Guest guest Posted March 5, 2001 Report Share Posted March 5, 2001 ==== JB ===== Also, do you know whether there is such a thing as 'transmission' from a teacher thru mere words, in a book ? ==== Hi JB, Your experience sounds valuable and genuine (and natural) - Certainly something to enhance and dwell increasingly in. To answer your question above - Yes. As people have mentioned people can spend 30 years searching whilst for others a few words in a a book or some other 'sign' may be enough. This is why quality and relevancy of words is important. Strange as it may seem most people are not seekers of truth, they are seekers of advantage. Truth is something that we serve. Nothing is gained from knowing it. > > Prior to the beginning of serious work, whether spiritual or not, those >who > > are wise will commend and commence study. > > The subject that is perhaps most often recommended for spiritual study, >is, > > of course, oneself. > > But we aren't one self, we are multiple selves, of different types, in > > different circumstances, with different qualities and characteristics, in > > different times and places, yet linked. > > So, which self does one study first when the motivation is spiritual? > > Self-deception prevents knowing, prevents study, prevents spiritual >growth. > > If there were a self to which one were linked which was accustomed to the > > daily support and practice of self-deception, whether consciously or > > unconsciously, one could well start with the observation of that self, > > noticing > > when it is in operation, > > how it deceives, > > and for what reasons. > > Social community, friendship, togetherness, attention ... all welcome when > > chosen consciously, and consumed in moderation, if chosen unconsciously, >or > > consumed to excess, can almost totally subvert successful spiritual study > > and practice. > > The remedies of humility, abstinence, dedication, restraint, obedience, >and > > self-denial are widely talked of, but in any grouping of spiritual seekers > > one can notice even these rare qualities being readily imitated rather >than > > practiced. > > Humility is not a decoration, it is a necessity, in order to learn. > > Yet even that sentence can be repeated for purposes of gaining approval >and > > attention by those who know no better than to learn at the level of social > > imitation and social reward. > > There are people who won't study, won't allocate time, won't rearrange >their > > lives, won't spend money on books, yet still somehow manage to think > > themselves serious. > > Perhaps one should study greed, and pretence, in particular socially > > approved greed and pretence; greed disguised as objectives of the group to > > which one belongs, which in fact perpetuates greed and addictive >behaviour, > > and pretence disguised as sincerity. > > Study may involve turning a portion of ones attention onto a subject and > > holding that attention there for some time. > > One may require some motivation to do this. > > Most motivations are not spiritual; they are low and habitual, and with >them > > we get by, we get what we deserve, and we get little else. Be Well Lobster You are invited to study 'Knowing How To Know' by Idries Shah -Octagon Press. Please send a sample study to the address below - if you would like to participate. ghornsby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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