Comments on: Do You Expect Perfection from your Spiritual Leaders? http://www.balancedlifecenter.com/236-do-you-expect-perfection-from-your-spiritual-leaders/ Inspired Living Tools, Tips and Teachings Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:47:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Harveen http://www.balancedlifecenter.com/236-do-you-expect-perfection-from-your-spiritual-leaders/#comment-21862 Harveen Thu, 02 Aug 2007 22:44:54 +0000 http://www.balancedlifecenter.com/236-do-you-expect-perfection-from-your-spiritual-leaders/#comment-21862 I'm quite skeptical of spiritual leaders. I wonder how much of it is spiritualty and how much capiltalism. Spirituality should, I believe, be a one-on-one relationship with the higher Being you believe in. You are your own spiritual leader, in a Kierkegaardian sense. If one feels the need to follow a spirtual leader, It should someone who is aware not only of the current human condition but who can offer solace and healing to those who need it- without a cost. The only person that comes to mind that I would even come close to calling a spiritual leader would be Mother Theresa. I’m quite skeptical of spiritual leaders. I wonder how much of it is spiritualty and how much capiltalism. Spirituality should, I believe, be a one-on-one relationship with the higher Being you believe in. You are your own spiritual leader, in a Kierkegaardian sense. If one feels the need to follow a spirtual leader, It should someone who is aware not only of the current human condition but who can offer solace and healing to those who need it- without a cost. The only person that comes to mind that I would even come close to calling a spiritual leader would be Mother Theresa.

]]> By: July Review - Spirituality Applied to Life - Balanced Life Center http://www.balancedlifecenter.com/236-do-you-expect-perfection-from-your-spiritual-leaders/#comment-21775 July Review - Spirituality Applied to Life - Balanced Life Center Wed, 01 Aug 2007 14:55:49 +0000 http://www.balancedlifecenter.com/236-do-you-expect-perfection-from-your-spiritual-leaders/#comment-21775 [...] K-L Masina on Do You Expect Perfection from Your Spiritual Leaders - “A spiritual leader would not claim to be a leader as such. They are simply someone who lives their truth, speaks their truth and does their truth.” [...] [...] K-L Masina on Do You Expect Perfection from Your Spiritual Leaders - “A spiritual leader would not claim to be a leader as such. They are simply someone who lives their truth, speaks their truth and does their truth.” [...]

]]> By: agnesdv http://www.balancedlifecenter.com/236-do-you-expect-perfection-from-your-spiritual-leaders/#comment-21467 agnesdv Sat, 28 Jul 2007 05:08:50 +0000 http://www.balancedlifecenter.com/236-do-you-expect-perfection-from-your-spiritual-leaders/#comment-21467 I was lucky to have found a spiritual leader in the late Master Choa Kok Sui. He lived his spiritual teachings, and at the same time enjoyed his humanness. There isn't supposed to be any conflict between who we are here, and what we're striving to become, but instead balance. And he lived both truths. As for a spiritual teacher, I have one too, but she's the kind who refuses to be called a teacher. She always says that we all travel our own paths, and that I've my own path to follow. I think, all spiritual leaders and teachers only serve as examples, not by their teachings but by the lives the live. We should all remember, that they are as human as we are. I was lucky to have found a spiritual leader in the late Master Choa Kok Sui. He lived his spiritual teachings, and at the same time enjoyed his humanness. There isn’t supposed to be any conflict between who we are here, and what we’re striving to become, but instead balance. And he lived both truths.

As for a spiritual teacher, I have one too, but she’s the kind who refuses to be called a teacher. She always says that we all travel our own paths, and that I’ve my own path to follow.

I think, all spiritual leaders and teachers only serve as examples, not by their teachings but by the lives the live. We should all remember, that they are as human as we are.

