We think that we can read spiritual scriptures and that will take us where we want to go. Words can point the way, but more is needed. This is why from time immemorial we humans have been fighting over religious doctrine, even killing others, believing we were acting for a holy purpose.

Spiritual concepts are not easily grasped, and that being the case, are easily misunderstood. After we commence a regular meditation practice, we can come to a point where the meaning of scriptural passages come alive. There was a time in my own practice when I first came to experience the flow of energy in my spine and the top of my head, simply from reading scriptural passages.

When Lord Buddha was born, religious practice in India was primarily based on ritualistic worship of gods according to the Vedas. Brahman priests controlled this ritualistic practice and the caste system had a stronghold on the people. Doctrine itself was acting as an impediment to spiritual understanding.

Great teachers are born when humanity has lost its way. Buddha presented a new approach that was simple, capable of understanding by all and was not based on giving any authority to priests.

In more recent times, Krishnamurti put it this way:

“Truth is a pathless land. Man cannot come to it through any organization, through any creed, through any dogma, priest or ritual, not through any philosophical knowledge….”

Truth itself is embedded in our nature because of our Divine Self. It cannot be given to us by another. Others can only help to point the way.

Clarity of understanding comes from within through our own efforts, especially devotion to spiritual practice. As Lord Buddha said, “Be a light unto yourself.”

(The subject of spiritual energy flow is discussed in more detail in my book entitled “Causing the Wisdom to Flow”)