THE WAY OF THE FAKIR

This traditional Path is one of the most misunderstood of the three classic paths. The other paths, that of the monk and the yogi, sometimes employ a few of the methods and techniques from this path. Essentially, the path is physical, intensely so, and the more familiar examples of the practitioners can be found in RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT, in either photos or drawings,etc. FAKIRISM does not mean faking though some Fakirs are 'tricksters',con-men, and utilize various techniques. They can also be soothsayers, magicians(the street variety) and even astologers, but various schools exist. More needs to be said on this aspect of THE WAY OF THE FAKIR, but you can see some examples in 'body-builders', Hatha yogis, and side-show performers,etc. Mastery of the body is the key to being a Fakir. Often this involves intense pain and suffering to achieve a goal few would care to try and reach in the modern, indulgent world. Some of the practices tend to masochism and even sadism, torture and physical extremism. However, the notion of 'INTENTIONAL SUFFERING' is a much higher format to follow than most realize. Aspects of this can be found in BUDDHISM and CHRISTIANITY, of course. For most religions, life itself is suffering and all life suffers. People in the West tend to try to evade and escape from pain at all costs, especially through drugs,etc. and do not really try to understand certain forms of pain or to control such,etc. The Way of the Fakir is one way to do this and perhaps to achieve liberation and enlightenment but you have to accept everything from the beginning without knowing where you will end up!