PHOTO: MARINA KOCHETYGA
“I have learned that it is wrong to want to apply the thoughts of another person in one’s life. ‘I don’t want you simply to follow me on the path I am following to reach the goal,’ she has told me.
“‘Go your own way, on the path you select for yourself, corresponding to your own innermost inclinations. Don’t accept any statement because I made it even if it is true hundred times over, it is still not your truth, it is still not your experience, and it will not belong to you.
“Bring truth into being, and then it will belong to you. Regard the lives of those who have achieved truth only as proof that the goal can be reached.'”
“At these words of my teacher’s, I was seized by the irresistible drive toward absolute independence, and this urge freed me from the nefarious attitude of expecting help from outside. I don’t need a teacher that influences me, but a teacher who teaches me not to allow myself to be influenced.”
~Selvarajan Yesudian on Elisabeth Hatch in Initiation
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Kelly Ray says:
Jul 29, 2012
Being “empowered” is important (if not essential) for me. I believe that’s different than being influenced. It’s not that I am lazy or dependent upon others; I just believe that we don’t light our own wick and we can’t keep fire going without breath of others. Absolute independence? There is no such thing. But expecting help from the outside and not being able to birth my own purpose without the constant presence and affirmation of others: that’s different. Find me in the middle.
mm says:
Jul 29, 2012
Thank you for sharing Kelly~ and I agree… I foresaw how some of the wording could be problematic as in being too absolute, like the “the irresistible drive toward absolute independence,” like you mentioned.
But ultimately, I shared it because I resonated with the overall message of following our own personal truth and vision. I too see the role of “teacher” being she/he who encourages free thought and “independence” as in the cultivation of one’s own truth. For ultimately we each have to find our own experiential truth, our individual expression and the forging of our own way rather than following someone else’s footsteps.
Like she says, “Bring truth into being, and then it will belong to you. Regard the lives of those who have achieved truth only as proof that the goal can be reached.” May we each be inspired to find our own unique channel. So many look to imitate, co-opt and adapt the ideas of others instead of be inspired to find their own voice, their own way, through their own experience and connection to source.
ALI MUELAS says:
Oct 22, 2015
There it is….shazaaaaaam! May you know the secret 2 opening those doors! And we always know! Through others, on your own…any way you slice it, just find that secret, live that secret, be the secret. Thank you for another beautiful post, Besos, 💋💋💋💋💋
ggg says:
Oct 23, 2015
so true as i tried to follow someone else’s advice against my better judgement and I got dinged for it..actually i get dinged for it every time!
peace says:
May 29, 2017
Interestingly yet again you have inspired people to speak or freely BE truth, we are free to all individually express universal truth………..Ethiopian Proverb to enjoy “What is good is not always right but what is right is always good”. Morals have reminded me of my truth as a real expression rather than just imaginary.