Peter Richardson Four Spirits Summary

In his book “Four Spiritualities: Expressions of Self, Expressions of Spirit,” Peter Richardson discusses the nature of spirituality and the different pathways one can take to achieve peace. He categorizes the pathways according to personality types, specifically, the Myers-Briggs breakdown. The different kinds of pathways depend upon the two inner letters within the Myers-Briggs personality type. The Myers-Briggs personality test is determined by four factors, which are best quantified as a scale. They are represented by eight letters, each letter with its opposite. The first category is introversion or extraversion, which are summarized by either an I or an E. The final category tests perception against judgment, symbolized by either a P

This mental path is what jnana yoga is all about—finding inner peace through the mind, the body notwithstanding. The fourth noble truth, the Eightfold Path, elaborates on the body slightly more. The bulk of this path is still focused on the mind, with only two of the eight ideals focusing on the body. The remaining six— right understanding, right mindedness, right effort, right attentiveness, right concentration—are all products of mental

The acts of devotion that he stated, however, are still alive, which is extremely impressive when one considers how intensive they are—prayer five times a day, with no rest days, is the best example of true devotion. However, the way of the heart is easily corrupted, and the rituals become routine. Instead of true devotion, cultures have shaped themselves into a state of enforcement. The rituals cease to have meaning if the individual carrying them out does not actually feel a connection with the divine. In the case of Islam, there are cases that may rightfully be seen as oppressive. The submission becomes subjugation, and a people become enslaved not by their hearts, but by their social