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ahchela
Tourist



Registered: 03/01/11
Posts: 399
Loc: Pacific North West
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Re: Spiritual "Masters" and "gurus" [Re: p4kSouL]
#14174285 - 03/24/11 05:40 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
p4kSouL said: Good point. Which is why i say stay away from spiritual cults, cause they will make you pay for 30 years by giving you watered down techniques. The masters i am learning from sell enlightenment in one package, one time wonder, and i dont have to buy anymore. I know they are legit cause they charge, for valuable information, and its one time pay. "Ok you want enlightment, you can get it FAST, buy this" non of this 10-30 years BS. Also they give out free meditations so i can test out the information for myself. Some people are so egotistical that they will judge anything.
Are you talking about drugs now?
-------------------- Psychedelics will not give you a lobotomy, but tv will.
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electricfeel
wild wallflower


Registered: 05/19/10
Posts: 554
Loc: sinking into the center
Last seen: 7 months, 17 days
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Re: Spiritual "Masters" and "gurus" [Re: ahchela]
#14178094 - 03/24/11 07:39 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
ahchela said: In my time I've studied, practiced and believed in a few different religions. Most notably Buddhism and different paths of Hinduism.
I've found that I agree with a lot of different concepts which formulate these two religions. However I do not agree with the concept of a "Master" or "Guru". One needs mentors when they're first starting out and information to get them started, but not authoritarian figures. No one has a hold over truth, and there are no holy books. Only collections of writing and poems.
Most importantly, the path within is the path within, not into someone else's idea of truth - but the truth inside.

I didn't read this whole thread, looks like it derailed a bit (hah) but on the topic of the original post... I agree with the OP. The topic of the "master" or "guru" has been the one topic in buddhism/hinduism/etc that I have struggled with more than anything. Something about it, or the way it is practiced, has always just seemed a little "off" to me, for the exact reasons you have described. Personally, according to my studies of Buddhism and eastern philosophy thus far (which has been very limited, but still) I consider EVERYTHING to be my "master", not only myself but also every person I meet and every experience itself that I have, I try to always have my eyes open to what this current moment is trying to teach me, using the people and situations around me as "pawns" for the lessons. Therefore, everything is both a "master" and "disciple" to all, we are all simultaneously teaching and learning from each other. It would be great to have some DIRECT guidance from someone further on the path who has been where I have been to talk to during the times where I feel especially lost. But as far as the notion that having an all-knowing master to be completely subservient to is REQUIRED to achieve enlightenment, I'm all with the OP.
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Goose
Student of life



Registered: 02/23/07
Posts: 246
Last seen: 4 years, 3 months
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Re: Spiritual "Masters" and "gurus" [Re: electricfeel]
#14179576 - 03/24/11 11:58 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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it would be nice to have some one to talk to along the way but not a necessity
-------------------- "i will study and prepare myself so that when my opportunity comes i will be ready" Abraham Lincoln
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Kickle
Wanderer


Registered: 12/16/06
Posts: 17,856
Last seen: 26 minutes, 15 seconds
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Re: Spiritual "Masters" and "gurus" [Re: Goose]
#14179598 - 03/25/11 12:03 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Anyone read the book The Alchemist? That comment you just made reminded me of it Goose. Your title reminds me of it too.
-------------------- Why shouldn't the truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, has to make sense. -- Mark Twain
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Goose
Student of life



Registered: 02/23/07
Posts: 246
Last seen: 4 years, 3 months
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Re: Spiritual "Masters" and "gurus" [Re: Kickle]
#14179863 - 03/25/11 01:09 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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the alchemist was a good book
-------------------- "i will study and prepare myself so that when my opportunity comes i will be ready" Abraham Lincoln
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MLDSMDA
All good things in all good time



Registered: 09/08/10
Posts: 259
Last seen: 11 years, 1 month
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Re: Spiritual "Masters" and "gurus" [Re: ahchela]
#14233896 - 04/03/11 10:40 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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I agree you only need one at the beginning really, but it's helpful to have someone further a long the path to talk to you know? And yes you are right, all the answers reside withing in us. But It's a two way street man and some people have to look for the answers outside themselves. All paths lead to the same thing in the end, it's just some are longer and some shorter.
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