In Search of the Miraculous

"So that we can imagine the whole of humanity, known as well as unknown to us,

as consisting so to speak of several concentric circles.

"The inner circle is called the 'esoteric'; this circle consists of people who have

attained the highest development possible for man, each one of whom possesses

individuality in the fullest degree, that is to say, an indivisible 'I,' all forms of

consciousness possible for man, full control over these states of consciousness, the

whole of knowledge possible for man, and a free and independent will. They cannot

perform actions opposed to their understanding or have an understanding which is not

expressed by actions. At the same time there can be no discords among them, no

differences of understanding. Therefore their activity is entirely co-ordinated and

leads to one common aim without any kind of compulsion because it is based upon a

common and identical understanding.

"The next circle is called the 'mesoteric,' that is to say, the middle. People who

belong to this circle possess all the qualities possessed by the members of the esoteric

circle with the sole difference that their knowledge is of a more theoretical character.'

This refers, of course, to knowledge of a cosmic character. They know and understand

many things which have not yet found expression in their actions. They know more

than they do. But their understanding is precisely as exact as, and therefore precisely

identical with, the understanding of the people of the esoteric circle. Between them

there can be, no discord, there can be no misunderstanding. One understands in the

way they all understand, and all understand in the way one understands. But as was

said before, this understanding compared with the understanding of the esoteric circle

is somewhat more theoretical.

"The third circle is called the 'exoteric,' that is, the outer, because it is the outer circle of the inner part of humanity. The people who belong to this circle possess

much of that which belongs to people of the esoteric and mesoteric circles but their

cosmic knowledge is of a more philosophical character, that is to say, it is more

abstract than the knowledge of the mesoteric circle. A member of the mesoteric circle calculates, a member of the exoteric circle contemplates. Their understanding may not be expressed in actions. But there cannot be differences in understanding between

them. What one understands all the others understand.

"In literature which acknowledges the existence of esotericism humanity is usually

divided into two circles only and the 'exoteric circle' as opposed to the 'esoteric,' is

called ordinary life. In reality, as we see, the 'exoteric circle' is something very far

from us and very high. For ordinary man this is already 'esotericism.'

" 'The outer circle' is the circle of mechanical humanity to which we belong and

which alone we know. The first sign of this circle is that among people who belong to

it there is not and there cannot be a common understanding. Everybody understands in

his own way and all differently. This circle is sometimes called the circle of the

'confusion of tongues,' that is, the circle in which each one speaks in his own

particular language, where no one understands another and takes no trouble to be

understood. In this circle mutual understanding between people is impossible

excepting in rare exceptional moments or in matters having no great significance, and

which are confined to the limits of the given being. If people belonging to this circle become conscious of this general lack of understanding and acquire a desire to

understand and to be understood, then it means they have an unconscious tendency

towards the inner circle because mutual understanding begins only in the exoteric

circle and is possible only there. But the consciousness of the lack of understanding

usually comes to people in an altogether different form.

"So that the possibility for people to understand depends on the possi-

bility of penetrating into the exoteric circle where understanding begins.

"If we imagine humanity in the form of four concentric circles we can imagine four

gates on the circumference of the third inner circle, that is, the exoteric circle, through which people of the mechanical circle can penetrate.

"These four gates correspond to the four ways described before.

"The first way is the way of the fakir, the way of people number one, of people of

the physical body, instinctive-moving-sensory people without much mind and without

much heart.

"The second way is the way of the monk, the religious way, the way of people

number two, that is, of emotional people. The mind and the body should not be too

strong.

"The third way is the way of the yogi. This is the way of the mind, the way of

people number three. The heart and the body must not be particularly strong,

otherwise they may be a hindrance on this way.

"Besides these three ways yet a fourth way exists by which can go those who