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."
About the author:
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
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