not at all. opposites are both true at the same moment. the duality of 'either/or' thinking is another one of our miscues (we're human. we have a million of em!).

yeah, he's referred to as a 'leader', but it's not that simple. he's just a guy who says things that are thought-provoking, perhaps wise, things that evoke something in us. an influence or guide, in a way. then it's up to us to test out his suggestions or ideas in our own lives and practices, to see what the effect or truth of them are. blind obedience is spiritual laziness (somewhat relatedly, as Robert Heinlein so astutely noted: 'Political tags - such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth - are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire'. to this i would add that some people want to be told what to do, and there's no shortage of folks happy to oblige.)

and there is something to the 'no guru, no method, no teacher, just you and I and nature' thing - it's the understanding that direct experience with the unlimited is our birthright. the Quakers got in trouble for this one, as some 'men of God' became really attached to their middleman position and its perks. still, the need for an advisor of sorts - someone to bounce things off - is paramount, cause the ego can really whisper some ridiculous (and almost always self-serving) rationalizations to us. i have Mick on retainer for mine, but he keeps telling me lately that i'm spot-on, so i'm going to have to fire him.

there. i hope that clarifies Everything for you.