RE: Do We Need Spiritual Teachers? Or Can We Grow Alone?
Here's an even shorter one, until I read the preceding longer posts for a possible reply later. Very broadly, I agree with you - Hugo's excellent original sign-off in different words 🙂
EDIT: I was en route to reply to you in another thread ... I'm not stalking you, honest!
RE: Do We Need Spiritual Teachers? Or Can We Grow Alone?
From my life experience, I have found that, although I don't have a particular spiritual 'teacher' or guru, I have learnt many things from certain everyday people that have come into my life. They haven't conciously imparted words of wisdom specifically for me, or advised me on the best way to go about my life. For example, some of these people include 'friends' from school that let me down, made me angry, isolated and insecure. When the storm had died down and dust settled, I learnt that the lesson here was forgiveness and acceptance of myself. These lessons were profound, and indeed are central to all religions, faiths and other spiritual teachings, however I did not need an authority figure to teach these things.
I am not my own, sole teacher, because as I percieve it, I couldn't have learnt these things without those people to teach me. They just provided me with the stimulus to look inside myself and see what I needed to learn from that particular situation. I don't think I totally agree with "I am my own teacher" because no one would learn anything if they were the only person on earth would they? We are all here to grow and learn from each other. Some people choose to do this in an organised way, but some choose to use their life and the world around them as their spiritual school, and the people that enter their life as their teachers.
RE: Do We Need Spiritual Teachers? Or Can We Grow Alone?
Such a huge post & being honest I've just skimmed through it but to answer the question from my view point is that I personally don't feel I want a teacher as such at 'this' stage of my life. Personally I have never met a person who I fully feel that their point of view is right for me and I feel that to follow a faith/path is to blindly give yourself over to someone elses take on what's right, what's right for one person doesn't make it right for another...which goes for a lot of things not just spirituality. However, having said that, sometimes I do feel like I'd like to know someone who has knowledge who I could talk to & listen to as I don't know a soul who's into any form of spiritualy apart from Christains....:( thats what ....for me anyway...one of the major draws to this site...theres alot of information here & I do read a lot of the post on the 'faiths' forums, although I don't think I've ever added to a discussion apart from the 'easter' one a few weeks back. This to me has been really nice, as it's a chance to read what people say & think but at the same time if yuo don't agree with whats said you don't have to feel uncomfortable by saying so;)....you just hop on to the next message (well I do!!)
Any way...thats my little bit done & in short...no we (well I) don't 'need' a teacher...but it's important to remember that theres things to be learnt from everyone, everywhere & a wise person will keep there ears, eyes and mind open
Love
Amy
RE: Do We Need Spiritual Teachers? Or Can We Grow Alone?
To answer the actual title of this thread... yes, and - yes. Most of us will need spiritual teachers at some point in our development, if only to show us a mirror and challenge us to stretch beyond our physical ego to our true potential.
Conversely, there comes a point when we can 'go it alone' because by that point, we have moved on from the teacher and are ready to 'teach' ourselves because we realise that all things, people and events are teachers!
Following on from that... assuming you have a spiritual teacher, how do you know it is time to move on and walk your own path? I'd be interested if anyone can answer that....;)
Blessings
Moonfeather
RE: Do We Need Spiritual Teachers? Or Can We Grow Alone?
ORIGINAL: Moonfeather
Following on from that... assuming you have a spiritual teacher, how do you know it is time to move on and walk your own path? I'd be interested if anyone can answer that....;)
A true spiritual teacher will not lead you down their path, but will show you the wonders on their path so that you may marvel and tread there if you wish. If you choose to build your own path running parallel to your teachers or if you choose to deviate then that is your choice, but at all times you are always walking your own path.
Love and Reiki Hugs