Who are the new Spiritual Teachers?

Adapted from “New Paradigm Teaching” from the Silence of the Heart by Paul Ferrini.

New paradigm spiritual teachers claim no authority over others. They do not pretend to have the answers for others. They speak only of their experience. They invite others to share in what they have learned from their experience.

They do not preach. They do not try to fix. They simply accept others as they are and encourage others to find their own truth.

They empower. They see the light in others and encourage it. They don’t close their eyes to the darkness. They do not deny the darkness or go to battle against it. They know there is nothing wrong, no evil to oppose, no battles to fight. They just gently encourage the Light. They know the light itself will heal all wounds.

New paradigm teachers do not try to heal others. They encourage others to heal themselves through self acceptance and self love.

The old paradigm teacher wants to heal others and save the world. The new paradigm teacher knows that others are fine the way they are and the world is already redeemed.

Why is this? Has the new paradigm teacher closed her eyes? Doesn’t she see the suffering in the world, the environmental catastrophe, the endemic violence? Oh yes, she sees the struggle and the pain, but she has a different interpretation of them .She doesn’t believe that people are guilty or that the world is doomed. She sees the vast call for love. She sees the universal cry for acceptance and understanding. And this is what she gives.

Not fixing. Not salvation. Not intellectual remedies for physical problems.

Does she give food and medical supplies if they are needed? Of course, but she remembers to whom she is giving them. She remembers the call and she answers it.

She knows that food is helpful, but it is not the solution to the problem. It is not what is being asked for.

She looks in to the eyes of others and sees their divinity as her own, and asks how she can be of help.

What is asked for is love. Love is the only food. Love is what she gives.