Page 168 - THE ENDLESS WAVE | Skateboarding, Death & Spirituality

THE ENDLESS WAVE | PART TWO
own sense because of their perceived greater connection and communication with the Divine. When this happens, people in these organizations forget that these leaders are living through the Human Experience too — the full spec- trum of all human emotions, desires and needs. The hierarchy model tends to create separation between all people and the different levels of power and healthy expressions of their humanity.
In the worst case scenarios, people in these higher positions of hierarchy in an organised religion or cult, abuse this power through harsh judgements and punishments, emotional manipulation and expressing distortions of their Human needs and emotions which people tend to turn a blind-eye to. It is im- portant to remember that everyone is a Spiritual Being living a Human Ex- perience and because of this, we all have an equal opportunity to connect with the Divine. There is no need to turn your power over to someone else because of their experiences, for you are the one living in your own body and mind. Your experience will be truly unique to you. Everyone has their own pathway to connect with the divine while also having the permission to be human and expressive in healthy ways.
While a structured or organized spiritual path like a religion, can be a helpful place to begin for some to be introduced to and build the foundations of a spir- itual path, it could also be likened to the process of learning skateboard tricks. Some might start out with skateboard coaching or lessons to learn some basic techniques and as progression takes place, is there a limit or defined prescrip- tion of techniques and tricks that one has to learn? Can the unlimited potential of creativity in skateboarding be contained within the instruction of another, or through the context of a video, magazine, book or website?
The experience and nature of divinity like skateboarding is also unlimited. It can’t be contained within the walls of a building or place of worship, serving as a reminder that a Spiritual path is not a one-size fits all experience and can- not be taught through one organisation or a set of lifestyle rules alone.
What makes skateboarding so enriching, empowering and enlightening is that it has no gurus, figureheads or leaders. It isn’t organised in a hierarchy
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