Explaining spiritual advancement, in Thus Sparke Zarathustra, Nietzsche says “three metamorphoses of the spirit I designate to you how the spirit becomes a camel, the camel a lion, and the lion , a child.” we act as camels when we carry the burdens of the world to evolve, we must become lions, capable of doing what camels can not. the most difficult of these is to assume the ride to new values – from you shall of conventional religions to i will of the more enlightened state.
The third metamorphosis is to a child. according to Nietzsche, “the child is innocence and forgetfulness a new beginning a game a self rolling wheel a first movement, a holy yea”
More realistically a person goes through five metamorphoses, not three. the first stage is the greedy rat, gnawing at every thing even when not hungry.
the second is the camel, according to Nietzsche we become camels to satisfy our ego, our motivation is compassion, love and of course social compulsion.
the third is the lion , where the desire to break free and act is foremost courage is the hallmark of this stage. the fourth is the elephant where man acquires dignity and wisdom and the aggression of the lion is mellowed. Ganesh iconography symbolizes this.
The fifth is the child, in which innocence is the prime quality. Eashoa, who is known as Jesus also mentions this. When his disciples asked “on what day will you be revealed to us and on what day shall we see you ?” Eashoa said ” when you unclothe yourselves and are not ashamed and take your garments and lay them beneath your feet like little children and trample on them ( you will see) the son of living one, and you will have no more fear”
Most of us are struck at ‘rat’ and ‘camel’ stages-our quest for food, clothing and shelter guides us through out our lives, as does our greed for acquiring more and more. Another big challenge is to move from the camel to lion stage we are so conditioned by our education, tradition and social mores that only a few can break the mould and strike out on their own path. Moving on to the elephant stage is a function of overcoming the ego, for some this comes natural and for other with the guidance of a master. moving from elephant stage to that of a child is easier as wisdom guides us.
Ramana Maharishi elaborates how to overcome inter stage resistance give up his old ways how he came to the ashram. the seeker said “he took a train” “Did you get off at the station?” Ramana asked “yes” replied the seeker then i took a bullock cart and how did you come up the hills Ramana enquired the seeker said “i got off the bullock cart and walked up”
“so you used one vehicle till it was needed. gave it up and took another when its purpose was served. it is the same with these rituals, too. they have served their purpose, and now the time is ripe to give them up”
seekers should introspect and determine their stage and how they can move forward. they can consult a master if needed.