I was contemplating the story of Julian, and how he had to walk the line of death all his awakened life - never to set a foot wrong.
I was contemplating the Toltec image of the Bird who flies but once.
I have been contemplating the comparison of other religions to the Toltecs.
Many other traditions/religions hold up the virtue of compassion, understanding, and especially forgiveness. These values don't exist in Toltec lore.
There is no room for a wrong foot in the Toltec path. No room for repentance, or salvation through mercy.
For Toltecs, once the decision has been made, the direction changed, then the path is clear. If we choose to slip back to our old ways, our old desires, then we leave the path, and there is no way back.
For Toltecs, everything is final!
This is unbelievably severe, and unfortunately there is no one to remonstrate before, to have our case reconsidered.
For Toltecs, there are not three times - there is only one. When you find the path, if you don't value it to the absolute limit of your being, you will slip, and then the fog surrounds you.
Those who wander thus, are literally lost forever.
I think this is a supremely arrogant and distasteful attitude, but unfortunately, I don't have a say. So I have to change my view, and see this attitude as one of supreme beauty. You see, I have watched it in action, and know that the Toltecs are correct - that is the way it has been set up. There isn't anything we can do about it.
