Selling Mysticism

Selling Mysticism

Mysticism cannot be easily defined, but perhaps it can be demonstrated.

The Computer Metaphor

Imagine our minds were similar to computers that we could upgrade at will. What would such upgrades entail? This concept may seem alien, dangerous, or even horrifying – an endeavour reserved for the bravest or most foolish among us.

Upgrading the mind involves eliminating unnecessary processes. These processes seem important, yet they arise from misunderstanding. Once we recognise this misunderstanding, their illusory nature becomes clear.

DELETE

Our personality isn’t something to cherish or preserve. This might seem shocking, but bear with the logic.

We don’t truly have a personality. What we have is a tendency to react in certain ways based on our conditioning. If we’ve enjoyed a happy, stress-free life, we might develop what others call a lovely personality – fair-minded and open to others’ opinions. However, trauma and difficult experiences might lead to trust issues and prejudices.

What we call personality is nothing more than our conditioned reactions. It becomes problematic when these reactions are harmful, made worse by blaming the “personality” rather than understanding its origins.

DELETE

Beyond personality lies identity. While deleting one’s identity might sound terrifying, our investment in this identity often creates significant problems in daily experience.

Identity is merely a cluster of thoughts and beliefs about ourselves. There is no separate identity as a discrete entity – it’s simply the name we give to our behaviors and attitudes regarding a self.

DELETE

What we call ‘identity’ is a collection of:

  • Wants
  • Likes
  • Needs
  • Fears
  • Dislikes

DELETE

Our experience of being is constrained by subtle ideas we hold about ourselves. These manifest as hopes and fears, potentially creating pervasive conditions like depression and dissociative disorders.

Our mental identity comprises three parts, creating a certain restlessness and confusion:

  • A desire to be
  • A desire not to be
  • Conceit

DELETE

The desire ‘to be’ likely drives chronic life dissatisfaction. We hold ideas of what our life ‘should be,’ and when reality falls short of these material or social expectations, we respond with anger or self-blame. Even in acceptable circumstances, this pervasive problem prevents contentment.

Our self-directed dreams often lack realism. Multiple unrealistic ideas guarantee constant dissatisfaction and mental restlessness. By eliminating subtle desires to be a certain type of person, we become free to fully enjoy life’s offerings.

DELETE

This manifests as a spectrum – from not wanting specific situations to rejecting existence entirely. While initially focused on avoiding poverty, sickness, or pain, it can evolve into craving non-existence, particularly during chronic illness or depression.

Though the ‘desire to not exist’ isn’t tangible, it expresses subtle thoughts about ourselves. Those exploring their minds often have experienced mental illness’s alienating effects, potentially developing an attachment to non-existence. This manifests as participation reluctance and can hinder recovery from severe mental illness.

DELETE

Conceit, perhaps identity’s root, emerges as we evaluate our relationship to other sentient beings. We weigh our perceived quality and value against others’.

While rating ourselves as more important than others serves survival in limited situations, it generally breeds jealousy and hatred when others don’t meet our expected treatment standards.

Conceit manifests in three forms:

Better-Than Conceit

This most recognized form involves believing in one’s superiority. The mind selectively edits experiences, collecting biased evidence supporting this belief. While temporary power or wealth might sustain this delusion, its inevitable collapse reveals its false nature.

Worse-Than Conceit

This less recognized form paradoxically fuels narcissism. Believing in one’s worthlessness represents conceit’s opposite face. Trauma survivors often struggle with low self-worth, sometimes driving both motivation and narcissistic behaviors.

Same-As Conceit

This subtlest form involves the mind settling too comfortably on “we are all the same.” This creates illusory harmony, potentially stunting spiritual growth. While comparing ourselves as neither better nor worse seems comfortable, the real issue lies in the need to relate at all.

Freedom Through Non-Comparison

Freedom arises through abandoning the need to compare our identity with anything else. While comparison creates bias that occasionally proves useful, it generally blinds us, leading to confused decisions that harm ourselves and others.

The Ultimate Upgrade

As we recognize personality and identity as constructs, we can eliminate them from awareness. This performance upgrade frees our minds from preoccupation with invented figments. The mind achieves super-performance modes once it ceases self-regard, ultimately recognizing its true nature.

Further Reading

Academic Resources

Video Resources

Books

  • “The Book of Not Knowing” by Peter Ralston
  • “Waking Up” by Sam Harris
  • “The Mind Illuminated” by Culadasa
  • “Seeing That Frees” by Rob Burbea

Online Communities

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