The Template Network
Encyclopedia
The Template Foundation, once known as the Emin Society or the Emin Foundation, is a belief system that stems from the work of Raymond Armin, known to members as Leo. There are groups in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, The Netherlands, Sweden, the USA and Wales.
The Template Network is an international network of independent groups, with interests including personal development, spiritual development, personal religion, psychology, meditation, music, dance, ecology, healing, sustainable development, evolution and well-being. As of 2009 there are some 1700 people regularly engaged within these groups.
s or not. A law is deemed to be a regularity in natural occurrence from which a pattern or principle of understanding can be derived and should be observable, verifiable and capable to some extent, of predicting future occurrence. This includes the physical laws, from which we endeavor to understand subjects ranging from the physicality of matter, for example, Pauli exclusion principle
to the nuances of the human psyche. And that this investigation is undertaken to improve self understanding and capability.
Human anatomy
and physiology
can be seen in dialect
ical terms and the systems (skeletal system, muscular system, etc.) investigated as possible examples of laws.
runs through much, if not all, of the Emin philosophy. The premise being that a person's sentiment toward anything, including his- or herself, will largely determine what type of relationship, dealing, or interaction s/he may have with that thing. As an example, if a person has a positive sentiment toward the planet, then s/he will respect it and appreciate its processes and will want to help in issues that might affect its well-being. Likewise, a person's sentiment toward their partner will influence the nature of their relationship. This can be extended and applied to any matter and is viewed as fundamental to a person's spiritual journey, especially where integration is concerned.
, Taoism
, Shinto
, Anthroposophy
, and other eastern
and western philosophy
and theology
. The early writings of Raymond Armin contain some ideas and concepts known from the works of G. I. Gurdjieff
, such as The Ray of Creation
, the Five Centres and Laws.
Every person can become self-determined in how they will form themselves up and if a person wishes to develop, they must expect to work consistently to succeed.
What is meant by personal development? The aim in this is not to necessarily find a conclusive answer but more to extend the mind into the possibilities of personal development. The human is a complex system with millions of interacting, intricate parts. It is deeply integrated with its environment and is therefore not necessarily a simple thing to understand.
Personal development is unbiased in terms of race, gender or creed. All people can consider the question of personal development equally because we all inherit the same basic human framework from birth.
Another ingredient is seeking understanding in order to change the conduct of one's life to come into greater harmony with the higher, spiritual, self. There is, however, no ideal of asceticism or otherworldliness; spirituality is to be realised through rather than at the cost of ordinary, human life in the world.
, Washington state
, USA and the Ruby Care Foundation, an Emin/Template charity group concerned with grief and loss management.
The Template Network is an international network of independent groups, with interests including personal development, spiritual development, personal religion, psychology, meditation, music, dance, ecology, healing, sustainable development, evolution and well-being. As of 2009 there are some 1700 people regularly engaged within these groups.
Philosophical content
The Template Foundation represents an experimental spiritual philosophy. Its first premise is that creation is continuously evolving and that human life is part of that evolution. The second premise is that human life is an opportunity to consciously find one's own purpose within that evolution. Each individual is responsible for his or her own development and destiny. The Emin web site gives a basic introduction to the philosophy behind the Template Foundation.Propositions
The philosophy contains work on many areas of life and contains a number of propositions that include:- That the universe is governed by identifiable laws and is constantly evolving
- That through development a person might offer a return to Creation.
- The human is not alone or arbitrary; rather, is part of Creation and designed to integrate with that Creation.
- The very fact of being alive and conscious offers the possibility of intellectual and spiritual development, which is for any individual to take up, should they so wish.
- Each life is ultimately responsible for the conduct of its own existence.
- An important aim of personal development is to come into living-harmony with the natural laws, and thereby become an active facilitator of the forces that drive the evolution of the universe.
- Human knowledge derives in the first instance from the natural laws, and has aggregated throughout history. The continuing aggregation provides the basis for further development of the human faculty and possibility.
