In this post we discuss the Discipline of Personality according to the Law of One material, and the distinction between discipline vs. control. There are many techniques one may practice on the spiritual path, however, in the Law of One the central technique for facilitating spiritual evolution is said to be the Discipline of Personality. Those of Ra say the Discipline of Personality can be thought of as having three components which include knowing the self, accepting the self, and becoming the creator.

The perfectly balanced being is said to be able to remain centered in love and witnessing awareness no matter the outward catalyst. In order to attain that balance everything that comes into conscious awareness should be accepted and seen as a manifestation of the creator. When we become perfectly balanced we remain equanimous in all situations, with no inward response other than love and acceptance.

However, there is a broad chasm between where most of us are and a state of perfect balance. Each of us has our own unique balance, which must first be known and accepted. Only after knowing and accepting the self may we direct the will to discipline the personality toward greater balance. 

A tempting shortcut is to utilize control to simulate discipline. However, control is the path of self-denial and uses the will to thwart desire. Whereas discipline is the path wherein will and desire become one and are harmonious directed to achieve ever greater spiritual realization.

The path of control always creates a shadow of the unaccepted desire, which manifests at a later date and has to be dealt with. The path of discipline may appear slower, but it is more certain. Because when will and desire are one there is no shadow, and the will and desire may be directed harmoniously as an undivided implacable force capable of achieving all things.

That being said, both discipline and control require a strong will. Discipline just uses the will in a more nuanced way. Discipline requires us to continuously be engaged in a process of clarifying our desires and understanding of who and what we are while seeking to be an ever greater expression of truth.

The truth is we are a singularity of consciousness experiencing multiplicity. Every desire of whatever nature includes this paradox and includes the impulse either toward separation or unity. The key to positive evolution is to recognize this duality exists within us, and to make The Choice to act on those desires born of unity rather than separation.

As we discipline the personality we cultivate and feed those desires which tend toward unity and acceptance rather than those that tend toward separation and control. We recognize that the impulses toward separation are part of us and part of the creator, but we nevertheless choose to express and embody love and unity.

The central most helpful practice for facilitating this process of knowing the self, accepting the self, and becoming the creator is daily meditation. Meditation is useful because it creates a gap between the voice in our head and that aspect of awareness which simply witnesses it all unfold. The Law of One says any meditation technique is acceptable if practiced regularly.

As our awareness becomes more spacious and less identified with the thoughts in our head we become better able to view our thoughts objectively and not be completely identified with them.

This enables us to gain an experiential understanding of the difference between the true self which is the witness, and the relative self which is the voice in the head.

Experience of witnessing awareness is the first step on the path of becoming the creator. As the personality becomes more polarized and disciplined towards service to others the central burning desire becomes unity with the creator. When will and desire are wed to serve this goal every other desire is burned within its flame. The burning question in every moment simply becomes, “How may I direct my will to serve others and become the creator in this moment?”