Knowing Truth

K.,

Here's the notes I took from today's discussion:

How to respond to the question:

            How do you know if this Teaching is true, or valuable?

1) Appeal to an external authority. (not an option for us).

2) " I'm not trying to get you to believe anything. My goal is to get you to TRY. To get you to VERIFY for yourself the truth (or not) of the principles this Teaching is promoting. Initially, all you have is an impression of the Teaching and whether or not it Appeals to your own sense of truth, current desires, habits, prejudices, etc..."

3) "I'm not concerned about that question. I'm not trying to peddle my spirituality."

4) W: "I'm just sharing my experiences with everyone. These experiences are REAL for me."

5) I don't 'know' that it's true. But in my experience it seems helpful. And for those who feel drawn to this teaching, I feel that I have something valuable to share, otherwise I wouldn't be here. But ultimately you're going to have to judge for yourself whether or not this information is helpful or valuable.

6) Most people haven't got a clue, and couldn't care less.

7) "Let's look together at this question. How do you know anything is true?"
    a) I feel it in my heart.
    b) It's logical. It makes sense to me.
    c) It "Appeals" to me. To my desire and intellect.
    d) It matches up with what I already think I "want" and with what I already think I "know".
    e) Some external Authority says it is true
     f) You've VERIFIED it in your OWN Experience.

8) Analogy of the wells all connecting with the underground river, or Source.

9) Analogy of there being many ways to arrive at the island of enlightenment, but all voyages partake of the same principles of seamanship (staying afloat on the sea), and of navigation (knowing how to get from one place to another). 

10) How do I personally Know (if this is true) ? a) Why don't you take responsibility for being here. You can get up and walk out it you like.
b) I cannot communicate in words my certainty. Everybody has to find it out from them self. I'm not here to convince you. It's much too serious a matter for me to trivialize it by trying to answer you. The words aren't going to help you. Don't let theology delay you. I will make no appeal to an external authority. The Only authority is within you, you have to get in touch with that (the True Inner Authority, not the false ego).

11)

loop
{
* How do I know this path is correct?
* You'll know when you get there. (actually, there ARE things one can
VERIFY along the way)
* How do I get there?
* Follow your path.
}

Actually the above model is a variant on a previous model that I gave you
several emails ago:

12) You need faith (reasoned faith). When you know that you don't know, this is where faith comes in.

13)
Q: How does one stand up, speak truth, and yet be humble?
A: You have to have done the work to contact the "Inner Teacher". Then let the Inner Teacher speak!

JC

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N.J.,

I've seen the U book in the bookstore a few times and have skimmed it.

Don't really know what to make of it, since I haven't read the book, but I do have a question about it.

Does the "book" provide any means or practices for verification of anything it says, or is it a book of fantastic revelations ... where one is to believe it or not, take it or leave it?

I'm not looking for absolute proof, but I'm not really interested in another "story" either. It seems to me that a valid teaching needs to have a means of verification (K14 Temperance). This typically means that is has a practical aspect to it - either meditations, or practices, which have as their goal, the development of the aspirant's higher faculties.

I mean, even if what it says IS true, if it's unverifiable, then it's just another fantastic dream or vision. That is the problem with presenting cosmologies which aren't GROUNDED - they ask for a suspension of the reasoning faculty and thus short circuit the development of one's own Intuition, supplanting it with another unquestionable "belief". And if one is embracing a belief, then they're not kneeling before the Inner Teacher (note the kneeling clerics in tarot Key 5 ); they're reaching for that silver key to hell (subconscious desire for escape).

So, even if the stories ARE true on some level, they have a disintegrating effect if presented as unassailable "truth". This is especially a problem when the writing makes a claim to have been "channeled" by some great spiritual authority.

Here's what the Kybalion says about fantastic but unverifiable stories:

"The half-wise, recognizing the comparative unreality of the Universe, imagine that they may defy its Laws-such are vain and presumptuous fools, and they are broken against the rocks and torn asunder by the elements by reason of their folly. The truly wise, knowing the nature of the Universe, use Law against laws; the higher against the lower; and by the Art of Alchemy transmute that which is undesirable into that which is worthy, and thus triumph. Mastery consists not in abnormal dreams, visions and fantastic imaginings or living, but in using the higher forces against the lower-escaping the pains of the lower planes by vibrating on the higher. Transmutation, not presumptuous denial, is the weapon of the Master." -The Kybalion.

I'm more interested in Principles than I am in History or ORG. charts (even if they be cosmic ones).

JC
(Iconoclast to the stars)