Peter (Yes, it is still Peter this and Peter that...... at least for another 2 days!), says that we should stop hiding behind the abstract. When we search for truth in concepts from the outside; in books, sutras, teachers, this type of learning is passive and only gives an illusion of intelligence. True intelligence can only be found by looking inwards through active introspection.
Pretty deep shit for 6.30am!!
Well, I went home and thought about it and (after some thoughtful inward introspection!), I think he may be right! I have a tendency to hide behind books ; theories and philosophies that aren't mine but borrowed from somewhere else. So, is yoga spiritual or not spiritual? Is it the Law of Determination or the Law of Chance? Reincarnation or eternal life in heaven?
These debates are honestly quite futile. Does it really matter? The truth is inside and it is not necessary to label it as anything. As long as I practise my yoga for what it means to me, and live my life to its full potential with honesty and love, nothing else matters.
My boys and I were having dinner the other night and one of them mentioned that in Heaven, he will be able to eat a limitless amount of all the things he loves (I think he was trying to tell me that he is sick of the vegetarian dinners!) Someone else then replied that in Heaven, we won't need to eat at all..... The conversation then went about in circles. Mathieu was insistent that there was no heaven and we will all be reincarnated (but only as humans, not as animals, and our memories will be erased and we will start life from zero again.) Nic believes that there is no God and "Shit happens because Shit happens". Pretty surprising stuff since I thought I was bringing them up to be good christian boys.
But you know what, it doesn't matter, because they are going through the process of thinking intelligently and trying to ascertain a truth that is theirs and not what I or anyone else dictated to them. We all need to find our own truths and it is bloody hard work......