Tradition!

[Milfoil]

Does it bind one to a closed path or focus the adherant to a tried and tested spiritual path? If so, where does that spiritual path lead?

Does the lack of tradition leave one open to explore the Universe or a directionless meandering of feel-good fancies?

We, as a species, seem to be at a turning point in our existence and evolution and I wonder about what will help the most, tradition or freedom of belief? Does it all come down to structure but without cultural trappings?

What have your experiences been?

 

[Anna]

It depends what you mean by tradition I suppose. Individual understandings of that word may differ.

And I would say it also depends on what the traditions are.

The traditions within my own "spirituality" are absolutely central. They are fixed points that can not, and must not, be changed. These traditions are based upon things that I consider truths and facts, and not beliefs and things that must be taken on faith. Alongside those very fixed points, the path that I follow is one of absolute freedom. I appreciate that sounds like a contradiction! But it's really not; the traditions I am bound too actively support and enable my greater freedom.

 

[Siochanai]

Tradition is more of a hard engrained path. It is tried and tested passed down over generations. To remain traditional gives up spiritual freedom unless you modify said tradition. The lack of tradition can indeed better expose you to the universe because it opens up for the deep study and structure of many traditions as well as non traditions.

This is mere opinion but the humans races next step in evolution is a very spiritual one an awakening to the thought that maybe whatever respectable deity or deities they worship really live inside ourselves. A great example of this new found knowledge would be the Qabalistic saying Everything came from nothing. Through our search for where god or whatever deity of creation came from both scientifically and spiritually there will only be one answer and that is the simple word NOTHING. This is Crowley's take on it tho but it does make sense if you really twist your thought process and piece the Qabalistc information together.

As for me I feel I am on my own path not a path of ancients and very non traditional and it turns out I don't need a name for it but it should start to eventually meld together into something from nothing.

I would like to point you to an awesome book if you did not read it. It is called the Celestine Prophecy. Really good book written as fiction but if you really open you mind it is not really fictitious at all fiction is just a mask for the message.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Celestine...1345022760&sr=8-1&keywords=celestine+prophecy

 

[Anna]

To remain traditional gives up spiritual freedom unless you modify said tradition.

Not necessarily. As I said above, my tradition does the exact opposite.

The lack of tradition can indeed better expose you to the universe because it opens up for the deep study and structure of many traditions as well as non traditions.

Or, it opens you up to self indulgent, ego-driven, time wasting on stuff that is pure fantasy and illusion.

I'm not suggesting that is what you are doing, just that it is a possible outcome of following a non-tradition based, eclectic path.

I would like to point you to an awesome book if you did not read it. It is called the Celestine Prophecy. Really good book written as fiction but if you really open you mind it is not really fictitious at all fiction is just a mask for the message.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Celestine...1345022760&sr=8-1&keywords=celestine+prophecy

This would be a good example of the sort of self indulgent **** I was thinking of.

 

[Siochanai]

It is a great book by the way still not done with it yet though. It is all about the union of the conscious and subconscious. I agree with your thoughts on tradition, however, I have always been untraditional it is difficult for me to do otherwise.

A lot of my thoughts and opinions come from the aspect of me constantly striving to understand more and understand in different aspects and ways.

Tradition can be a good thing for some but it is not for everyone hence my alternative input and beliefs.

 

[Milfoil]

Without getting into a discussion about a specific book which may or may not be a money making spin on ancient spiritual concepts, the idea of rigid tradition which cannot or will not change is sometimes problematic.

What one person holds as truth, another may be able to debate or offer proof against. Belief is a very strong persuader in our lifes regardless of how it is rooted in fact or faith.

The cultural trappings of a spiritual tradition only really make sense to those living in that culture where the culture still exists in it's original form. Where there is change and evolution, sometimes the tradition has to bend and change with it.

For example, many spiritual traditions hold that water = emotion on some level yet how can this be a fact or proven? Since many concepts that spiritual traditions hold dear are, in fact, metaphors, I wonder at how we grow through them whilst retaining the tradition and understanding the science, metaphor, spirit etc as well?

For me, there is a great deal to learn from traditions (spiritual) yet so many around the world are different in their specifics that it is difficult to ascribe truth to any one of them. Perhaps there are underlying concepts which hold truth and surface trappings (colour of directions, rituals, herbs and animals etc) which are specific to place and culture which must be seen as such?

Without any traditions we would have no such books as the Celestine prophecy, nor guidance as to how we progress spiritually. Likewise we may be more open to all our senses and less likely to cause wars over beliefs.

 

[Carla]

I love tradition. It is important to me in my spiritual practice, eclectic though it is. While my path may possibly be self-indulgent ****, it is my path, and I certainly don't consider it a time waster.

I love tradition, I love reading about tradition, I love taking part in and/or adapting tradition. And I love new traditions as much as old ones.

 

[raeanne]

I personally believe that there is power in tradition. To do something that has been done in the same way for hundreds of years includes you in an energy that has built up over all of those years. If you let yourself, you can feel the energy as you participate in any type of traditional ritual. It is an amazing thing to experience. However, if a tradition doesn't allow for any type of change, then stagnation can occur. There has to be a balance, I think.

 

[HOLMES]

yes well

here is the experience before the pow wow.

the two elders were debating about the tradition drum with one elder talking about moving with the times as it is 2012 and no longer 1800s,, and the other elder say just because it is 2012 means we have to forget our traditions.
and the elder who said that in the first place made the point he isn't talking about forgetting them but updating them to keep up with the times.

now before that,, the elder who is talking about we can't forget our traditions started it by saying that for the pow wow our local drum keeper was contempory and not traditional so perhaps we should use him anyways as we have to support our people.

so what we had was the elder who was talking about making a concession argueing how we have to uphold our traditions, while the other native elder who was talking about dreams said "so dreams dont' mean anything "

meanwhile all the people at the pow wow meeting was largely quiet for various reason i would guess..
myself i did not know enough to give an opnion and I was worried about getting a tongue lashing or hurting one of these elders feelings.

finally after the hoopla , they both agreed as one said ?" see that was all i was saying " ,,
and there was laughter.

several of the points was ,,
the people are not learning their language.
the living by fishing and hunting are gone..
the people upcoming dont' respect the traditions (girls walking around with really short shorts and low cut shorts was a big one and how would we deal with that near the pow wow ground ).

there was more and so the big thing was how to keep the traditions while being current as well.