Why were the highest spiritual teachings kept hidden/secret

[idiot_stimpy]

I would like to hear peoples ideas as to why the highest spiritual teachings were kept hidden/secret from the masses?

 

Then there are those teachings that even if you had access to, they conceal their true meaning unless it is shown to you directly.

[wstein]

Some teaching reveal powerful things/abilities. They can not be safely used by beginners (altering people's energy, possession, etc). In normal life there is a reason we don't allow you people to handle dangerous stuff (knives, gasoline, driving, etc.) until the are they more mature.

 

Additionally, being exposed to 'advanced' topics without a proper foundation causes emotional and psychological damage. This applies the same to spiritual and non spiritual things.

 

Allowing easy access to the idea of advanced spiritual powers (siddhis) attracts those who would seek power rather than enlightenment to the spiritual path. If pursued, in many cases this power is misused harming others and often these seekers too.

[doc benway]

I think this is an important topic and I've stumbled across what I think are several reasons why over the past decade.

 

One was explored a bit in the recent thread on Integration vs Transcendence.

Dzogchen, being a very direct approach, can lead to profound insight and realization in a short time, sometimes without very much in the way of preparation and purification. This can result in the misguided impression that one is enlightened. This is problematic because it leads to spiritual bypassing. People talking the talk but causing damage around them. I think this is one of the reasons why we see so many "crazy wisdom" yogis  engaging in sexual impropriety and abuse. A cautionary pith instruction in Bön is that 'the view is as expansive as the sky but the conduct as fine as barley flour.' Even after profound realization has altered our perception and relationship to reality, we can still generate negative karma and must be mindful of how our words and actions affect others. 

 

Another reason for secrecy is the precision required in cementing the correct view. Miss by a mm and you miss by a km. It is extremely easy to convince yourself that you have the correct view, meditation, and behavior and go for months or years down a detour. The mind offers so many layers of identification that become ever more subtle and easy to miss, and even the best teacher on Earth cannot guarantee or be absolutely certain that you've got it right. Each practitioner must recognize and develop certainty for themselves. Consequently, this type of method has been traditionally taught in very small groups, often one on one, making it possible to only offer teachings to those considered most well-prepared and ripe. The karmic consequences of causing harm through offering the teachings to unsuitable candidates are considered very severe among traditionalists, so teachers have been reticent to offer them easily or on a large-scale basis. 

 

Having attended quite a few retreats, I've seen the reactivity that often occurs when people try to process ramifications of the direct teachings. For example, one thing that generally comes up at some point is that one can generate no negative karma while resting in the nature of mind. So incredulous participants who have not yet fully grasped the view dream up all sorts of heinous acts and can get quite upset trying to wrestle with the idea of what it means to engage in various activities from the view. This leads to anger, frustration, disappointment, even abandoning of the teachings altogether, a terrible karmic consequence for teacher and student alike. 

 

Another problem I've seen is the zeal that often arises with a taste of the view and fruition. People want to share this amazing gift with others. One problem is that while they may have some degree of direct experience, they really have not stabilized or familiarized themselves enough to guide others properly. Even if they do help others to get a taste, they don't have the tools to deal with the obstacles and aberrations that can arise, both in themselves and others. One recent and prominent example of this is Michael Singer's own encounter with a health crisis which undermined his confidence in his path for a time. Hobbyists and non-dual teachers without the background and support of lineage may not have the tools to deal with crises. More on that can be found in this thread.

 

One frequent negative consequence of these types of non-dual practice is the nihilistic crisis. A big part of the process is dis-identifying with everything we have considered to be our "self." This can leave us adrift and unsupported. It's something that can lead to the occasional psychotic break, major depression, or depersonalization disorder, even suicide.

 

These are some of the reasons for secrecy that occur to me now.

I believe there have been others that I can't access at the moment. 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 6 by doc benway

[Lairg]

Leaving aside the problem of teaching techniques to those that lack sufficient internal control and/or lack a suitable moral compass, there is the issue of how to control the spiritual tradition/religion.  How will the controllers continue control if they teach profound techniques to the followers.

 

This particularly apparent in Roman Catholicism that I was taught as a boy.

