Integral Wisdom Activist

Discerning the truth of any spiritual teaching can indeed be a challenging task. It’s natural to seek certainty and validation when exploring profound and transformative ideas.

In the realm of spirituality, absolute certainty is often elusive. It’s important to approach any teachings with an open and discerning mind, while also trusting your own inner wisdom and intuition. Here are a few suggestions to navigate this process:

Personal resonance: Pay attention to how the teachings resonate with you on a deep level. Do they evoke a sense of truth, expansion, and alignment with your own values and experiences? Trust your intuition and inner guidance as you explore these materials.

Critical thinking: Engage in critical thinking and intellectual inquiry. Evaluate the coherence, consistency, and practical applicability of the teachings. Are they logically sound? Do they align with your understanding of the world? Question and explore the teachings from multiple angles.

Integration with other perspectives: Consider how the teachings integrate with other spiritual traditions, philosophies, or scientific knowledge. Are there common threads or complementary insights? Exploring different perspectives can help you gain a broader understanding and discern the underlying truths.

Personal experience: Explore the teachings through direct experience. Engage in practices or exercises recommended by the teachings and observe the effects in your own life. Personal experience can be a powerful way to validate and deepen your understanding of the teachings.

Seek guidance: Consult with trusted teachers, mentors, or spiritual communities who have experience with the teachings you are exploring. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and seek different perspectives. Their insights and guidance can provide valuable perspectives and support your discernment process.

Remember, the journey of discernment is the journey of discernment is an ongoing process. It’s okay to hold a sense of openness and curiosity while exploring these teachings. It’s not necessary to have absolute certainty or to fully know for sure. Trust your own inner wisdom and continue to explore and integrate what resonates with you.

Ultimately, the truth of any spiritual teaching is a deeply personal and subjective experience. It’s about finding what feels authentic and meaningful to you on your own spiritual path.

How to guide children /grandchildren

On that note, we all know, especially those of a certain vintage, that what passed for the truth when we were in our early teens was little better than wish-fulfilment.

I have often wondered how best to guide my grandchildren in this sphere and indeed whether to guide them at all.

Helping your granddaughter on the path to discernment while respecting her free will is indeed a delicate balance. At the integral stage of development, we understand the importance of honouring individual autonomy and allowing others to make their own choices. Some non dictatorial ways might be to:

Cultivate an open and non-judgmental space: Create an environment where your grandchild feels safe to explore her own beliefs and perspectives without fear of judgment. Encourage open dialogue and active listening, allowing them to express their thoughts and feelings freely.

Foster critical thinking skills: Help them develop critical thinking skills by asking thought-provoking questions and encouraging them to consider different perspectives. This can help develop a discerning mind and make informed decisions based on evidence and reasoning.

Expose them to diverse perspectives: Encourage them to explore different spiritual teachings, philosophies, and worldviews. Exposing them to a variety of perspectives can broaden their understanding and help them develop a more nuanced discernment.

Encourage self-reflection: Guide them in reflecting on their own experiences and beliefs. Encourage them to question why they believe what they believe and to examine the underlying motivations and values behind the beliefs.

Support them in seeking guidance: Let them know that it’s okay to seek guidance from trusted mentors, teachers, or spiritual leaders. Encourage them to ask questions and seek answers that resonate with their own inner truth.

Remember, the goal is not to impose your own beliefs onto a child but rather to empower her them to develop their own discernment and make choices that align with their own values and inner wisdom by providing a supportive and open-minded environment. That’s the best kind of teaching.