the counter-growth effect

as one's physical body is incresingly affected by the energy shifts associated with spiritual development (which in itself is characterized by the gradual undoing of the ego), the ego is quick to grab hold of seemingly extraordinary feelings and experiences and interpret them so as to attribute undue importance to itself.

"see?" it says, "that was VERY special. when have you ever felt anything like that? probably no one you know has ever experienced anthing like it." if these words hold sway, spiritual growth is being stunted or reversed in the name of ego inflation.

at certain stages, spiritual progress begins to effect strong changes in one's level of consciousness. this inevitably yields "extraordinary" experiences, which are actually only extraordinary from a previous standpoint and indicate nothing more than growth.

naturally, the ego will claim responsibility for these experiences. if this tactic isn't seen through, one can get lost in the delusion that one is more important than others and plummet back into the ego's gravitational force.

from a spiritual standpoint, it's helpful to remember that one will never be any more or less important than one ever was, or anyone or anything that ever was, is or will be. if notions such as "more," "less," "importance," "deserving," "wining" and "losing" can be put aside, spiritual growth will have much more space in which to operate.

it's not enough

we’re constantly looking for that ‘something more’ in things; in our relationships, in our jobs, in possessions, in our state of physical shape, in our philosophies about life.

we're right in one thing: there’s something we’re overlooking, something we’re not quite getting right. everybody has this sense in life, but where we make the mistake is in looking for that something more that keeps on eluding us in things.

our relationships change, we get tired of our jobs, a car in the end is just a car, our philosophies – no matter how elevated and intelligent – don’t end up solving anything in our day to day experience.

none of these things will ever be enough. only in enoughness itself will we find the fulfillment we seek, and it is already present as the simplest aspect or our nature. if you’re looking for it, you’ve already missed the point.