"Tradition...embraces the whole of civilization...there is no place for a profane point of view. A traditional civilization has its roots set in a doctrine of the purely metaphysical order, from which all the other constituents of the tradition, whether ethical, social, or artistic, down to the most petty activities of daily life, derive their sanction." Marco Pallis, Peaks and Lamas
The above is where the rubber hits the road, where differences of eras and culture really matter. Many have talked, for instance, of Native American spirituality, as if each member of each tribe had been a sort of "one with the earth" guru. I have lived with Indians in an autonomous, traditional setting in the Orinoco Basin, and know this not to be the case - most are just as average as the rest of us. However, there is that perspective which DOES make a difference - the traditional perspective that includes, or subsumes, everything under the cultural metaphysics, as Pallis would say - that is, that spiritualizes everything. We don't do that. Not only do we separate the sacred from the profane, but what call sacred is extremely limited, if it exists for one at all.
It was these ideas that caught my attention the other day. I, and probably nearly everyone reading this, have felt the sacred. Because of this, I know that it can be expanded to include, if not everything, then just about everything. This, to me, is a great goal. To reach this would mean more than money, fame, or just about any other pleasure or ego-boost that is available to us in the profane world. I do believe most, on thinking about it, would agree. What thing or position could compare with that perfect moment standing on the hill over the seashore (or whatever moment one has had when realizing the sacred)?
Which brings me back to our cultural reference. From the perspective of the sacred, our goals are immensely different from those encouraged by our culture. From the sacred point of view, a man who lived as a hermit meditating on God would be vastly superior to one who owned a mega business and a private jet. This is not a fantasy stretch, but real - when one is in the sacred mode, we KNOW that the hermit is following the better path. Of course we value the saint who works selflessly for the poor, but even the hermit, who speaks to no one, is superior to the profane man of action. It is because he is making everything sacred; it is because he is honoring all things; it is because, even alone, he is given humanity back to humans in some mysterious, collective way.
Jesus spoke of this path - give up everything and follow me. It is the path of the hermit - or the saint, either one. But it was not towards the social that he directed us, but towards the sacred. Only when that is reached, can the man truly come back to the social to help others. This the Buddha knew as well - that to do good works apart from the perspective of the sacred would lead only to negative consequences.
And so the sacred ... go to where you can revive it anytime you can - or make room for it even when you can't. It is more important than anything else. It is obvious when you are in that zone, but don't take my word for it - some smarter guys than me have said the same thing, even better.
FK
The above is where the rubber hits the road, where differences of eras and culture really matter. Many have talked, for instance, of Native American spirituality, as if each member of each tribe had been a sort of "one with the earth" guru. I have lived with Indians in an autonomous, traditional setting in the Orinoco Basin, and know this not to be the case - most are just as average as the rest of us. However, there is that perspective which DOES make a difference - the traditional perspective that includes, or subsumes, everything under the cultural metaphysics, as Pallis would say - that is, that spiritualizes everything. We don't do that. Not only do we separate the sacred from the profane, but what call sacred is extremely limited, if it exists for one at all.
It was these ideas that caught my attention the other day. I, and probably nearly everyone reading this, have felt the sacred. Because of this, I know that it can be expanded to include, if not everything, then just about everything. This, to me, is a great goal. To reach this would mean more than money, fame, or just about any other pleasure or ego-boost that is available to us in the profane world. I do believe most, on thinking about it, would agree. What thing or position could compare with that perfect moment standing on the hill over the seashore (or whatever moment one has had when realizing the sacred)?
Which brings me back to our cultural reference. From the perspective of the sacred, our goals are immensely different from those encouraged by our culture. From the sacred point of view, a man who lived as a hermit meditating on God would be vastly superior to one who owned a mega business and a private jet. This is not a fantasy stretch, but real - when one is in the sacred mode, we KNOW that the hermit is following the better path. Of course we value the saint who works selflessly for the poor, but even the hermit, who speaks to no one, is superior to the profane man of action. It is because he is making everything sacred; it is because he is honoring all things; it is because, even alone, he is given humanity back to humans in some mysterious, collective way.
Jesus spoke of this path - give up everything and follow me. It is the path of the hermit - or the saint, either one. But it was not towards the social that he directed us, but towards the sacred. Only when that is reached, can the man truly come back to the social to help others. This the Buddha knew as well - that to do good works apart from the perspective of the sacred would lead only to negative consequences.
And so the sacred ... go to where you can revive it anytime you can - or make room for it even when you can't. It is more important than anything else. It is obvious when you are in that zone, but don't take my word for it - some smarter guys than me have said the same thing, even better.
FK
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