The Keys To Self-Mastery

Hebrew Vision News Exclusive

by Miykael Qorbanyahu aka The End Time Scribe

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There was a little city with a few people in it and a mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built great siege works against it. Now a poor, wise man was found in it, and he delivered the city by his shrewdness. Yet nobody remembered that poor man! So I said: “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heeded.

Ecclesiastes 9.14-17

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According to the Torah, humankind was created to fulfill three primary purposes in life: (1) to reign over creation, (2) to reflect the image and likeness of the Creator, and (3) to reproduce and be fruitful both spiritually and physically as creatures. All of these roles can be found in the first chapter of Genesis where the Torah provides us with an account of the creation of Heaven, Earth, Sea and everything that is in them. With these purposes, humanity will be able to achieve monumental feats and, more significantly, bring the world into balance and harmony through being at peace with the self. However, in order to bring this reality forth, humanity must unequivocally experience self-mastery. In fact, one of the most important objectives to achieve according to the Torah is the mastery of self so as revealed in Genesis 4.7 which states, “if you do well, is there not acceptance? And if you do not do well, sin crouches at your door and its desire is for you, but you should master it.” 

Defined as the ability to take control of one’s life without being blown off course by feelings, urges, circumstances, etc., the goal of self-mastery is the quintessential characteristic that spiritual traditions, martial arts systems and other visionaries strive to accomplish. This is because the prospects of self-mastery enables us to go on to experience the inner mysteries of life’s greatest gifts and blessings. The ability to experience the mysteries of life is owed to the matter of being able to harness all of our energies and intentionally focus them upon that which we have unwaveringly set our sights. Yet, in order to achieve self-mastery, there are five keys which Hebrew Vision has identified and have turned into an affirmation that provides self with the power to go about fulfilling life’s purposes through self-mastery. As we surmise, the keys to self-mastery are consciousness, control, confidence, consistency and commitment.

CONSCIOUSNESS can be perceived of as awareness, sapience and sentience. It is what makes us, and all animate organisms for that matter, alive. As such, it is through consciousness that we are able to interact with our environment, one another and ourselves. Consciousness is the state of being alert and aware with the ability to recognize what is before us. With sapience, we are able to delineate between reality and illusion, truth and falsehood. Consciousness is the sentient connection to our environs which allows for us to become cognizant of what surrounds us. When these matters are unified and exercised in the proper fashion, it is then that we are able to operate in the realm of consciousness.

Interestingly, there are different states, or levels, to consciousness that we can experience. At the lowest functioning level of consciousness is the state of being unconscious. This is the state of being in which we find ourselves when we are asleep. To some it is considered that sleep is the cousin of death. Here, there is no awareness; in other words sapience and sentience are non-existent at this level. According to Webster’s dictionary, medically, unconsciousness deals with the part of mental life that is not ordinarily integrated or available to consciousness yet may be manifested as a motive force in overt behavior (as in neurosis) and is often revealed (as through dreams, slips of the tongue, or dissociated acts). The next level of consciousness is that of sub-consciousness. Defined as existing in the mind but not immediately available to consciousness; affecting thought, feeling, and behavior without entering awareness; the subconscious mind operates at a level just beneath consciousness and above unconsciousness and is the realm where habits are stored and triggered. The last state of awareness is that of super-consciousness. Also known as universal or cosmic consciousness, it is essentially perceived as a state of extraordinary and heightened awareness. The state of cosmic consciousness is described as a shared consciousness with the entire creation and its Creator. Being that everything is vibration, cosmic consciousness is the result of an elevated vibratory rate of mind which then transcends the surface level of cognition and enters the ethereal/spiritual realm of being, which is, in fact, a re-connection with its original source.

For a person to begin their journey to self-mastery, the first step to the destination is that of entering a state of higher consciousness through meditation. This step must be taken initially because we must first become aware of ourselves in every aspect of our being while also maintaining a continual awareness of our surroundings. When we have this awareness, then it becomes our responsibility to channel our energies and direct our actions towards the desired destination. That step requires control.

