I don’t know what you think of when you imagine a truly enlightened, spiritual person. Perhaps the most common picture is a person meditating (or praying). They have a hint of a smile on their upturned face. Their eyes are closed, they radiate peace and joy. They are unswervingly humble, gracious, loving, compassionate. Almost delicate, but projecting inner strength.
Does that sound familiar?
Somehow this image of the spiritual person has become the standard. When we think of a spiritual person, we don’t think of a warrior, bloodied but unbowed, filthy, tired, hungry, muscular. We don’t typically think of an adventurer, a salty seaborne pirate, intent on discovery, on danger, addicted to conquest.
But this is the picture we get from two very different traditions. One the one hand, you have my favourite philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche. He describes the path to enlightenment as the way of the spiritual adventurer. He pictures this adventurer as a sailor, discovering new worlds.
And then yo…
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