ATP Articles
Article 7

Do We Need 'Structure' like ATP? What Are the Alternatives?
by Ted P. Attreides

In our modern culture when individuals who are not part of a valid transformative tradition or teaching go in search of positive transformation and completion, they commonly are forced to pick from 2 opposite extremes.

The first extreme is called 'The Unquestioning Authority.' This can be any fundamentalist dogma, illegitimate guru or group, but the most blatant representation of this is the cult. Many people in their search for a legitimate guru or teaching, inadvertently get sucked into a cult, of one type or another.

The basic problem of 'unquestioning authority' is that it offers no experiential practices or injunctions which a person can perform and prove the point of the teaching or teacher. It only offers dogma-some would say 'blind belief'- and that opens the door to cultic behavior.

As most of us have learned by now, cult behavior typically involves unquestioning devotion to a charismatic leader, coercion of will, thought control, behavior modification, beliefs that are usually outside of the ethical matrix of society, and a distrust of other groups and the outside world. Certainly not the path most people would choose to use to achieve positive transformation.

The other extreme is called the 'Do-It-Yourself' mentality. Many people -- almost in reaction to the dogma of unquestioning authority - believe that they can take a little bit from one faith and a little bit from another tradition and create their own 'Designer Religion and Worldview'.

The typical representation of this type of 'Do-It-Yourself' mentality is seen in the offerings of a New Age Expo or Center. There are Buddhist and Taoist meditation techniques and practices, books on Channeling and UFO's, all different types of Yoga and Tai-Chi, seminars on recreational Tantra and Feng-Shui, Organic Foods and products, Statues of Angels and Eastern Deities, Alternative healing practices, and a myriad other things.

In a sense this Do-It-Yourself mentality is a little like trying to put together a fully functioning Vehicle (car) from miscellaneous engine parts, body panels from 4 or 5 different sized cars, and mismatched tires and axles. Certainly a very talented mechanic may be able to make that work, but most people would admit that they're not such great mechanics. In other words most people eventually realize that, left to themselves, they lack essential ingredients, capacities and directions. Eventually people become confused and discouraged when they try to use new lifestyle practices and fail to attain the desired objective. They may even give up altogether.

But there is a middle path between the two extremes of the Cult or the Do-It-Yourself culture, which avoids and simultaneously corrects the weaknesses of both of these. This middle path is called the Western (Greek) way, and has always been based on the mentor (i.e. tutor, teacher, coach) and student relationship.

The typical representation of this Western way is Socrates discussing with, and teaching his students in classical Greece, or the modern company C.E.O. who mentors younger associates, so they may gain the skills and knowledge to be CEO's themselves.

There are 3 basic premises that underlie this mentor-student relationship, as it applies to positive transformation within oneself:

The first of these is the idea that the Complete Being (not just the physical being) needs to be educated and trained. Next to our willingness to spend years and thousands of dollars to receive professional training, we must allow ourselves to practice and integrate our minds, bodies, spirits and hearts, so we may be more complete, happy and truly fulfilled. Why remain one-dimensional, and use only 10% of our full potential, when there is a better way? (That's where a program like ATP fits in.)

The second important principle is that this education and training is best conducted together with others -- not just for the sake of convenience, but because of the opportunities to know ourselves through relationship, and contact with others. (See ATP Group Network for more detail.)

The third principle is that there are people who have experience and knowledge in this area, and who may be empowered through a spiritual and academic lineage to provide wisdom, guidance and inspiration. Because transformation is not a form of conditioning, it cannot be accomplished only through the sharing of information and books.

A teacher is necessary to help one. The role of this teacher is analogous to an athletic coach who would like to train people to develop their abilities to, let's say, an Olympic level. He would have been educated for this and have the appropriate degree. Without being the greatest athlete himself, he would nevertheless be in a position to successfully teach others, who have particular talents that he may not have. He would posses the well-rounded knowledge and principles that ensure a complete and effective curriculum. Moreover, this coach would have some decades of experience in training others -- as well as himself -- and would provide fairly clear and identifiable levels of achievement.

I believe that the three basic premises that underlie the teacher -- student relationship go a long way towards correcting many of the deficiencies we presently find in the extremes of the Cult or the Do-It-Yourself mentality. Certainly we have used this Western way in academic education, and in business management, amongst others, for hundreds of years with great success. Maybe it's time we adapt this middle path, in this most important of endeavors -- the education and training of complete human beings -- because the two extreme alternatives are just that - extremes. One could say an 'extreme waste of human potential'.

I believe we deserve better than that!