 

In retrospect it turns out that:

 

- all standard humans have the flaming heart that we were taught was peculiar to Jesus

- given that, we are all sons/daughters of god and therefore do not need bishops

- the concept of Christ is cosmic rather than planetary - thanks to de Chardin.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Teilhard_de_Chardin

- Catholic mystics referred to the Godhead rather than to God.  Why did they not like the official terminology?

 

As far as I can tell all spiritual movements amongst humans are contaminated by the need to control.  Good luck then finding a physical organization to give the highest techniques/teachings.

 

Fortunately Earth humans are rather valuable and have cosmic ancestors that lend a hand

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Cobie]

 

20 hours ago, idiot_stimpy said:

I would like to hear peoples ideas as to why the highest spiritual teachings were kept hidden/secret from the masses?

 

There’s nothing kept secret, no need to, the truth is so simple that unenlightened people don’t recognise it. 

 

下 士 闻 道 大 笑 之 With the dullest of students, when they hear of the Way, they laugh aloud at it. (DDJ Ch 41)

 

 

Edited February 6 by Cobie

[doc benway]

3 hours ago, Cobie said:

 

 

There’s nothing kept secret, no need to, the truth is so simple that unenlightened people don’t recognise it. 

 

下 士 闻 道 大 笑 之 With the dullest of students, when they hear of the Way, they laugh aloud at it. (DDJ Ch 41)

 

 

 

There's a two-fold meaning to that line for me -

When hearing a description of the Way, it sounds so ridiculously simple as to be a cause for laughter.

When actually having a direct experience, it is so ridiculously simple and obvious as to be a cause for laughter.

The former laughter is incredulous and easily shrugged off, the latter is joyous and exuberant and, to some degree, lasts a lifetime.

 

[Cobie]

DDJ Ch 41

上 士 闻 道 堇（勤）能 行 於 其 中

The ablest students, when they hear of the Way, with effort can get started on it; 

中 士 闻 道 若 闻 若 亡      

Mediocre students, when they hear of the Way, it is as if they are lost and confused; 

下 士 闻 道   大 笑 之          

With the dullest of students, when they hear of the way, they laugh aloud at it. 

 
弗 大 笑 不 足 以 为 道 矣  

But if they did not laugh aloud at it, it could not be considered the Way. 

(Guodian, Henricks)

 

 

Edited February 7 by Cobie

[Master Logray]

All of the above are true.  I will add some additional reasons.

 

- obligation to the universe/gods/codes/traditions

- personalized teaching

- they are unable to teach the students to high level

- pressures from other factions/orders

- the skills don't really work or are true

- they are making money out of the secrecy

 

In fact when Taoism developed, the transmission was open to all.   The methods were open (doesn't mean it is easy).  Anyone willing to follow the path could cultivate and could be an immortal, which was no difference from the "true bloods".   But later it went into secret transmission, to the extent that only 1 or a few acceptable students can be the lineage bearer.  All others, including the so called inner circle received only secondary or part of the teachings.  

 

But Taoism is hiding the means/skills/technologies but not the "highest spiritual teachings" like how the universe is born, the hidden rules, who is who in the heavenly hierarchy, life goals, rituals, offerings....

 

[doc benway]

Laozi says

 

When a wise person hears of the Way

He devotes himself fully.

When an average person hears of the Way

He tries to understand but doubts.

When a fool hears of the Way

He laughs out loud!

 

Ha!

 

When I first heard of the way I laughed,

But when I saw it with my bones, I laughed even louder!

 

In the first case

I laughed at the simplicity of it all.

How could it be so obvious?

 

Ha!

 

In the second,

I laughed at the simplicity of it all.

How could I have been so oblivious?

 

Ah… ha… ha.. ha!

 

I continue to laugh

Not at the Way, but

At the effort of the wise

At the doubt of the middlings

And most of all at 

 

“My”

 

“Self"

 

 

[stirling]

On 2/5/2025 at 4:16 PM, idiot_stimpy said:

I would like to hear peoples ideas as to why the highest spiritual teachings were kept hidden/secret from the masses?

 

Then there are those teachings that even if you had access to, they conceal their true meaning unless it is shown to you directly.

 

The idea of "highest" is a bit of a canard. Enlightenment can happen from "hidden" teachings, or from "entry-level" practices, or no teaching or practice whatsoever. Dudjom Rinpoche said that the ngondro, a preliminary practice, contained everything needed for realization, and in fact practiced it himself (despite his great realization) every day up to his death. 

