--- title: "A Seeker’s Journey: Bridging Eastern Wisdom and Western Esotericism" url: https://staging13.perseusarcaneacademy.com/post/a-seekers-journey-bridging-eastern-wisdom-and-western-esotericism/ date: 2024-08-15 modified: 2026-07-03 lang: en author: "Perseus Arcane Academy" description: "Introduction In the vast landscape of spiritual exploration, Alex Koritz stands out as a modern-day seeker whose journey transcends traditional boundaries. This intriguing interview reveals how Koritz's quest for deeper..." categories: - "Eastern Traditions" - "Interviews" - "Western Traditions" tags: - "Franz Bardon" - "Kriya" - "Meditation" image: https://staging13.perseusarcaneacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Leonardo_Lightning_a_siloette_of_a_yogi_on_a_mountain_0-1024x575.jpg word_count: 1400 --- # A Seeker’s Journey: Bridging Eastern Wisdom and Western Esotericism ## Introduction In the vast landscape of spiritual exploration, Alex Koritz stands out as a modern-day seeker whose journey transcends traditional boundaries. This intriguing interview reveals how Koritz's quest for deeper understanding led him from conventional Western religious roots to the mystical teachings of the East, and back again to a renewed perspective on Western esoteric traditions. Through his experiences with Kriya Yoga, the Self-Realization Fellowship, and the teachings of enigmatic figures like Daskalos and Franz Bardon, he offers unique insights into the intersection of various spiritual philosophies. If you enjoy this interview or have any questions, then please let us know in the comments. If you would like to follow Alex's work, you can read his articles [here](https://www.patheos.com/blogs/sacredkaleidoscope/). --- ![](https://staging13.perseusarcaneacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ed9592b7-2db8-429f-a993-cfd14af7f8c1.jpg) ## Background Background Please briefly introduce yourself and your path. Thank you for the opportunity. My name is Alex Koritz. I’m from Salt Lake City, Utah, and come from an average Mormon (LDS) family. Being raised in the LDS Church, I also served a two year proselytizing mission in Columbus, Ohio. I’m a husband and father of three kiddos and two dogs. I own a small public relations firm and now split my time between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. Well as we all know, life happens and my spiritual path, like many people, departed from the faith I was raised in. I became disillusioned with the Hell/Fire/Damnation Jesus which so much of Christianity puts forth, so I was naturally drawn Eastward, particularly toward the Hindu and Budhist traditions. I narrowed my focus to Kriya Yoga and studied with the Self-Realization Fellowship, which was founded by Paramahansa Yogananda in the 1920s. I was ultimately initiated into this tradition and it still makes up a significant portion of my spiritual practice. The Hindu and Buddhist traditions have a deep reverence for Jesus. In fact, Yogananda discussed and wrote about the ancient traditions of Jesus having visited and studied in India, Tibet and Nepal during his “lost years” in the New Testament. This reverence towards Jesus was initially confusing, and then intriguing. Maybe I needed to take another look at Jesus. During this time, which was about three years ago, I stumbled upon the Cypriot Christian mystic Stylianos Atteshlis (called Daskalos by his students) and fell in love with him and his teachings. I also discovered Rudolf Steiner, who hailed from the same spiritual ‘stream' as Daskalos; and I also studied many of the Theosophists. These two teachers pointed my back to Jesus and I’m experiencing Christ from a whole new perspective. Another teacher I’ve really enjoyed is modern Rosicrucian practitioner, Robert Gilbert. Through his courses, I was introduced to Franz Bardon about a year ago. I’ve since consumed most of what Bardon has written and his teachings have become part of my spiritual practice, although I still consider myself a Bardon novice. Ultimately, I’m quite ADhD, and my spiritual leanings reflect that as I draw from and incorporate various teachers and traditions into my spiritual practice. ![](https://staging13.perseusarcaneacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Leonardo_Lightning_a_siloette_of_a_yogi_on_a_mountain_0-1024x575.jpg) **PAA: In what ways does meditation blur the line between the observer and the observed?** A key component of mindfulness is to initially become the observer. As our practices advance, it ultimately leads to a state where the distinction between the observer (the self) and the observed (thoughts, emotions, sensations) begins to fade. We can become so absorbed in the experience that we may no longer feel separate from the object of our observation. **PAA: Can meditation be a form of self-deception? If so, how?** I believe if we’re not careful we can get caught up in experiences. A spiritual experience is great and can bolster your journey along the path, but if we’re not careful, we can chase these experiences and become sidetracked by them. Or even worse, our minds can start to create them which leads down a path of self-deception. **PAA: In what ways might practices like Qi Gong or Reiki be affecting the body-mind system?