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.
bathroom cleaning service Northbrook ..We all hear of the concept of the "Enlightened Master",... Read More
Over the past few years I have watched the popularity... Read More
"Our mind is capable of passing beyond the dividing line... Read More
A Tarot card deck typically consists of 78 colorful cards... Read More
We all sin. To avoid using the "s" word, we... Read More
This statement sounds incredible. ASK and it shall be given.... Read More
Looking for some ways to feed your soul in the... Read More
Attract and hold your family at home with some unique... Read More
Water of Enlightenment, Angel of Peace and Harmony for Nature... Read More
In a recent case study which I also summarized in... Read More
In my life, I have tried... Read More
In part one, I described an existence that is absolute,... Read More
As we walk along our paths in life, we will... Read More
Existence of God: facts and figures Does God exist?If you... Read More
Although your creative ability and talent is something that God... Read More
As Mother's day is upon us, Iam moved to express... Read More
People rarely live up to a hundred years of age... Read More
One of the most frightening things... Read More
The earth is wrapped in a thin, loose shell of... Read More
I had visions of my daughter for about five years... Read More
The still place is the beginning. Settle in there, ask... Read More
I often ask myself this question. Not in the times... Read More
There are many energy beings available to assist us in... Read More
In this article, I would like deal with one specific... Read More
Do you think it's acceptable for people to make millions... Read More
insured cleaning company Wilmette ..I'm not sure Paul had the Japanese culture in mind... Read More
Before the movie "Finding Nemo", came out Steve Jobs the... Read More
One of the most frightening things... Read More
There once was a man who wanted to teach himself... Read More
Knowing what is right and what is wrong in your... Read More
Do you ever feel that what you read in some... Read More
Catch the express or the super fast bullet train. If... Read More
Love...it's a deep emotion. Sometimes we say it in jest... Read More
Do you ever get into those moods where you just... Read More
A lot of times when I am reading people on... Read More
Life is growth. For many people life is like a... Read More
There is no such thing as a coincidence. Albert Einstein... Read More
We know that David did much to stabilize the Kingdom... Read More
What does it mean to be comfortable in your own... Read More
Since I awoke from my three month coma in August... Read More
It is my personal view that the reason we call... Read More
I believe in a phenomenon I have been known to... Read More
It doesn't matter what magazine or newspaper you pick up... Read More
When we feel that something has gone wrong and are... Read More
Each time our children graduate from one stage to another... Read More
Acknowledgement of our need of God and reliance upon Him... Read More
I am sure many of you reading this article have... Read More
WOW ... what a question. But today, while I was... Read More
Sometimes we're already free but we don't realize it. We... Read More
Attract and hold your family at home with some unique... Read More
Spirituality |