what makes Work different

As one studies theology and the categories of theology and what theologians, especially the great ones, know about one will see that eXoteric theology touches upon basically every work topic in one way or another. Especially Calvinism does. Yet where exoteric theology is really completely cut off from work level teaching (and I am writing of the Work as being eSoteric theology) is its lack of any doctrine or practice of awakening (the 'I am here' state of consciousness; self-remembering) and its lack of any doctrine or practice regarding identification (or non-identifying) - hence its vulnerableness to General Law illusion even though mainstream Christianity recognizes the illusions of this world and all that - and also its lack of any recognition of different kinds of energy.

In other words, eXoteric theology lacks the center-of-gravity of the Work: the two conscious shocks; self-remembering and non-identifying in a process of accumulation of energy of consciousness and transforming inevitable friction.

Jonathan Edwards, as brilliant a theologian and philosopher and polymath as he was, and as understanding as he was regarding regeneration and experiential theology, would react as brick wall-like as any more shallow mainstream Christian pastor if you attempted to explain self-remembering to him. I didn't know Jonathan Edwards, but I sense this. Or he would immediately define it as something else or bring it down to a common level in some way. Or deny that he didn't have it, or etc.

BECAUSE: to really see it requires a real death to the world and a real death of your Personality. Death of all the public you; and the you that a Man #1,2,3 sees as themselves, i.e. not some degree of Real I but 'Jonathan Edwards'. Not I but 'it'. 'It' has to die, and 'it' is ALL for Man #1,2,3.

All else in the Work is included in one way or another in eXoteric level theology. Mostly having to do with things revolving around vanity and worldly pride and self will. Subjects such as influences are there (just in seeing the Bible as inspired influence compared to other influences). In many ways most all the Work is in mainstream theology (as I said, especially Calvinism).

Yet that crucial step OUT of Imaginary 'I' to at least Observing I and 'I am here' consciousness is NOT there in eXoteric theology and mainstream Christian practice. Nor is an understanding of Identification. Nor is a recognition of the different types of energy and the process of accumulating and transforming energy.

This is why the Work is 'esoteric' Christianity. And it requires the self-initiation of development of Magnetic Center (or else Observing I is not present, in which case self-remembering is something one is not capable of doing or even knowing about in an on-the-mark way).

So once you truly enter this esoteric level of Work knowledge and effort and understanding you are in new territory with new demands made on you and new responsibilities. (Your time begins to be counted. That is the big thing.) The demands of the eXoteric realm no longer apply, but you are in more dangerous territory just as a soldier on a battlefield is in more dangerous territory and just as a mountain climber, the higher he goes, is in more dangerous territory (and not just from having a farther distance to fall, but from starvation or injuring himself or lack of oxygen and many other things that have metaphorical correspondences for a person who has entered the new territory of Work study and effort).

I made a quick glance through the Fourth Way by Ouspensky to see what big categories or subjects of the Work exoteric level theology just didn't contain or have anything to do with, and what stood out was the teaching on - the fact of - different kinds of energy (and hence what happens when you accumulate specifically energy of consciousness) and the specific, deceptively simple, 'I am here' presence that is both self-remembering and non-identifying. The Book of Romans tells you that 'now it is high time to awaken out of sleep' yet one needs the esoteric doctrines of separation and self-remembering and non-identifying defined and presented to one (and one needs a foundation of having developed Magnetic Center to be able to see those esoteric doctrines - things - to begin with), and that requires one leave the crowd hearing the sermon and enter the inner circle where Jesus explains the parables in practical language.

The knowledge that is School Knowledge (Work knowledge) doesn't exist in time as other influences exist in time. It is necessary and real knowledge, and it becomes available to an individual who needs it and can 'see' it and be on-the-mark with it, but it requires an act - an effort, a payment - of C Influence itself to appear, and that is not the same as a teaching that is kept in a book or a work of art. Because it is not for the crowd.