spirituality and the art of learning

Question:   Can spirituality be taught?

Adonis:  I wonder have you ever thought about what it means to learn together.  And I wonder if learning and teaching is a simultaneous process.  So when we are teaching, we are not giving mere instructions or expounding anything in particular.  In fact, I wonder if one can call it teaching at all.  At least not in the traditional sense.  We are concerned with pointing and not teaching.  For most, teaching and educating means to give knowledge from a fixed point of view.  From a standpoint of, I know, so I am going to give you what I know.  What we are after is something completely different.  On a whole other plane of education.  From a point of 'I do not know, let us find out, together.'  You understand?  We are concerned with walking with each individual to observe and learn about life in the present moment. 

Now, throughout the whole world, education is nothing more than a continuity of the past.  Everyone is out to keep things going as they were.  The maintenance of the status quo.  We are interested in no such thing.  For it is clear that this kind of education is pointless.  Perhaps, it has a certain usefulness as far as learning technical things.  But if you look clearly, you will see that life is under constant change and we see that it is to be examined, constantly.  That being so, it is vital that we each observe our daily actions, thoughts and emotions so that we may understand ourselves.  A stagnant point of view has no meaning in understanding oneself.   And this is what we have to impress on others.  They have to come to see that life is to be understood from moment to moment and not according to a particular fixed view of things.

So, we will point, but our pointing doesn't come with any form of influence.  We are not saying, "I know and you don't know so sit at my feet or bow down before me."  From the very beginning we are saying, 'let us learn together.'  And I think that creates a whole different kind of relationship.  Not the classical, teacher-student or master-pupil artificial cooperation.  We are just ordinary human beings taking a journey into understanding this life.  Together we are examining every aspect of existence.  We are going to turn over every leaf and every stone.  No more will we accept what others tell us about life, love or God.  Looking at the world, we see no one has the answer to why there is no love, compassion or peace.  None of the world religions or the politicians with all their selfish reforms is truly interested in solving the world crisis.  We, as human beings, can no longer depend on anyone.  And I think this has to be pointed out to everyone, especially the children.  I feel that a vital part of ones education is to break free of all ignorance.  To see and discover the realities of life for oneself.  Surely, this is paramount if we are truly interested in the transformation of mankind.  So, spirituality is to awaken within oneself and discover the meaning of life.  not as a belief or philosophical assertion, but, to actually see life beyond mortality.  To be spiritual is to see the wholeness of life which includes death.  And as you live one must die to each moment and not cling to the past.  Live in the present moment in which death can not enter.  Pass through death now, so that the door to the eternal is forever opened before you in each moment of your life.  And when at once you enter the sacred ground, you discover there is nothing for you to learn from another, spiritually.  For religiosity is a discovery of what you are, beyond this life.  There is nothing for you to learn as accumulated knowledge and that is the awakening that awaits all mankind. 

ADONIS ALEXANDER
(Author of Secret Sayings of Adonis)

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