Spiritual Ego

Hello ATS,

In this modern age, with all of the chaos that surrounds our lives, it can be difficult to get a sense of your true purpose or goals. With all the choices out there to make, how could anyone call it easy? It takes effort, determination, dedication, motivation, and just a pinch of enthusiasm to really get anywhere. It can take even more energy to maintain that mindset daily. Overall, this equals a LOT of work for the individual looking to cause some sort of change in the world. If you are truly doing this much work, you would hope the world is really benefiting from your actions.

The reason I mention all this, is to lead to an understanding of my curiosity.

In the last 10 years of my life, I have noticed a large trend of people migrating to the "spirit world" of the mind (If you are unsure of what I mean, you need only visit youtube and watch some spirit science videos, or other similar pseudoscience type presentations). Now I am not giving this type of mindset a judgement as being positive or negative, but would like to explore the actions and consequences of what seems to be the way MOST of these spiritual warriors go about their days.

I'll start off with some first hand experience dealing with those who fall under this category.

I have a friend, "Z" we shall call him. Z was your average kid growing up, had friends, did well in school, played outside, and dreamed about the future. He had ambitions and energy in all of his actions, and looked to have a bright future ahead.
In high school, however, life started to change. School got more difficult, he was told to get a job, and he would have to start buying his own lunches. Now with all of this extra homework, and a job on top, how would he manage to see all of his friends? Play all of his games? No calling in sick to work because you're on a mission and you can't pause it.

So one day, Z changed. But not in the way one would think hard work can bring out of someone. Z became spiritual. He began meditating, practicing yoga, and researching the aspects that suited his new profound vision of life. So, as many like him would say how great all of this is, lighting up the spirit side of the mind, many also don't notice the shadow that it casts on the secular side. After a few months of soul searching within himself, Z really started showing appreciable changes. The first one being he got VERY good at letting you know how spiritual he was. Following that, he would let you know how you could be like him, and inform you of anything you were doing wrong in life. It started out subtle, but gradually had a snowball effect. He started a crystal collection, so he could use them to channel all of his energy properly. He read that online, on some website, so without question it had to be true. But boy, all of that work sure was interfering with his self discovery path, so he decided he didn't need it for now, and quit.

And thus began his new life, sitting at home, meditating, and telling everyone around him they were not living their lives properly. He started making necklaces out of the crystals he had. He also started drawing using sacred geometry as a foundation. Now weather you call those productive or not is up to you, but I personally don't see the benefit the world gains from these actions. Oh right, he could also tell you the color of your aura... how spectacular.

Now god forbid you EVER questioned all of the spiritual knowledge he has acquired through intense meditation and internet research over the years. And don't you even DARE mention anything about him having an ego. An ego is for non spiritual people, I am told. The sad truth is, however, that all his ego ever did was take form of a spiritual guru.

Here is where my curiosity truly lies, in what the heck is ANY of that truly doing for society, or even the world, as a whole? I have gone over it in my head so many times, and I still can't seem to grasp it. How is it not selfish to surrender the world of productivity in place of self focus? Think of all of the things you could be doing for the world you claim to want to save. I can guarantee sitting there and imagining the world being more pleasant, is NOT going to make it such. It usually tends to do the opposite, as where you could be a political soldier actually changing the world through action, you are sharing spirit science videos on facebook that some others might see so they can start the journey to be just like you! Perhaps it could just be an ultimate mental excuse to live a lazier life? It sure seems to be effective if that is the case.

I must re-emphasize, not everyone is like this. I do know a handful of people who I would call spiritual and are still contributing members of society. I have even done my own spiritual research, and explored my mind, however I use it all in a much different way then previously mentioned. I am 100% for a more peaceful world, eliminating poverty, and having an endlessly sustainable supply of food. I just don't see how acting like that is going to help. Or... perhaps I am just cynical.

heh. i feel specially qualified to answer this question since your description of Z is so similar to me.. Q. if hes got that much spiritual ego then he really must have sussed it like i did. so.. i like him already

well where to start. ill try to keep it short. so here it is.. extra summarized.

if we could, somehoe prove and convince people of the world that the spiritual path is a true and rewarding path and they were to pursue it and become successful in the endeavour of invoking the Holy spirit/samadhi etc etc. then the world would become a better place because people will operate with a moral conscience in all their actions. this means, corruption would end, murder and crime would end. even unjust laws and false witnesses etc will be removed. compassion would reign among the haves and have nots and well, generally, the entire survuval of the fittest way of living which primitive animals adhere to would fade away for the creation of not only world peace, but the ultimate civilized society.

