The Path of Zen or Tantra

The second school believes that although it is true that, at this stage of Evolution, the Physical, Astral, and Mental Planes are imperfect, the Divinity inherent in all things should be brought down and manifested in them. That is, one should see the Transcendental Reality in the passing, temporary, evolutionary forms. This is the Path of Zen or Tantra.

This second school of spirituality does not negate the world. It seeks the awareness of immortality and to transcend the ego, but with a free and voluntary participation in the activities of the Three Worlds for the sake of helping Evolution. This is what Jesus meant when He said to be in the world, but not of the world.

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Thou has sent me into the world, even as have I also sent them into the world. John 17:16,18.

This is done through Compassion. In the East it is called the Path of the Bodhisattva. The essential problem is not life in this world, but the ego, which causes separation, disharmony, and disunity from all other selves and from the environment.

The Path of Gnosis

There is also a third School of Spirituality, which wants to escape altogether beyond the Seven Cosmic Physical Planes to the Cosmic Astral Planes. This is the Path of Gnosticism or Gnosis, the Path of the Pratyeka Buddha.