Lesson 1 WK 5 Readings P. 51-58
a) The Key is in the attitude with which you perform your duties. One must refrain from having an egoistic attitude believing that what they do is by themselves and for themselves only. Such an attitude will only bind you to human existence. Instead one should treat all experiences as opportunities for divine work where one allows the divine to work through your thoughts and actions. Each day God provides us with opportunities to purify our hearts.
b)Many preachers use exciting methods to talk about the scriptures but eventually the excitement dies down and the aspirant is left without a spiritual guide. The point that was being made is that one must find a preceptor who are themselves enlightened. The point that was being made was that an authentic teacher is a precious resource. One should therefore have the highest level of respect and regard for one’s preceptor. One should present oneself with the highest level of cleanliness in the presence of the preceptor
c)When life humbles an aspirant it is even more important that they should….trust the preceptor knowing that they would never turn against us.
How should a spiritual aspirant think about humbling themselves to the teachings and the teacher? They should sacrifice their ego based attitudes in order to gain wisdom. They must pledge their service in the form of support or devotion. One should ensure at all cost that one maintains with their preceptor a relationship based on honor and righteousness.
You must attempt never to loose your temper in the presence of your preceptor and never treat the preceptor unrighteously or with resentment. Aspirant must take care to pay their dues realizing that what they have achieved they did with the assistance and guidance of others. Aspirants need always to be mindful of that.
In Kamatian spirituality there is more focus on the divinity as opposed to the personality of the preceptor as concerns reverence in the form of an incarnate divinity. Such reverence is reserved for the divinities while the Sebai are respected and honored for their status as spiritual leaders.
In reflecting upon the lesson, I am very much in support of the view that teachers should be viewed as precious commodities since the knowledge they offer is of great value depending on your intentions. Within Shetaut Neter the teachers or preceptor is important in facilitating one’s journey towards enlightenment. From this perspective then such a teacher is deserving of the highest level of respect and honor especially if he has has him/herself achieved enlightenment.
Hetep
