Echelon Four Challenges

Echelon Four Challenges

Challenge #1: Thought-Sanctum

Establish a thought-sanctum as described above. Begin using the sanctum every day for at least one hour. After at least 14 days of regular use, write a report about the experience. Describe the sanctum in detail, providing pictures if desired. What significant ideas or insights did you have in your sanctum? What did you read or write? Do you find your sanctum empowering? How might it be improved?

Challenges #2—3: Philosophy Readings

Choose two books listed under “Recommended Reading” in the “A Survey of Philosophy” chapter of this book. Discuss each book in an essay of at least 600 words. Be sure to address the following questions for both books:

  1. What are the main philosophical arguments or tenets presented in the book?

  2. In what ways does the book add to or change your thinking with respect to Dark Side philosophy?

  3. Discuss any major disagreements you have with the book’s ideas.

  4. Discuss anything else about the book that you find significant.

Challenge #4: Your Philosophy of Power

Based on your own reflections, readings and experiences, describe your personal philosophy of power. What is power? Is it primarily personal, metaphysical, political, cosmic or something else? Why is power important to you? How will you acquire more of it? Write down your thoughts in an essay of at least 600 words.

Challenge #5: Your Metaphysical Philosophy

Review the metaphysical ideas discussed in the “Metaphysics” chapter of this book. Critique anything you strongly disagree with, and offer some of your own ideas. What are some of your basic metaphysical beliefs or theories? How do these ideas affect how you live your life or view the world? Write down your thoughts in an essay of at least 600 words.

Challenge #6: Death Meditations

Begin a daily practice of death meditations, as described in the “Way of Samurai” section of the “Philosophy of Death” chapter. Every day in your thought-sanctum, meditate for at least 20 minutes on your death. Visualize yourself dying in various ways—being killed violently by a bullet or a blade; dying in a car accident or plane crash; being hung, poisoned or killed in an electric chair, having a heart attack; succumbing to disease, etc. Imagine the process in detail—how it feels physically, your thoughts and emotions as it occurs, how others react, etc.

After at least nine days of daily death meditations, reflect on your philosophy of life and death. What is the significance of death to you? In what ways does awareness of death change how you live? Do you seek to defeat it scientifically, transcend it mystically, live with it existentially, worship it, or something else? Write down your thoughts in an essay of at least 600 words.

Challenge #7: Your Political Philosophy

Review the political philosophies discussed in the “Political Philosophy” chapter of this book. Describe your preferred political philosophy. Is it one of the ruling systems described, or something else? Why do you prefer your chosen system? How are you pursuing the realization of that system in the world, and how do you intend to do so? Write down your thoughts in an essay of at least 600 words.

Challenge #8: Your Cosmic Philosophy

Review the four cosmic schools discussed in the “Cosmic Philosophy” chapter of this book. Which of the four schools do you most strongly identify with, and why? How does this philosophy inform your path to Dark Lordship? Is there a school of thought besides these four that you prefer? If so, describe it. Write down your thoughts in an essay of at least 600 words.

Challenge #9: The Nine Pillars of Sithism

Discuss the Nine Pillars of Sithism presented in this book. Are there any you disagree with, or other Pillars you feel should be added? How are the Pillars empowering to you? Write down your thoughts in an essay of at least 600 words.