Following an Ideal and Getting Lost in the Maze

"The perfect life is following one's own ideal, not in checking those of others; leave everyone to follow his own ideal." from: Bowl of Saki, by Hazrat Inayat Khan

The Sufi master Hazrat Inayat Khan taught in Paris during the l920's. The extent of his influence on the Expatriates is not clear, but writers and artists owe debts to Sufis, not only through Kahn, but also through G. I Gurdjieff. Though often regarded as a charlatan, Gurdjieff's life and influence has been explored in a number of biographies including Jean Toomer and Georgia O'Keefe.

The commentary that arrives with these quotes from Bowl of Saki points out that following one's own ideal is religion for the Sufi. The commentator rightly says that if everyone were encouraged to follow his or her own ideal, then many of the nasty wars being fought might not waste our time and energy since it is religious dogma which causes many wars. The real problem with religion has always been dogma. That's why Ernest Holmes eschewed creating a religion. It was his followers that insisted on creating the Church of Religious Science. Holmes knew enough to fear the crystallization of text into a religious dogma.

Today I received a request for money from the Democratic governors. They want to fight what they perceive to be Sarah Palin's support of and grab for 37 gubernatorial races. They suggest that the seven odd millions she has made since she ran for vice president will be used to enhance the Tea Party's conservative, pseudo-religious votes to elect Tea Party governors. Given Rand Paul's recent Tea Party/Libertarian victory in Kentucky and the subsequent exposure of his views, that's something to worry about, if we can believe she'd use her millions for the gubernatorial agenda the Dem's have suggested.

An NPR headline announced today that Texas is purchasing textbooks for that state's history classes in which the "separation of church and state" is said not to be found in the Constitution. Other propaganda which will further misinform Texan youth is part of those same history texts. As a local attorney once told me (regarding a different issue), "Get 'em young enough or dumb enough and you can get away with anything." Surely there are rational minds that may prevail once the direction of Texan education is noted. Then again, if Rand Paul pursues his plan to eliminate the Department of Education, maybe not. Obviously a regard for truth is not in evidence in the United States, particularly in media. Why not extend that disregard for truth to educational dogma.

That brings us back to the Sufi master's quote, which suggests we should each follow our own ideal. For religion, it works and is really the primary requirement for one's spiritual development, at least as one ages. Is following one's ideal part of the social contract? I suspect that question is one for a philosophical treatise or reasoned dialogue.