The Act of Will

1. The Will: Bridging Inner and Outer Worlds

This wide gulf between man's external and inner powers is one of the most important and profound causes of the individual and collective evils which afflict our civilization and gravely menace its future.

External vs. Internal Power. Humanity has achieved remarkable technological advancements, granting immense power over the external world. However, this progress has not been matched by a corresponding understanding and control of our inner selves, leading to a dangerous imbalance. This disparity between external power and internal control is a primary source of individual and societal problems.

Simplifying and Developing. The solution lies in a two-pronged approach: simplifying our external lives and developing our inner powers. By reducing unnecessary complications and reconnecting with nature, we can alleviate some of the pressures of modern life. More importantly, cultivating inner resources, especially the will, is essential for navigating the complexities and challenges of our time.

The Power of the Will. The will is central to our inner development because of its connection to our core being and its role in decision-making and perseverance. Training and utilizing the will allows us to consciously direct our lives, overcome obstacles, and achieve self-mastery, ultimately bridging the gap between our external capabilities and our internal control.

2. Experiencing the Will: A Personal Revelation

The experience of the will constitutes both a firm foundation and a strong incentive for starting the exacting but most rewarding task of its training.

Three Phases of Discovery. The journey to understanding and utilizing the will involves three key phases: recognizing that the will exists, realizing that you have a will, and understanding that you are a will. This progression moves from intellectual acknowledgment to a deep, personal understanding of the will as an integral part of your being. This discovery is not merely an intellectual exercise but a profound existential experience.

Analogies and Triggers. Discovering the will is akin to awakening an aesthetic sense, often triggered by moments of crisis, temptation, or profound contemplation. It can manifest as a surge of unexpected strength in the face of danger, a resolute "no" against temptation, or a quiet inner voice during meditation. These experiences, whether dramatic or subtle, reveal the will's presence and potential.

Cultivating the Will. The discovery of the will can be a transformative event, altering one's self-awareness and attitude toward the world. However, this initial revelation is often fleeting, easily submerged by daily distractions. Therefore, it is crucial to protect, cultivate, and strengthen this newfound awareness through consistent effort and practice, transforming it into a constant possession and a source of inner strength.

3. Qualities of the Will: A Spectrum of Strengths

From the standpoint of training the will it is necessary first to have the various qualities clearly in view; to know them and understand them thoroughly.

Seven Key Qualities. The will is not a monolithic entity but a multifaceted power expressed through various qualities: energy, mastery, concentration, determination, persistence, initiative, and organization. These qualities are interconnected and can be developed through targeted training, allowing the will to be applied effectively in diverse situations. Understanding and cultivating these qualities is essential for developing a well-rounded and potent will.

Balancing Opposites. Some qualities, like decisiveness and daring, may seem to conflict with others, like discipline and patience. A fully developed will knows how to use these differing qualities alternately, as needed, or to achieve a balance between them by following a wise middle path. The skillful application of these qualities depends on the specific context and the desired outcome.

Interplay of Qualities. The qualities of the will are not isolated traits but interconnected aspects of a dynamic force. For example, mastery requires energy and control, while concentration enhances the effectiveness of a strong will. By understanding these relationships, we can cultivate a synergistic approach to will development, maximizing its overall impact.

4. The Strong Will: Foundation for Action

To train the will one must start by recognizing that the will exists; then that one has a will; and finally that one is a will, or, essentially, a "willing self."

Strength as a Foundation. The strong will provides the impetus and energy needed to carry out willed acts. While strength is only one aspect of the will, it is a fundamental one that must be developed through practice and exercise. A strong will is essential for overcoming obstacles and achieving desired outcomes.

Exercises for Cultivation. Strengthening the will involves a combination of mental and physical exercises. These include:

• Realizing the value of the will through visualization and reflection
• Evoking feelings of self-reliance and determination through inspiring reading material
• Performing "useless" exercises to develop discipline and focus
• Engaging in physical activities with the specific intention of strengthening the will

Integrating Will into Daily Life. Daily life offers numerous opportunities to exercise and strengthen the will. By approaching everyday tasks with attention, precision, and determination, we can transform them into deliberate acts of will training. This includes rising early, controlling impulses, and maintaining serenity in the face of challenges.

5. The Skillful Will: Mastering Psychological Laws

The essential function of the skillful will, which we need to cultivate, is the ability to develop that strategy which is most effective and which entails the greatest economy of effort, rather than the strategy that is most direct and obvious.

Beyond Brute Force. The skillful will is not about exerting sheer force but about understanding and utilizing psychological laws to achieve desired outcomes with minimal effort. This involves recognizing the interplay of various psychological functions and directing them strategically. The skillful will is about working with your mind, not against it.

Understanding Psychological Elements. The skillful will requires an understanding of the various psychological functions, including sensation, emotion, impulse, imagination, thought, intuition, and their relationships. By recognizing how these functions interact, we can leverage them to support our goals. The will is the director, not the sole actor.

Harnessing Psychological Laws. The skillful will operates by understanding and applying psychological laws, such as the tendency of images and ideas to produce corresponding physical conditions and actions. By consciously choosing and focusing on positive images and ideas, we can influence our behavior and create desired outcomes. The skillful will is about understanding the rules of the game.

