Living in harmony with the Infinite Energy Field

The idea of not being stuck in the scriptures is a concept that comes up in many spiritual and philosophical traditions, and it often speaks to the need for balance between reverence for sacred texts and the necessity of personal experience, direct insight, and adaptation to the present moment. Let’s break it down:

1. Living Wisdom vs. Book Knowledge:

One reason not to be stuck in the scriptures is that books—whether they’re sacred texts or not—are just representations of wisdom. They point to deeper truths but don’t fully contain or define them. Spiritual wisdom is something that needs to be lived and experienced, not merely read about.

Scriptures are often written in a specific historical context, and while they can provide profound insights, the way they are interpreted can sometimes limit or obscure their deeper meanings when applied rigidly in the modern world.

Spiritual growth requires being present with life as it unfolds. Focusing too much on the words can sometimes make people miss out on the direct experience of reality that is happening right now.

Example:

In Zen Buddhism, there’s a saying: “If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him.” It means that attachment to the ideal of the Buddha (or any concept) can get in the way of the true experience of awakening. In this context, the Buddha is a symbol, and clinging to a symbol (like scriptures) can prevent someone from seeing the truth directly.

2. Scriptures Are Not the Final Truth:

Many scriptures are meant to point beyond themselves, to a transcendent truth that cannot be fully captured in words. Scriptures might be considered valuable tools, but if you mistake them for the ultimate truth itself, you can become trapped in their literal interpretation and miss out on the living wisdom they are trying to convey.

Truth is often seen as dynamic, ever-evolving, and experiential. Being too attached to static interpretations of ancient texts can lead to a narrow or rigid view of life.

Example:

In Christianity, there’s an emphasis on the living word of God—the idea that God’s truth is not just in the Bible but in the ongoing relationship with the divine. Some interpretations of scripture can become outdated or too literal, missing the essence of what the teachings are meant to inspire.

3. Over-Reliance on Doctrine:

Being stuck in the scriptures can create a kind of doctrinal rigidity. When someone becomes too attached to a set of written teachings, it can result in a dogmatic attitude where the person believes their understanding is the only or right way, dismissing other perspectives, experiences, and interpretations.

Spiritual growth requires openness to new insights, flexibility, and understanding. Dogma can create division and blind people to the richness of diverse paths.

Example:

In Hinduism, the scriptures (Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita) are considered sacred, but there is also a recognition that each individual’s path to understanding the Infinite may be different. Spiritual teachers like Ramana Maharshi often emphasized direct self-inquiry and inner experience over ritualistic adherence to texts.

4. Growth Beyond Form:

There’s a tendency for people to idolize forms—whether they are the form of a scripture, a temple, or a ritual. Scriptures, while beautiful and sacred, are still forms, and everything that is form-based is inherently limited. True spiritual growth, in many traditions, is about moving beyond forms to experience something direct, unmediated, and personal.

Scriptures often describe the spiritual path or the nature of reality, but they can never fully capture the living experience of awakening, insight, or union with the divine.

Example:

In Sufism, Rumi and other poets talk about how the true experience of love and God cannot be confined to the written word. The written word is just a pointer toward the unseen, something that needs to be experienced beyond concepts.

5. Attachment to the Past:

Scriptures often reflect the belief systems and worldviews of a particular time period. If someone becomes too attached to these ancient texts, they might overlook the evolving nature of wisdom and the ways in which spiritual understanding can be updated or refined for contemporary life. Truth is timeless, but the way we understand it can shift as we grow and develop as individuals and societies.

The danger is that people may hold on to an outdated version of spirituality that no longer resonates or serves them in the modern world.

Example:

In Buddhism, Zen masters often stress the importance of direct realization rather than relying on texts or doctrines. They view scriptures as helpful, but not essential, to the practice of awakening. Living in the moment, beyond concepts and words, is considered the core of true understanding.

6. Spiritual Autonomy:

Staying overly attached to scriptures can sometimes create a dependence on external authority. While scriptures are valuable for guidance, true spiritual autonomy comes when one can question and integrate teachings internally.

One might follow a scripture or spiritual teacher, but ultimately, true wisdom comes from within—from experiencing the truths directly, from reflecting on life in the present moment, and not just from blindly following tradition.

Example:

In Advaita Vedanta (a school of Hindu philosophy), self-inquiry (the question “Who am I?”) is emphasized as the way to understand the nature of reality. Even sacred texts like the Upanishads or Bhagavad Gita are considered valuable pointers, but the ultimate goal is direct self-realization, which is independent of any text.

7. The Danger of Over-intellectualizing:

Scriptures can become a source of intellectualization rather than transformation. If a person focuses too much on the intellectual study of sacred texts without integrating their deeper meaning into life, it can lead to spiritual bypassing—the avoidance of real inner work in favor of academic or theological analysis.

Spiritual practice is not about memorizing verses or arguing over interpretations but about embodying wisdom in everyday actions.

Summary:

Scriptures are tools, not the final destination. The key is to use them as guides while remaining open to direct experience, personal insight, and the living wisdom that arises in the moment.

Being stuck in scriptures can sometimes mean being disconnected from the dynamic, evolving nature of truth. It can also lead to rigidity or dogma, which inhibits personal growth, spiritual freedom, and the ability to adapt to the present.

At the end of the day, true wisdom is about integration—taking what is learned from texts and turning it into action and experience in the world.