The Crest-Jewel of Wisdom (Doyle)

Text 1: "The knowledge of the real by the eye of clear insight is to be gained by one's own sight and not by the teacher's."

Response 1: This quote spoke to me as I believe it pertains to the current educational system. Beginning at a young age, we are structured to adhere to what the teacher says and to treat this person like he or she is some ethereal creature that is not of Earth. A teacher is simply someone who has received a certification to teach after passing a certain number of classes and taken a certain number of qualifying tests. Just like our teachers took tests from their teachers, we take tests given by our teachers. What I am trying to do here is display how level the playing field actually is. I believe that a student's ability to gain insight and be truly educated is inhibited by the instilled fear that the student has of their "superior" instructor in the front of the class behind the computer, which they use to show powerpoint slides that they use for an inordinate amount of years in a row because it is convenient. The most important things I have learned in life have been on my own merit and through my own experiences. That is the truest form of education.

Text 2: "Sickness is not cured by saying 'Medicine,' but by drinking it. So a man is not set free by the name of the Eternal without discerning the Eternal."

Response 2: This quote pertains to truth and how many people are facades in the face of it. Anyone can go to Church on Sunday and volunteer at a soup kitchen once in their life. We can sing the hymns in mass, but that will get us nowhere. In order to cure us of sickness or of our sins, we must put into practice the words of the hymns into everyday life. I like to think of Church as a report card. Sunday after Church until next Sunday's mass is our proverbial "work week," whereby we must practice the teachings that we sing at mass. Each Sunday we can reflect on the past week and discern how we can improve time after time until we achieve true salvation.

More blog posts in this category Common

• The Wound & the Blessing/The Economy of Communion Project Post
• The Crest- Jewel of Wisdom & Work as a Spiritual Practice Post
• "What Money Can't Buy" Blog Post
• Blog Post Ni: FTRN Booklet & Arithmetic of Passion
• Work as a Spiritual Practice (The Transformation of Work)