Surrender as a Key Attitude on the Spiritual Path

The ego will, the Free Will and the Divine Will

Dear reader.
If it is so that you are happily leading the best life
you can dream of, with a loving family, satisfying
profession, nice house, enough money, two cars
and a number of good friends, I congratulate you.
If this is all you wish for and you have no deeper
longing or ambition beyond the material, please
stop here, don’t read any further.
I am warning you, reading on could possibly cost
you your life!

; )

Kidding!

It’s not gonna be really so dramatic, I promise!

But since you are here and the word “surrender”
has not made you run away in disgust, I assume
you are somehow interested in spiritual matters.

So I can promise that you may hear some

interesting things here, some ultimately profound
things that may give a completely different view of
life and how one can live it.
Everything that has to do with the Will is quite
mysterious and is not taught about at the
university. And when it comes to surrendering the
personal will and aligning it with the Divine Will,
commonly known as the Will of God, we are in
completely different territory altogether.

It is not just my opinion but the wisdom of the

great teachers of spiritual traditions who declared:

The Attitude of Surrender is a key ingredient of the

Spiritual Path.
The willingness and skill to transcend the
Egocentric Will and develop a Free Will and then
surrender and align that to the Divine Will, this is
key to moving on towards Oneness and Higher
Consciousness.

I know, this sound like an earful and I am not

apologizing about it.
Because I am happy and grateful that I have
arrived at such understanding.

Most of my adult life on the spiritual path I have

been somewhat puzzled by the concept of
surrender and what it means in practical life, what
it means to freedom and free will and the choices
that I had to make all the time all along.
Now almost half a lifetime later I can not say that I
am much wiser about that matter, but I sure have
gained a lot of experience and knowledge and a bit
of an understanding about it all.

It is still a quest, the “hero’s journey” I am on.

But that journey is what I wish to share with you.

[ It is a lot of ground that I want to cover in this

article, so I will try my best to structure the text in
a way that is convenient for you.
I will set it up in the same way I conduct my
conversations with my Higher Self, with God or
whatever high power it is that I am asking for
insight. On my walks along the beach.

I will set it up in a manner of questions and

answers.
My heartfelt questions that usually drive the
conversation and the answers that appear in the
quiet of my mind in the form of feelings or fully
formed intuitive insights.

Those questions will also create some rough

structure of chapters that you can jump to, if you
wish.
The audio version will also have shortcuts to jump
to those chapters in case you don’t want to listen
to the whole audio reading. ]

And now, without much further ado:

Surrender as a Key Attitude on the Spiritual Path.

The ego will, the Free Will and the Divine Will.

Here is how the Dictionaries define “the Will”:

The Will is the human capacity that enables us to

make choices, set goals, and intentionally direct
our actions towards desired outcomes. It is a
fundamental aspect of human agency and
autonomy, albeit subject to various internal and
external influences.

“If there is a will, there is a way”

I am sure you heard this before, right?

The ability “to will”, consciously command

willpower and then especially of discovering the
capacity of Free Will is such a central aspect of
becoming a mature human being, it can not be
overstated.
Unfortunately most schools and mainstream
educational systems today neglect this aspect or
even crush the development of a will in children.

But some forward looking thinkers and educators

have been visionaries in this field already 100
years ago.

May I introduce Maria Montessori:

Maria Montessori was an Italian physician,

educator, and innovator who developed the
Montessori method of education. She was born in
1870 and died in 1952. Montessori was a
trailblazer in the field of education, particularly for
children with special needs. She developed a child-
centered approach to learning that emphasizes
self-directed activity, hands-on learning, and
individualized instruction. Her method has been
widely adopted globally and has had a profound
impact on early childhood education.

https://amshq.org/About-Montessori/History-of-
Montessori/Who-Was-Maria-Montessori

This lady has a lot of intelligent and practical

things to say about the developing of The Will in
children and adolescents.

The stages of will development, as described by

Maria Montessori, are crucial for understanding
how children develop their sense of self and their
ability to make conscious choices. By
understanding these stages, parents and educators
can provide the necessary support and
environment for children to develop their will and
become independent, self-directed individuals.

Here are the three stages of will development:

Stage 1: The Emergence of the Will:

- In this stage, the child begins to develop
awareness of their actions and choices. They start
to make deliberate choices, which is the emerging
will at work. This stage is characterized by the
child's ability to make choices that align with their
own inner needs and tendencies. The child is not
yet fully in control of their actions, but they are
beginning to develop a sense of self and agency.

Stage 2: The Development of the Conscious Will:

- In this stage, the child's will becomes more
conscious and deliberate. They are able to make
choices that align with their own will and the will of
others. This stage is characterized by the child's
ability to make considered choices and to lower
their impulses to abide by the wishes of others.
This stage is often regarded as the highest form of
obedience in traditional education.
Stage 3: The Integration of the Will:
- In this stage, the child's will is fully integrated
with their sense of self and their environment.
They are able to make choices that align with their
own will and the will of others, and they are able to
cooperate and adapt to their environment. This
stage is characterized by the child's ability to be
joyful and obedient, based on a trusting
relationship with others.

More details about the stages of development of

kids and the conscious development of the will you
can find here:

https://mymontessorimoments.com/development-
of-the-will-montessori/

Now, when we talk about us adults and consciously

developing a real agency of The Will, there is
nothing better I know to recommend than “The Act
of Will” by Roberto Assagioli.