CONTROL is also known as discipline. Control is defined as the ability to exercise [authority], restraint or direction over; to dominate, command. Discipline, correspondingly, is defined as causing to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control; behavior, or training that corrects, molds or perfects the mental faculties or moral character. The principle of control, or discipline, is, arguably, the single most vital matter to employ in the pursuit of self-mastery given its centering and orienting qualities. With discipline, we are able to focus on the mission and vision that we have laid out for our self. Without discipline we become subject to every impulse and whim of circumstance and are then relegated to the state of being similar to that of a loose leaf in the wind, subject to every gust and change of current.

Given the anchoring role of discipline in the life of one in pursuit of mastery, there is nothing more important than for an individual to have control over our thought life, words and deeds. For with these three building blocks we are able to construct reality and bring forth worlds from the realm of ideas and emanation. Control is the driving force behind action and without it we become subject to the whimsical carousel of circumstance. Yet when we are able to harness our entire being with the power of self-control, it is like we have summoned all of the wind to use it for the purpose of providing optimal force to move forward towards our destination. The significance of discipline is expressed in the writings of Rav Shaul who tells us in second letter Timothy that Elohim has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and of love and of self-control (2.7). Thus, once control has been established we will then have the confidence to go about exercising our conscious will.

Synonymous with self-esteem and charisma, CONFIDENCE can be defined as a consciousness of one’s powers or the belief in one’s ability to succeed. Derived from a root word meaning to trust, confidence is the the bridge that connects consciousness with control. As the nexus between consciousness and control, confidence is what allows for us to utilize the powers of which we have become aware that we possess. Like having a certain expectation of experiencing our next breath, the principle of confidence is like a catalyst that drives us to make the necessary effort to go about accomplishing what we have set before us. With confidence in our abilities, the matters of accuracy and consistency becomes more qualitative on the basis of belief in our capacities.

Outright, the key to confidence is to establish a reasonable and balanced sense of self; we must also realize that every ability and capacity that we have acquired or attained is a gift derived from the Creator and can be taken from us at any time. Therefore, while confidence is essential to our ascent to self-mastery, humility is also a vital element to establishing a prudent air confidence. This is because humility is what ground’s the ego and does not allow for a inflated sense of confidence to arise which further leads to outright cynicism and narcissism. With confidence in check, then we are able to give praise and honor where it is due; to the Most High. Of this confidence, the prophet Jeremiah states,

but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am יהוה, doing kindness, right-ruling, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” declares יהוה.

Jeremiah 9.24

When confidence is established in our life, it will then empower us to go about consistently carrying out the steps that are required to maintain and continually build on the levels of attainment that we’ve reached.

Taken from a root word which means to stand firm, CONSISTENCY is the establishment of a state of being in agreement or harmony with steadfast adherence to the same principles. The attribute of consistency contributes to the objective of self-mastery by the repetitive practice of successful strategies and measures day in and day out. It is this dogged determination which creates habits that forms the mold for patterns and paradigms which contributes to the manifestation of self-mastery. Being that habits create nature and nature is what determines the systematic regularity of all structures, it is vital that our habits are formed with solid principles that are tried and true, withstanding even the test of time. With consistency in tow, the principle of persistence is actualized and through its attrition like activity, whatever we set our minds to will, in fact, come to pass. And though the prescription for consistency can come from many different places, it ultimately must be derived from an internal drive to carry out the procedures and steps required to arrive at the intended destination of self-mastery.

As the Creator would have it, the Hebrew Scriptures provide formulas from birth to adulthood which serves as midwives for this nature to be bore. For children, we are told in the Shema, the central profession of Israelite prayer, that we are to diligently teach [the Torah] to your children so as to speak of them when you sit in your house and walk on the path, when you retire and when you arise (Deuteronomy 6.7). For adults the instruction is given for the importation of consistency that we are to not let this Book of the Torah depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you guard to do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and act wisely (Joshua 1.8). Without question, it is the principle of consistency that empowers us with the ability to achieve expectations and objectives, often beyond belief, given our sheer determination and commitment to stick to our goals even in the face of adversity.