 

Teachings on the Dao, or emptiness, aren't really conceivable from an intellectual standpoint, so may seem "hidden", but in fact emptiness is everywhere all of the time, right in front of your nose. A good teacher can "point out" what is being discussed conceptually, and many students will be able to understand what is being pointed to and learn to rest in it through meditation. It isn't rocket science, it is in fact utterly simple. 

 

Reminds me of this Dogen quote:

 

Quote

 

In July of the same year I was staying at Tiantongshan when the tenzo (cook) of Ayuwang shan came to see me and said, "After the summer Training Period is over I'm going to retire as tenzo and go back to my native region. I heard from a fellow monk that you were here and so I came to see how you were making out."

 

I was overjoyed. I served him tea as we sat down to talk. When I brought up our discussion on the ship about words and practice, the tenzo said, "If you want to understand words you must look into what words are. If you want to practice, you must understand what practice is."

 

I asked, "What are words?"

 

The tenzo said, "One, two, three, four, five."

 

I asked again, "What is practice?"

 

"Everywhere, nothing is hidden."

 

- Instructions for the Tenzo by Eihei Dogen

 

 

Indeed "nothing is hidden" is the reality of the situation, always in plain sight. 

 

On 2/5/2025 at 5:53 PM, doc benway said:

Dzogchen, being a very direct approach, can lead to profound insight and realization in a short time, sometimes without very much in the way of preparation and purification. This can result in the misguided impression that one is enlightened. This is problematic because it leads to spiritual bypassing. People talking the talk but causing damage around them. I think this is one of the reasons why we see so many "crazy wisdom" yogis  engaging in sexual impropriety and abuse. A cautionary pith instruction in Bön is that 'the view is as expansive as the sky but the conduct as fine as barley flour.' Even after profound realization has altered our perception and relationship to reality, we can still generate negative karma and must be mindful of how our words and actions affect others.

 

Absolutely. This is a great point. I take you to mean realization of Rigpa/non-dual realization?

 

I think this is a natural developmental step in the cycle of deepening understanding. The development of "enlightened self" is a common formation where there isn't a teacher familiar with the development to pop that bubble and move the student from what one might think of as non-dual "1" (enlightened self) to non-dual "2" (enlightened reality). In Zen this is "zen sickness". The conduct aspect in my experience has to do with training in bodhicitta. If there is extensive training before realization, "zen sickness" may not occur, but if it does training in bodhicitta is the way out. 

 

On 2/5/2025 at 5:53 PM, doc benway said:

One frequent negative consequence of these types of non-dual practice is the nihilistic crisis. A big part of the process is dis-identifying with everything we have considered to be our "self." This can leave us adrift and unsupported. It's something that can lead to the occasional psychotic break, major depression, or depersonalization disorder, even suicide.

 

Agree with you here too, Doc. I think a lot of people that experience "depersonalization" are inches from realization, but don't have the context or training to realize what they are looking at. I wish I knew a way to be helpful to that population. 

[stirling]

On 2/5/2025 at 4:16 PM, idiot_stimpy said:

I would like to hear peoples ideas as to why the highest spiritual teachings were kept hidden/secret from the masses?

 

Then there are those teachings that even if you had access to, they conceal their true meaning unless it is shown to you directly.

 

The idea of "highest" is a bit of a canard. Enlightenment can happen from "hidden" teachings, or from "entry-level" practices, or no teaching or practice whatsoever. Dudjom Rinpoche said that the ngondro, a preliminary practice, contained everything needed for realization, and in fact practiced it himself (despite his great realization) every day up to his death. 

 

Teachings on the Dao, or emptiness, aren't really conceivable from an intellectual standpoint, so may seem "hidden", but in fact emptiness is everywhere all of the time, right in front of your nose. A good teacher can "point out" what is being discussed conceptually, and many students will be able to understand what is being pointed to and learn to rest in it through meditation. It isn't rocket science, it is in fact utterly simple. 

 

Reminds me of this Dogen quote:

 

Quote

 

In July of the same year I was staying at Tiantongshan when the tenzo (cook) of Ayuwang shan came to see me and said, "After the summer Training Period is over I'm going to retire as tenzo and go back to my native region. I heard from a fellow monk that you were here and so I came to see how you were making out."

