Our ancient texts are filled with stories about sages who developed harmful egos and how their egos were eventually destroyed. Even today, we witness instances of spiritual leaders getting angry if their seating arrangements on stage don’t match their perceived status. This is referred to as spiritual ego or spiritual narcissism.
When you embark on spiritual training under an enlightened teacher, the first lesson you learn is to be cautious of your ego. This is because the ego can obstruct your spiritual progress and influence your motives. You are taught how to transcend your ego, accept things and people without being judgmental. This forms the foundation of basic training because our wise sages understood that the ego is cunning. It constantly seeks ways to reinforce a sense of superiority and make you feel special. When you are in the early stages of a spiritual awakening, you are particularly vulnerable to its influence. You are filled with excitement and thrill from new discoveries and experiences. That’s when the ego strikes and convinces you that you are unique and that not everyone can achieve what you have. This is where spiritual ego or spiritual narcissism starts to develop. The birth of spiritual ego occurs when spiritual paths, practices, and concepts become enslaved to the ego. While the initial stages are more susceptible, spiritual ego can manifest at any point in your spiritual journey.
However, you can protect yourself from spiritual ego if your quest is focused on truth. Unfortunately, nowadays, spirituality has become an easily accessible remedy. People start meditating to alleviate insomnia, stress, or simply to attain peace, focus, and mindfulness. In such cases, their goals are limited, primarily focused on personal well-being. Individuals of this kind are more prone to developing a spiritual ego. They frequently discuss auras, chakras, energy, and past-life regression, using terminology that may intimidate others. Their spiritual quest revolves around boosting their own image rather than seeking truth. Instead of deepening humility, their journey becomes about control and prestige.
This phenomenon is known as spiritual materialism. When spiritual practices are pursued solely for personal well-being, they can create an illusion of spiritual growth and development while actually strengthening one’s self-centeredness. Spirituality becomes a tool to serve the ego. Today, mindfulness is experiencing a similar trend. It has become a fashionable statement, another form of ego that people proudly display.
Walking the spiritual path is a delicate process. Your ego can easily deceive you. This is why Gurus are considered equal to gods. An enlightened teacher can easily detect the presence of spiritual materialism in you and take corrective measures to keep you on the right track. Unfortunately, enlightened Gurus have become a rare breed. Imagine how a practitioner of spiritual materialism can enlighten you. As Kabir Das aptly says, “Andha-andha thelia, dono koop padant,” meaning two blind men pushing each other, both fall into the pit of ignorance and perish.
Sakshi Shree is a life coach and founder of Science Divine