ABSTRACT

Invocation of tradition is for the most part an authenticating gesture. Naming something as traditional is intended to convey a sense of the credibility, longevity, and the inherently meaningful nature of the activity. The cultural baggage carried by the term tradition is consequently weighty and its investigation becomes all the more crucial. Practices in certain arenas appear to merit the appellation tradition, while others which may equally hold across generations seem to fall outside of its boundaries as defined. Humans have frequently turned to religion or spiritual practice in times of need and suffering. However, many doing so in the present seem motivated to find quick-fix solutions. Conceiving of spiritual practices as tools that one can introduce with a view to reforming what currently exists, that is to say improving things without taking them apart, leaves untapped the liberatory potential of spirit.