Stage 4

"The first three [stages] may generally be associated with the first twenty-one years of life (three periods of seven years), but the last four (which grow beyond the limits of the grosser elements and functions) may, not truly be considered in terms of limits of time, whether brief or long. "'

"The duration of the higher stages of life depends entirely upon the individuals qualities and his or her spiritual practice of self transcendence."

The individual's entrance into the fourth stage of life begins with the awakening of the "psychic heart," which is marked by a clear sensitivity to the Life-Current. In this stage, the Divine Presence or Life-Force is felt to exist independent of, or senior to, the bodymind. By cultivating a conscious relationship to this Presence, the spiritual practitioner begins to demonstrate and enjoy the spiritual qualities of faith, love, and surrender.

"In the fourth stage of life, this now complex psycho-physical being is surrendered beyond itself,' to and into the Living Current of Being that pervades it and the total world. This is done to the point of generally harmonizing the body-mind in that Life Current and otherwise Realizing self transcending devotional Union with that Living Reality in occasions of Love-Bliss that involve and simultaneously transcend the body-mind."

Devotional surrender (sacrifice) to the Living Reality is the essential feature of the fourth stage of life. The individual is obliged to persist beyond religious conventions and customs,by means of continuous and concentrated attention and devotion via heartfelt feeling-attention to the Ultimate Reality and Source Condition.