The 5 paths of wisdom

Spiritual development

Wisdom is a process that develops in stages, revealing itself when we are encouraged to leave the old and venture into unknown territory. As you travel through these lands, you build a personal vision, becoming susceptible to the sensations and possibilities that present themselves. At each stage of this journey, one acquires a unique essence and foundation, and no travel map can encompass all the transformative experiences that will be achieved there. Only the experience and challenge of traversing these territories will lead beyond the surface, opening the door to transformation and creativity.

In the field of seeking wisdom and skills in a spiritual discipline, the focus of study is on the self and understanding how the mind works in various situations.

The formula for achieving spiritual growth consists of:

Without experience, knowledge will never be transformed into wisdom.

The sages and saints who have successfully traveled this path have left us countless maps, gifts, sutras, scriptures, techniques and inspirations to guide us on this journey. One of these maps is the knowledge of spiritual growth, revealing that this development doesn't happen all at once, in a flash or a moment, but as a cumulative effort, a progression through stages.

According to ancient Indian philosophy, recorded by the Sikh Gurus and incorporated into various contemporary spiritual contexts, there are 5 fundamental stages on the path to wisdom, which represent universal phases of learning and growth on the spiritual journey:

1 ) SARAM PAD - THE BEGINNER STAGE - The diligent effort:
In this first stage, you are called upon to accomplish, learn or explore something new. It is the moment when you become familiar with the subject or task, receiving your first instructions, such as learning to drive, receiving encouragement for the first date or testing your steps in a new territory. Here the journey is marked by diligent effort, commitment to spiritual practices and the continuous search for inner truth.

2) KARAM PAD - THE APPRENTICE STAGE - The path of right actions:
In the second stage, you become an apprentice. At this stage, you are called a "learner" because action is what you are expected to perform and practice in a variety of contexts. The word "Karam" means to carry out or perform tasks and works under different circumstances. During this process, exceptions and new aspects arise, without the precise guidelines of the first stage. Thus, the learner needs to seek the experience of a more advanced teacher or colleagues who face similar challenges. When progressing, Karam Pad stands out for its commitment to ethical and fair actions, where spiritual growth is intrinsically linked to the practice of good deeds and adherence to moral principles.

3) SHAKTI PAD - THE PRACTITIONER'S STAGE - The awakening of divine energy: The third phase is the most crucial, transitional and demanding of all. The choices made here and the transformation that takes place in the students' abilities determine whether they will progress towards mastery, remain at apprentice level or give up studying altogether. It is a phase in which significant transformation or discontinuity occurs. In spiritual discipline, Shaktipad is known as the test of the ego or the test of power. In this phase, the journey focuses on awakening and channeling inner energies, connecting with the divine force as a way of achieving spiritual fulfillment.

4) SAHEJ PAD - THE EXPERT STAGE - The path of simplicity and naturalness:
In the fourth phase, that of the expert, the joy is evident. It's a complete change from the challenging Shaktipad phase. “Sahejpad” means the phase of ease and elegance. At this stage, the student has already gained experience, is focused on the goal and each new challenge improves their abilities. What changes is the concern for oneself. The expert becomes involved in a mission, jumping from total involvement with the task and the subject to a more comprehensive evaluation of their action. There are no questions about what you do or why you do it; there is just an intense association of one pattern after another. As the journey progresses, Sahej Pad stands out as the path of simplicity and naturalness, where spirituality is cultivated in a simple and uncomplicated way.

5) SAT PAD - THE MASTER STAGE - The search for absolute truth:
The fifth and final stage is that of the Master, which is rare and reached by only a few. In spiritual disciplines, it is called Sat Pad, the stage of truth and reality. The Master's concern is the immediate reality of the task or situation. There are no distortions caused by the needs of the student's ego. There is no separation between the Master and the action he performs. The Master joins the car, the road and the journey. Consciousness is not limited; it concentrates on several things at once. The Yogi Master, with his true Self, is immanent and present in all parts of life's journey. The Business Master unites with the unique nature of the specific business and finds the universal principles of organization and prosperity in all parts of the company. The business is conducted like a well-trained and well-tuned orchestra. At the culmination of the journey, the Sat Pad represents the phase of searching for the absolute truth, with the realization that inner growth is a cumulative journey and not an isolated event.

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