The Crest-Jewel of Wisdom

Actual Text 1: “Therefore let the wise one strive after Freedom, giving up all longing for sensual self indulgence; approaching the good, great Teacher (the Higher Self), with soul intent on the object of the training. (Page 2)
Response 1: This part of the article really sets the stage for the feel of what the rest of the reading will be about. It discusses how it is the wise men that strive after Freedom. It is discussed how rites cannot lead to Freedom, as the scripture says, “There is no hope of immortality through riches”. I found this all to be increasingly interesting. Seeing as we live in such a world that is full of rites and riches, does this mean we are far from being wise? It almost seems to me that our 21st century lifestyle is doing the exact opposite of striving after Freedom. After reading this I felt as though we are under the impression that wise men/women surround us but this gave me a dismal outlook. It seems as though the majority strive after self-indulgence and are far from being wise or free.

Actual Text 2: “A net of words is a great forest where the fancy wanders; therefore the reality of the Self is to be strenuously learned from the knower of that reality.” (Page 6)
Response 2: At first this quote was hard for me to understand. After reading it a few times I began to wrap my mind around this concept. This is the Master answering the pupil’s questions. The pupil asks a series of questions regarding the connection between the self and not-self. “What causes it? And how can one be free?...What is not-Self and what is the Higher self? And how can one discern between them?” The “fancy wanders” to me are representative of the rich with their technology that distracts them from reality. Our reality is however we wish to perceive it. There is a hint of anxiety in the second half of the quote. There is almost a sense of urgency to find our reality and ourselves but should there be? We have to use the wise to help us ground ourselves in reality and open our eyes to ourselves.

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)