Above the entrance
to The Temple of Delphi in ancient Greece was the inscription, “KNOW THYSELF!”…
which is rather ironic seeing as that very door lead to the revered priests
of said temple who took it upon themselves to interpret Apollo’s messages
through his priestess Pythia. Now, you’d think that someone back then could
read… Maybe it was all Greek to them… Some days, alas, I don’t think all
that much has changed.
I was recently left somewhat dismayed when I discovered
that someone I had very much respected regarding spiritual endeavours in
their own realm turned out to be merely another version of a ‘Holy Roller’.
You know the type, I think… And yes, I know, they’re everywhere. Live and
learn, right? RIGHT! My point. Exactly.
Actually, I was (ahem) more than dismayed - I was right
annoyed! For this person’s a New Ager no less, yet there is utterly nothing
“New” about claiming to have all of the answers, and then shunning those
who cannot or will not embrace a supposed “perfect perception”! History
has been far, far too full of these folks (who were far, far too full of
themselves), and I say it’s nothing more than a license for Active Delusions.
Unfortunately, they have been known to be contagious…
Now if a given notion, spoken in any language of the heart,
included a game plan to foster unity and dialogue, I’d gladly say “Pass
the Hat!”. But if it’s about, like, ‘limited seating to board the Mother
Ship’ mentality, I’d have to say, “Pack a lunch, and hasta la vista!” Throughout
our history there have been countless visionaries cum leaders, people of
great insight, wisdom, and love of Humanity, who’ve guided and inspired
others to find their own voices, their own strengths, as well as further
insights and visions, whether it was the “heaven” inside or outside. Call
it a road to Spiritual Dignity perhaps. Yes, they had even fostered new
faiths, yet these too have been studied, given more depth of understanding,
and grown in their time, and were one to look, they nearly all contain
fundamental versions of “The Golden Rule” - respect for the self, respect
for others… (Of course, yes, practice and preaching have been known to
be polar opposites…)
Casting positive ripples is a wonderful and much needed
legacy. But casting Judgement has forever gotten us into endless trouble!
Not to mention that “Know, Thyself!” may as well be a command to go out
and get those much-sought answers on ones own, first hand, through perpetual
investigation, as well as to become familiar with the vast universe each
one of us inhabits, which surely is part of this Round Trip.
Do you wish to be “Enlightened”? Then sure enough, look
to where you stand in your journey of faith and living. But don’t forget
to look deeply into the soul of your fellow travellers, as well as your
own heart. We all have much to teach, and to learn. In all our aspects,
one touches the other like ripples in a pond, as do we…
~ ‘Seeing God’ does not make one an authority, but a witness…
Bush goes to Heaven,
and seeing Moses, tries to strike up a conversation. But Moses avoids him
like the plague, and keeps running away at the sight of him. Finally the
ex-president manages to corner Moses and demands an explanation. Moses
warily replies, ”Last time I talked to a bush, I ended up wandering in
the desert for 40 years!”