simply put.. all the things the ancients advised us to pursue we've neglected. and alot of what they told us not to waste time pursuing, the whole world almost is fully invested in. the search to create life like God. waste of time for human pursuit. but either way.. it is the sole reason why the world has so many horrible happenings and people. we create the environment, we cheated in test, we got an unqualified friend into a job and caused the guy that paid college tuition to not get the job and become homeless. we selfishly let ppl suffer and we create the monsters that rob rape and murder us at night. its all man's doing. because he thought he knew a better way. a shortcut. good luck with that mankind.

Hopefully, it's just a stage Z is going through.If his interest is genuine, it's only a matter of time until he starts questioning his technique.We need to grow up sometime, and it's easy to forget everyone else who matured before us.Focusing on the differences doesn't make that any easier to recognize.

For what it's worth expressing himself and questioning those around him may help narrow down exactly how he feels or what needs to go back to the drawing board.I like to ask someone who appears like that what is more important, their inner world or the world around them?

a reply to: MindShine

I'll keep this simple..spirituality, like all other tools, is only as useful as the one who's hands it's in.

Talk is cheap but would you want to take real action if it meant you would be silenced if you had any sort of meaningful following ?

There is a reason secret societies exist and THRIVE on the ideologies most would consider banal.

If you want to change the world, you have to start with yourself.

Most people skip that step and go straight to trying to change everyone else--which, of course, presents myriad ethical (and practical) problems. At least he's focusing his attention where he can actually make a difference.

If he's becoming a more compassionate person, isn't that "useful" to society?

Or do we only see value in industrial productivity? Maybe that's exactly what he's got such a problem with.

I wouldn't blame him.

If you ask me, Z had a repressed desire to pursue a career in Graphic Design... As for the spirituality stuff... Artists will be artists... And thats all I can say about that...

To the OP: I see the same changes in some friends of mine, however, they are not walking a very spiritual path, they are undergoing positive changes within themselves and their lives. Now the problem with that is that the other people around them, who are not evolving in the same way, frustrate them because they now feel better because they have changed and others have not.

From my viewpoint, they just hate their own former reflection of themselves in these people and can't seem to stand it.
I tend to say things like: You put too much energy in your focus on other people or not everyone evolves as fast as another being,

it's not because someone isn't on the same path, that he is lost.

People should understand life is not a competition (and by which I mean real life, not the rat-race that is presented us in this world) and that not everyone moves forward at the same pace, be in on the inside or on the outside.
There are many ways to go... You would be one really lucky guy if you went the right way all the way from the start,
for most people they have tried lots of different paths, untill they find the one that is good for them as for the others around them.

Ego will always manifest in one way or the other, but you can handle it with understanding, understanding others but more importantly, understanding yourself.

I like to call myself spiritually advanced, I've seen the Light, I've had valuable insights, I don't do yoga however and I don't use crystals either, I just look like a regular guy who is not spiritual at all. It does not matter who or what, if we understand that everyone has their own path and evolution, we should not worry so much how another person is, if there are things bothering you, try adjust your focus on how YOU can handle these emotions, instead of trying to change the person who is suposedly sending you them.

We can choose to judge a person or to understand a person.

And everybody grows up in this imperfect world, they live through experiences that shapes them, not all experiences are chosen by the one who experienced them, you may think you have great power over who you are, but as a baby we are just spunges who take in all this information, we are shaped by the world around us, what we do with that is our own choice.

Do you let your manufactured self take control or do you actively choose to dig deep into your conciousness, unconciousness and even automations to retake the control that was once lost to the game that is Life.

Either way, there is no right or wrong path, you never know where one or the other is going to lead you.
It is much like duality.. A good action can have bad concequences and vica versa. It is not as black and white as it seems.

a reply to: Lux96

id say u hit the nail on the head here.being brutally honest as u may come realize i genrally always am this is how i feel.