Last, but not least, to have a cause and reason for doing something is, perhaps, the most powerful motivator to go about fulfilling our purpose. This cause, or reason, usually serves as the course of action to which one commits themselves. It is the principle of COMMITMENT that, therefore, propels us to go about transferring the motivational factors from inspiration to action so that we are able to carry out all of the previous aforementioned principles. With its transference of focus and purpose, it should become evident to us that commitment is typically the catalyst to activate the other elements that go in to making up the essence of self-mastery. This is because commitment is best comprehended as the pledge or engagement of oneself to an act or a cause. Taken a step further, it also connotes the idea of combining, connecting, uniting and bringing together. Given this most essential aspect in principle to our development, commitment can be conceived of as the concrete that paves the path to go about establishing the way to self-mastery.

As the source of inspiration to go about the steps necessary for fulfillment, to be committed to a purpose or cause allows for us to remain focused on what lies before us and also to prioritize our time and energy so that nothing will deter or distract us from our goal. Both the Torah and the Messianic Scriptures provides us with clear insight into the principle of commitment. In the nineteenth chapter of Exodus, we find these powerful words, And Moshe came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which יהוה commanded him. And all the people answered together and said, “All that יהוה has spoken we shall do.” So Mosheh brought back the words of the people to יהוה (vvs. 7-8). We also read these words from Matthew six which contains the entirety of the message of self-mastery; seek first the reign of Elohim, and His righteousness, and all these matters shall be added to you (v33). When we are able to be faithfully committed to a cause, then we become unstoppable and are able to overcome any obstacle that would seek to prevent us from attaining self-mastery.

In the final analysis, Hebrew Vision posits that it is with the principles of consciousness, control, confidence, consistency and commitment that the ultimate goal of self-mastery is able to be experienced. For when these principled characteristics are in place, we are able to elevate our entire being and become master of our thoughts, words and actions. What is required for this to manifest is an accurate and positive image of ourselves, rooted in the reality of our original nature combined with the realization of our purpose in life. Given that we, as humanity, are made in the image and likeness of the omniscient and omnipotent One we know as יהוה, it is going to require a total and great effort from us in order to go about reflecting the true Light of our life. It is as such that when we come to perceive that our true purpose in life is to reflect the image in which we are made; to reign over creation as representatives of יהוה and to spiritually and physically reproduce, then our ability to achieve self-mastery will become more readily the focus of our life.

To illustrate this point, the writer of proverbs tells us that he that rules his ruach (spirit) [is greater] than he that captures a city. This profound maxim provides us with insight into the poor man mentioned from Ecclesiastes in the opening quote of this article. Quite simply, the profundity of that parable captures the entire thrust of this writing. For life’s entire challenge is for us to gain dominion over our will and then submit it to heaven’s Providence. This was epitomized in the Garden of Gethsemane when the Master Mashiyach Yahoshua declared at his most critical hour, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I desire, but as You desire (Matthew 26.39).” 

Herein lies the essence of what life’s meaning is all about; seizing control of ourselves, our subconscious mind and our habitual behaviors by harnessing and utilizing the principles of consciousness, control, confidence, consistency and commitment. These five areas correspond to the five levels of soul, which are identified as the spirit (ruach), soul (neshamah), body (nefesh), essence (chaya) and oneness (yechida) of humanity, which when accessed unleashes a great amount of power that we can unleash in order to manifest a qualitatively deeper and higher reality. This power is essentially rooted in love, and it is love, for our Creator, ourselves and others that allows for us to go about attaining the greatest accomplishment in life; that of self-mastery. And as it would be for the righteous remnant, while most men are intent on mastering others and conquering external realities, the greatest of souls are intent on mastering themselves and conquering their own internal reality.