Horizontal axis?

"Upon reaching adulthood, our progress along what I would call the vertical axis of development reaches its zenith; at that point, if we are to develop further, we must do so along the infinite horizontal axis of mental, psychological and spiritual growth. Similarly, the fact that a yogi's progress along the vertical axis of development through the ñanas, jhanas, and Paths is predictable and mappable points to an underlying physiological or physio-energetic development. (While other thinkers have used the idea of vertical and horizontal axes of development somewhat differently, I have chosed the vertical axis to represent development through ñanas because that is what feels most intuitive to me. The actual experience of gradual enlightenment involves an initial upward movement of energy within the body. Later, this energy is seen/felt to exit the body from the crown chakra, curve back down, and make a complete circuit. In short, it feels more vertical than horizontal.)"

I'm confused here by how you are using the horizontal axis when you say " if we are to develop further, we must do so along the infinite horizontal axis of mental, psychological and spiritual growth," and then go on to describe the yogi's further development on the vertical axis. What am I missing?

Vertical axis is finite. It means you reach the pinnacle of developmental enlightement/awakening. That is working your way up through the stages of awakening, stream entry, sakadagami, anagami and finally arhatship.

The horizontal development is infinite. This is where you put into practice things that make you into a better person, able to work as a fully functioning human being. This sort of development is endless.

I don't see either the vertical or horizontal axes of human development as being finite. From my perspective one can progress infinitely on both dimensions. The territory of awakening, spirituality, psychology - the mind - is so vast there's probably no way any human being can hit the wall. I don't see arahatship as the pinnacle of anything but a specific bio-energetic process. There's so much more afterward that it appears more as a beginning to me than an end. It's a way station on the way to heaven knows what

Again, JMHO.

Edit to clarify -- in other words, I don't really see two dimensions. They don't seem to me to have a truly separate existence, distinct from one another. Mind is like that. It defies classification and boundaries of any sort.

Ah, thank you both. That helps. My former teacher said much the same thing, Nikolai. I recall him saying that deep "vertical" practice can become cold, and that we also need the warmth of horizontal practice that reaches out and embraces our companions.

cmarti -- I suspect you are right. There is no horizontal or vertical in infinite space. Likewise in any particular point. Reminds me of old Joshu Sasaki Roshi talking about the "center of gravity" being everywhere.

Thanks again.

~Carol