The natural laws
Emin groundwork seeks to discover whether the Universe and what goes on in it, happens through the government and manifestation of Natural lawNatural law
Natural law, or the law of nature , is any system of law which is purportedly determined by nature, and thus universal. Classically, natural law refers to the use of reason to analyze human nature and deduce binding rules of moral behavior. Natural law is contrasted with the positive law Natural...
s or not. A law is deemed to be a regularity in natural occurrence from which a pattern or principle of understanding can be derived and should be observable, verifiable and capable to some extent, of predicting future occurrence. This includes the physical laws, from which we endeavor to understand subjects ranging from the physicality of matter, for example, Pauli exclusion principle
Pauli exclusion principle
The Pauli exclusion principle is the quantum mechanical principle that no two identical fermions may occupy the same quantum state simultaneously. A more rigorous statement is that the total wave function for two identical fermions is anti-symmetric with respect to exchange of the particles...
to the nuances of the human psyche. And that this investigation is undertaken to improve self understanding and capability.
Human anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
and physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
can be seen in dialect
Dialect
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors,...
ical terms and the systems (skeletal system, muscular system, etc.) investigated as possible examples of laws.
Sentiment
The idea of sentimentSentiment
Sentiment can refer to activity of five material senses mistaking them as transcendental:*Feelings and emotions...
runs through much, if not all, of the Emin philosophy. The premise being that a person's sentiment toward anything, including his- or herself, will largely determine what type of relationship, dealing, or interaction s/he may have with that thing. As an example, if a person has a positive sentiment toward the planet, then s/he will respect it and appreciate its processes and will want to help in issues that might affect its well-being. Likewise, a person's sentiment toward their partner will influence the nature of their relationship. This can be extended and applied to any matter and is viewed as fundamental to a person's spiritual journey, especially where integration is concerned.
The archives
There exists a large body of work referred to as the Emin archives. They include writings on psychology and personal development, theology, cosmology, history, meditation, and various practical personal development and perception exercises. Most, but not all, of these writings were written by Raymond Armin.Comparison to other philosophies
Because freedom of choice for each individual is of the highest importance, it is difficult to talk of a singular 'philosophy'. But for those wishing to seek comparison, certain elements of the Template 'philosophy' can be found in BuddhismBuddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, Taoism
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
, Shinto
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
, Anthroposophy
Anthroposophy
Anthroposophy, a philosophy founded by Rudolf Steiner, postulates the existence of an objective, intellectually comprehensible spiritual world accessible to direct experience through inner development...
, and other eastern
Eastern philosophy
Eastern philosophy includes the various philosophies of Asia, including Chinese philosophy, Iranian philosophy, Japanese philosophy, Indian philosophy and Korean philosophy...
and western philosophy
Western philosophy
Western philosophy is the philosophical thought and work of the Western or Occidental world, as distinct from Eastern or Oriental philosophies and the varieties of indigenous philosophies....
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
. The early writings of Raymond Armin contain some ideas and concepts known from the works of G. I. Gurdjieff
G. I. Gurdjieff
George Ivanovich Gurdjieff according to Gurdjieff's principles and instructions, or the "Fourth Way."At one point he described his teaching as "esoteric Christianity."...
, such as The Ray of Creation
Ray of Creation
The Ray of Creation is an esoteric cosmology which was taught by G. I. Gurdjieff. It is a diagram which better represents the place which Earth occupies in the Universe...
, the Five Centres and Laws.
Personal development
It is deemed that the human continues to spiritually evolve. The levels of human existence stretch from the physical to mental, emotional and higher and a person can develop to higher levels of consciousness by changes in their behaviour and through repetitive practice.Every person can become self-determined in how they will form themselves up and if a person wishes to develop, they must expect to work consistently to succeed.
What is meant by personal development? The aim in this is not to necessarily find a conclusive answer but more to extend the mind into the possibilities of personal development. The human is a complex system with millions of interacting, intricate parts. It is deeply integrated with its environment and is therefore not necessarily a simple thing to understand.
Personal development is unbiased in terms of race, gender or creed. All people can consider the question of personal development equally because we all inherit the same basic human framework from birth.
