School of the Soul: Its Path and Pitfalls

Rating:
Summary: The birth, life, and death of mystical schools
Review: This is one of the most remarkable books I have ever read. Most books about spirituality focus on the individual: self-development, or developing one's personal relationship with God. This book focuses on the development of entire schools of mysticism, from their birth to maturity to death.

Halevi's background is primarily Kabbalah and astrology. However, his perspective is much broader than these particular paths. He frequently provides examples and analogies from other paths, which he describes with respect and even admiration.

To a large extent, this is a handbook to guide a "tutor" in the formation of a mystical group, the basic unit or subdivision of a school. The author clearly speaks from his own experience when he discusses developmental stages and problems that challenge tutors as well as students. Entire chapters are devoted to topics such as Star Students (rivalry to be #2), Crisis, and Dull Times, as well as Sacred Space, Building the Temple, and Networking.

A major theme of this work is devotion to the truth and channeling inspiration from higher worlds to this one. One of the risks of this endeavor is the tendency to focus too much on the tutor or master. Here is one of Halevi's cautionary comments (page 35):

"For example, there is often the powerful leader who is seen as master, and the faithful close to the throne with the various degrees of lesser beings stratified in rank according to their commitment to the guru. In a real esoteric school the first loyalty is to the Truth, not to a person, but very often we find the personality of the leader is the draw, not the veracity of the Teaching. As a seeker becomes involved in larger groups so he or she should be aware of the criteria by which they are run, because very often what began as a genuine gathering for the pursuit of wisdom becomes a personality centred institution with all that goes with such organisations, with its bureaucracy, its petty rules, and its public relations department."

Halevi gives careful attention to the notion that each school has its own destiny. Like any living being, a school has a finite lifetime and a specific purpose in the greater scheme of things. Some readers will find his remarks about the final stages of a school to be of particular interest, for example (page 201):

"The end of a school may be instant, in the sudden decease of a leader who leaves no one of sufficient calibre to carry on, or it can be a genteel decline of an ageing company which spends its last thirty years in what becomes a pleasant esoteric social club."

Halevi describes the life cycle of schools with honesty and compassion. The last third or so of this book focuses on the ongoing process of a school after it has been built. The author devotes an entire chapter to Blossom and Decline, in which he provides "signs that indicate the decline of a school that has done its job and is being phased out" (page 265):

"An example of the early stage of this phase is seen in a blind faith in the school, a little over-confidence and a certain amount of arrogance. People start to assume many things, take every rule and role for granted. The creative tension is no longer present and tutors begin to become dogmatic. Students quote without thought and act according to instruction."

Rating:
Summary: The birth, life, and death of mystical schools
Review: This is one of the most remarkable books I have ever read. Most books about spirituality focus on the individual: self-development, or developing one's personal relationship with God. This book focuses on the development of entire schools of mysticism, from their birth to maturity to death.

Halevi's background is primarily Kabbalah and astrology. However, his perspective is much broader than these particular paths. He frequently provides examples and analogies from other paths, which he describes with respect and even admiration.

To a large extent, this is a handbook to guide a "tutor" in the formation of a mystical group, the basic unit or subdivision of a school. The author clearly speaks from his own experience when he discusses developmental stages and problems that challenge tutors as well as students. Entire chapters are devoted to topics such as Star Students (rivalry to be #2), Crisis, and Dull Times, as well as Sacred Space, Building the Temple, and Networking.

A major theme of this work is devotion to the truth and channeling inspiration from higher worlds to this one. One of the risks of this endeavor is the tendency to focus too much on the tutor or master. Here is one of Halevi's cautionary comments (page 35):

"For example, there is often the powerful leader who is seen as master, and the faithful close to the throne with the various degrees of lesser beings stratified in rank according to their commitment to the guru. In a real esoteric school the first loyalty is to the Truth, not to a person, but very often we find the personality of the leader is the draw, not the veracity of the Teaching. As a seeker becomes involved in larger groups so he or she should be aware of the criteria by which they are run, because very often what began as a genuine gathering for the pursuit of wisdom becomes a personality centred institution with all that goes with such organisations, with its bureaucracy, its petty rules, and its public relations department."

Halevi gives careful attention to the notion that each school has its own destiny. Like any living being, a school has a finite lifetime and a specific purpose in the greater scheme of things. Some readers will find his remarks about the final stages of a school to be of particular interest, for example (page 201):

"The end of a school may be instant, in the sudden decease of a leader who leaves no one of sufficient calibre to carry on, or it can be a genteel decline of an ageing company which spends its last thirty years in what becomes a pleasant esoteric social club."

Halevi describes the life cycle of schools with honesty and compassion. The last third or so of this book focuses on the ongoing process of a school after it has been built. The author devotes an entire chapter to Blossom and Decline, in which he provides "signs that indicate the decline of a school that has done its job and is being phased out" (page 265):

"An example of the early stage of this phase is seen in a blind faith in the school, a little over-confidence and a certain amount of arrogance. People start to assume many things, take every rule and role for granted. The creative tension is no longer present and tutors begin to become dogmatic. Students quote without thought and act according to instruction."