i do remember struggling in research study and practice for years before it all came together. and at that moment i remember the first words that came after. 'how could i be so stupid and blind not to have seen it all the time'. at that point the answer seemed so easy i kind of came down on myself for not figuring it out sooner. now that ive lived more than 10 yrs with my knowledge i do confess.. i see human beings and their primitive materialistic drive as just that.. primitive. dissappointing. sometimes.. ashamed to have been human. now that i have graduated i see myself as more than human.. better... indeed. but i know humans hate to hear someone say that lol. but the way i see it now..until one graduates, theyre a monkey. untrustworthy and disloyal, self serving. and the hard part about that is... it's true isnt it. humans cheat and backstab family and best friends once it suits their personal goals. awful creatures. i really detest alot of primitive human behaviour. but one thing i dont do is try to force people to change or see things my way. either they are accepting and receptive of what i have to say or they just arent ready. and i never bring up the topic again if theyre unreceptive or too far behind due to a lack of due dilligence. some people want to know. others dont care to know. i dont judge people for their choices. their choices do that for them. so i dont have to get involved.

a reply to: MindShine

1 Timothy 3:6
He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.

New believers who are beginning to connect to their internal voice of Love and Reason, the Holy Spirit, can become puffed up with pride.

Rather than seeing this connection as a devine gift they may become judgmental of others who do not share their same spirituality.

The fact that he believes rocks/crystals enhance spirituality means that he is still partially connected to a physically spiritually.

Whenever someone attributes Spirituality to something physical, like ritual baptism, they may think the only way to become connected is to follow their path.

Once one fully matures they will see clearly that connection to the Devine is truly a gift. And that everyone may have a different approach to connecting to the Holy Spirit. At this point they will let go of their "spiritual ego", and simply encourage others to look within themselves for the Voice of Love and Reason, the Holy Spirit.

Mathew 23:9
Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one teacher, the (Holy Spirit), Christ.

Once he realizes that he can only guide others to the door, he will stop trying to teach others and his preaching will sound more like encouragement and less like ego driven teaching. That is if he is truly connected to the Holy Spirit.

Feel free to share with Z if you think it might help him.

a reply to: MindShine

It's true. Spirituality is, for the most part, a vanity project. In some way or other they must make sure people know they are spiritual, by wearing certain clothes, by meditating or doing yoga in public, and by talking about it as much as possible.

originally posted by: LesMisanthrope
a reply to: MindShine

It's true. Spirituality is, for the most part, a vanity project. In some way or other they must make sure people know they are spiritual, by wearing certain clothes, by meditating or doing yoga in public, and by talking about it as much as possible.

There are many ideologies that tend to express themselves as ego, spirituality is far from the only source of such ego driven preaching.

Nearly everyone wants to be right, and believes they possess the only right answers. We have lost the ability to debate without attempting to convert.

originally posted by: John333
a reply to: Lux96

i dont judge people for their choices. their choices do that for them. so i dont have to get involved.

As a friend of mine would often say, "Life has a way of dealing it."

now that ive lived more than 10 yrs with my knowledge i do confess.. i see human beings and their primitive materialistic drive as just that.. primitive. dissappointing. sometimes.. ashamed to have been human.

The task before us is to unlearn.
In doing so, we can become unhuman.

Buddha taught "unhuman" principles
like "don't be attached to views" etc.
I've had to work with these ideas for
many years before this "unlearning"
manifested in my daily life... before
my ego/fear was relinquished as the
primary driver moving me forward.

Yes, ego still drives me forward...
but knowing this, and reflecting
on it, allows me to let go of any
self-destructive attachments
very quickly. Including my own
opinions and biased views.

Tell me anyone in there late teens or twenties who isn't all ego anyway?
The philosophy does not matter much, materialist, corporate, satanic, or God oriented.
There is a reason they say wisdom comes with age.
True God realization is to be desired because the easiest way to change the world is to change yourself.
Ego oriented spiritual practice is sort of self defeating, ultimately.
An yes your cynical, or perhaps ironic?

a reply to: MindShine

a reply to: Isurrender73

Nearly everyone wants to be right, and believes they possess the only right answers. We have lost the ability to debate without attempting to convert.

Try through the universal tried-and-true methods of discernment, rather than through appealing to a book, scripture or other dogma. Conversion is unnecessary when one can convince with reason.

a reply to: Isurrender73


indeed. rocks and crystals are in no way necessary. he will hopefully grow out of the belief in that requirement. no additional trinkets are required whatsoever. your body the temple, and the spirit of God is in that temple. pray/worship God in your temple. you already have a wizard's staff. it is the spine. and a quartz/diamond that lights up isnt needed at the top of the staff because u already have your 3rd ye there which exposes the divine light to your awakened mind. so there you have wizard's staff with a glowing crystal of divine power. symbols and metaphors.