Yesterday, a marketing guru asked me a question that left me speechless.
I had retained Bob to review the copy on my Mystic Warrior website from a sales perspective. He asked about reader reactions. As we talked, I told him how some readers felt compelled, while in the midst of my book, to put it down and meditate. In several cases, they described tingling sensations on the crown of their head and of receiving "downloads of energy and information." I told Bob they were "attuning with God" and how this is a step towards enlightenment.
That's when he asked me the question that left me speechless.
He asked, "Why would you want to be enlightened?"
Bob wasn't trying to be funny and he wasn't questioning whether this would benefit people. He asked me this to force me to think about the question in a more fundamental way. (You might say he was acting as a "devil's advocate.")
When I first heard his question, I couldn't respond. Going through my mind were the thoughts, "Isn't this what everybody wants?" and "Isn't this the reason for living?" But before I could even speak, I realized this wasn't true.
A belief as an idea that you accept as true-regardless of whether or not it really is. Many times a belief operates subconsciously and is never examined. This is what happened to me. My belief seemed self-evident and yet, it wasn't true for most people. Not everyone wants to become enlightened-at least not consciously.
So I pondered, "Why would you want to be enlightened?"
This is not a simple question to answer. "Why would you want to be rich?" is easy to answer.
"So I can buy a new BMW M5."
"So I can travel throughout Europe staying at the finest hotels."
"So I can help others less fortunate than me."
The reason it's easy to answer is that being rich only satisfies a physical, emotional or intellectual desire.
Striving for enlightenment is not a physical, emotional or intellectual quest. It arises out of a yearning from deep within the soul. It's beyond emotion or intellect. It's a craving to return to God, a desire to be completely and totally one with God.
Throughout the ages mystics have described this experience. Regardless of what formal religion the individual might practice, the experience almost always includes: a sense of being beyond time or space and connected to everything, joy, knowingness, paradoxicality, ineffability, and transiency with permanent changes.
Anyone who has ever approached such an experience never forgets it. Thereafter, nothing else compares. Consequently, you are no longer content merely with great food, awesome sex, mind-blowing entertainment, or extravagant material goods. You want enlightenment.
But the fact is, not everyone has this craving or is even aware it exists. So short of sitting in the presence of an enlightened master, how do you awaken it in people? Does it trivialize it to say it will improve your life, that you'll lead a happier, less stressful life? Does it cheapen it to point out that as you move towards enlightenment and eliminate the veils (beliefs) that hide the true nature of God, that you'll begin to develop your inner senses, often referred to as psychic abilities?
Do you mention all these benefits when someone asks, "Why would you want to be enlightened?"
Or do you simply say, "Because nothing else matters."
Edwin Harkness Spina is the author of the award-winning spiritual thriller Mystic Warrior. Receive a free copy of Mystic Secrets Revealed when you sign up for the mystic warrior newsletter with mystical techniques to improve your life and expand your mind.
affordable house cleaning Park Ridge ..I was recently asked how I interpreted the Mayan and... Read More
It's an almost unbelievable thought, but could you be getting... Read More
Journal ExpressionsIf you haven't already done so, please start keeping... Read More
MOST PEOPLE NEVER REALLY CHANGESad, but true.Some people never even... Read More
I am deeply drawn to the above Irish Blessing.This blessing... Read More
No, I have never seen a fairy, an angel, nor... Read More
Green Principles: SoulBestABeing aware here now My path is progressive.... Read More
One of the most frightening things... Read More
Let Your Family and Friends Know That You Are A... Read More
The Tarot is not just a divinatory tool, but it... Read More
I always thought Ecclesiastes was like Proverbs. That's probably because... Read More
There is no such thing as a coincidence. Albert Einstein... Read More
You are a Creative Worker:God carries on creative work through... Read More
It's the most powerful weapon on Earth. It can turn... Read More
Matthew 2:19-23 The Return to Nazareth19 But when Herod died,... Read More
Have you ever wondered how much faith you really have?... Read More
After more than three decades of church ministry, I have... Read More
The essence of the Christian faith is the good news... Read More
The dictionary defines the word forgive as: [to pardon, as... Read More
If you spend a hundred bucks and buy the right... Read More
Some say praising Jesus is just singing. Others say it... Read More
Second Isaiah, so called because his book of prophecy was... Read More
While I do hope to avoid arguing the merits or... Read More
Most forms of psychotherapy I know either tries to help... Read More
Have you ever thought about how your orientation to time... Read More
affordable house cleaning Mundelein ..Whadda ya know?Seriously. With absolute certainty, what do you know?... Read More
I would like to share my experience, working with the... Read More
It would be nice if the planet - like so... Read More
Many of you come to this site because you are... Read More
I have a long-term goal--a life-long goal really--to develop the... Read More
Matthew 3:4-6 John Baptizes the People4 Now John wore a... Read More
I am often asked to explain what I mean by... Read More
With those words recorded in Exodus 15:26, God proclaims to... Read More
What really binds us to any negative emotional state in... Read More
This statement sounds incredible. ASK and it shall be given.... Read More
Imagine for a moment. It's Tuesday night about 7pm. You... Read More
I have almost died twice in my life. The first... Read More
One of my favorite movies is "The Green Mile". A... Read More
What is it with angels and digital clocks? I fell... Read More
We are the beneficiaries of the promise God made to... Read More
The deeper beauty of spring is its process. In winter's... Read More
Feeling restless? Is part of you calling out for change,... Read More
What purpose does keeping a journal serve?Do you write down... Read More
Believe it or not most astral Attacks are not caused... Read More
Did you ever get a feeling or gain notion of... Read More
Let me explain my approach to the practice of ritual.... Read More
The Mystical Experience"The mysteries of life become lucid ? and... Read More
Someone asked me the other day what was the most... Read More
We, a group of ordinary people who believe in Jesus... Read More
For many years of my life, I thought the spiritual... Read More
Spirituality |