6. Good Will: The Ethical Imperative

A man of strong and able will, capable of using his natural gifts to the utmost, can overpower or corrupt the will of others; one who dares everything, fears nothing, and whose actions are not restrained by any ethical consideration, by any sense of love or compassion, can have a disastrous influence on a community or even an entire nation.

Beyond Strength and Skill. A will that is merely strong and skillful can be a dangerous weapon if not guided by ethical considerations. The good will is essential for ensuring that our actions are aligned with the welfare of others and the common good. Good will is not just desirable, it's necessary.

Overcoming Obstacles. Selfishness, self-centeredness, and a lack of understanding of others are major obstacles to the good will. Overcoming these requires a conscious effort to cultivate empathy, compassion, and a broader perspective. The good will is about choosing right goals.

Cultivating Understanding. Developing the good will involves understanding the human constitution, differential psychology, and empathy. By recognizing the essential unity of human nature and projecting our consciousness into others, we can foster compassion and solidarity. The good will is both desirable and ultimately inevitable.

7. Love and Will: A Harmonious Union

The danger of untempered will is that it lacks heart.

Balancing Heart and Mind. Untempered will can be cold and even cruel, while love without will can be weak and ineffectual. The integration of love and will is essential for creating a balanced and fulfilling life. Love and will are generally present in individuals in inverse proportion.

Types of Love. Love encompasses a wide range of relationships, from self-love to maternal love, romantic love, fraternal love, and love of God. Each type of love has its own unique qualities and challenges, requiring a skillful application of the will to navigate them effectively. Love is not simply a matter of feeling.

Harmonizing Love and Will. The unification of love and will involves developing the weaker of the two, awakening their higher aspects, and bringing them into operation together. This requires discipline, patience, and persistence, qualities that are also essential for good willing. Good will and good love are closely related.

8. The Transpersonal Will: Beyond the Personal

Fundamental among these inner powers, and the one to which priority should be given, is the tremendous, unrealized potency of man's own will.

Addressing the Existential Vacuum. The transpersonal will addresses the sense of boredom, emptiness, and meaninglessness that can arise even after satisfying basic psychological and personal needs. This "existential vacuum" can be filled by connecting with something greater than oneself. The Transpersonal Will is the will of the Transpersonal Self.

The Call from Within. The transpersonal will is an expression of the Transpersonal Self, operating from the superconscious levels of the psyche. It often manifests as a "pull" or "call" that inspires us to transcend our limitations and pursue higher goals. The Transpersonal Will is also the field of the relationship within each individual between the will of the personal self or /, and the will of the Transpersonal Self.

Ways of Transcendence. The transpersonal will can be expressed through various avenues, including transpersonal love, action, beauty, and self-realization. These represent different paths to transcending personal limitations and connecting with something greater. This relationship leads to a growing interplay between, and ultimately to the fusion of, the personal and transpersonal selves and in turn to their relationship with the ultimate reality, the Universal Self, which embodies and demonstrates the Universal, Transcendent Will.

9. The Universal Will: Connecting to the Cosmos

From a still wider and more comprehensive point of view, universal life itself appears to us as a struggle between multiplicity and unity—a labor and an aspiration towards union.

Beyond the Individual. The concept of a Universal Will connects the individual will to a larger cosmic reality. This perspective suggests that our individual actions are part of a greater universal plan, and that aligning our will with this plan can bring profound meaning and fulfillment. This, according to him, is the logical, necessary goal of the whole evolutionary process.

Intuition and Analogy. Understanding the Universal Will requires an intuitive approach, recognizing the essential unity of all aspects of reality. By perceiving analogies between the microcosm and the macrocosm, we can gain insights into the nature of the universe and our place within it. We need not discuss how the unifying, synergetic force operates at the biological levels.

Harmonizing with the Universe. The harmonization, communion, unification, and fusion of the two wills has been—and is—the deep aspiration and, one might say, the highest, even if often unrealized, need of humanity. It has been felt and expressed in various ways according to the various concepts of Reality held by the different types of human beings. Essentially, it means tuning in and willingly participating in the rhythms of Universal Life.

10. Stages of Willing: From Intention to Manifestation

The fully developed will can be thought of as having a number of different major aspects; these should be thought of as the principal facets of our main subject, the major elements in the outline of the will.

Six Sequential Stages. The act of willing unfolds through six distinct stages: purpose, deliberation, choice, affirmation, planning, and execution. Each stage is essential for effective action, and a weakness in any one stage can hinder the entire process. The aspects of the fully developed human will are the strong will, the skillful will, the good will, and the Transpersonal Will.

Purpose and Motivation. The first stage involves clarifying the purpose, aim, or goal, based on evaluation, motivation, and intention. This requires a clear vision of what is to be achieved and a strong desire to realize it. The essential function of the skillful will, which we need to cultivate, is the ability to develop that strategy which is most effective and which entails the greatest economy of effort, rather than the strategy that is most direct and obvious.

From Deliberation to Execution. The subsequent stages involve deliberation, choice, affirmation, planning, and the direction of execution. Deliberation requires careful consideration of alternatives, while choice involves making a firm decision. Affirmation activates the energies needed for realization, planning provides a roadmap, and execution involves directing the necessary functions. The stages of the willed act, as it unfolds from start to finish, are: Purpose, Deliberation, Decision, Affirmation, Planning, and the Direction of the Execution.

Last updated: April 24, 2025