly regurgitating the main teacher's (SN Goenka) exact words from his 10 discourses. Some of these students had been meditating the system for years. Oftentimes, these students had not left the centers for long periods of time, thereby not fully integrating or upgrading their levels of being. They were thinking through the mind of the teacher, and not through their own minds. I would also do this. You can't help it. When you hear only one way over and over, it begins to bubble out of you.

For this reason it is important (though we never want it when it is presented to us) to reach a climax, have a break, and process what we have learned.

Upon returning to the USA, I experienced Levels 5 thru 8. And this is where I find myself today; Level 8, stirring to now go deeper to release programs of the mind that aren't serving me anymore, so I may continue working with clients and not be affected by some things that have been coming up as much.

It was only because I had trained so many other personal development systems before joining Vipassana that I could see this process so clearly when I began meditating under Goenka's Vipassana. I knew I was 'joining' an organization (the group headed by Goenka) that was going to have its own laws, bylaws, songs, culture, vocabulary, meditations, and ways of living. By knowing what I was getting into (every personal development system is like this), it allowed me to be a little more balanced, rather than dogmatic, throughout the whole process; especially during the Warrior Level. (just a little :)

Some decisions I have chosen while away from the personal development system that I practice would not be approved of at all. Yet these are decisions I have had to make in order to properly integrate what I had learned and unlearned in the previous year. I was like a young child touching the hot stove again to see what worked and what my new-found abilities were.

I use my mind and body as a laboratory experiment. I am the cook, and I also get to taste what comes out of the oven. Sometimes I add ingredients and subtract ingredients to see what works for my unique energy and for a unique situation. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose. But I always learn, and I always grow to respect the reason a personal development system has a certain rule they follow.

I am now ready to go back to a Vipassana center for another few months to release more and absorb more at deeper levels of my being. The 8 Levels have come full-circle. And I see this in many people I know who train their unique systems.

One woman who is a Soul Retrieval expert will take off 6 months of each year to meditate in order to connect faster and smoother to people's energy and 'soul-pieces'. This is her way of going deeper when needed. Others choose to live at a Guru or teacher's property or take a deepening course for a few days, weeks, or months per year. There is a constant ebb and flow of learning, release, and integration.

I hope this helps some of you on the path. And may you continuously open up to receive the blessings that you are being showered with each moment of your life.

Jan 

The John Positive Co.

~May all beings, invisible or visible, be Happy.~