Holy People

[Kendrah]

I am currently reading a book called Layaloga, by Shyam Sundar Goswami. In it, he quotes Mahopanishad saying:

"There are four door-keepers who are gaurding the doors leading to liberation; they are control of the mind, reflection, contentment and the compandy of a spiritual person."

Now, my assumption is that the company of a spiritual person is on more then a casual "see you sometime" basis. And the general Indian concept of Guru's and studying with a master has a lot to do with this but...

For those of you who don't have someone who could be classified as a "holy person" or highly spiritual, do you feel the loss? I know a lot has been made for not needing anyone else, you are all you really need, and such.

And the concept of "needing" someone holy has been perversed. So maybe needing isn't the right word.

But how why do you think this concept has been around (it's in most mayor religions, past and persent)? There is more then comfort and understanding and past knowledge that makes someone a valued spiritual person.

I've seen all angles of this. From the staunch "I don't need anyone and will never search out anyone" to the "I can only spill my guts to [insert spirital person's name] because only they can understand where I'm coming from." And I, myself, have various levels of this too. There's something that just can't be replaced by the full bodied spiritual "hug" some people can do.

But I'm just curious as to what ya'll's think on this subject.

[Londubh]

I think that you do indeed need a 'spirtual person' around to help you grow, or, perhaps 'spirtual people'.

I also think that the spiritual person doesn't have to be a physical person. That role could be filled by the spirits themselves. Call them what you want, ancestors, spirit guides, the mighty dead...

In shamanic practices it is perfectly valid for the spirits to train a shaman, without human help.

As a whole though, most people in modern society have lost the ability to reach out and touch, and be touched by, the spirit world. It doesn't mean they can't learn, it's just something they are not used to.

That's were having another human can help so much, but no, not necessary.

And even worse if you give your power over to this spiritual person, priest, guru, whatever, and only learn to contact spirit through them, instead of by example of them.

I guess that would be a whole different topic though, good teachers vs. bad teachers.

[semi]

I learned mostly on my own but with the help of the spirits I work with. Whenever I need someone else, I meet the right people. There was a time when I was in crisis and trying very hard to reach a couple particular people (everyone I consider a mentor lives in other parts of the country) and I couldn't reach them due to various odd things. I figured I had to get through it on my own and shortly after that I was told by my guides that that was exactly it, that I had to rely on myself to get through that crisis. But you'll always meet someone to help you, if you really need the help.