| Even spiritually gifted individuals can be | | | | laughter because they all knew someone that |
| slowed down by "spiritual arrogance." Here's | | | | fit that description. |
| how to avoid the pitfalls. | | | | |
| Last week, I received an email from a | | | | There are two major drawbacks to this |
| reader stating, "I have evolved past the | | | | behavior: |
| spiritual understanding of author." | | | | |
| | | | 1) It inhibits your own development. When you |
| I chuckled at the reader's bluntness. He | | | | already know everything, there's no room for |
| didn't mince words; clearly, he felt that he | | | | additional wisdom. This should be |
| had developed capabilities that were not only | | | | self-evident, but additionally just giving |
| greater than those of "author" but beyond the | | | | the appearance of knowing everything can |
| "understanding of author." | | | | deter people from sharing their knowledge |
| | | | with you. Who wants to be told, "I already |
| Whether or not this is true is beside the | | | | know that?" This shuts off sources of new |
| point. No doubt there are readers with | | | | knowledge. Remember, a wise man can learn |
| abilities that are greater than mine, and | | | | more from a fool than a fool from a wise man, |
| these may be beyond my understanding. The | | | | and God speaks through everyone, not just |
| issue is not your level of development, but | | | | avatars. |
| the fact that you are striving to develop. | | | | |
| One of the keys to growth is recognizing that | | | | 2) It wastes energy. Anyone who has staked |
| there is always room for improvement. | | | | out a position as a guru is forced to conform |
| | | | to this new self-image. This places an |
| In any field, whether it's sports, the arts, | | | | unnecessary burden on them. Why burden |
| your profession, or spiritual growth there | | | | yourself with having to live up to the |
| are always going to be some people that are | | | | expectations of some image? Why waste energy |
| farther along in their development than | | | | trying to uphold such an image? Why not be |
| others. We live in a society where | | | | exactly who you are, so as to let your true |
| "trash-talking" basketball stars and | | | | inner self shine through without filters? |
| egomaniacal real estate moguls are idolized. | | | | |
| Inevitably, there will be people that feel | | | | In contrast to spiritual arrogance, a trait |
| the need to tell you how much better they are | | | | common to long-term mystics is their |
| than you. In the area of spiritual | | | | humility. Unlike the basketball world, there |
| development, this is known as "spiritual | | | | is no "trash talking." Attuning with God is |
| arrogance." | | | | not a competitive sport. There is no need to |
| | | | live up to exaggerated claims or false |
| By its nature, spiritual arrogance is | | | | images. |
| exclusionary. Unlike the mystic understanding | | | | |
| that All is One, people suffering from | | | | Most long-term mystics recognize that they |
| spiritual arrogance will tell you "they are | | | | are a part of the One. They see themselves as |
| advanced" implying that "you are not." Some | | | | students, helping those that might not be as |
| of the worst offenders are those who have | | | | far along in their studies, just as more |
| some understanding of the spiritual laws that | | | | advanced mystics have helped them in their |
| govern the universe and who have opened some | | | | earlier days. With this viewpoint, they |
| of their inner senses. They are on the path | | | | recognize that the "spiritually arrogant" are |
| to enlightenment. Where some go astray is | | | | merely passing through a phase, much as was |
| when they pronounce themselves gurus. | | | | described in The Surrender of the Ego. |
| | | | |
| When that happens, a difference of opinion is | | | | True humility involves the willingness and |
| often assumed to be an attack on their | | | | open-mindedness to accept help and insight |
| mastery. I once heard a gifted woman dismiss | | | | from all sources. In Mystic Warrior, the |
| someone who disagreed with her by explaining, | | | | hero, Alec Thorn, illustrates this trait by |
| "He's not one of the 144,000," implying that | | | | his willingness to accept guidance from an |
| he was not one of the chosen ones in the Book | | | | unlikely source - a florist. Sophie turns out |
| of Revelation, but that she was. At other | | | | to be one of the wisest characters in the |
| times, I've been told to sign up for | | | | book. Conversely, other characters, oozing |
| workshops by self-proclaimed avatars, whose | | | | with spiritual arrogance, reject outside |
| mission is to single-handedly save the earth. | | | | advice and focus solely on humbling Thorn. |
| | | | Both heroes and villains learn valuable |
| Last year, at a metaphysical conference, an | | | | lessons in this spiritual thriller. |
| entertainer captured the essence of this | | | | |
| illusion. He sang a parody of Carly Simon's | | | | Much needless pain can be avoided by |
| classic, You're so Vain, renamed You're so | | | | recognizing the symptoms of spiritual |
| Light. Lyrics included, "All your friends | | | | arrogance. Don't worry that you might not |
| thought that you were enlightened, you were | | | | recognize a true avatar, if one ever does |
| enlightened. You're so light. You probably | | | | cross your path. There's a foolproof method |
| think you don't have a shadow. Don't you? | | | | for identifying them: you will know them by |
| Don't you?" The audience was rolling with | | | | their fruit. |