Read part 1 of the series: ‘Manly P. Hall’s Lessons of Self-Unfoldment Part 1 : Personal Growth’.
I wish to share with you selected passages from the book ‘Self-unfoldment by Disciplines of Realization’ written by Manly P. Hall.
This book contains many wise lessons and practical instructions on how we can penetrate deep within ourselves so to understand the Truth of who we are, and how we fit into this universal existence.
The ultimate aim is to attain the self-knowledge for us to grow effortlessly towards wisdom and a blessed life.
I am still in the process of reading this fascinating book, and will endeavor to post more enlightening and insightful passages as I go along.
From ‘Chapter 1 – Theory of Disciplines’:
Metaphysical disciplines are not to be regarded as competitive exercises in which one vies with another in the magnitude of his imaginings, or yearns toward some metaphysical aristocracy. All metaphysical exercises worthy of the NAME are an unfolding of self into the light of virtue, beauty, and wisdom. The illustration for this lesson is taken from the Zen school of Chinese art. It is the “lone traveler,” a solitary monk standing on the edge of a great cliff gazing out into the mist. Far beyond rise dimly the shadows of high mountains in the ageless contrast to gnarled and broken trees in the foreground. Much has been said of the loneliness of wisdom, and how much the Truth seeker becomes a pilgrim wandering from start to star. To the ignorant, the wise man is lonely because he abides in distant heights of the mind. But the wise man himself does not feel lonely. Wisdom brings him nearer to life; closer to the heart of the world than the foolish man can ever be. Bookishness may lead to loneliness, and scholarship may end in a battle of beliefs, but the wise man gazing off into space sees not an emptiness, but a space full of life, truth, and law.
The Truth-Seeker’s lonely mission is to:
- turn off the TV and radio
- dispose of the newspapers
- question everything you have been told and taught to be true
- inquire for yourself to discern what the truth may be – in other words, educate yourselves
- Seek and gain the practical and beneficial knowledge that can actually help you to become conscious beings, self-reliant, self-determined, pragmatic and wise
- Look within yourselves for the true answers towards achieving your aims in life – the truth and wisdom is within you to use to your advantage
- Take responsibility for your own health, income, and general well-being
Read more of J. Cooper’s insights via Manly P. Hall’s Lessons of Self-Unfoldment Part 2 : Truth-Seeker’s Lonely Path To Wisdom | Knowledge Reform.