The Truth Against the World Searles O'Dubhain Sat Sep 21 11:22:01 2002 Here's a posting I once made to the alt.religion.druid news group in reply to an ongoing discussion and argument as to who is and isn't a Druid. I post it here in hopes that we can all discuss this matter, share our knowledge and grow from the effort:*p* *br*From: Searles O'Dubhain (searles@summerlands.com)*br*Subject: Re: druid reading list *br*Newsgroups: alt.religion.druid*br*View: Complete Thread (49 articles) | Original Format *br*Date: 1998/11/20 *br* *p*I have to say that most of what I present here within this news group is*br*based on a study of the traditions as evaluated by my own experiences and*br*imbas. Much of what I have learned has been learned by doing and not by*br*supposing or wishing. Many times I am attempting to present personal*br*experiences and imbas through the filter of culture and tradition. Of the*br*three: tradition, experience and culture, it is tradition that sometimes is*br*lacking in my efforts. That is a primary reason why I am a member of this*br*news group: to seek out and learn the missing traditions. In most other*br*areas of my knowledge and understanding of reality, I have had the fullness*br*of life and the touch of the gods as my teachers. *p*I do not consider that I should call myself a Druid, but that I am a Druid.*br*I do not believe that the Druids ever ceased to exist, because I know that*br*they do exist, now as much as they ever did in days gone by. It is my*br*belief, my experience, and my true knowledge, that Druids have always*br*existed, regardless of the names used by societies to name them. It is*br*also my knowledge and experience that Druids and their spirits do not*br*perish at death, but that they have another life beyond this one. It is*br*also my direct experience that spirits and beings from those other lives*br*may be born again into physical bodies in this life. This rebirth is*br*unnecessary to the truth of Druids and is only accomplished to fulfill*br*their chosen purposes in being. Those purposes are as myriad as the stars*br*in the skies. My purpose in being here is to translate spiritual*br*experiences into practical physical experiences and knowledge by deriving*br*the procedures that have worked in the past from a study of past*br*traditions. I seek to restore what was lost from the embers of what has*br*survived. Another part of my work is to help other people find their own*br*way to truth and complete spiritual awareness. One of the ways that I seek*br*to accomplish this work is by showing how it has been done in the past*br*within Celtic culture. My failure in this accomplishment is a direct*br*reflection on my capabilities to remain focused and connected to spirit,*br*while also dealing with the snares of the world's illusory forms. Many*br*times, I have to remember that it is the Truth that is against the World*br*and not the World that is for the Truth.*p*It is in renewal of that connection to spirit and truth, that meditation*br*and spiritual disciplines are established and maintained. It is also very*br*frustrating to be limited by a commonality of shared conceptions and*br*coimgne in my attempts to discuss these matters with others who have*br*sought, or who have found their own foundations of being. I suppose that*br*there are some who would dispute me in my understandings and my realities,*br*while there are perhaps more who will simply misunderstand me. It is to*br*those few who are on the same path as myself that I address these remarks*br*and say that it is good that you are there, for I am comforted by your own*br*focus of spiritual intention in this great work that we have jointly*br*continued beyond death's doorways. It is to you and to you alone that I*br*say, "You are the Truth against the World." *br*-- *br*Searles O'Dubhain*br*http://www.summerlands.com*p*"Athert an Daogdae, 'An cumang arba/gaid-si/, doge/n-sou ule am a/onur.' "*br*"Then said the Dagda, 'All these powers that you have said that you will*br*command, I will myself command.'"*p**br* 68.62.238.28