Where does Knowledge vanish to when profanity appears?
You must agree that the internet today is teeming with exotic philosophies, each offering a solution to the lack of happiness and peace in one’s life.
Typically, such teachings are led by individuals who openly proclaim their own competence and the uniqueness of their doctrine. They speak of spirituality, enlightenment, and opening oneself to the Universe—yet they see no issue with being rude to others, or even using foul language.
Not long ago, my colleagues and I looked into the activities of a man who had gathered followers on an exotic island, claiming to initiate them into the mysteries of the universe.
At the same time, he found it perfectly acceptable to unleash a torrent of profanity at his assistant whenever he wished to voice one of his many grievances—grievances born from an ego that was both disproportionately inflated and deeply wounded.
We are not discussing the moral implications of such behavior here.
We simply wish to ask: "Where is the freedom that Knowledge is supposed to bestow?"
How is it that we can take a person’s word for their "enlightenment," while simultaneously accepting it as normal when that same person expresses their thoughts through the crude medium of profanity?
The answer is obvious: it is because profanity has become an inseparable part of our own lives.
In truth, the urge to use foul language is merely one of many material indicators that Knowledge has not truly become the life of the person studying it—a person who, despite their studies, still resorts to profanity. Such a "spiritual seeker" lives entirely apart from the very Knowledge that once captivated them.
True, profound philosophy never exists merely as a dry theory contained within a book on a shelf. If Knowledge has truly touched a person, it inevitably transforms their entire life: their gait, their gaze, their relationship with their own body, their way of thinking, and—above all—their speech.
If someone speaks of a lofty quest for the Spirit, yet cannot refrain from resorting to habitual, automatic profanity, one must honestly admit that they are merely a theorist—someone who has not taken any meaningful step toward escaping the prison built for them by a predator yet.
The use of profanity is a clear sign that no transformation has taken place, and that true freedom remains out of reach.
As the Stoics once wrote in their own distinct style, and as Carlos Castaneda described in his books, the Path of the Warrior begins with tracking one’s own reactions and bringing order to one’s life and daily affairs.
Breaking free from the bondage of profanity is a direct challenge to the level of awareness of any spiritual seeker.
There is no need to speculate on how far someone has progressed in their search, or what "revelations" they may have received that remain hidden from others. Simply observe whether they possess purity of thought—and, by extension, purity in the speech that gives voice to those thoughts—and you will know whether they possess personal power.
Profanity is an indicator of an unconscious, unskilled approach to emotions—a sign of being trapped in emotional instability.
It is a mark of weakness and a lack of inner strength.
In the coming days, we will examine in detail where one’s energy and power drain away when profanity is used, and why unconscious speech undermines one’s social standing and authority.
For now, a question for you: have you ever sincerely promised yourself that you would respond to stress calmly, only to find yourself—a second later—unconsciously slipping back into a habitual tirade of profanity?
Share your thoughts in the comments, and leave a like if you, too, feel that using profanity makes you weaker.
profanity
castaneda
