What are ‘near enemies to the truth’? Borrowing this phrase from Buddhism, I use it to refer to slightly distorted versions of spiritual teachings—statements that are close to a profound and subtle truth, but are distorted just enough to make a big difference over time. When we’re talking about deep and fundamental truths, getting it a little bit wrong doesn’t matter in the short run, but it does in the long run, just like a tiny adjustment to the rudder of your boat makes little difference at first, but after 1000 miles, it lands you on a different continent.
Now, some people object to the use of the word ‘wrong’ in the previous sentence, subscribing as they do to the idea that the only necessary criterion for truth is it feels true to me. This view is as dangerous in spirituality as it is in politics, because it usually means I want it to be true, so I'm going to believe it, regardless of the facts. If you don't see how dangerous this is, or if you doubt whether there really are facts or universal truths, please read the first blog post in this series.
Understanding the Near Enemies to the Truth, and why they are near enemies and not the truth itself, is hugely important for any spiritual seeker who wants to get past the beginner stages and into the deep (and deeply fulfilling) spiritual work. Having said that, it’s important to note that if a Near Enemy is near enough, it can be a Temporary Ally for a beginner. But as the stakes get higher in spiritual practice, there is no such thing as ‘close enough’ anymore, and your comforting affirmations must be sacrificed on the altar of truth, or else your spiritual progress stalls. With that brief orientation, let’s look at this month's Near Enemy.
NEAR ENEMY #10: YOU CREATE YOUR OWN REALITY
This misunderstanding of nondual spiritual teachings has been around for decades, especially in the New Age scene, from which it has made its way into popular culture. This mental meme comes in a variety of flavors: at its worst, it is the most immature kind of magical thinking combined with narcissistic entitlement, while at its best it is a proper Near Enemy to the Truth.
Nondual traditions tell us that there is a seamless unity between yourself and the Divine. After describing the underlying ground of being, the essence-nature of reality, the ancient Upanishads declare that is what you are. And one who has realized his or her true nature declares ‘I am the Absolute’ (aham brahmāsmi) or ‘I am Shiva’ (śivo’ham). But in these statements, everything turns on the assumed referent of the given pronoun: to what does the word ‘I’ in the previous statements refer? If it refers to personal identity, then we rightly judge the one making such declarations delusional. If it refers to the impersonal, transindividual and transcendent ground of all identity, belonging to no one and everyone, then the very same declaration may express truth-realization or enlightenment.
The problem is this: on the simulated versions of the spiritual path supported and validated by the modern spiritual marketplace, people learn to craft and refine a highly developed, refined, and ‘spiritualized’ version of the ego-self. They polish it and polish it with endless workshops, retreats, mindfulness courses and self-improvement books, until it is so refined that it is much easier to deify—that is, much easier to mistake for the transcendent and pure transindividual Self. At least, for one who hasn’t actually experienced the latter.
The spiritual ego is often more harmful than the ordinary ego because it is so much better disguised and therefore more insidious.In other words, since spiritual teachings, like anything else, can be used to inflate the ego, it is entirely possible that a self-deluded person does more harm to themselves and others after discovering spirituality than before.
One of the common conceits of the spiritualized ego is that since one has a special connection to Source, one should be able to ‘manifest’ the objects and goals one desires simply through visualization and positive thinking. <SNIP>
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Next up: I want to be my best self
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