 

I was overjoyed. I served him tea as we sat down to talk. When I brought up our discussion on the ship about words and practice, the tenzo said, "If you want to understand words you must look into what words are. If you want to practice, you must understand what practice is."

 

I asked, "What are words?"

 

The tenzo said, "One, two, three, four, five."

 

I asked again, "What is practice?"

 

"Everywhere, nothing is hidden."

 

- Instructions for the Tenzo by Eihei Dogen

 

 

Indeed "nothing is hidden" is the reality of the situation, always in plain sight. 

 

On 2/5/2025 at 5:53 PM, doc benway said:

Dzogchen, being a very direct approach, can lead to profound insight and realization in a short time, sometimes without very much in the way of preparation and purification. This can result in the misguided impression that one is enlightened. This is problematic because it leads to spiritual bypassing. People talking the talk but causing damage around them. I think this is one of the reasons why we see so many "crazy wisdom" yogis  engaging in sexual impropriety and abuse. A cautionary pith instruction in Bön is that 'the view is as expansive as the sky but the conduct as fine as barley flour.' Even after profound realization has altered our perception and relationship to reality, we can still generate negative karma and must be mindful of how our words and actions affect others.

 

Absolutely. This is a great point. I take you to mean realization of Rigpa/non-dual realization?

 

I think this is a natural developmental step in the cycle of deepening understanding. The development of "enlightened self" is a common formation where there isn't a teacher familiar with the development to pop that bubble and move the student from what one might think of as non-dual "1" (enlightened self) to non-dual "2" (enlightened reality). In Zen this is "zen sickness". The conduct aspect in my experience has to do with training in bodhicitta. If there is extensive training before realization, "zen sickness" may not occur, but if it does training in bodhicitta is the way out. 

 

On 2/5/2025 at 5:53 PM, doc benway said:

One frequent negative consequence of these types of non-dual practice is the nihilistic crisis. A big part of the process is dis-identifying with everything we have considered to be our "self." This can leave us adrift and unsupported. It's something that can lead to the occasional psychotic break, major depression, or depersonalization disorder, even suicide.

 

Agree with you here too, Doc. I think a lot of people that experience "depersonalization" are inches from realization, but don't have the context or training to realize what they are looking at. I wish I knew a way to be helpful to that population. 

[Neirong]

On 06.02.2025 at 3:16 AM, idiot_stimpy said:

I would like to hear peoples ideas as to why the highest spiritual teachings were kept hidden/secret from the masses?

 

Then there are those teachings that even if you had access to, they conceal their true meaning unless it is shown to you directly.

Consider the abundance of knowledge available on boxing or chess. Yet, to become a professional boxer or chess player, you must internalize that knowledge through dedication, time, and effort. There are no secrets—just hard work and persistence.
 

With esoteric or ancient arts, however, there is an added layer of complexity. You must meet certain prerequisites, such as developing siddhis, activating the third eye, awakening the spiritual body, and training energy bodies from the ethereal to the astral to the mental planes — along with hundreds of other requirements.
 

The knowledge isn’t hidden; people simply lack the capacity to see and perceive it. Moreover, they often lack the effort required to internalize it and make it their own. "Highly spiritual" knowledge may require your mind to operate in 12 dimensions for extended periods of time. For a normal human, even venturing into the 4th dimension could lead to a mental breakdown and lasting trauma.

The problem is compounded by the fact that with such an attitude, encountering or obtaining genuine esoteric knowledge becomes a futile endeavor. You can see people spending their entire lives chasing imaginary gurus and imaginary practices, never reaching the truth.
 

I have encountered many individuals like this, and even in my own practice and teaching, I come across people who are obsessed with chasing and desiring secrets. They read countless books in pursuit of "knowledge," yet all they accumulate is superficial and shallow understanding.
 

You need to work for it, and you need the proper conditions for it to develop and grow internally. This includes the presence of a legitimate teacher, a structured system, and a connection to the egregore.

[Lairg]

19 minutes ago, stirling said:

The idea of "highest" is a bit of a canard. Enlightenment can happen from "hidden" teachings, or from "entry-level" practices, or no teaching or practice whatsoever.

