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.
disinfecting cleaning services Arlington Heights .."Self-Actualization" is the process of making our self "actual." Our... Read More
Dreams take us not into ourselves, but out of ourselves.... Read More
What we think is what we are. Our lives are... Read More
Imagine the Bible is a sharp and deadly double-edged sword,... Read More
An interesting question that frequently comes up is "Which Gods... Read More
Talking about your "soul" and the deeper things in life... Read More
Prayer. It's the foundation of a Christian mom's life. Why?... Read More
Is life challenging you to take a bigger leap? Are... Read More
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,... Read More
What's the difference? How are we supposed to tell the... Read More
One of the first issues people on the spiritual path... Read More
In Corrogue it is frosty.The ramp into our "acre of... Read More
Now, we all know that we shouldn't be lead by... Read More
But my God shall supply all your need according to... Read More
It's not always easy to stand in the midst of... Read More
I want to tell you a love story. It's actually... Read More
Worldwide extensive research is being published related to the mind-body... Read More
Jacob had sent his family on across the river Jabbok.... Read More
Most forms of psychotherapy I know either tries to help... Read More
In God's world, everything can be used as an anology... Read More
Seems that everyone who writes to me signs their letters... Read More
No, I have never seen a fairy, an angel, nor... Read More
If you spend a hundred bucks and buy the right... Read More
Picture this state of existence in your mind by closing... Read More
Do you have a dream, but are waiting for "just... Read More
bathroom cleaning service Mundelein ..Matthew 2:19-23 The Return to Nazareth19 But when Herod died,... Read More
Do you have a dream, but are waiting for "just... Read More
We often forget that we are human beings first, and... Read More
Spiritual stuff is a hard sell Roy and one of... Read More
Even Pandora and her box come in two versions. In... Read More
Every workday, five days a week, I take the light... Read More
Most of us are familiar with the inner criticism and... Read More
'O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom... Read More
What the Animals Tell Us"I am the Sun's son. I... Read More
Prayer. It's the foundation of a Christian mom's life. Why?... Read More
While I do hope to avoid arguing the merits or... Read More
Billy Graham once said, "Being a Christian is more than... Read More
According to H. G. Bosch, the newspaper cartoonist H. T.... Read More
"He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written... Read More
We all sin. To avoid using the "s" word, we... Read More
In the interest of mankind the Angels are delivering messages... Read More
The Mind in an Advanced Thought System:The center of our... Read More
Anyone who tells you that the path to self-actualization is... Read More
"Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught... Read More
In Corrogue I feel wonderful.As friends know I love singing.... Read More
Perhaps one of the most wonderful assertions that can be... Read More
*Advice on living a humane and compassionate life.According to text... Read More
The practice of meditating on loving-kindness may be over two... Read More
Sundered Knight:Although the world, Denies the weak aid and justice,... Read More
An exam is a test that is given at the... Read More
Spirituality |