May I introduce Signore Assagioli:

Roberto Assagioli was an Italian psychiatrist and

psychotherapist who developed the concept of
psychosynthesis. He was born in 1888 and died in
1974.
He was a college of Freud and Jung and developed
a transpersonal and integral view of psychology
that included the soul and the Spirit.

He was a pioneer in the field of psychotherapy and

is known for his work on the integration of the
personality, the development of the will, and the
concept of the Transpersonal Will.

Assagioli's concept of the will encompasses the

capacity to make conscious choices that are
aligned with one's true self and higher purposes.
He differentiates between strong will, good will,
and skillful will, emphasizing the importance of
integrating all three aspects and the role of the
Transpersonal Will in guiding the individual toward
self-realization and fulfillment.

Here is Assoglioli’s elaborate and far-reaching view

of The Will.

In the context of his work, "the will" refers to the

capacity to make conscious choices that are
aligned with one's true self and higher purposes.
Assagioli differentiates between three major
aspects of the will:
strong will, good will, and skillful will.
1. The Strong Will:
- Strong will is characterized by the energy and
determination to achieve goals and overcome
obstacles. It embodies the traditional notion of
willpower as forceful and assertive.

2. The Good Will:

- Good will focuses on the ethical and altruistic
intentions behind actions, emphasizing the
importance of willpower in promoting the common
good and fostering harmonious relationships.

3. The Skillful Will:

- Skillful will pertains to the effective and
efficient use of one's will to navigate life's
complexities, ensuring that actions are both
purposeful and adaptable.

Assagioli emphasizes the importance of integrating

all three aspects of the will, facilitating a more
rounded and effective expression of the will. He
also introduces the concept of the Transpersonal
Will, which transcends the individual ego and
aligns with higher purposes and spiritual values.

The development of the will is crucial for initiating

and sustaining the journey of psychosynthesis,
enabling the individual to navigate life with
intention and integrity. Assagioli provides various
exercises and techniques for cultivating and
strengthening the will, including meditation and
contemplation, creative expression, and working
with symbols and archetypes.

More details can be found here:

https://kennethsorensen.dk/en/the-training-of-
the-will/

What makes Assoglioli’s views outstanding in the

field of psychology and personal development is
the integration of what he called “The
Transpersonal Will”

His concept of the Transpersonal Will differs from

traditional views of willpower in several key ways:

1. Transcendence of the Ego:

- Traditional views of willpower often focus on
the individual ego and its ability to exert control
over external circumstances. In contrast,
Assagioli's Transpersonal Will transcends the
individual ego, aligning with higher purposes and
spiritual values.

2. Higher Self Connection:

 - The Transpersonal Will is connected to the
individual's higher self or soul, facilitating access to
deeper levels of consciousness and understanding.
This connection is distinctly different from the ego-
centered views of willpower.

3. Guiding Force:
- Assagioli's Transpersonal Will is seen as a
guiding force that leads individuals toward self-
realization and the fulfillment of their true
potential. This perspective emphasizes the will's
role in facilitating personal growth and spiritual
development.

4. Integration with Other Aspects of The Will:

- Assagioli's concept of the Transpersonal Will is
not meant to dominate or replace other aspects of
willpower, the strong will, good will, and skillful
will. Instead, it is integrated with these aspects to
facilitate a more comprehensive and effective
expression of the will.

5. Practical Applications:
- Assagioli provides various exercises and
techniques for cultivating and strengthening the
Transpersonal Will, such as meditation,
contemplation, creative expression, and working
with symbols and archetypes. These practices are
designed to enhance self-awareness, self-
regulation, and the capacity to act in alignment
with one's deepest values and goals.

Now, how does the idea of “Free Will” come into

the picture, how is it defined and what does it
mean in the context of spirituality?

Definition of The Free Will:

Free Will is defined to the ability of individuals to

make choices that are not predetermined by
preexisting causes, outer conditions or divine
intervention. It implies that humans have the
capacity to make decisions independently of any
external pressures or predestination.

The idea of free will has evolved through a rich

tapestry of philosophical, religious, and cultural
influences. It has been shaped by ancient Greek
philosophy, especially by Plato and Aristotles, by
religious teachings from various traditions, and
modern philosophers.

St. Augustine played a crucial role in shaping the

concept of free will in Western philosophy by
emphasizing the importance of human moral
agency, the role of grace in restoring free will, and
the relationship between free will and God's
sovereignty.

While interpretations and emphases differ, the core

idea remains the capacity for individuals to make
choices that are not entirely determined by
external factors or preexisting causes, allowing for
moral responsibility and personal autonomy.

It is interesting to note that The idea of Free Will is

not of great relevance in Eastern philosophy or
practical life.

In Chinese and Indian philosophical traditions the

focus is generally on adaptation and harmony and
moral responsibility. The goal of agency is not to
attain and exercise free will but to adapt to ever-
changing circumstances and establish harmony
with other beings in the environment. This
perspective shifts the focus from individual self-
reliance to cooperation and interdependence.

Ancient Chinese philosophers approach issues of

freedom and moral responsibility by emphasizing
the importance of living in harmony with the
natural world and the impermanence of all things.
Their views on freedom and moral responsibility
are distinctly different from Western perspectives
and highlight the importance of adapting to the
world rather than competing against it.

I think I like that view a lot!