Lacking Compassion = Narcissism

The tendency for spiritually minded individuals to become insular, withdrawn, exclusive or detached from broader society is a well-documented psychological and social phenomenon.

While spirituality aims for universal connection, the journey can inadvertently create walls between the practitioner and the outside world – and other practitioners.

The paradox of the path:
True spiritual growth emphasises integration, not isolation. Retreating inward is only half the circle; the second half requires returning to the ordinary world to serve others.

Without this, spirituality risks becoming a refined form of narcissism or self-absorption.