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These quotes are from the Orthodox Christian Tradition though I reckon they’re universally applicable to any spiritual approach:
And here are the signs of those who are practicing stillness in the wrong way: dearth of (spiritual) wealth, increase of anger, a hoard of resentment, diminution of love, growth of vanity; and I will be silent about all the rest which follow.
St. John Climacus, “The Ladder of Divine Ascent,” (Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1978), Step27: On Holy Stillness of Body and SoulHe who is sick in soul from some passion and attempts stillness is like a man who has jumped from a ship into the sea and thinks that he will reach the shore safely on a plank.
St. John Climacus, “The Ladder of Divine Ascent,” (Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1978), Step27: On Holy Stillness of Body and SoulHere are the signs, courses and proofs of those who are practicing stillness in the right way: an unruffled mind, purified thought, rapture towards the Lord, recollection of eternal torments, the urgency of death, constant hunger for prayer, unsleeping vigilance, wasting away of lust,
ignorance of attachment, death to the world, loss of gluttony, foundation of theology, a well of discernment, a truce accompanied by tears, loss of talkativeness, and many such things which the common run of men are wont to find quite alien to themselves.
St. John Climacus, “The Ladder of Divine Ascent,” (Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1978), Step27: On Holy Stillness of Body and SoulLove and Peace
RexThe material you wrote is very nice. I checked out the website on Holy Transfiguration Monastery and found out that there has been some sexual charges laid against one of the head monks from one of their sites.
I am not sure why I came across this so fast. I am actually looking for a spiritual way and was actually quite positive in looking up some information on perhaps finding out some knowledge. What seems to be popping up lately is how people who attain a higher knowledge of energy/power/understanding/leadership roles in either Chinese, North American, European cultures can so easily misuse their power to hurt others. So many times I have looked for a clue to someone who would teach with an open heart, who would not abuse their energy or power, who could help others on their journey with good structured knowledge, a good foundation, a good process. All that comes to me is a message that was given to me a few years ago “Karen, you have been disappointed many, many times over by man – there is only one who will never disappoint you – God”.
I see this message again, again in reading about “teachers” who demand from their students – demand money, demand blind loyalty, demand – demand -demand. Think about it – really, really think about it. If you come across a truly enlightened being would they not want to share that with everyone. Would they not truly want to give that to everyone. For a price? No – I think this is the wrong way. Are only rich people who can pay for “lessons” or “learnings” the ones who can reach enlightenment. Bull sh_t!. Everyone has to make a living sure, but off of the weakness of others?
I respect those who say want to buy my DVD? It has these movements on it. Okay fine. But what I don’t like are those that say – want to come to my seminar, I will show you the way, I will share all secret knowledge with you. For $600. For $1,000. Crap! Same thing with monastarys. Dangerous. They are good only if the keeper of them are good. Any detering from the defined divine laws and you can screw up alot of people. Same thing wiht seminars and other energy workers. If I ever get my dreams together I will offer good solid learnings to everyone who wants to come and those that can pay can. Those that can’t then they won’t have to. I am just terribly, terribly sick and tired of material $$ taking hold of everyone’s balls and leading them to who should be guided or not. Who needs help or not. Then the ones who don’t have $ go to a place that doesn’t cost $$$$$ and they end up being sexually abused by some manic monk. Go figure.
If anyone ever tells you that $$ has no play in this world they should take their head out from out of the hole between their legs and take a look around. The rich get more knowledge, the rich get more opportunities, the rich get better food, better care, better everything. Each soul though is the same, each soul has the right to have the same tx as the other, the same opportunity. And believe me it is truly not necessary for each soul to go thru hell to attain higher levels. That is just a bunch of man crap for control and power.
Sorry about all of this but it does frustrate me that every where one turns one finds deceit. You know, hte way I see it if you don’t have the balls to live the truth or at least try to then keep it to yourself. Those that lead others the wrong way – they are truly the scum of the earth. They are unfortunately in need of the most love. Gad, what a job sometimes.
Is there truly any good honest teachers out there? I met one once. He even flew up from the southern states to help a friend of mine. He only wanted his airfare paid. Never charged a penny for hours and hours of treatments he gave my friend. Never charged a penny for hours and hours of teachings he gave me and my partner. I don’t know – is there only one of him. Seems like it. His self balance is difficult now. Next level – hard. Maybe time to go. That I find a true universal joke — again, but not so funny.
Trying to reach higher spirit – difficult – life gets in the way. Some are obviously missing the greatest technique necesary – high integrity. It is required in the highest alchemy process. Boy that sure screws up a lot of people out there.
Rainbowbear
You’re welcome. These quotes come from the Eastern Orthodox Hesychastic tradition which employs body prayers and repetition of divine phrases in the chakras. It’s a venerable tradition dating back to the seventh century I believe. I’m not involed in this though I have engaged in a meditation called ‘Practicing the Presence of God’
All the best,
RexI remember reading an email signature that went: ‘The road to truth is long and lined the entire way with annoying bastards’. It’s lamentable that spirituality can attract some terrible people and there’s some outrageous abuses of trust. There’s predators and tricksters in all walks of life and religion and spirituality attact their fair share. More prehaps? Fortunately there’s also a lot of genuine people and acts of warm generosity.
Thich Nhat Hanh in ‘Living Buddha, Living Christ’ makes an interesting distinction between those who are on the ‘path of aspiration’ and those who are on the ‘path of transformation’. This is a another way of saying between those whose practice is not bringing positive changes in their
character and those whose practice is.Now Andrew Harvey’s had a belly full of teachers whose car-ma has run over their dog-ma and his book ‘The Direct Path’ gives some good advice and practices from a number of mystical traditions. Here’s a related statement, not in the book mind, that my local priest wasn’t too impressed with (he wasn’t hostile either): ‘You can have spirituality without religion but you can’t have religion without spirituality’.
All the best,
RexThanks for the info and perception. Your quote of there are those who are on the ‘path of aspiration’ and those who are on the ‘path of transformation’.
Of course I will continue to travel, sometimes it seems almost like dredging the bottom looking for lost treasures in the sludge. However that I am sure is due somewhat to my energy at this time. I guess we all have a tendency at one time or another to look for that knight on a white horse that goes lays their sword on our shoulder and commends “you are knighted with perception and knowledge.” Here are the answers you have been looking for – now go save the world. Sometimes I just get carried away with that I think – main transformation comes from within. Still looking for my damn horse somewhere in there though. I think I spooked him.Many rainbows in your heart!
Karen
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