Seeking Safely with Discernment
How to Navigate the Human Imperfections in Spiritual Teachers
I recently wrote an article encouraging those on the spiritual path to “Seek Safely Please.” The article cautions readers to refrain from blindly following any spiritual or self-help teacher but instead to trust their intuition and own personal connection to God.
I also want to say that it’s possible to be spiritually insightful but still be flawed and human.
Spiritually insightful but humanly flawed
God can speak through anyone – a clerk at a grocery store, a baseball coach, your granddad and yes through spiritual leaders and teachers. When God speaks through any individual, it does not automatically make them perfectly holy. We are all spiritual beings having human experience. While our divine aspect is perfect love, our human aspect is inherently imperfect. Because of this, we should never blindly trust anyone with our body, mind, heart or soul.
If we really got to know many of the world’s spiritual teachers, we’d probably find some imperfection or aspect that does not reflect their divine calling. Maybe they want to be revered, fear being rejected, or struggle with control issues. In these cases they are clearly struggling with the lower aspects of their human personality. Despite this, they can still, at times, be very connected to their higher God-mind, and when they are, the messages they are often inspiring, insightful and profound.
Separating the “wheat from the chaff”
Just like we tell our kids, “I love you but not this behavior” I find it valuable, when it comes to spiritual teachings, to be able to separate out the imperfect aspects from the divine aspects. This enables me to enjoy and appreciate what I deem valuable and disregard what doesn’t resonate.
I don’t think I’m alone in this approach. Peter doubted Jesus and Judas betrayed him. Jesus knew he would be doubted and denied by them and he chose them away. Clearly, even Jesus did not expect perfection from his disciples.
Ultimately, you need to do what feels right for you, and if that means completely turning away from a spiritual teacher and their teachings, then that’s what you should do. For me, I am comfortable with a little “gray” area. Much like I tolerate a loved one’s insecurities or controlling tendencies but would walk away from being physically or verbally abused, I can appreciate an individual’s ability to skillfully educate and inspire despite their other imperfections.
How can we confidently navigate the world of spiritual teachings?
- First and foremost, develop a personal relationship with God. The days of having to pray or access God through someone else are long gone. Pray, talk with God, ask for clear perception, and ask for guidance on what to read and whom to study.
- Nurture and strengthen your intuition. I teach intuition development because I am passionate about helping people connect to the God within. Intuition is how we hear God. When we are tapped into our intuition, that quiet voice within, we feel, know, or otherwise sense with great confidence what is good for us and what isn’t. Who is good for us and who isn’t, and which teachings ring true and which do not.
- Cultivate Discernment. Discernment is the ability to grasp the obscure and comprehend without judgment. When we cultivate discernment, we gain the ability to navigate murky situations and know what is best for us. For me, this means being able to evaluate a teacher, say a man and his spiritual teachings or a spiritual life coach and her philosophy, and use both my intellect and intuition to discern and determine if that personal and/or their teachings are helpful to me.
And, when I encounter aspects that don’t add up or feel off, I heed my intuitive inklings. I pause and step back. From this space, I can choose to proceed cautiously until I have more information; I can ask for clarification; or, if I determine the downsides outweigh the good in that relationship, I can walk away.
This is how I navigate the human imperfections of spiritual teachers and their philosophies. This is what works for me. But please don’t listen to what I say with blind faith, take what resonates for you and leave the rest. And do this for every encounter or teacher that you meet.
Namaste,
Natalie
Related Article: Seek Safely Please
