No one is a supreme authority. People seek leaders, priests, gurus and hermits thinking that someone has a precise formula for living correctly. No one does. No one can know you as well as you know yourself. All that you can gain from a wise person is the assurance of some initial guidance.~ from 365 Tao: Daily Meditations, Entry 140 ~
When a person signs on to a religion, you immediately cede a measure of your independence to the institution itself. There are books to consult to determine right behavior. There are creeds and rituals to embody to be in line with the religion's precepts. In most cases, you agree to acknowledge that an intermediary inherently stands between you and the Great Mystery.
In a manner of speaking, the religion becomes shackles that you drag everywhere you go. They weigh you down. If you try to cut a few links off the chain, you become immersed in guilt which only adds even more weight!
As the passage above states, no one possesses "a precise formula for living correctly." Though ministers and gurus are trained to interpret God/nature, just like the rest of us, they are making it up as they go along.
If you feel the need to meet Tao/God, look inside yourself. It's been there all along.
In a manner of speaking, the religion becomes shackles that you drag everywhere you go. They weigh you down. If you try to cut a few links off the chain, you become immersed in guilt which only adds even more weight!
As the passage above states, no one possesses "a precise formula for living correctly." Though ministers and gurus are trained to interpret God/nature, just like the rest of us, they are making it up as they go along.
If you feel the need to meet Tao/God, look inside yourself. It's been there all along.
HI R T
ReplyDeleteI love this post. Perhaps because I 100% agree. Amen. I have long since removed 'leaders' on my path to self and wholeness and truth.
love Gail'
peace.....
p.s. my verification word is exodess
The wonder of Tao te Ching is that it never exhorts one to be, do or act as anything.
ReplyDeleteOther sources decree: one should, one must and one-better-had-or-else.
Tao te Ching is content to offer: one could, one may, one might choose to...
Gail,
ReplyDeleteI think those of us with serious afflictions understand this premise better than most.
"I think those of us with serious afflictions understand this premise better than most".
ReplyDeleteWell I guess.
The seriously afflicted understand things better than the seriously unafflicted.
There must be somewhere I can go where insanity doesn't rule supreme.
Do you simply enjoy being argumentative?
ReplyDelete