Quote:
Originally Posted by Scin  Ironically, as I searched for good books relevant to darkworkers, I thought of an interesting question:
Does a true darkworker really need a manual?
After all, aren't we more focused on getting the answers ourselves instead of relying on others? |
That's a very Dark Warrior question to ask
, and it is a good question that I asked myself along the way.
The flat-out answer is no -- given that you asked "need" and not "should".
You don't need one. The reality is that you can progress all the way through the path by personal trial and error. But, I wouldn't advise it.
But, would you do anything else this way, even something that could be potetially dangerous? When you polarize into the left-hand path, you are, in effect, sitting down at the control station of a nuclear power plant. I think we would all say that any reasonable person would read the manual.
There is, of course, the danger of melt-down. Who wants that?
And, there is the idea that in the path, your manual is your teachers. The first benefit they provide is simply accelerating your progress. Having walked ahead of you, they can guide you. Even more important, those without teachers generally get stuck at the warrior level, and almost never get past magus. Why? Not accepting a teacher is usually motivated by pride. Hence, the resounding security present in a Prince cannot develop.
Also, there is the benfit of their experience, and the collective experience of the traditions they impart. Its like having someone help you build a house. I'd rather have an experienced carpenter's help than some noob right out of the vo-tech. Why? The experienced teacher has built a lot of Darkworkers, and can help you do it right -- with a foundation and structure that is stronger, more powerful, more resiliant, and made to last.
Finally, there is the paradox problem. Every path contains a paradox, because to truly reflect reality, it must encapsulate and also superscede the mind. In that superseding, it has some logical inconsistency. For lightworkers, this is to love all beings, and you are a being, but you must sacrifice yourself for the greater good. For us, it is to honor and cherish the self, but to also restrain desire. Often, the paradox is not intuitively grasped, so the teacher is insturmental. Again, this is the reason for the warrior-wall.
But, I say all that to say this: We are Darkworkers, and we can do whatever the hell we feel like. So, if you feel the only way to honor yourself is to go lone-wolf, and you reject the benefits in lieu of a purity, go nuts.
All I can say is, good luck.