Spiritual And Philosophical Materialism

Unfortunately, spiritual awareness can be corrupted through the entrapment of collecting concepts. It is for this very reason that the Buddha said, “Do not take my words for the truth; test them.” He urged people to rely on direct, experiential validation rather than blind dogma or spiritual trends-with-friends.

The most insidious trap of the human condition is the ego’s ability to hijack the very path meant to dissolve it. When spiritual practices build a grander, holier ego, this results in spiritual materialism.

The ego’s conversion of spirituality into a commodity is easily done. Instead of dissolving their self image, a person uses meditation, chanting, yoga, or deep philosophy to feel superior to ‘unawakened’ people. There’s no true compassion, only chanting about compassion.

We collect titles, initiations, retreats and experiences to look and feel spiritually wealthy. On a larger scale, this creates corrupt spiritual systems, with predatory gurus, expensive enlightenment seminars and cults which exploit people’s genuine desire for truth.

The advice to test all words serves as a spiritual debugging tool, providing direct protection against corruption.

The Buddha advised that we shouldn’t believe something just because a famous teacher said it, because it’s written in a holy book, or because it sounds traditional and therefore authentic. We must apply the teaching to our own mind rather than applying it to rituals.

If a practice actually reduces our puffed-up-ness and delusion in daily life, only then should we accept it as true. Do we genuinely care about others, or just about our group?

Conscious awakening cannot be bought; it is the elimination of illusions, not the acquisition of spiritual trophies. If someone meditates for four hours a day but is still aloof, their spiritual awareness is one large ego. Pure consciousness is visible only through its fruits of true humility, compassion, and a lack of a sense of self-importance.

It is a fascinating paradox
when the cure for a corrupt world (spiritual awakening)
can itself be corrupted.

Think this doesn’t happen?
Buyer beware.
🙂