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