Top 10 Traps of Spiritual Materialism
Walking the spiritual path can be a tricky adventure. Sometimes we make progress and become more free and loving and wise; sometimes we may think our meditation or prayer or ritual is leading toward enlightenment, but really we're just treading water or even going backwards. The great Tibetan meditation teacher, Chogyam Trunpa, wrote that we are often "deceiving ourselves into thinking we are developing spiritually when instead we are strengthening our egocentricity through spiritual techniques." He called this kind of self-deception spiritual materialism. We all deal with spiritual materialism; here's a list, from my book
The Seeker's Guide, of 10 common pitfalls of spiritual materialism you may encounter on your spiritual journey and the
key signs that you're on the path of progress.
By Elizabeth Lesser
Photo: © 2009 Jupiterimages Corporation
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Instant Transformation
Just as some people get seduced by the never ending process of self-examination, some are disappointed when they don't achieve inner peace after reading a book, or in a day-long workshop, or even after two years of weekly therapy. Spiritual awakening takes patience, hard work, and the grace of God.
Published 12/11/2009