 

Does an enlightened human step into a new role in the cosmos?   

 

If so, the highest teachings given to humans may be little more than apprenticeship tasks

 

A hint is given in the Qabalah where the geometric Tree of Life fits on to the developed human. 

 

Does that geometric structure act like an antenna, allowing enlightened humans to coordinate (with) galactic processes?

 

 

 

 

[old3bob]

 

the deepest is hidden right under our noses...

 

[Nungali]

[Sanity Check]

 

 

 

I would guess this ^ has something to do with it.

 

[stirling]

13 hours ago, Lairg said:

Does an enlightened human step into a new role in the cosmos?

 

Enlightenment is the realization that an enlightened human is an oxymoron. The entire fabric of reality has always already been enlightened, there is just a delusion that there is this separate person we think we are.

 

13 hours ago, Lairg said:

If so, the highest teachings given to humans may be little more than apprenticeship tasks.

 

Just resting in the present moment, free of the conceptual overlay that mind creates IS nirodha... IS enlightened mind. There is just realizing what that liberation truly is. All other techniques, teachings, and tasks are intended to point you toward that simple realization. 

 

13 hours ago, Lairg said:

Does that geometric structure act like an antenna, allowing enlightened humans to coordinate (with) galactic processes?

 

What we are can't help but be coordinated with all illusory processes and structures. What we are "in charge" of is how we respond to what happens, but even that response is the result of causes and conditions as they arise. Our delusion that we are autonomous or in control is what gets in the way of there being harmony. 

[Nungali]

15 hours ago, Sanity Check said:

 

 

 

I would guess this ^ has something to do with it.

 

 

 

Those where your highest spiritual traditions  ??? 

[Lairg]

4 hours ago, stirling said:

Just resting in the present moment, free of the conceptual overlay that mind creates IS nirodha... IS enlightened mind.

 

Is the heart more profound than the mind?  What do women say about that?

 

What is beyond heart?  

 

Is the human purely decorative?  Or is there a design functionality?

 

 

[Nungali]

Leaving aside  the questionable  term 'highest spiritual traditions ', I will offer my perspective on the western tradition .... it may have some application to eastern traditions  ?    I will try to make it as simple as I can ( and this is just one aspect ) . 

 

Secrecy and control need to go together .   if the secret 'gets out ' how will it be controlled  ?   It works this way  ( let's say )   you get involved with a tradition , it has some excellent  practices and teachings , but, as usual, changes and developments in yourself need to be made as you go along  so as to be able to 'receive'   (  understand, evaluate  , etc  .... in some cases a physical development  might be required -   otherwise  the import or effect of the teaching or initiation may be not understood, discarded , 'corrupted',  trivialised etc.) . 

 

So the control and secrecy  needs to be in place to preserve the 'potency' of the system , otherwise if  people that have not achieved a certain level of practice and understanding will change or modify the teaching to suit their current level or complete lack of understanding  - then the value of the system, the secret teachings and potency of the system is lessened or lost .   It becomes an empty ceremony of  'curly cues  ' *  that , rightly' seems a load of ceremonial rubbish . 

 

*  eg  ... in the Sydney Masonic Centre , a guide proudly displayed a high degree apron ; on each corner was a 'curly cue '   and one in the middle , they where all slightly  different  . I asked about them and that is what the guide said  ; 'ornamental decoration '  . I pointed out that they nearly resembled  Hebrew letters   , probably YHVH  and the one in the middle looked like a  Shin - three tongues of flame  .  It seems to suggest ( at least at that degree of understanding ) that the Masons have a Jewish story or belief at the heart of their rituals  but are in fact Christian and 'accept' Christ .   The guide looked at me confusedly  " How did you get that ?" 

 

" Yod He Vau He ... God .  Shin , fire spirit descending  into those four letters makes Jehovah , Jaheshawah ,  Joshua or  Jesus .   "   He had no clue at all what I was talking about . 

 

How did this happen ?  According to Masons ,  women are not 'left out '  of their organisation .... I actually heard one say  they are actively involved  ; they cook the food  for their gatherings ( feasts ) and often make the regalia by hand  .    Cause real men don't cook or sew    .    But of course they are not taught 'the mysteries '   and over time , copying designs they changed .   If the initiates themselves had learnt to sew ,  the 'mysteries' (in this one case ) would be preserved .   - Later I found a picture of an earlier copy of that degree apron in a book and , yep,  the 'curly-cues' where better formed Hebrew letters . 

