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.
tidy up service Winnetka ..My fiancee' and I frequent a restaurant in L.A. called... Read More
After 6 years, I left an abusive relationship with an... Read More
Want more peace and joy in your life? Daily stress... Read More
Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in... Read More
Charity isn't the easiest virtue to master. And with St.... Read More
Anything can be used for divination; coins, tea leaves, cards,... Read More
Fanny J. Crosby's famous hymn, "Tell Me the Story of... Read More
Let us face reality squarely in the face by acknowledging... Read More
Most of us are familiar with the inner criticism and... Read More
God rides a Harley, God drives truck, God is a... Read More
Job was a spiritual man who loved and obeyed God... Read More
Imagine for a moment. It's Tuesday night about 7pm. You... Read More
Ever wonder what happened to the family dinner hour? Or... Read More
Today is the day that I'm getting back into exercise.... Read More
I believe in a phenomenon I have been known to... Read More
What kind of foolishness is astrology? You read about Sun... Read More
This question, "what is grace" plagued me more into knowing... Read More
Christians all over the world will all be tempted in... Read More
Talked to an interesting person today at a coffee shop,... Read More
The greatest frustration in a Christian's life is not being... Read More
I have been counseling people on weight loss, exercise efficiency... Read More
Recently, I received a postcard from Ireland. Without reading the... Read More
The gate of every year is the begining of that... Read More
As we proceed further into the 21st century there is... Read More
I very often see rants, complaints, wishes and dreams that... Read More
kitchen deep cleaning Lake Forest ..One of the first steps toward understanding the Tarot lies... Read More
The word "gravity" is a word coined by Sir Isaac... Read More
Now, we all know that we shouldn't be lead by... Read More
In life, sooner or later, we come to the midnight... Read More
I believe in a phenomenon I have been known to... Read More
We all need space, we all need time to ourselves.In... Read More
In our fast paced society we often want everything done... Read More
One of the first issues people on the spiritual path... Read More
It's not always easy to stand in the midst of... Read More
Sounds like a tall order doesn't it? But I think... Read More
Celebrities and common people all over the world are known... Read More
One of the most frightening things... Read More
If you spend a hundred bucks and buy the right... Read More
If you were Satan and your goal is to destroy... Read More
You're looking at one star in the middle of a... Read More
Have you ever wondered which Angel governs your sign? And... Read More
How does God see you? Does He like what He... Read More
Let Your Family and Friends Know That You Are A... Read More
Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said unto him, "Thou shalt love the... Read More
Angels, those divine beings of love and light, are here... Read More
One does not have to live long to realize that... Read More
What purpose does keeping a journal serve?Do you write down... Read More
"Let me tell you why you're here. You're here because... Read More
'Jesus answered, are there not twelve hours in a day?... Read More
As I sat down today to write this article, I... Read More
Spirituality |