"And what, Socrates, is the food of the soul?
Surely, I said, knowledge is the food of the soul; and we must take care, my friend, that the sophist does not decieve us when he praises what he sells, like the dealers wholesale or retail who sell the food of the body; for they praise indiscriminately all their goods, without knowing what are really beneficial or hurtful: neither do their customers know, with the exception of any trainer or physician who may happen to buy of them. In like manner those who carry about the wares of knowledge and make the round of the cities, and sell or retail them to any customer who is in want of them, praise them all alike; though I should not wonder, O my friend if many of them were really ignorant of their effect upon the soul; and their customers equally ignorant, unless he who buys of them happens to be a physician of the soul. If, therefore, you have understanding of what is good and evil, you may safely buy knowledge from Protagoras or of anyone; but if not, then, O my friend, pause, and do not hazard your dearest interests at a game of chance. For there is far greater peril in buying knowledge than in buying meat and drink: the one you purchase of the wholesale or retail dealer, and carry them away in other vessels, and before you recieve them into the body as food, you may deposit them at home and call in any experienced friend who knows what is good to be eaten or drunken, and what not, and how much, and when; and then the danger of purchasing them is not so great. But you cannot buy the wares of knowledge and carry them away in another vessel; when you have paid for them you must recieve them into the soul, and go your way, either greatly harmed or greatly benefited; and therefor we should deliberate and take counsel with our elders; for we are still young - too young to determine such a matter."
-From Plato's Protagoras
For those of you who have read this, don't spoil it! I just started and have yet to know if Protagoras indeed was worth his mettle as far as the wisdom he imparted. But reading that passage really brought back a lot for me as far as the past five years are concerned. One should really beware who one takes knowledge from. These days I trust no one's word on its own, I look to multiple sources for what I want before I come to a decision. And I think that is the way it should be in spirituality as well. Far too many people are in their spiritual walks because that is all they know, and many are unhappy. Many don't understand that it just isn't logical to think yourself above another due to creed or nationality, just because someone told you God said so. And why accept someone's word just because they call themselves a spiritual leader? What have they gained that you yourself on your own cannot?
Thoughts?