 

[Nungali]

14 minutes ago, Lairg said:

 

Is the heart more profound than the mind?  What do women say about that?

 

Women say all sorts of things .... as men do . 

 

 

 

14 minutes ago, Lairg said:

 

What is beyond heart?  

 

 Will .  

 

Love under Will . 

 

Or do you think we should be ruled by the feelings and    volatile reactions of the emotions .  At least mind  can be  responsive  and need not be reactive ... there is a difference .

 

14 minutes ago, Lairg said:

 

Is the human purely decorative?  Or is there a design functionality?

 

 

 

Both . 

 

Check nature on that one . . .  you could ask a 'glass wing butterfly'  

 

 

 

[kakapo]

On 2/5/2025 at 7:16 PM, idiot_stimpy said:

I would like to hear peoples ideas as to why the highest spiritual teachings were kept hidden/secret from the masses?

 

Then there are those teachings that even if you had access to, they conceal their true meaning unless it is shown to you directly.

 

Some ideas:

 

1.

 

 I have seen instructions of the system I study, edited and then posted online.

 

People removed the most important parts.

 

People removed the most important precautions you must take.

 

People added new things which are not compatible.

 

People market this as the real deal, and post it online everywhere.

 

People then get hurt.

 

People blame the system I study as the cause of their ailments.

 

The problem becomes people who don't understand and want to blend together everything they have learned into something new, and then re transmit the knowledge to others without understanding what they are teaching.

 

It is necessary to screen people to make sure you don't end up sharing information with someone who is silly like this, as people will be hurt as a result of doing so.

 

 

2.

 

All abilities are double edged swords that can be wielded for both good and evil. 

 

Imagine that any person could go to the grocery store and get the ingredients to make a bomb 1 billion times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

 

If you don't screen the character of the people you are transmitting that information to, then you will wind up with insane sociopaths abusing the knowledge and perhaps destroying society. 

 

I think this is a large reason why teachers work so hard to uncover the character of the students they take, as the actions of the students affects the karma of the teacher as well. 

 

Most real schools historically have only had a few inner door students, and no more.

 

This is because they do not want to create monsters.

 

 

3. 

 

Hidden in a haystack of false teachings. 

 

The spiritual community is filled to the brim with millions upon millions of teachers, and teachings. 

 

Almost none of these do anything more than placebo.

 

Let's say a training book for a legit school was leaked online,  how would you possibly know that it's methods were real, when there were 100 million others to try out as well which are false and do nothing. 

 

One person cannot try all possible teachings. 

 

[Cobie]

 

1 hour ago, Lairg said:

Is the heart more profound than the mind?  

 

Yes. 
 

Quote

What is beyond heart?  

 

God

 

 

Edited February 8 by Cobie

[stirling]

3 hours ago, Lairg said:

Is the heart more profound than the mind?  What do women say about that?

 

Both are conceptual, neither is more important. Where does the mind end or begin? What do we mean by heart? 

 

Having said that, you will come much closer to the source by exercising kindness than the intellect. I'm sure women love kindness as surely as anyone else.

 

3 hours ago, Lairg said:

What is beyond heart?  

 

Is the human purely decorative?  Or is there a design functionality?

 

In relative terms a heart pumps blood, being dependent on a body, blood, water, food, the sea, the sky... everything, for its existence. In absolute terms, the idea of a heart separate from anything else is a mirage. What is beyond the heart? There is just this moment, happening now. There is nothing beyond that. 

[Paradoxal]

5 hours ago, Nungali said:

So the control and secrecy  needs to be in place to preserve the 'potency' of the system , otherwise if  people that have not achieved a certain level of practice and understanding will change or modify the teaching to suit their current level or complete lack of understanding  - then the value of the system, the secret teachings and potency of the system is lessened or lost .   It becomes an empty ceremony of  'curly cues  ' *  that , rightly' seems a load of ceremonial rubbish . 

Very much reminds me of what has happened with martial arts.

 

I see people certified to teach when they can't even use what they're trying to teach all the time!