the esoteric language

What constitutes a good esoteric student? Good grades, burning desire, a nice smile or more problems than anyone else? To answer the question first requires understanding the qualifier ‘good’. Good, in this context, is about possessing the attributes that are going to make you successful and worthy of your teacher’s time.

The language of esotericism, like the languages of religion, is often filled with words and phrases that make little sense to anyone uninvolved in the particular discipline or ‘way’ being studied. Outside of the occasional Joseph Campbell, most people find it incomprehensible to cross relate the commonalities of spiritual traditions, much less the everyday vocabularies that exist within various esoteric paths. ‘Dharma’ is as foreign a term to a Native American as ‘born again’ is to a Hindu. Okay, so maybe ‘born again’ is not that foreign to a Hindu, but in the Hindu tradition of reincarnation it means something quite different than it does in the conservative Christian realm.

Esoteric students fall prey to casually throwing out unfamiliar terms and nuances, victims of the relaxed and commonplace ease that occurs once they are comfortably seated inside the doors of their training venues. What seem to be (and are) perfectly sensible terms and phrases become awkward and misplaced when used in everyday life, although this often goes unnoticed as long as the student or follower stays within the confines of their group.

The terms we use to describe the qualities of good esoteric studentship become critical for anyone wishing to contribute to a more open and inclusive dialogue that reaches across religious, philosophical or social boundaries. Since we don’t have a common planet-wide language, the job of effective communication becomes even more challenging.

Esoteric wordsmiths must learn to choose their language with care. When a speaker or writer desires to effectively communicate, particularly outside the boundaries of familiarity found within their local group, the use of similes, analogies and metaphors becomes critical. It barely takes a glance back in time to see many examples among great leaders and pioneers, who often used analogies and parables to make their point, points that, even today, make sense. Is there a language that is not so dependant on metaphors? You need one, once you step into the deep end of the esoteric river.

Ask seven esoteric students from seven different paths to describe what makes a good student, and discover what language emerges. Chances are it will be chaotic, particularly if you aren’t grounded in all seven traditions. The best esoteric language is built on universal principles. Principles are our common planet-wide language, a point we constantly miss.

Principles are like having a Star Trek translator: they make sense to anyone. My Sensei is a great believer in this; he is always using language that is accessible to anyone he greets or teaches. He does this with ease and great success, communicating deeply and effectively to a wide cross section of people from around the world, and from representative backgrounds and outlooks.

Check out the language of principles. How many people will argue that better balance is a bad thing? Balance is a universal principle, a concept well within the grasp of nearly anyone. What about the principle of respect? A widely understood term, even organized criminals embrace respect and can converse at length regarding its value.

Listen, it doesn’t really bother me if someone wears a robe or a business suit to a religious function; it’s no concern of mine if a person chants with incense and bells, prays while kneeling and facing Mecca or meditates watching the surf toss itself up on the beach. What upsets me are these communication walls we scurry behind, desperately clutching our warm and fuzzy security blankets. We need to change this.

Principles have been and continue to be widely misunderstood and vastly underestimated. A wise teacher once revealed the true nature of the deeper path:

“All through history the sages, masters and teachers of higher understanding have traveled this path that leads the individual human to and through higher understanding. It is not a well marked path. In fact, it has no marks on it, with the exceptions of principles. That’s all there is to mark the path – principles.

“So you can go read and learn all kinds of things, but if you don’t understand principles then you won’t travel the path of higher understanding, nor will you gain the higher understanding. Neither will you gain it in a way that you can apply it. Let me tell you: the application is worth more than the knowledge of it, because the application is the proof of understanding.”