Self/Other & Energy/Consciousness Grid
Here is a very simple grid that seems to cover many approaches to awakening...
Self/Energy
This quadrant includes the various forms of yoga, such as indian yoga, tai chi, chi gong, and also related approaches such as Breema. I - whatever I refer to as I - am doing yoga. I am the doer.
Self/Consciousness
This includes the many forms of meditation and self-inquiry, including shikantaza, The Work, headless experiments. I am doing meditation or inquiry. Again, I - typically placed on my human self - is the doer. I cause, invite or set the stage for change through choice and intention.
Other/Energy
This quadrant includes any approach where a change in our energy aspect is caused by Other. It can be in the form of energy healing, reiki, sat nam rasayan, diksha and so on. I receive it from someone or something else.
Other/Consciousness
This quadrant includes an apparent Other bringing about a change in consciousness, either in the content of consciousness or context, in awakening to selflessness.
Others appear to bring about a change in content all the time of course, just through every day interactions. And at times, Others may appear to bring about a change in content that can be seen as an altered state, or an awakening to nature or deity mysticism levels. This can happen in the presence (physical or otherwise) of a teacher.
Other can also appear to bring about a change in context of consciousness: an awakening from the appearance of I to a realization of selflessness, of content staying the same but clearly revealed as having no I anywhere. This can also happen in the presence of a teacher.
Diksha
I personally find diksha to be among the most interesting of these approaches right now.
Diksha is a transfer of energy, and it comes from Other, so it belongs to the Other/Energy quadrant.
Yet, this change at the energy aspect influences the physical body, so it goes to another box in the grid that could be called Other/Body.
And from here, and probably also directly from the energy aspect, it influences consciousness, in the Other/Consciousness quadrant.
This influence of consciousness covers both content and context, eventually allowing for a clear awakening to selflessness.
See also an expanded grid.