Spiritual Vanity

[guest88]

Last night I shared a story with someone after listening about their spiritual journey. Unfortunately I felt after sharing that my experience was undervalued, it was not a good feeling. I think of the expression, "don't throw your pearls before swine." ... I offered him to write more about his experiences at the portal but he said he doesn't indulge in such things- that he walks his talk. I thought this was a little odd, since I never accused him of anything. I later realized we were both mirroring a form of vanity- unknowingly wanting to share our stories to appease a lesser desire. I am not calling this guy a swine, I am just thinking that the experiences we have are so special and to share them with just anyone robs one of that special feeling which is really a strengthening of faith and a intimate connection with God. Given what you've said about my experiences Steve, I am super grateful. Sometimes I have to ask myself, am I sharing to help or am I looking to satisfy my Ego? In the end, the experiences we have are for us. No one can take them away from us, let them build your faith in God and let the Love you emenate do all the talking. Sometimes, words don't do it justice. On the contrary, they cloud the picture and worse, have the potential to lead one down a path of Spiritual Vanity. 

[fisherking1111]

Very insightful Eric.

This seems to be one of the greatest and most common obstacles to even the most dedicated Spiritual Aspirants.

I wrote about my "Samadhi experience" a year ago here.  I know part of my intention of sharing it was to make it not special.  I worry more about the vanity that comes by keeping these things secret as well!  I want to share to, perhaps, encourage others to continue their Spiritual work... but also, once such an experience passes, it gets stored in memory, and like all our best memories, it is not remotely similar to the actual experience (which can only occur when we surrender totally to THIS MOMENT).

I have recently discovered a new teacher who I am benefitting from in this way.  His teaching is to simply "look at what your mind does" and to "look at what comes out of your mouth or what you type"... these are all the result of thoughts, ego and memory, and if we can see this in the moment, that these memories and thoughts ARE NOT US but our temporary body-mind, we may be able to experience the moment, in our True Self as One with God, etc. (even these words must all be inadequate mental concepts that must be abandoned)

To realize the vanity is not who I am, but it simply what the body-mind DOES, may be enough...

☮️