]]> By: Nneka http://www.balancedlifecenter.com/236-do-you-expect-perfection-from-your-spiritual-leaders/#comment-21418 Nneka Fri, 27 Jul 2007 13:00:18 +0000 http://www.balancedlifecenter.com/236-do-you-expect-perfection-from-your-spiritual-leaders/#comment-21418 @Lyman, that is a great thing that you said about spiritual teachers working on their stuff and coming back to help others go through theirs. It goes hand in hand with Paula's comments. @Paula, I am completely with you on walking their talk. I think the underlying cynicism that my generation (30 somethings) have to leaders in general is that they are not authentic. We can handle mistakes, we just want you to be very transparent. @Patricia, I tend to go in the opposite direction of putting people up on pedestals. My dad always told me that no one is better or worse than I am. As a result, I have a very difficult time putting anyone on a pedestal. That's much of the reason why I asked this question. In traditional theology, there is a great tendency to make people exceptions. I'm all about examples. Kara-Leah said it even better. Be sure to check out the follow up post to this, where I talked some more about<a href="http://www.balancedlifecenter.com/239-spiritual-leaders-and-teachers/" rel="nofollow">spiritual teachers and leaders</a>. In Spirit, Nneka @Lyman, that is a great thing that you said about spiritual teachers working on their stuff and coming back to help others go through theirs. It goes hand in hand with Paula’s comments.

@Paula, I am completely with you on walking their talk. I think the underlying cynicism that my generation (30 somethings) have to leaders in general is that they are not authentic. We can handle mistakes, we just want you to be very transparent.

@Patricia, I tend to go in the opposite direction of putting people up on pedestals. My dad always told me that no one is better or worse than I am. As a result, I have a very difficult time putting anyone on a pedestal. That’s much of the reason why I asked this question. In traditional theology, there is a great tendency to make people exceptions. I’m all about examples. Kara-Leah said it even better.

Be sure to check out the follow up post to this, where I talked some more aboutspiritual teachers and leaders.

In Spirit,
Nneka

]]> By: Patricia - Spiritual Journey Of A Lightworker http://www.balancedlifecenter.com/236-do-you-expect-perfection-from-your-spiritual-leaders/#comment-21347 Patricia - Spiritual Journey Of A Lightworker Thu, 26 Jul 2007 05:11:32 +0000 http://www.balancedlifecenter.com/236-do-you-expect-perfection-from-your-spiritual-leaders/#comment-21347 Hi. One of the most valuable lessons that I have learned is not to put my spiritual teachers on pedestals. Those, that don't fall off, will jump off and take my high ideals with them. My last "spiritual teacher" kicked me out of her church because I demanded that she be truthful. I am back at church and she is gone. I told her I did not want her to leave. I just wanted her to tell the truth. We both had lessons to teach each other. For me, the biggest lesson was forgiveness for me as much as for her. My spiritual teacher, before that, kept telling his class that sometimes the student outgrows the teacher. He told us this for 6 months before he and/or the Universe manifested a situation that broke up his class. It was a very difficult lesson and I was very angry with him for a long time before I could let go and just love him for what he had taught me in the 3 years that he was my teacher. I will always love him for enabling me to grow into the spiritual being that I am today. What did I learn from these 2 teachers? Above everything else, they were humans with a human ego. But guess what? My human ego is still very much in existence too, even though my ego is in less control that it wants to be. Thanks for your thought provoking article and questions. Hi. One of the most valuable lessons that I have learned is not to put my spiritual teachers on pedestals. Those, that don’t fall off, will jump off and take my high ideals with them. My last “spiritual teacher” kicked me out of her church because I demanded that she be truthful. I am back at church and she is gone. I told her I did not want her to leave. I just wanted her to tell the truth. We both had lessons to teach each other. For me, the biggest lesson was forgiveness for me as much as for her.

My spiritual teacher, before that, kept telling his class that sometimes the student outgrows the teacher. He told us this for 6 months before he and/or the Universe manifested a situation that broke up his class. It was a very difficult lesson and I was very angry with him for a long time before I could let go and just love him for what he had taught me in the 3 years that he was my teacher. I will always love him for enabling me to grow into the spiritual being that I am today.

What did I learn from these 2 teachers? Above everything else, they were humans with a human ego. But guess what? My human ego is still very much in existence too, even though my ego is in less control that it wants to be. Thanks for your thought provoking article and questions.

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