Who decides what’s divine - the believer or the preacher?

Isn’t divinity something we discover through our own experience, not through authority?

When faith rests only on another’s voice, doesn’t it turn into obedience rather than realization?

A preacher may interpret and guide, but belief is an inward conviction shaped by conscience and understanding.

I believe true spirituality begins when the believer questions, reflects, and finds the divine within ...... not merely through borrowed conviction.

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being · 36-40, F

In the end it comes to the individual's degree of freedom to choose and of choosing. Nothing wrong with choosing to listen to another, who acts as a divine messenger, if that is the person's choice.
In the end each turns to their own room at night.

I like very much this Einstein's quote, (if it is his) that there are two ways to see the world, as everything is magic and as nothing is. In the same sense, everything can seem divine, or nothing can...

Of course yes there is the gray scale, moments of realization and glimpse of divine. Sometimes obedience can lead to realization if the obedient has a mind of their own...and don't get literally attached to the wordings of an authority figure.

I think I like taoism the best, saying that there is not one way and how divinity or what they call the Dao, doesn't have a path towards it or a name..

Renkon · M

@being

..Sometimes obedience can lead to realization

That can be true.... but Obedience to whom? What qualifies such a person?

being · 36-40, F

@Renkon I have felt that certain teachers I have met during vipassana meditation courses have helped me to come closer to realisations, pointed me towards signs.

Renkon · M

@being Vipassana......, that form of meditation can bring clarity within. If I may ask, how far have you taken your meditation?

being · 36-40, F

@Renkon I have been 3 times to 10-days silent courses of the Goenka centers during my travels.

My first course was in Nepal, then in Hong Kong. I have stayed for a week to a monastery in Thailand where we were practicing also walking meditation. And last one was in Malaysia where I stayed for one month in total, frequented a ten day course and 3 weeks of volunteering.
I asked then if I could become a long term volunteer but they send me home and I see why.

My first course was in 2023 but I am not as disciplined as I would like.
If you read my posts they are such a mess some of them and it is a paradox to be talking about vipassana, but it's my case.
Nevertheless I have experienced great shifts and I am grateful this has crossed my path.

How about your experience with it?