16: 2 & 3 Reliance

[candid]

I?d be interested in hearing points of view on self-reliance VS looking up enthusiastically.

Do you consider yourself to be self-reliant as far as fulfilling your deepest needs? Or, do you enthusiastically look up to another source? Is it outside yourself or within? (Ultimately?)

What other Yi references might you use to illustrate your position?

 

[davidl]

As a child I lived with my maternal great grandmother, who I have now realised was my greatest teacher. Her basic foundations of teaching were 1. surrender your free will to the creator. 2. Be careful of the words you speak and the thoughts you entertain, as they are powerful for good or evil ( gossip in any form was considered very bad form!). 3. You are loved, by a benevolent and forgiving universe. 4. Never underestimate the power of the miraculous.
I suppose now my view of 'self' is more about how to be the best 'tool' I can for the creator. This means, (ultimately) giving up 'self reliance' as an absurd concept , that in the end is a misunderstanding of reality. We are not and will never be self reliant. Anyone who thinks they are is kidding themselves. As far as 'looking up' I feel that this is also a dangerous misunderstanding. Who or what are we looking up to?
No individual or astral being is higher or lower than any other, any system that works on the basis of 'priesthoods' ,'special knowledge' or 'special breeding' to learn 'the way' in my view is a sham.
Our deepest needs are met not by becoming self reliant or looking up. They are met by, understanding our place in the web of life (constitutional position), coming to terms with the fact we know very little about anything (destruction of the ego) , and being able to accept a peaceful life of love and intimacy with all other life forms without the need to control outcomes. (child like innocence).
The secret of the universe must be a simple one, if it wasn't , then the universe could not be considered benevolent, as its secrets would only be available to the most erudite.
Ultimately there is no 'within' or 'outside' , this is the illusion of separation (ego) we are all one.
I have never regreted giving up self reliance and free will, what I have learn't is that the plans and play of the creator are not only more fun, but most are beyond my wildest dreams.

 

[heylise]

Thanks (to you and to your great grandmother) for a beautiful valuable post
LiSe

 

[candid]

david - Are you then saying, your creator and you are one, since there is no disunity? And if you are one, isn't it just a part of yourself that you rely on? Isn't this the Great Man Yi speaks of?

What does 16:2 & 3 mean to you?

Thanks,
Candid