Final answer:
Ralph Waldo Emerson's use of the word 'sacred' denotes something deeply esteemed and connects with his belief in individual intuition and inner resources as paths to truth and meaning. He advocates for following one's own nature to live in alignment with the divine and to achieve authenticity and fulfill one's potential.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Ralph Waldo Emerson uses the word sacred in his writings, it implies something that is highly valued and deserving of great respect. Emerson's transcendentalist philosophy placed a strong emphasis on individuality and self-reliance. He urged people to look inward for spiritual and moral guidance and to reconnect with nature, thereby rejecting societal conformity.
Emerson believed that one should follow his or her own nature because he viewed each individual as a unique expression of the divine. To Emerson, the individual's intuition and inner resources were a sacred conduit for discovering truth and meaning in life. His views suggest that by following one's natural instincts and inner wisdom, a person would be living in harmony with the divine and true purpose.
For Emerson, ethics were interconnected with the divine presence within humanity and the natural world. His conviction was that by aligning one's life with nature and staying true to one's own nature, an individual could lead a life of authenticity, freedom, and self-realization.