From the Middle Way Arcana, Hierophant; from the Vertical Oracle, Precious:
The Hierophant is a spiritual leader and teacher who offers us knowledge to wisely navigate our world, gives us rituals to ground us, and brings together a community of like-minded people. Buddha cautioned that we shouldn't believe any teachings without putting them into practice to see if they hold water. Through verification we can choose whether to pursue our studies. But the card Precious alerts us to also be on the lookout for unethical teachers - those who don't allow anyone to question their behavior or demands. As Thanissaro Bhikkhu explains, "The only way we know anything about other people is through their actions, so that’s as far as our judgments can fairly extend. At the same time, though, because we’re judging whether we want to internalize another person’s standards, it’s not unfair to pass judgment on what they’re doing. It’s for our own protection. And it’s for the sake of our protection that the Buddha recommended looking for two qualities in a teacher: wisdom and integrity."
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