IMHO
One of our favourite podcasters talks about meditative technologies and energy work. They often comment that they feel like a perpetual beginner and would never teach and could certainly never describe themselves as a master. This affable individual is obviously very humble and modest yet has been in the game for many years and more importantly many thousands of hours practice. So could it be that this modesty is not serving them, and perhaps they need to consider declaring some level of mastery.
For a definition of a master, check out our recently released eBook ‘The Ultimate Spiritual Training Glossary’. We have just soft launched it so it is available to download in the store, but as of the date of this blog it just feels like it needs a few more days to let it sit, reading through and considering amendments before drawing a line under it and going all in with the shameless social media promotion.
The important thing with mastery is that you clearly define the goal. If it is achieved then don’t be afraid to call it what it is. Not only have you got to achieve the goal but you have to be able to repeat it with a high degree of success, maybe 90-95% would be a reasonable benchmark. Then it is yours. The goal also needs a high degree of difficulty, if you want to master balance for example it is not enough to be able to stand on one leg for a minute and declare mastery. That is a step towards mastery, how about working up to doing it on a slackline with your eyes closed for the real deal. The weekend just gone we were challenging ourselves to stand right on the nose of our paddle boards whilst paddling so it was pretty much underwater and the tail and fins were up in the air. To do this from one end of the lake to the other whilst staying dry 9 out of 10 times would feel like mastery, what it feels like at the moment is cold and wet from head to toe.
Mastery is a trickier business when it comes to less tangible things such as meditation and energy work. You could clearly define experiences but ultimately success is a matter of self-declaration, the exception being if you have a guide with psychic abilities who can provide verification. There are also some experiences that are universal which can also provide verification. Whilst we are not big advocates of withholding anything from students, this is a necessity if you want to verify the student has passed through a particular gate of training rather than just parroting what they have been told to expect. Another tightrope to walk albeit it a metaphorical one this time. It is also important to note that mastery and the ability to teach are not the same thing and potentially could be entirely exclusive of each other in some examples.
If you want a wonderful take on mastery check out Alex Honnold’s TED Talk. We’ve no doubt plugged this before. Actually on the subject of inspiring material it’s on the to do list to write a blog post that lists all of what we’re reading, watching and listening to by way of inspiration.
We generally aim to put out a monthly blog post somewhere around the 12th of the month. Sometimes there is one already drafted, sometimes we pick up an idea for a theme that was scribbled down some time ago and sometimes we write about something that happens to be on our minds at the time. In any case a degree of inspiration is required in order to get it over the line and published. This morning inspiration struck before we had chance to check the date and realise it is the 12th. This is happening more often recently as if our brains are now adapted to that creative cycle as a result of what was initially just plain discipline of getting it done to schedule regardless. Perhaps a step towards mastery of the written wurd? ;-)