Practices
Exercises include mental and physical conditioning, reasoning, meditation, and contemplation. They are designed to regulate and develop the various functional levels of the human system. Many exercises are designed to promote understanding of oneself and of others; and then there are exercises of a more fun nature designed to release stress.Another ingredient is seeking understanding in order to change the conduct of one's life to come into greater harmony with the higher, spiritual, self. There is, however, no ideal of asceticism or otherworldliness; spirituality is to be realised through rather than at the cost of ordinary, human life in the world.
Offshoots
There are several charities whose activities are inspired by the Emin philosophy, as well as independent organisations and companies offering courses on a commercial basis, that draw on Emin concepts and practices. These include Blue Rose Wellness, an Emin/Template center of spiritual healing, located in BrierBrier, Washington
Brier is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. It is bordered by Mountlake Terrace to the west, Lynnwood to the north, Bothell to the east, and the King County line to the south...
, Washington state
Washington State
Washington State may refer to:* Washington , often referred to as "Washington state" to differentiate it from Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States* Washington State University, a land-grant college in that state- See also :...
, USA and the Ruby Care Foundation, an Emin/Template charity group concerned with grief and loss management.
Emin and Template publications
Various books have been published in limited editions. They include:- The trilogy http://www.bookkoob.co.uk/book/0904486028.htm http://www.btinternet.com/~occultique/authors_l.html of Leo's writings:
- Frownstrong http://www.getcited.org/pub/102491600 ISBN 0-904486-02-8 (1974)
- Gemrod ISBN 0-904486-04-4 (1976)
- Dear Dragon http://www.getcited.org/pub/101932408 ISBN 0-904486-01-X (there are other, non-Emin, books which also use this title)
- The Blue Book Writings (Leo's poetry) http://www.amazon.fr/dp/0904486044
- Towards Yourself (Leo's sayings) (Leo, Sayings of Leo: Towards Yourself. London: Cobwebs Press, 1978.)
- Toir.
- The Tear by John Turner, Eminent Productions Limited 2003. http://www.template.nl/en/producten/detail/1874717060.html ISBN 1-874717-06-0.
- The Beacon of Hope by Marion Verweij, Eminent Productions Limited 2002. http://www.template.nl/en/producten/detail/1874717052.html ISBN 1-874717-05-2.
- A new Template of Human Qualities for the Future Bound Scientist by Anne Marmenout, Eminent Productions Limited. http://www.template.nl/en/producten/detail/1874717036.html ISBN 1-874717-03-6.
Books inspired by the Template
- The Seven Steps of Spiritual Intelligence by Richard A. Bowell, Boston, Nicholas Brealey Publishing 2004 ISBN 1-85788-344-6. The back of the title page reads: This book has been derived from and inspired by the philosophical writings and researches of Leo Armin under the title of the "Template".
Books by outside observers
- The New Believers: Sects, Cults and Alternative Religions by David V. BarrettDavid V. BarrettDavid V. Barrett is a British author who has written on religious and esoteric topics. He is also a regular contributor to The Independent, Fortean Times, and the Catholic Herald....
, (Cassell Illustrated, a division of the Octopus Publishing Group) 2003 ISBN 1-84403-040-7. 544 Pages. Barrett addresses issues such as why and how people join alternative religions. - Spying in Guruland: Inside Britain’s Cults by William ShawWilliam Shaw (writer)William Shaw works as a journalist and writer in the US and in the UK. One of his most noticeable works is the 1999 book called Westsiders. He worked on Details magazine and remains a contributing editor there...
, (Fourth Estate, London, England) (distributed by Trafalgar Square, N. Pomfret, VT 05053), 1994 ISBN 1-85702-329-3. Shaw, a freelance journalist working under cover, attended various religious groups, and recounts his experiences. Chapter two, "Leo and the Maze" describes a series of introductory meetings in an Emin group in London, and discusses some of the controversies that surrounded the Emin during the early 1980s. - Despair and Deliverance – private salvation in contemporary Israel by Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi, State University of New York 1992 ISBN 0-7914-1000-5. The book analyzes various religious groups in Israel from a psychological and sociological perspective, among them the Israeli branch of the Emin. The discussion of Emin beliefs and practices draws primarily on writings from the mid 1970s that are now somewhat dated.