** Both Qi Gong and Reiki are Eastern energy practices. In addition to Kriya Yoga, Paramahansa Yogananda also introduced a series of energy practices that are very similar to Qi Gong. The esoteric practices revealed by Daskalos and Rudolf Steiner are also energy based. I would suggest that most spiritual practices are energy practices. **PAA: How do different spiritual traditions interpret and work with Kundalini-like phenomena?** Many of the Eastern practices involve raising energy or “prana” from the Kundalini at the base of the spine upward, while most Western esoteric practices focus on drawing the energy downward from the crown chakra. Both Eastern and Western practices focus on transmitting spiritual energy but have different methods unique to their systems. **PAA: What are the ethical considerations in manipulating spiritual energy for personal gain?** A well developed initiate is able to affect the spiritual energy in other people. This can be done, for example, to heal or to manipulate. One should never attempt to access another person's spiritual energy without consent. Also, true to the Bardon and Rosicrucian systems, a true initiate should never use their spiritual powers for personal gain. This is strictly forbidden as it can easily lead one into the black arts or left hand path. One will also quickly lose the patronage of the spiritual masters from the Astral plane if his/her powers are used for selfishness. **PAA: How might the Kriya technique of "pranayama" be affecting consciousness at a subtle level?** The practice of controlled breathing, along with the deep concentration techniques in Kriya Yoga, has a profound effect on the autonomic nervous system. By calming the nervous system, these practices reduce stress and anxiety, creating a more stable and receptive mind-state conducive to deeper meditation and spiritual experiences. **PAA: In what ways might Kriya Yoga offer a systematic approach to transcending ordinary consciousness**? Kriya Yoga involves specific pranayama (breath control) techniques that help regulate the flow of prana (life force energy) in the body. This regulation and purification of energy channels, known as nadis, are believed to clear blockages and allow for a smoother flow of energy, which is essential for experiencing higher states of consciousness. In addition, Kriya Yoga practices often focus on the chakras, or energy centers in the body. By concentrating on these centers, practitioners can activate and harmonize the chakras, leading to an expansion of consciousness and the awakening of spiritual energies like kundalini, which is believed to be essential for attaining higher states of awareness. **PAA: How do Western esoteric traditions like Rosicrucianism bridge ancient wisdom and modern thought?** I believe that most of the deeply rooted esoteric spiritual practices in East and West draw upon what’s called the Perennial Philosophy. This philosophy was popularized by the philosopher and writer Aldous Huxley in his 1945 book The Perennial Philosophy, where he explored the common spiritual truths found in various religious traditions. However, the form and function of the Perennial Philosophy changes over time and is interpreted by the culture that is receiving it. For example, the guru disciple relationship was designed for the Eastern psyche, while the Western psyche is much more independent and individualistic - particularly Americans. To accommodate this difference in temperament, traditions like Franz Bardon’s, The Golden Dawn, and the Rosicrucians have altered the Perennial Philosophy so that it could be digested by Westerners. **PAA: How does the Western esoteric concept of spiritual evolution compare with Eastern ideas of enlightenment?** The difference between the concept of spiritual evolution in the West versus the East once again comes back to the psyche. The Eastern aspirate is drawn towards a guru who provides direction so that a person becomes a part of the spiritual whole or group. This is contrasted against the Western psyche which is very individualistic and focused on the person’s own individual spiritual development. **PAA: How do Western esoteric teachings on cosmology relate to both ancient mythology and modern physics?** In Western esoteric traditions, such as Hermeticism, Kabbalah, and Rosicrucianism, ancient mythological motifs often underpin cosmological models. For example, the idea of the universe emerging from a primordial void (chaos) mirrors creation myths like the Greek tale of Gaia and Uranus. Regarding modern physics, Western esoteric teachings emphasize the unity of all existence, sometimes referred to as the "One" or "Source." or “Logos.” This concept parallels modern physics' search for a Unified Field Theory— or a framework that unites all fundamental forces of nature. **PAA: Thank you very much for your time in answering our questions.** ---